Imagine strolling along Moscow’s Arbat promenade during the city’s 868th birthday festivities when you stumble upon a busker crooning a tune you made famous nearly two decades ago. It’s a surreal moment, but for Steven Tyler, lead vocalist of Aerosmith, it became a reality in September 2015.
The song in question was “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” the iconic power ballad penned by Diane Warren for the blockbuster movie “Armageddon” in 1998. As the busker strummed the chords, Tyler couldn’t resist the urge to join in, creating an impromptu duet that delighted onlookers.
For Tyler, encountering a busker playing an Aerosmith hit wasn’t an entirely new experience. Nonetheless, the serendipitous encounter in Moscow added a special touch to his visit, coinciding with Aerosmith’s performance at the official City Day celebrations in Lubyanka Square.
Amidst the festivities, which included the Moscow Triumphal Festival and the International Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival, Aerosmith’s participation raised eyebrows, given the geopolitical tensions following the 2014 occupation of Crimea. However, the power of music knows no boundaries, as exemplified by Ukrainian band Beton’s rendition of The Clash’s “London Calling” titled “Kyiv Calling,” released in solidarity with Ukraine.
As for Aerosmith, their plans for a Peace Out farewell tour hit a snag when Tyler suffered severe vocal cord damage during a concert in New York. Despite the setback, the band remains hopeful of resuming the tour in 2024 after postponing the remaining dates.