Matt Sorum, Robin Zander, Nuno Bettencourt, and more are set to take the stage with the Aerosmith frontman
Steven Tyler has revealed the details for his 7th Annual GRAMMY Awards® Viewing Party. Set for Sunday, February 1 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, the event will once again be centered around the Jam for Janie, all-star jam featuring Steven and several high profile special guests. The entire evening supports Janie’s Fund, the philanthropic initiative created by the Aerosmith frontman to bring hope and healing to girls and young women who have experienced trauma.
This year, the evening will be hosted by Melissa Joan Hart, who is very qualified to anchor such an event. A huge rock music fan, the actress attended Metallica and Shinedown shows last year with her family. She said on social media, “Another week, another rock concert with the kids! We adore Shinedown and see them every chance we have and the boys are getting me hooked Beartooth now too!” Hart and family also attended a Metallica concert together. She shared, “Family fun at the Metallica, Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies concert last night. But check out which band I rocked on my shirt to rock out!” Melissa wore a Course of Nature shirt, the band that her husband Mark Wilkerson fronted in the early 2000s.
Course of Nature released one album under the moniker COG in 2001 called No Time at All. In 2002, the re-branded Course of Nature released their sophomore effort Superkala through Lava/Atlantic. The disc peaked at No. 166 on the Billboard 200. It was mixed by Juno Award winner Randy Staub (Metallica, Nickelback, Alice In Chains). The album’s second single “Wall of Shame” was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. The band released their final album Damaged in 2008. The group disbanded in 2011.
In 2007, Mark Wilkerson co-wrote Daughtry’s breakout hit “It’s Not Over,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song.
This year will once again feature an all-star jam with a band put together by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver), featuring Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Marcus King, Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s), Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme).
More performers will be announced soon.
So, who else could we see pop up at the Jam for Janie? Well, last year, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry opened for The Who at this very same venue with his band, The Joe Perry Project. This tour saw Perry joined by fellow Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford. During the group’s set, Steven Tyler surprised the crowd by joining The Joe Perry Project for a pair of Aerosmith classics. The trio of Aerosmith members – alongside Chris Robinson, Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, longtime Joe Perry Project drummer Jason Sutter, and Aerosmith touring keyboardist Buck Johnson – cranked out the Aerosmith classic “Walk This Way” as well as the band’s hit cover of “Train Kept a Rollin’.”
Before that, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash joined the Joe & Co for a rendition of “Mama Kin.”
Another probable surprise guest is red hot rocker Yungblud. The recent GRAMMY® Award nominee teamed up with Aerosmith late last year for the collaborative EP One More Time. In addition to the hit single “My Only Angel,” the record contains three more brand new songs, plus a remixed edition of Aerosmith’s signature track “Back in the Saddle” featuring Yungblud lending some vocals. The new tracks are Aerosmith’s first pieces of new material in over a decade. Upon release, the album shot straight to No. 1 on the UK Albums chart, the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart, and Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Alternative albums charts. It is currently sitting at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. The lead single “My Only Angel” gave Yungblud is first No. 1 hit in America, and saw Aerosmith top Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart for the first time in their career.
On the album, Jam for Janie band director Matt Sorum stepped in on drums for retired Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer.
This year’s event focuses on building three new Janie’s Houses – residential treatment programs that provide safe and therapeutic services for young girls facing emotional and behavioral challenges. Over the last decade, more than 4,000 supporters from over 40 countries have contributed to Janie’s Fund, which has resulted in more than $23 million raised to support girls and young women in their trauma recovery through LifeSet™ programming. With these funds, Janie’s Fund has been able to provide 350,000 days of counseling and trauma-informed care for more than 2,200 girls and young women.
“For 10 years, Janie’s Fund has provided hope, compassion and healing to girls and young women who have survived trauma. Through our programs, we’ve uplifted and empowered countless girls and women, and it warms my heart to see them transform into confident individuals,” said Steven Tyler. “As we look to the next 10 years, we’ll continue to use our voices and platforms to support these young women, and make sure they’re receiving the quality care they deserve.”
The evening will feature a red carpet, cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and exclusive after-party benefiting Janie’s Fund, with critical funds raised supporting the organization’s 10-year mission and its building of new Janie’s Houses across the country. The London Essentials will also perform.
In addition to Sunday’s event, Janie’s Fund will kick off GRAMMY weekend with a special evening celebrating the healing power of comedy, “Sounds of Laughter” at the Comedy Store starring Bill Burr, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dean Delray and Reggie Watts. Tickets for Thursday’s comedy event are included with certain ticket levels for Sunday’s event.
Event Chairs include Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Andrea Bocelli, Bill Burr, Bill Maher, Bo Derek, Carrie Underwood, Chris & Rich Robinson, Christina Aguilera, Dean Delray, Dolly Parton, Flavor Flav, Gavin DeGraw, John Corbett, John Stamos, Julianne Hough, Kate Hudson, Lionel Richie, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Matt Sorum & Ace Harper, Michelle Rodriguez, Mick Fleetwood, Miley Cyrus, Nuno Bettencourt, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Sharon Osbourne, Sharon Stone, Taika Waititi, Zooey Deschanel and Tia Carrere.
This event is sponsored and supported by Acqua Panna, ALB Vodka, The Comedy Store, Count’s Kustoms, De La Montanya Vineyards & Winery, The Hidden Garden, Modern Luxury, San Pellegrino, The Sun Rose West Hollywood, Tequila Komos and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.
For more information about Janie’s Fund and to find ways to support this work, please visit JaniesFund.org.
Janie’s Fund is a philanthropic initiative created by Steven Tyler in partnership with one of America’s most effective nonprofits, Youth Villages. Named after Aerosmith’s 1989 hit, “Janie’s Got a Gun,” which tells the story of a young girl who was abused by her father, Janie’s Fund provides hope and healing for many of our country’s most vulnerable girls who have survived the trauma of abuse and neglect. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Janie’s Fund is now focused on expanding its reach with the mission to build new Janie’s Houses. Through Janie’s Fund, Tyler is using his big voice to give a voice to thousands of victims who haven’t had one.