On Friday, June 28, rock fans in Las Vegas were treated to an electrifying, once-in-a-lifetime moment when Aerosmith’s iconic frontman Steven Tyler joined Paul McCartney on stage during the encore of McCartney’s North American tour stop at the T-Mobile Arena. McCartney, in the midst of promoting his 2018 album Egypt Station, invited Tyler to help close out the night in truly unforgettable fashion—by belting out The Beatles’ 1968 masterpiece “Helter Skelter.”
The crowd went wild when McCartney, with a mischievous grin, introduced his surprise guest: “We have a special guest for you: Mr. Steven Tyler.” What followed was a high-octane performance of the classic track, with both rock legends trading vocals and adding an impromptu outro that had the crowd on their feet, cheering.
Tyler, in town for Aerosmith’s Deuces Are Wild residency at the Park Theater, seemed right at home rocking out with McCartney. The pairing was especially poignant given Aerosmith’s own history with “Helter Skelter”—the band famously recorded their own version of the song during their Toys in the Attic sessions in 1975, which later appeared on their 1991 compilation Pandora’s Box. Over the years, it’s become a staple of their live shows, so it was fitting that Tyler joined McCartney to bring the song full circle.
After the jaw-dropping performance, Tyler shared a clip on Instagram with the simple, yet fitting caption: “NEED I SAY MORE?” Indeed, no words were needed—this moment will be etched in rock history as one for the ages.
