Joe Perry Skips Hollywood Vampires Doc Premiere for Aerosmith Rehearsals
The guitarist missed the Newport Beach Film Festival debut of Unleashed Spirits as Aerosmith prepares for upcoming Hollywood Bowl dates.
By Maya Chen · October 23, 2026 · 1 min read
Published by Hollywood Tomorrow
Joe Perry was absent from the West Coast premiere of the Hollywood Vampires documentary at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Deadline reported.
The film, titled *Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires* and directed by Daniel E. Catullo III, was scheduled for an 8 p.m. screening at the sold-out Lido Theater.
Perry's withdrawal from the event stems from scheduling conflicts tied to Aerosmith. The veteran rock group is currently ramping up preparations and rehearsals for a run of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, leaving Perry unable to make the festival appearance.
Formed in 2012 alongside Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp, the Hollywood Vampires originated as a salute to the 1970s rock club scene. Catullo's documentary chronicles the formation, extensive international tours, and studio sessions of the high-profile supergroup.
Late dropouts by marquee talent remain an ongoing operational challenge for regional film festivals. As Hollywood Tomorrow notes, non-fiction music titles rely heavily on red-carpet appearances by their legendary subjects to drive regional ticket sales and trade buzz, yet lucrative live-touring commitments will consistently take contractual priority.
Organizers proceeded with the Lido Theater screening as planned, showcasing the feature to a capacity crowd despite the lead guitarist's absence.
Reported from the originating source.
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