Steven Tyler Thrills the Colosseum Crowd with an Acoustic Show

Every time “Walk This Way” plays, I instantly recall its Run DMC collaboration video, particularly when Steven Tyler bursts through a studio wall with his microphone stand to join the rap group next door. Now, another scene could surface: Tyler performing live at Rome’s Colosseum in 2017, backed by an orchestra and two cellists fervently mimicking the song’s iconic guitar riff. Yet, the original image might still dominate.

In “It’s About Relationships: Building a Life that Matters,” Jimmy Walker recounts Tyler’s Colosseum performance, an event organized by Andrea Bocelli for Celebrity Fight Night in Rome. Walker, an insurance broker for stars like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, co-founded Celebrity Fight Night, raising over $132 million for charity. Here’s the Tyler performance clip:

Walker notes a subtle detail: Tyler chewing gum as he strides into the Colosseum. Before launching into Aerosmith’s hit “Dream On” on Elton John’s piano, Tyler nonchalantly places his gum underneath it, a move Walker suggests Elton John would likely disapprove of. Now, whenever “Dream On” or “Walk This Way” plays, I’ll probably recall Tyler’s gum antics and Elton John’s piano.

The cellists accompanying Tyler, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser of 2CELLOS, joined him for “Dream On” and “Walk This Way,” and also performed the “Game of Thrones” theme and “Funiculi Funicula” with Bocelli. A fan praised their concert broadcast on Rai1 TV, especially enjoying Tyler’s performance and the duo’s collaboration. Here’s another highlight from the event:

This moment marked the grand finale of the Celebrity Gala at the Colosseum, featuring Tyler and Bocelli’s rendition of “Imagine,” with David Foster on piano, Sharon Stone, and other celebrities like Renato Zero and Zara on stage.

The 2017 Colosseum concert was a highlight of the week-long Celebrity Fight Night in Rome, aimed at entertaining charitable donors and special guests like Sharon Stone and Antonio Banderas. The event, reported by Wanted In Rome, offered a luxurious experience with VIP dinners and private concerts in Rome’s palatial settings for €70,000. I can’t help but wonder how long Tyler’s gum stayed under Elton John’s piano.