Aerosmith, Who Retired From Touring, to Reunite at L.A. Charity Event

Continuing an enduring show business tradition — a retirement that ends soon than expected —Aerosmith will reconvene at a charity event in Los Angeles next month.

Last August, the band announced it would be retiring from the road, the result of damage done to Steven Tyler’s vocal cords. “Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible,” the band said in a statement at the time. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”

Fans assumed they’d never see the band onstage, whether on a tour or a one-off gig. But on Feb. 2, the band will reunite for a set at the sixth annual Jam for Jamie Grammy Awards Viewing Party. To be held at the Hollywood Palladium, the charity event is an offshoot of Tyler’s Janie’s Fund, an initiative to “bring hope and healing to girls and young women who have experienced trauma.”

Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Linda Perry and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt will perform, and the members of Aerosmith will re-form for what’s being dubbed “a special performance.” Tiffany Haddish will serve as host.

In a way, the news is in line with guitarist Tom Hamilton expressed hope last year that the retirement announcement wouldn’t be the end of the band. “On the hope scale, I’m somewhere between 7 and 9,” he said. “We won’t be doing any tours from now on, but I’ll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along.”

Jam for Janie will benefit not just Janie’s Fund but also the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firefighter’s Fund. Organizers have invited more than 100 L.A.-area firefighters who’d been on the front lines fighting the devastating California wildfires. “Music has healing powers,” Tyler said, “and we hope to bring a moment of joy and levity to our first-responder firefighters and those most affected by the fires.”