In a collaboration no one saw coming but everyone’s talking about, rock legends Aerosmith have teamed up with genre-bending star YUNGBLUD and comedy icon Steve Martin for a reimagined version of Aerosmith’s classic “My Only Angel.” The new release — unveiled on Friday — is a genre-defying mix of rock, country-bluegrass flair, and the raw emotional chaos that both Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD are known for.
A bold twist on a rock classic
Originally recorded by Aerosmith in the mid-2000s but never released as a single, “My Only Angel” was rediscovered during the band’s Peace Out: The Farewell Tour rehearsals. According to Steven Tyler, the track “always had something magical — but it needed a little madness to bring it to life.”
Enter YUNGBLUD, whose unfiltered energy and rebellious style caught the band’s attention after his performance at the Reading Festival last year. “We wanted someone who represents the chaos of youth and the fire of rock ‘n’ roll today,” Tyler explained. “Dom [YUNGBLUD] has that — he bleeds it.”
The song opens with YUNGBLUD’s distinctive rasp over a gritty electric riff before erupting into Tyler’s soaring vocals. Just when listeners think they know where it’s going, Steve Martin — yes, that Steve Martin — enters with a wild banjo solo that turns the entire track on its head.
Steve Martin steals the spotlight
While best known for his comedic genius, Steve Martin’s musical talent on the banjo is no secret — he’s won multiple Grammys for his bluegrass albums. In My Only Angel (2025 Version), Martin’s playing injects a haunting, folksy undercurrent that contrasts beautifully with Aerosmith’s rock foundation.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had in a studio in years,” Martin said with a grin in a behind-the-scenes clip shared on YUNGBLUD’s Instagram. “Steven [Tyler] wanted chaos, YUNGBLUD brought energy, and I brought… the banjo.”
A collision of generations
YUNGBLUD, who grew up idolizing Aerosmith, called the collaboration “a fever dream come true.” He shared that recording alongside the band felt like “being thrown into a storm of passion, madness, and pure love for music.”
“I’ve always said rock isn’t dead — it’s evolving,” he said. “And working with Aerosmith proves that the spirit of rebellion still burns bright.”
The new version of “My Only Angel” maintains the original’s soul-stirring lyrics about redemption and devotion but layers them with raw emotion and modern angst. The production, helmed by longtime Aerosmith collaborator Jack Douglas, mixes analog warmth with sharp, industrial undertones — a sound that perfectly bridges the gap between classic and contemporary rock.
Fans lose their minds online
Within hours of release, the song shot to the top of iTunes Rock Charts and began trending on social media. Fans are calling it “the collaboration we never knew we needed” and praising the unexpected chemistry between Tyler and YUNGBLUD.
One fan tweeted, “Only Aerosmith could turn a lost song into an anthem — and only YUNGBLUD could make it sound like the future.”
What’s next
The trio reportedly filmed a music video in Los Angeles earlier this month, described as “a visual fever dream of heaven, hell, and a honky-tonk in between.” Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the clip will premiere next week on YouTube.
Meanwhile, Aerosmith’s farewell tour continues, YUNGBLUD is set to headline his Are You Ready, Boy? world tour in 2026, and Steve Martin will return to the stage for his upcoming comedy and bluegrass show You Won’t Believe This!
But for now, My Only Angel stands as a testament to the timelessness of true rock ‘n’ roll — proof that when generations collide and creativity runs wild, magic happens.