Khaleej Times, Dubai, UAE
November 2, 2009

Although the roar of engines have come to a halt and the virgin track declared its victor, the magnitude of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale called for something a bit more special to send racing fans off with, and it was delivered via leather pants and rubber-lips.

The original sons of rock, Aerosmith, staged one of the most exciting shows of the Formula 1 weekend by transforming Yas Island into a mecca for rock & roll’s fans, giving residents as well as thousands of international guests a reason to remember the UAE.

On the fourth night at Ferrari World, the larger-than-life arena which played host to the likes of Beyonce, Jamiroquai and Kings of Leon, spectators began trickling in before the Formula 1 races even came to a close. The reason was simple, one fan admitted.

“I have been swept up in Abu Dhabi fever for a week now,” Diana Merhi explained as she arrived at the venue more than four hours before the band was slated to begin.

“It is not everyday that rock legends grace us with their presence here in the Middle East,” she continued, “but when they do, I expect nothing short of magic.”

An appropriate theme of the evening, magic could be felt all around as race-goers began flooding the arena by the thousands, all vying for a stage seat to see the legendary band.

Ariyana Peshkepija from Albania, a self-proclaimed Aerosmith fanatic, was waiting for a chance to catch a glimpse of the rockers back stage.

“I have had a crush on Steven Tyler for more than 20 years,” the young 34 year old declared.

“It’s as if time has never touched them…they will remain forever young in my eyes.”

It was only fitting that Tyler and his band mates of some four decades would be chosen to host the final show on Yas Island. The group’s energy and dynamism was palpable as they took to the stage in what seemed like a marathon introduction set of fused hits set off by Tyler’s signature screeching.

Belting out wall-to-wall stadium anthems throughout the night, the audience roars became deafening when Tyler took to the runway ramp leading away from the main stage.

“He performs like he’s still a teenager!” roared one fan over the music as Tyler belted out chart-toppers that included ‘Jaded’, ‘Cryin’, ‘Dude (looks like a lady)’ and ‘Crazy’, which garnered thunderous applause from the sea of spectators.

Appropriately enough, the Bad Boys from Boston were invited to play the grand finale show to inject a bit of energy and life to the newly constructed Yas Island, but fans also got a taste of the softer side of rock as the arena’s lights flickered like twinkling stars.

As the music slowed down, it seemed as though the 40,000 or so spectators were one body as they sang along to the Armageddon-sized hit, ‘I don’t wanna miss a thing.’

Age seems to have defied Tyler as he dipped and dived on stage in a performance one might normally expect from a teenage boy band. The group, making their first ever Gulf debut in Abu Dhabi, solidified their rock supremacy as one of the greatest party bands of all time.

Aerosmith, the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide cementing their status as icons of rock & roll. Band members include Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitar and backing vocals), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass) and Joey Kramer (drums)

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