The 2018 Grammy Awards may have moved to New York this year, but Steven Tyler made sure that Los Angeles still had a place to celebrate. The Aerosmith frontman took over Red Studios in Hollywood to throw a viewing party on Sunday night (Jan. 28), which doubled as an inaugural gala benefiting his philanthropic initiative, Janie’s Fund. And everyone from Alice Cooper to Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Wilde, Caitlyn Jenner, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, David Foster, Randy Jackson and Ruby Rose came out in support, all dressed in their best “rock star chic.”
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Guests sipped on Patron and enjoyed a multi-course dinner, curated by Trisha Yearwood, while watching the 60th annual Grammy telecast. During commercial breaks they were treated to all sorts of rock and roll surprises, such as the big band antics of The London Essentials, who belted out Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” while playfully serenading actress Sharon Stone. Between the ticket sales, onsite donations, and live auction — which included the chance to spend a week at Tyler’s Maui home (which went for $55,000) — the event raked in over $2.4 million to help the rehabilitation of young girls who have suffered the trauma of abuse.
And this, according to Tyler, is just the beginning. “My dreams are to do this next year and the year after and the year after,” he told Billboard on the red carpet prior to the event. “And if I die in the meantime, we’ll have someone else do it. I’ll get Slash involved or someone,” he joked.
“Steven and I go way back and both of us have daughters. That puts things into focus when you’re thinking of a thing like this,” said Cooper, who signed on to sponsor one of the abused youths for a year. The shock rocker told Billboard that he is looking forward to his upcoming portrayal of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar Live! and revealed that he was going in for his first costume fitting in the morning. “I just realized that I may have a beard in this. That would be very weird. I’ve never had a beard in my entire life!” he exclaimed.
Following the broadcast, Tyler’s daughter Chelsea took the stage alongside her dad to introduce a teen who shared her heartbreaking story of childhood abuse. She was one of the many girls from the program who were on site and Tyler has vowed to take them all personally under his wing. “They are all girls who went to the facility,” Tyler told Billboard. “And I said to every one of them ‘I’m giving you my cell phone number.’ So when they get in trouble they can call me,” he revealed, noting that he was willing to talk anybody off the ledge at any time.
The evening concluded with Tyler taking the stage with his Nashville based band, Loving Mary, to perform a 10-song set, which included such Aerosmith classics as “Sweet Emotion,” “Jaded,” and “Dream On.” He also sang “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere,” from his recent solo endeavor, as well as a darker version of the song of the hour, “Janie’s Got a Gun.” Former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt joined Tyler on stage for a rendition of his band’s signature hit, “More Than Words.” And Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer and an African drumming group featuring the girls supported by Janie’s Fund helped close out the night with “Walk this Way.”
“It’s been a long road but Janie’s got a gun? Nah. I’m proud to say Janie’s got a fund,” said Tyler, who was grinning ear to ear after throwing one hell of a party.
Set List:
“Sweet Emotion”
“I’m Down”
“Come Together”
“We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”
“Jaded”
“Piece of My Heart”
“Janie’s Got a Gun”
“More Than Words” (with Nuno Bettencourt)
“(Home Tonight Intro) Dream On”
“Walk this Way”
