|
Web Directory Search Home
Store
Current News: a dictionary of current search terms and popular interest topics.
Aerosmith
Background information
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre(s) Hard rock
Rock[1],
Blues-rock
Arena Rock
Years active 1970 — present
Label(s) Columbia
Geffen
Website Aerosmith.com
Members
Steven Tyler
Joe Perry
Tom Hamilton
Brad Whitford
Joey Kramer
Former members
Ray Tabano
Jimmy Crespo
Rick Dufay
Portal:Aerosmith
Aerosmith Portal
Aerosmith is a prominent American rock band, regarded by some as "America's
Greatest Rock and Roll Band". [2][3]
Although they are known as "the bad boys from Boston"[4], none of the band's
members are actually from that city. Three of them, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry,
and Tom Hamilton, had originally met in Sunapee, New Hampshire in the late
'60s, but had not yet formed a band together. Tyler was from Yonkers, New
York, Perry from Hopedale, Massachusetts, and Hamilton from New London, New
Hampshire. In 1970, the three decided to form a band and decided that
Boston, Massachusetts would be the ideal base.
Guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer rounded out the lineup, and
the band released their eponymous debut album in 1973. The band created a
string of ground-breaking hard-rock albums and enjoyed major popularity
throughout the 1970s, but their serious substance abuse and drug addictions
contributed to their decline. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford left the group,
and the period from 1979-1984 was a dark one for the band, which carried on
with replacements. However, in 1984, chiefly due to the tireless efforts of
Joe Perry's then manager, Tim Collins, to reform the original band,
Aerosmith was born again. Collins succeeded in helping the band resolve old
differences and ultimately overcome their addictions.[5] Since then,
Aerosmith have remained sober for over 20 years, and have achieved a level
of sustained success that has well eclipsed their 1970s heyday.
Aerosmith, who have been performing as the original lineup for the past 23
years, have sold 150 million albums worldwide, 65.5 million albums in the
United States alone, making them the bestselling American hard rock band of
all time.[6] They also hold the record for the most gold, platinum, and
multi-platinum albums by an American group.[7] The band has scored 27 Top 40
hits on multiple charts around the world, nine #1 Mainstream Rock hits, four
Grammy awards, and ten Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. They continue to tour and average one million
dollars a show.[8] Their musical evolution over the years has made them
major innovators in American hard rock, pop, glam, blues, and rap, and has
inspired legions of rock artists that came after them. Their numerous
contributions to other forms of media have further solidified their status
as pop culture icons.[9] Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Aerosmith[10] #57 on
their list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[11]. The band has a
loyal fanbase numbering over a million worldwide, known as the Blue Army,
that has equally spanned the last three generations.[12] Aerosmith's
longevity, durability, and adaptability have allowed them to sustain high
levels of popularity, acclaim, and success for the better part of the 37
years they have been active.
History
Formation
The formation of Aerosmith, began in the late 1960s in Sunapee, New
Hampshire. Steven Tyler was a drummer/vocalist originally from Yonkers, New
York who had been in a series of relatively unsuccessful bands in the
mid-late 1960s such as the Vic Tallarico Orchestra, the Strangeurs/Chain
Reaction, The Chain, Fox Chase, and William Proud. In 1969, while
vacationing in Sunapee, New Hampshire, Tyler met Joe Perry, who was at the
time playing in a band called the Jam Band with bassist Tom Hamilton and
drummer David "Pudge" Scott, while Perry was washing dishes at the Anchorage
in Sunapee Harbor, New Hampshire. This meeting would eventually lead to the
formation of Aerosmith.
Perry and Hamilton moved to Boston, Massachusetts in September of 1970.
There they met Joey Kramer, a drummer from Yonkers, New York who had also
known Steven Tyler, whom he had always hoped to perform in a band with.
Kramer, a Berklee College of Music student, decided to quit school to join
the band. In October of 1970, they met up once again with Steven Tyler, who
was originally a drummer and backup singer, but adamantly refused to play
drums in this band, insisting he would only be in the band if he could be
the frontman and lead vocalist. The band agreed and thus Aerosmith was born.
The band added Ray Tabano, a childhood friend of Tyler, as rhythm guitarist
and began playing local shows. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford,
who also attended the Berklee School of Music and was formerly of the band
Earth Inc. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, the line-up of
Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Kramer, and Whitford has stayed the same.
1970s
After forming the band and finalizing the lineup in 1971, the band started
to garner some local success doing live shows. Originally booked through The
Ed Malhoit Agency of Claremont NH, Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records in
1972 and issued their debut album, Aerosmith, in 1973. The album was
straightforward rock and roll with well-defined blues influences, laying the
groundwork for Aerosmith's signature blues-rock sound. Although the highest
charting single from the album was "Dream On" at #59, several tracks (such
as "Mama Kin" and "Walkin' the Dog") would become staples of the band's live
shows and receive heavy rotation on rock radio. The album eventually went on
to sell two million copies. After constant touring, the band released their
second album Get Your Wings in 1974, the first of a string of multi-platinum
albums produced by Jack Douglas. This did better in the charts and produced
the rock radio hits "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Train Kept A-Rollin'", a
cover done previously by The Yardbirds. The album also produced several fan
favorites including "Lord of the Thighs", "Seasons of Wither", and "S.O.S.
(Too Bad)", darker songs which have become staples in the band's live shows.
To date, Get Your Wings has sold three million copies.
It was 1975's Toys in the Attic, however, that established Aerosmith as
international stars competing with the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling
Stones. Originally derided as Rolling Stones knockoffs, Toys in the Attic
showed that Aerosmith was a talented band in their own right. Toys in the
Attic was an immediate success, starting with the single "Sweet Emotion",
which became the band's first Top 40 hit. This was followed by a successful
re-release of "Dream On" which hit #6, becoming their best charting single
of the 1970s. The 2nd song from the album, "Walk This Way", reached the Top
10 in early 1977.
"Toys in the Attic" and "Big Ten Inch Record" (a song originally recorded by
Roy Brown) were also rock radio staples. As a result of this success, both
of the band's previous albums re-charted. Toys in the Attic has gone on to
become the band's bestselling studio album in the States, with certified
U.S. sales of eight million copies. Aerosmith's next album was 1976's Rocks,
which "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking".[13]. It went
platinum swiftly and featured two FM hits, "Last Child" and "Back in the
Saddle", as well as the ballad "Home Tonight". Rocks has sold four million
copies to date. Both Toys in the Attic and Rocks are highly regarded,
especially in the hard rock genre, and appear on such lists as Rolling
Stone's 500 Greatest Albums, and are cited by members of Guns N' Roses,
Metallica, and Mötley Crüe as having large influences on their
music.[14][15]
Soon after Rocks was released, the band continued to tour heavily, this time
headlining their own shows and playing to several large stadiums and rock
festivals.
The next album, 1977's Draw the Line, was not as successful or as critically
acclaimed as their two previous efforts, although the title track proved to
be a minor hit (and is still a live staple), and "Kings and Queens" also
experienced some success. The album went on to sell 2 million copies. While
continuing to tour and record into the late 1970s, Aerosmith acted in the
movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Their cover of the
Beatles hit "Come Together" was included in the album's soundtrack and would
be the band's last Top 40 hit for nearly 10 years. The live release Live!
Bootleg, originally released as a double album, was put out in 1978 and
captured the band's rawness[16] during the heyday of the Draw the Line tour;
however, as the 1970s came to a close, the band's popularity waned and drug
abuse and the fast-paced life of touring and recording began affecting their
output. Lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry became known
as "The Toxic Twins" due to their notorious abuse of drugs on and off the
stage. Just after the recording of their sixth studio album, 1979's Night in
the Ruts, Joe Perry left the band, citing differences with Steven Tyler, and
formed The Joe Perry Project. Perry was replaced first by longtime band
friend and songwriter Richie Supa and then by guitarist Jimmy Crespo
(formerly of the band Flame). Night in the Ruts quickly fell off the charts,
its only single being the cover of The Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in
the Sand)", which topped out at #67.
1980s
Aerosmith released its mammoth-selling Greatest Hits album in 1980 and in
1981 the band suffered another loss with the departure of Brad Whitford.
After recording guitar parts for the song "Lightning Strikes", Whitford was
replaced by Rick Dufay and the band recorded their seventh album Rock in a
Hard Place in 1982. The album was considered a commercial failure, only
going gold, and failing to produce a major hit single. On the tour for Rock
in a Hard Place, Tyler collapsed during an onstage performance in November
1982.
On Valentine's Day 1984, Perry and Whitford saw Aerosmith perform. They were
officially re-inducted into the ranks of Aerosmith once more in April of
that year. Steven Tyler recalls, "You should have felt the buzz the moment
all five of us got together in the same room for the first time again. We
all started laughin'—it was like the five years had never passed. We knew
we'd made the right move."
Aerosmith embarked on a reunion tour entitled "Back in the Saddle" in 1984,
which produced the live album Classics Live II. Their problems still not
behind them, the group was signed to Geffen Records and began working on a
comeback.
Despite the band signing on to a new record company, Columbia continued to
reap the benefits of Aerosmith's comeback, releasing the live companion
albums Classics Live I and II and the collection Gems throughout the 1980s.
1985 saw the release of Done with Mirrors, their first studio album with
Geffen and their first album since the much-publicized reunion. While the
album did receive some positive reviews, it only went gold and failed to
produce a hit single, or generate much buzz outside the immediate confines
of rock radio. The album's most notable track, "Let the Music Do the
Talking," was in fact a cover of a song originally recorded by The Joe Perry
Project and released on that band's album of the same name. Nevertheless,
the band became a popular concert attraction once again, touring in support
of Done With Mirrors, well into 1986. In 1986, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way", a track
blending rock and roll and hip hop that not only cemented rap into the
mainstream of American popular music, but also began Aerosmith's true
comeback. The song reached #4 on the Billboad Hot 100 and its associated
video helped introduce Aerosmith to a new generation.
Still standing in the way, however, were the drug problems of the band
members. In 1986, lead singer Steven Tyler completed a successful drug
rehabilitation program, at the discretion of the band and manager Tim
Collins, knowing that the band's future would not be bright if Tyler did not
get treated. The rest of the band members completed drug rehab programs over
the course of the next couple years. According to the band's tell-all
autobiography, Collins pledged he could make the band the biggest band in
the world by 1990 if they all completed drug rehab. Their next album was
make-it-or-break-it due to the commercial disappointment of Done With
Mirrors, and as the band members became clean, they worked hard to make
their comeback album.
Permanent Vacation was released in August of 1987. Permanent Vacation was a
major hit for the band, becoming their bestselling album in over a decade
(selling 5 million copies in the U.S.), and having all three singles ("Dude
(Looks Like a Lady)", "Rag Doll", and "Angel") reach the Top 20 of the
Billboard Hot 100. The group went on a subsequent tour with Guns N' Roses,
which was intense at times due to Aerosmith's new struggle to stay clean
amidst GN'Rs well-publicized, rampant drug use.
Their next album was received even better. Pump, released in October of
1989, featured three Top Ten singles: "Janie's Got a Gun", "What it Takes",
and "Love in an Elevator", as well as "The Other Side", re-establishing
Aerosmith as a serious musical force.[17] Pump was a critical and commercial
success, having sold 7 million copies, achieving 4-star ratings by major
music magazines, and earning the band their first Grammy win ever, for
"Janie's Got a Gun". The recording process for Pump was documented in the
video the The Making of Pump, which has since been re-released as a DVD. The
music videos for the singles on the album were featured on the release
Things That Go Pump in the Night, which quickly went platinum.
1990s
The band finished up the Pump tour in 1990. On February 21, 1990, the band
appeared in an infamous "Wayne's World" sketch on Saturday Night Live and
performed their recent hits "Janie's Got a Gun" and "Monkey On My Back". On
September 18, 1990, the band's performance on MTV's Unplugged aired. That
same year, the band was also inducted to the Hollywood Rock Walk. In 1991,
the band appeared on The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe's" and released a box
set entitled Pandora's Box. In 1992, Tyler and Perry appeared live as guests
of Guns N' Roses during their 1992 world-wide pay-per-view in Paris
performing a medley of "Mama Kin" (which GN'R covered in 1986) and "Train
Kept-A Rollin".
The band took a brief break and began recording their follow-up to Pump in
1992. Despite significant shifts in mainstream music at the beginning of the
1990s, the band's 1993 follow-up to Pump, Get a Grip, was just as successful
commercially, becoming their first album to debut at #1 and racking up sales
of 7 million copies in a two-year timespan. The first singles were the hard
rocking "Livin' on the Edge" and "Eat the Rich". Though many critics were
unimpressed by the focus on the subsequent interchangeable power-ballads in
promoting the album, all three ("Cryin'", "Crazy" and "Amazing") proved to
be huge successes on radio and MTV. The music videos featured then
up-and-coming actress Alicia Silverstone; her provocative performances
earned her the title of "the Aerosmith chick" for the first half of the
decade. Steven Tyler's daughter Liv Tyler was also featured in the "Crazy"
video. Get a Grip would go on to sell more than 7 million copies in the U.S.
alone with over 20 million copies worldwide.
During the making of Get a Grip, the management and record company brought
in a variety of professional songwriting collaborators to come in and help
make nearly all the songs on the album have a more commercial appeal, a
trend which would continue until the early 2000s. However, this led to
constant accusations of selling out that would continue throughout the 90s.
In addition to Aerosmith's grueling 18 month world tour in support of Get a
Grip, the band also did a number of things to help promote themselves and
their album and appeal to youth culture, including the appearance of the
band in the movie Wayne's World 2 where they performed two songs, the
appearance of the band and their music in the arcade game and video game
Revolution X, performing at Woodstock '94, using their song "Deuces Are
Wild" in The Beavis & Butt-Head Experience, and opening their own club, The
Mama Kin, in Boston, MA in 1994.
1994 also saw the release of the band's compilation for Geffen Records,
entitled Big Ones featuring all of their biggest hits from Permanent
Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip, as well as three new songs, "Deuces Are
Wild", "Blind Man", and "Walk on Water", all of which experienced great
success on the rock charts.
Aerosmith signed to Columbia Records again in the mid-1990s, but they still
had to complete two contractual albums for Geffen before recording for the
new label...this was later achieved by the label releasing numerous
compilations. The band took time off with their families before working on
their next album, Nine Lives, which was plagued with personnel problems,
including the firing of manager Tim Collins, who according to band members
nearly caused the band to break up. The producer of the album was also
changed from Glen Ballard to Kevin Shirley. Nine Lives was released in March
of 1997. Reviews were generally mixed, and Nine Lives initially fell down
the charts, although it had a long chart life and sold double platinum in
the United States alone, fueled by the singles, "Falling in Love (Is Hard on
the Knees)", the ballad "Hole in My Soul", and the crossover-pop smash
"Pink". It was followed by the 2+ year-long Nine Lives Tour, which was
plagued by problems including lead singer Steven Tyler injuring his leg at a
concert, and Joey Kramer suffering second degree burns when his car caught
fire at a gas station. However, the band also released their only #1 single
to date: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", the love theme from the 1998 film
Armageddon, in which Steven Tyler's daughter Liv starred. The song stayed on
top of the charts for four weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award. The
song helped open Aerosmith up to a new generation and forever solidifed the
band's song as a slow-dance staple. 1998 also saw the release of the
double-live album, A Little South of Sanity, which was culled from
performances on the Get a Grip and Nine Lives tours. The album went platinum
shortly after its release. The band continued with their seemingly-neverending
world tours promoting Nine Lives and the "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
single well into 1999.
In 1999, they were featured in the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World
(and later in 2001 at Euro Disney in the Walt Disney Studios Park) ride,
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, providing the soundtrack and
theme of the ride. On September 9, 1999, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry reunited
with Run-D.M.C. and were also joined by Kid Rock for a collaborative live
performance of "Walk This Way" at the MTV Video Music Awards, a precursor to
the Girls of Summer Tour. The band celebrated the new millennium with a
brief tour of Japan in 2000, and also contributed the song "Angel's Eye" to
the film Charlie's Angels.
2000s
The band entered its next decade by performing at the halftime show for
Super Bowl XXXV, in January 2001, along with pop stars 'N Sync, Britney
Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly. All of the stars collaborated with
Aerosmith at the end for a performance of the group's legendary song "Walk
This Way".
In March of 2001, the band released their 13th studio album Just Push Play.
The album quickly went platinum, fueled by the Top 10 single "Jaded" and the
appearance of the title track in Dodge commercials. They were inducted to
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon after their album was released, in late
March of 2001, after having been nominated in 2000 without getting in. Later
that year, the band performed as part of the United We Stand: What More Can
I Give benefit concert in Washington D.C. for 9/11 victims and their
families. The band flew back to Indianapolis for a show the same night, as
part of their Just Push Play Tour.
The band kicked off 2002 by winding up the Just Push Play tour, and
simultaneously recording segments for their Behind the Music special on VH1,
which not only chronicled the band's history but also the band's current
activities and touring. The special was one of the only Behind the Musics to
run two hours in length. In July 2002, Aerosmith released the 2-disc
career-spanning compilation O, Yeah! The Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, which
featured the new single "Girls of Summer", and embarked on the Girls of
Summer Tour with Kid Rock and Run-D.M.C. opening. That same year, the band
were inducted as MTV Icons, the 2nd act overall to receive the honor.
In 2003, Aerosmith co-headlined with Kiss on the Rocksimus Maximus Tour, in
preparation for release of their blues album.
Their long-promised[18] blues album Honkin' on Bobo was released in 2004.
Honkin' on Bobo continued to be a success for the resurgence of blues and
roots music across the US and Europe.[citation needed] The album was a
return to roots for the band, including recording the album in live
sessions, working with former producer Jack Douglas, and laying down their
blues-rock grit. It was followed by a live DVD, You Gotta Move in December
2004, culled from the first performance on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour. "Dream
On" was also featured in an advertising campaign for Buick in 2004,
targeting that marque's audience which is now composed largely of people who
were teenagers when the song first charted.
2005 saw Steven Tyler appear in the film Be Cool. Joe Perry released his
self-titled solo album that same year. At the 2006 Grammy Awards, he was
nominated for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for the track "Mercy",
but lost to Les Paul. In October 2005, Aerosmith released a CD/DVD Rockin'
the Joint. The band hit the road for the Rockin' the Joint Tour on October
30 with Lenny Kravitz for a fall/winter tour hitting arenas in the largest
U.S. markets. The band planned to tour with Cheap Trick in the spring,
hitting secondary markets in the U.S. Rumors of a tour started when Cheap
Trick frontman Robin Zander joined the band onstage for "Come Together"
during a concert in Tampa, Florida a week before the announcement. Almost
all of this leg of the tour was canceled, however, due to "an illness of a
member of the band". On March 22, 2006, it was publicly announced that lead
singer Steven Tyler needed throat surgery, and the remaining dates on the
tour were subsequently canceled.
Aerosmith commenced recording of a new album on Armed Forces Day 2006.[19]
Tyler and Perry performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra for their annual
July 4 concert on the Esplanade in 2006, a milestone as it was the first
major event or performance since Steven Tyler's throat surgery. Around this
time, the band also announced that they would embark on the Route of All
Evil Tour with Mötley Crüe in fall of 2006.
On August 24, 2006 it was announced that Tom Hamilton was undergoing
treatment for throat cancer. In order to make a full recovery, he sat out
much of the Route of All Evil Tour until he was well again. Former Joe Perry
Project bassist David Hull substituted for Hamilton until his return.
On September 5, 2006, Aerosmith kicked off the Route of All Evil Tour with
Mötley Crüe in Columbus, Ohio. The co-headlining tour took both bands to
amphitheaters across North America through November 24. After that, a select
few arena dates were added, some of which were with Mötley Crüe, some
without. Tom Hamilton returned to the fold officially on December 1st. The
tour ended December 17th.
On October 17, 2006, the compilation album Devil's Got a New Disguise - The
Very Best of Aerosmith was released. The album contained previously released
hits with the addition of 2 new songs, "Devil's Got a New Disguise" and
"Sedona Sunrise", which were older outtakes re-recorded for the album.
"Devil's Got a New Disguise" peaked at #15 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart. The album was intended to fulfill Aerosmith's contract with Sony and
tide fans over until the band's new studio album is released.
In early 2007, the band announced their 2007 World Tour, their first tour
that included dates outside North America or Japan in nearly a decade. The
band performed at London's Hard Rock Cafe in February of 2007 to promote
their European tour which included a night in Hyde Park as part of the Hyde
Park Calling festival sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe. In the spring, the band
toured Latin America to sold-out stadium crowds. In the summer, the band
toured Europe, performing at several major rock festivals and visiting some
countries they had never played before. Additionally, the band played Asian
countries such as the United Arab Emirates and India for the first time
ever. The band will also play a few select dates in California and Canada in
late July. Eight North American dates in September have recently been added.
These shows will be opened by Joan Jett.
In addition to touring, the band is currently working on new material for
their next album, their 15th studio album, which is slated to be released in
spring 2008 (According to an interview with MTV Argentina) which features a
cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star."
Band members
Line-ups
(1970-1971)
* Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, harmonica, percussion
* Joe Perry - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Ray Tabano - rhythm guitar
* Tom Hamilton - bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Joey Kramer - drums, percussion
'Classic' lineup
(1971-1979)
* Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, harmonica, percussion
* Joe Perry - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Brad Whitford - rhythm & lead guitars
* Tom Hamilton - bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Joey Kramer - drums, percussion, backing vocals
(1979-1981)
* Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, harmonica, percussion
* Jimmy Crespo - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Brad Whitford - rhythm & lead guitars
* Tom Hamilton - bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Joey Kramer - drums, percussion, backing vocals
(1981-1984)
* Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, harmonica, percussion
* Jimmy Crespo - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Rick Dufay - rhythm & lead guitars
* Tom Hamilton - bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Joey Kramer - drums, percussion, backing vocals
'Classic' lineup reunion
(1984-present)
* Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, piano, harmonica, percussion
* Joe Perry - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Brad Whitford - rhythm & lead guitars
* Tom Hamilton - bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Joey Kramer - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Touring musicians
* David Hull - bass, backing vocals (September 2006-November 2006)
Discography
Studio albums
* Aerosmith (1973)
* Get Your Wings (1974)
* Toys in the Attic (1975)
* Rocks (1976)
* Draw the Line (1977)
* Night in the Ruts (1979)
* Rock in a Hard Place (1982)
* Done with Mirrors (1985)
* Permanent Vacation (1987)
* Pump (1989)
* Get a Grip (1993)
* Nine Lives (1997)
* Just Push Play (2001)
* Honkin' on Bobo (2004)
Singles
Aerosmith currently has had twenty-one singles reach the Top 40 of the
Billboard Hot 100:
* 1975 "Sweet Emotion" #36
* 1976 "Dream On" (re-issue) #6
* 1976 "Last Child" #21
* 1977 "Walk This Way" #10
* 1977 "Back in the Saddle" #38
* 1978 "Come Together" #23
* 1987 "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" #14
* 1988 "Angel" #3
* 1988 "Rag Doll" #17
* 1989 "Love in an Elevator" #5
* 1990 "Janie's Got a Gun" #4
* 1990 "What It Takes" #9
* 1990 "The Other Side" #22
* 1993 "Livin' on the Edge" #18
* 1993 "Cryin'" #12
* 1994 "Amazing" #24
* 1994 "Crazy" #17
* 1997 "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)" #35
* 1998 "Pink" #27
* 1998 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" #1
* 2001 "Jaded" #7
Musical influences
Artists that influenced Aerosmith
Aerosmith was influenced by several musicians, mostly those incorporating
both blues and rock stylings in their music, including The Beatles, The Who,
Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Chuck Berry, Bo
Diddley, early Fleetwood Mac, James Brown, Janis Joplin, The Kinks, Muddy
Waters, New York Dolls, and The Yardbirds.[20]
Artists influenced by Aerosmith
Aerosmith has been credited with influencing several artists, mostly in the
glam metal, grunge, heavy metal and alternative rock scenes. These artists
include Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Mötley Crüe The Black Crowes,
Poison, Mother Love Bone, Velvet Revolver, Pearl Jam, Ratt, Van Halen,
Nirvana, The Cult, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, L.A. Guns, Great White,
Stone Temple Pilots, Cinderella, Faster Pussycat, Skid Row, W.A.S.P. and
Jackyl.[20]
Miscellaneous
* Aerosmith has been known to play surprise gigs and private shows under
such monikers as "Dr. J. Jones and the Interns" , "The G-Spots" , and "Rayco
and The Seat Covers"
* In 1975, Aerosmith established their home base as "The Wherehouse", a
converted warehouse in Waltham, MA that the band rented out for use as
office space to run band operations out of and as a studio and stage to
record and rehearse.
* In 1977, the band wanted to rent a Convair 240 that had been previously
used by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Aerosmith's flight crew inspected
the plane for possible use in the early summer of 1977, but it was rejected
because it was felt that neither the plane nor the crew were up to
standards. In an interview in the book Walk This Way, Aerosmith's assistant
chief of flight operations Zunk Buker tells of seeing pilots McCreary and
Gray trading a bottle of Jack Daniels back and forth while Buker and his
father were inspecting the plane. Unfortunately, the plane that they wanted
to rent crashed, killing three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and severely
injuring most of the rest of the band. When Aerosmith's crew heard of their
tragic misfortune, they were shocked, but not necessarily surprised.
Aerosmith's touring family was also relieved because the band, specifically
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, had been trying to pressure their management
into renting that specific plane.
* William Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts, officially declared
April 13 to be "Aerosmith Day" in 1993.
References
1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifpxqw5ldae~T00
2. ^ Bradenton.com
3. ^ Hob.com
4. ^ MovieNetworks.com
5. ^ Douglas, S. and Aerosmith: "Walk This Way", page 1-15. Avon, 1997
6. ^ RIAA.com
7. ^ RIAA.com
8. ^ Billboard Boxscore
9. ^ MTV.com
10. ^ Aerosmith. Slash. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
11. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling
Stone.
12. ^ MTV.com
13. ^ Allmusic.com
14. ^ RollingStone.com
15. ^ Blabbermouth.net
16. ^ CDUniverse.com
17. ^ Blender.com
18. ^ Allmusic.com
19. ^ Yahoo.com
20. ^ a b Allmusic.com
Further reading
* Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith by Stephen Douglas and
Aerosmith
read the
copyright
|