Steven Tyler Delights Fans with Acoustic Performance at The Colosseum in Rome

Every time “Walk This Way” plays, the iconic image of the Run-DMC collaboration video immediately comes to mind. The scene where Steven Tyler dramatically smashes through a studio wall with his microphone stand to join the rap group next door is unforgettable. Now, another scene could also take its place in memory: Tyler performing live at Rome’s Colosseum in 2017, accompanied by an orchestra, with two cellists passionately playing to recreate the song’s legendary guitar riff.

However, the former image might still dominate. In “It’s About Relationships: Building a Life that Matters,” Jimmy Walker recounts a fascinating story about Tyler’s performance at the Colosseum. The event was organized by Andrea Bocelli for Celebrity Fight Night in Rome, a charity event co-founded by Walker. Celebrity Fight Night has raised over $132 million for various causes.

Here’s the Tyler performance clip:

Walker recalls a small but memorable detail: as Tyler enters the Colosseum, he’s chewing gum. Just before launching into Aerosmith’s hit “Dream On” on Elton John’s piano, Tyler casually sticks his gum underneath it. Walker humorously notes that Elton John would likely not be pleased with this gesture. Now, whenever “Dream On” or “Walk This Way” plays, the image of Tyler’s gum might come to mind along with the music.

The cellists who accompanied Tyler were Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser of 2CELLOS. They joined him not only for “Dream On” and “Walk This Way” but also for other pieces, including the “Game of Thrones” theme and “Funiculi Funicula” with Bocelli. A fan praised the concert, which was broadcast on Rai1 TV, for its energy and the unique collaboration between Tyler and the cellists.

Here’s another highlight from the event:

This performance was part of the grand finale of the Celebrity Gala at the Colosseum, where Tyler and Bocelli delivered a stirring rendition of “Imagine.” The performance featured David Foster on piano, with Sharon Stone and other celebrities like Renato Zero and Zara also participating on stage.

The 2017 Colosseum concert was a major highlight of the week-long Celebrity Fight Night in Rome. It was designed to entertain charitable donors and special guests, including Sharon Stone and Antonio Banderas. According to Wanted In Rome, the event offered a luxurious experience with VIP dinners and private concerts in Rome’s stunning settings, all for a donation of €70,000.

Still, I can’t help but wonder how long Tyler’s gum stayed under Elton John’s piano.