Aerosmith ends 2½-year pause with Strip return

Aerosmith is celebrating No. 50 with 24.

The legendary rockers relaunch their “Deuces Are Wild” production show at Dolby Live at Park MGM on June 17, with a total of two dozen shows running through Dec. 11. The band is celebrating its 50th anniversary and also performing with the new Dolby Atmos sound system that was installed in the theater, which has been renamed from Park Theater.

Front man Steven Tyler said in a statement, “The only rust at Dolby Live is going to be on our van in the lobby! We are locked, cocked and loaded!”

Tickets start at $75 (not including fees) and are on sale 10 a.m. March 31 at ticketmaster.com/aerosmith. The band opened its Strip residency in April 2019 and most recently performed in Vegas in February 2020.

“Cryin’,” “Love In an Elevator,” “Back In The Saddle” and “Dream On” have rocked the room. Tyler and guitar great Joe Perry take to a catwalk above the crowd, and the band rocks to giant inflatable figures for “Toys In The Attic.”

The band plans to return its museum of historic items, including that van to which Tyler refers. The band drove the van to its first gigs and parked at the theater entrance. The onstage fan experience is coming back, too. The VIP on-stage experience allows fans to occupy standing areas and bleacher seats at either side of the stage, with walk-up bars and pinball machines on the scene.

The band is moving forward in Vegas without original drummer Joey Kramer. Longtime drum tech John Douglas, who sat in for Kramer for several shows in 2019, is now behind the kit. A band rep said in a statement, “While Joey Kramer remains a beloved founding member of Aerosmith and was excited to perform with his bandmates, he has regrettably made the decision to sit out the Band’s concerts in 2022 so that he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times.

“Joey’s unmistakable and legendary presence behind the drum kit will be sorely missed, but he and the Band look forward to his future performances with Aerosmith. John Douglas will be performing on drums during 2022 while Joey Kramer takes a temporary leave of absence.”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.