Ageless Aerosmith fires up finale

Matt Kwong

• Last Updated: November 01. 2009 11:25PM UAE / November 1. 2009 7:25PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The American hard-rock juggernaut Aerosmith served up plenty of swagger and sweet emotion last night, capping off a stunning Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

The performance from the iconic Boston five was driven by bone-rattling riffs from the guitarist Joe Perry and Steven Tyler’s larynx-shredding vocals on power ballads such Dream On and Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees).

“Abu Dhabi!” Tyler proclaimed with arms raised, before launching into the jackhammer drums-fuelled opener, Eat the Rich.

At 61 years old, Tyler’s lanky frame still strutted, kicked and bounded around the Ferrari World stage, encouraging sing alongs and brandishing his signature microphone stand draped with scarves.

“You ain’t never seen nothing like this before, Abu Dhabi!” he screamed.

Megan Needs, a 22-year-old substitute teacher from Dubai, occupied a front-row spot, gazing up at Perry and Tyler, who arrived in shades and dazzling overcoats.

“It’s Steven Tyler, man. He’s fantastic,” said Ms Needs, a Canadian. “I just want to hear him play the harmonica!”

Earlier, fans had speculated on whether the veteran rockers might appear creaky, particularly since Tyler mistimed a step and tumbled from a catwalk during an August show in South Dakota. He broke his left shoulder and cut his head, requiring 20 stitches and resulting in the cancellation of the band’s North American tour until October.

“I’m a little bit worried about this ramp over here,” said Peter Vegas, 41, from New Zealand. “Steven just recovered from a fall.”

Last night, however, the band soldiered on without any problems.

Darren Ball, 37, has seen Aerosmith perform three times. The British logistics worker from Abu Dhabi was in awe of Tyler. “He’s 61. If I can move like that at that age, it would be something.”

* The National, with additional reporting by Oliver Good