Aerosmith
Encyclopedia
Aerosmith is an American rock
band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues
-based hard rock
, has come to also incorporate elements of pop
, heavy metal
, and rhythm and blues
, and has inspired many subsequent rock artists. The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry
and bassist Tom Hamilton
, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler
, drummer Joey Kramer
, and guitarist Ray Tabano
, and formed Aerosmith. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford
, and the band began developing a following in Boston.
They were signed to Columbia Records
in 1972, and released a string of multi-platinum albums, beginning with their 1973 eponymous debut album
, followed by their 1974 album Get Your Wings
. In 1975, the band broke into the mainstream with the album Toys in the Attic
, and their 1976 follow-up Rocks
cemented their status as hard rock superstars. The band released two more albums, toured extensively, and charted a string of Hot 100 singles. By the end of the 1970s, they were among the most popular hard rock bands in the world and developed a loyal following of fans, often referred to as the "Blue Army
". However, drug addiction and internal conflict took their toll on the band, which resulted in the departures of Perry and Whitford, in 1979 and 1981 respectively. They were replaced by Jimmy Crespo
and Rick Dufay
. The band did not fare well between 1980 and 1984, releasing a lone album, Rock in a Hard Place
, which went gold but failed to match their previous successes.
Perry and Whitford returned in 1984 and the band signed a new deal with Geffen Records
. After a comeback tour, the band recorded Done with Mirrors
(1985), which won some critical praise but failed to come close to commercial expectations. It was not until the band sobered up and released 1987's Permanent Vacation
that they regained the level of popularity they had experienced in the 1970s. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and won numerous awards for music from the multi-platinum albums Pump
(1989), Get a Grip
(1993), and Nine Lives
(1997). The band also became a pop culture phenomenon with popular music videos and notable appearances in television, film, and video games. Their comeback has been described as one of the most remarkable and spectacular in rock 'n' roll history. Additional albums followed in 2001 and 2004. After years of performing, the band continues to tour and record music. The band's next album is expected to be released in the spring of 2012.
Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum
albums by an American group. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100
, nine number-one Mainstream Rock
hits, four Grammy Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards
. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2001, and were included among both Rolling Stones and VH1's lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
formed his own band called The Strangeurs—later Chain Reaction— in New Hampshire
. Meanwhile, Perry and Hamilton formed the Jam Band (commonly known as "Joe Perry's Jam Band"), which was based on free-form and blues. Hamilton and Perry moved to Boston, Massachusetts in September. There they met Joey Kramer
, a drummer from Yonkers, New York. Kramer had known Steven Tyler and had always hoped to play in a band with him. Kramer, a Berklee College of Music
student, decided to quit school to join Jam Band. In 1970, Chain Reaction and Jam Band played at the same gig. Tyler immediately loved Jam Band's sound, and wanted to combine the two bands. In October 1970, the bands met up again and considered the proposition. Steven Tyler, who had been a drummer and backup singer in Chain Reaction, adamantly refused to play drums in this new band, insisting he would only take part if he could be the frontman and lead vocalist. The others agreed, and a new band was born, although it was still missing a name.
The members of the band reportedly spent afternoons getting stoned and watching Three Stooges
reruns. One day, they had a post-Stooges meeting to try to come up with a name. Kramer said that when he was in school he would write the word aerosmith all over his notebooks. The name had popped into his head after listening to Harry Nilsson
's album Aerial Ballet
, which featured jacket art of a circus performer jumping out of a biplane. Initially, Kramer's bandmates were nonplussed; they all thought he was referring to the Sinclair Lewis novel
they were forced to read in high school English class. "No, not Arrowsmith," Kramer explained. "A-E-R-O...Aerosmith." The band settled upon this name after also considering "The bananas" and "Spike Jones."
Soon, the band added Ray Tabano
, a childhood friend of Tyler, as rhythm guitarist and began playing local shows. Aerosmith played their first gig in Mendon, Massachusetts
at Nipmuc Regional High School
(now Miscoe Hill Elementary School) on November 6, 1970. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford
, who also attended the Berklee School of Music and was formerly of the band Earth Inc. Brad Whitford, being from Reading, Massachusetts
, had played at Reading's AW Coolidge Middle School
. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, the line-up of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Kramer, and Whitford has stayed the same.
President Clive Davis
to see the band at Max's Kansas City
in New York City. Aerosmith was not originally scheduled to play that night at the club, but they paid from their own pockets to secure a place on the bill, reportedly the only band ever to do so at Max's. "No Surprize" off their Night in the Ruts
album celebrates the moment their fame began. Aerosmith signed with Columbia in mid-1972 for a reported $125,000 and issued their debut album, Aerosmith
. Released in January 1973, the album peaked at number 166. 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 number 59, several tracks (such as "Mama Kin
" and "Walkin' the Dog") would become staples of the band's live shows and receive airplay on rock radio. The album reached gold status initially, eventually went on to sell two million copies, and was certified double platinum after the band reached mainstream success over a decade later. 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 album included the rock radio hits "Same Old Song and Dance
" and "Train Kept A-Rollin'
", a cover done previously by The Yardbirds
. The album also contained 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 in part due to the physical resemblance between lead singers Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger
, Toys in the Attic showed that Aerosmith was a unique and 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 number 6, becoming their best charting single of the 1970s. "Walk This Way
", re-released in 1976, reached the Top 10 in early 1977.
In addition, "Toys in the Attic
" and "Big Ten Inch Record" (a song originally recorded by Bull Moose Jackson
) became concert 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. The band toured in support of Toys in the Attic, where they started to get more recognition. Also around this time, the band established their home base as "The Wherehouse
" in Waltham, Massachusetts
, where they would record and rehearse music, as well as conduct business.
Rocks, Draw the Line, and Live! Bootleg (1976–78) Aerosmith's next album was 1976's Rocks
, which "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". It went platinum swiftly and featured two FM
hits, "Last Child
" and "Back in the Saddle
", as well as the ballad "Home Tonight
", which also charted. 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 Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
, and are cited by members of Guns N' Roses
, Metallica
, and Mötley Crüe
as having large influences on their music. 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.
Aerosmith's next album was 1977's Draw the Line. The album was considered a step back from the group's previous two efforts, due to the hectic lifestyles and excesses of the band members, but still had more memorable moments than not. The title track Draw the Line (still a live staple), and "Kings and Queens
" charted. The album went on to sell 2 million copies; however drug abuse
and the fast-paced life of touring and recording began affecting their output. 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 during the heyday of the Draw the Line tour. The stand-alone single "Chip Away the Stone
" was also released in 1978 and charted at number 77. Lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry became known as "The Toxic Twins" because of their notorious abuse of drugs on and off the stage.
, Joe Perry left the band and formed The Joe Perry Project
. Perry was replaced first by longtime band friend and songwriter Richard Supa and then by guitarist Jimmy Crespo
(formerly of the band Flame). Night in the Ruts quickly fell off the charts (although it would eventually go platinum several years later), its only single being a cover of The Shangri-Las
' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", which topped out at number 67.
The band continued to tour in support of Night in the Ruts with new guitarist Jimmy Crespo onboard, but by 1981, the band's popularity had waned. Steven Tyler collapsed onstage during a performance in Portland, Maine
in early 1980. Also in 1980, Aerosmith released its Greatest Hits album. The album has gone on to become the band's bestselling album in the United States, with sales of 11 million copies. In the fall of 1980, Tyler was injured in a serious motorcycle accident, which left him hospitalized for two months, and unable to tour or record well into 1981. In 1981, the band suffered another loss with the departure of Brad Whitford who recorded Whitford/St. Holmes
with former Ted Nugent
vocalist/guitarist Derek St. Holmes
. 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 commercially weak, only going gold, and produced only a moderate hit single, "Lightning Strikes." During the tour for Rock in a Hard Place, Tyler again collapsed on stage, this time at the band's homecoming show in Worcester, Massachusetts
, after getting high with Joe Perry, who met with Aerosmith backstage that evening.
On February 14, 1984, Perry and Whitford saw Aerosmith perform at Boston's Orpheum Theater, which in turn led to their official re-induction into the ranks of the band two months later. Steven Tyler recalls:
, which led to the live album Classics Live II. While concerts on the tour were well-attended, it was plagued with several incidents, mostly attributed to drug abuse by band members. 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.
In 1985 the band signed a new record contract with Geffen Records
and released the album Done with Mirrors
, their first studio album since reuniting. While the album did receive some positive reviews, it only went gold and failed to produce a hit single or generate any widespread interest. 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, Tyler and Perry appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of "Walk This Way
", a track blending rock and roll with hip hop
. In reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song and its frequently aired associated video confirmed rap's mainstream appeal and resurrected Aerosmith's career by introducing the band's music to a new generation.
Yet the band members' drug problems still stood in their way. In 1986, Tyler completed a successful drug rehabilitation
program, at the direction of his fellow band members and manager Tim Collins
, who believed that the band's future would not be bright if Tyler did not get treated. The rest of the band members also completed drug rehab programs over the course of the next couple of years. According to the band's tell-all autobiography, Collins pledged in September 1986 he could make Aerosmith the biggest band in the world by 1990 if they all completed drug rehab. Their next album was crucial because of the commercial disappointment of Done With Mirrors, and as the band members became clean, they worked hard to make their next album a success.
was released in September 1987, becoming a major hit and the band's bestselling album in over a decade (selling 5 million copies in the U.S.), with all three of its singles ("Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
", "Rag Doll
", and "Angel
") reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. The group went on a subsequent tour
with labelmates Guns N' Roses
(who have cited Aerosmith as a major influence), which was intense at times because of Aerosmith's new struggle to stay clean amidst Guns N' Roses' well-publicized, rampant drug use.
Aerosmith's next album was even more successful. Pump
, released in September 1989, featured three Top Ten singles: "What It Takes", "Janie's Got a Gun
", and "Love in an Elevator
", as well as the Top 30 "The Other Side
", re-establishing the band as a serious musical force. Pump was a critical and commercial success, eventually selling 7 million copies, spawning several music videos that were in regular rotation on MTV
, and achieving four-star ratings from major music magazines. The band also won its first Grammy
in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for "Janie's Got a Gun". The recording process for Pump was documented in the video The Making of Pump
, which has since been re-released as a DVD. The music videos for the album's singles were featured on the release Things That Go Pump in the Night
, which quickly went platinum.
In support of Pump, the band embarked on the 12-month Pump Tour
, which lasted for most of 1990. On February 21, 1990, the band appeared in a "Wayne's World
" sketch on Saturday Night Live
, debating the fall of communism and the Soviet Union, and performed their recent hits "Janie's Got a Gun
" and "Monkey on My Back
". On August 11, 1990, the band's performance on MTV's Unplugged
aired. In October 1990, the Pump Tour ended, with the band's first ever performances in Australia. That same year, the band was also inducted to the Hollywood Rock Walk. In November 1991, the band appeared on The Simpsons
episode "Flaming Moe's
" and released a box set titled Pandora's Box
. In 1992, Tyler and Perry appeared live as guests of Guns N' Roses
during the latter's 1992 worldwide pay-per-view show in Paris, performing a medley of "Mama Kin" (which GN'R covered in 1986) and "Train Kept-A Rollin".
was just as successful commercially, becoming their first album to debut at number 1 and racking up sales of 7 million copies in a two-and-a-half-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, and over 20 million copies worldwide. The band won two Grammy Awards for songs from this album in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
: for "Livin' on the Edge" in 1994 and "Crazy" in 1995.
During the making of Get a Grip, the management and record company brought in a variety of professional songwriting collaborators to help give nearly all the songs on the album more commercial appeal, a trend which would continue until the early 2000s. However, this led to 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 video games Revolution X
and Quest for Fame
, performing at Woodstock '94
, using their song "Deuces Are Wild
" in The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience
, and opening their own club, The Mama Kin Music Hall, in Boston, MA in 1994. That same year saw the release of the band's compilation for Geffen Records
, entitled Big Ones
featuring 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.
/Sony Music in 1991, but had only recorded three of their six contractual albums with Geffen Records
at that point (Done with Mirrors, Permanent Vacation, and Pump). Between 1991 and 1996, they released two more albums with Geffen (Get a Grip and Big Ones), which meant they now had five albums with Geffen under their belt (along with a planned live compilation), which meant they could now begin recording for their new contract with Columbia. 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, had nearly caused the band to break up. The album's producer was also changed from Glen Ballard
to Kevin Shirley
. Nine Lives was released in March 1997. Reviews were 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 its singles, "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
", the ballad "Hole in My Soul
", and the crossover-pop smash "Pink
" (which won the band their fourth Grammy Award
in 1999 in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
category). It was followed by the over two-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.
In 1998, in the midst of setbacks during the Nine Lives Tour, the band released the single "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
", the love theme, written by Diane Warren
(with uncredited support from Joe Perry), for the 1998 film Armageddon, starring Steven Tyler's daughter Liv
. The song became Aerosmith's first and only number 1 single when it debuted at the top position on the Billboard Hot 100
and stayed on top of the charts for four weeks. The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 1999. The song helped open Aerosmith up to a new generation and remains a slow-dance staple. 1998 also saw the release of the double-live album, A Little South of Sanity
, which was assembled 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, Aerosmith was featured in the Disney Hollywood Studios
at Walt Disney World (and later in 2001 at Disneyland Paris in the Walt Disney Studios Park
) ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, providing the ride's soundtrack and theme. 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
, and also contributed the song "Angel's Eye
" to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
. In the fall of 2000, they started work on their next album.
The band entered their 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 "Walk This Way
".
In March 2001, the band released their 13th studio album Just Push Play
, which 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 2001. Aerosmith is the only band to be inducted to the Hall of Fame with a song active in the charts ("Jaded"). 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 started 2002 by ending 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 few Behind the Musics to run two hours in length. In May, Aerosmith covered the "Theme from Spider-Man" for the soundtrack of the 2002 film of the same name
. On June 27, the band performed a collaboration live with B'z
. While FIFA
offered Aerosmith to perform for the event, the band accepted the offer with the condition of going on the stage along with B'z
. In July 2002, Aerosmith released a two-disc career-spanning compilation O, Yeah! 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. O, Yeah! has since been certified double platinum. MTV honored Aerosmith with their mtvICON
award in 2002. Performances included Pink
covering "Janie's Got a Gun". Shakira
performed "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", Kid Rock
played "Mama Kin" and "Last Child", Train
performed "Dream On" and Papa Roach
covered "Sweet Emotion". In addition, testimonials featured surprise guests Metallica
, as well as Janet Jackson
, Limp Bizkit
singer Fred Durst
, Alicia Silverstone
and Mila Kunis
.
In 2003, Aerosmith co-headlined with Kiss
on the Rocksimus Maximus Tour
, in preparation for release of their blues album. They also performed a song for Rugrats Go Wild, "Lizard Love".
was released in 2004. This was a return to the band's roots, 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 performances on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour
. "Dream On" was also featured in an advertising campaign for Buick
in 2004, targeting that marque's market 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 of 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. Almost all of this leg of the tour was canceled, however. Dates were initially canceled one by one until March 22, 2006, when it was announced that lead singer Steven Tyler needed throat surgery, and the remaining dates on the tour were subsequently canceled.
Aerosmith commenced recording a new album on Armed Forces Day 2006. 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 late 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. The tour ended December 17.
On October 17, 2006, the compilation album Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith was released. The album contained previous hits with the addition of two 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 number 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 was released.
, their first for nearly a decade to include dates outside North America or Japan. The band performed at London's Hard Rock Cafe
in February 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 in Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates
and India for the first time. The band also played a few select dates in California and Canada in late July. One such date, a July 21 concert in Prince Edward Island
, was the largest in that province's history. In September, the band performed eight dates in major markets in Northeastern North America. These shows were opened by Joan Jett
. The band also played a private gig in Hawaii. A public show in Maui
was canceled for logistical reasons, which spurred a class action lawsuit against the band. In April 2009, Aerosmith agreed to compensate all ticket buyers of the canceled show with a free ticket to a rescheduled Maui show to be held on October 20, 2009, along with reimbursements of all out-of-pocket expenses related to the show.
On November 1, 2007, the band entered the studio to work on the final studio album of their current contract with Sony. At the time, it was believed that the album would include both re-recorded tracks left off previous albums as well as brand new material. In an interview, guitarist Joe Perry revealed that in addition to creating a new album, the band was working closely with the makers of the Guitar Hero series to develop Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
, a video game dedicated to the band's music. The game was released on June 29, 2008 and contains many of their most popular songs. Steven Tyler announced on VH1 Classic Radio on September 4, 2008 that Aerosmith intends to enter the studio at the end of September 2008 to complete the band's 15th studio album. It will be the band's first album of original material since 2001's Just Push Play. Tyler also confirmed that the band plans to begin a new U.S. tour in June 2009, in support of the as-yet-untitled album. This tour was supposed to be preceded by a concert in Venezuela on February 1, 2009. However, on January 15, 2009, Tyler said the band would be unable to play the gig because of a second knee injury of guitarist Joe Perry. In mid-February 2009, it was announced that the album would be produced by the famed Brendan O’Brien
and that the album would likely be recorded live, like their earlier records. Although the band had hoped to finish the album before the tour
started in June 2009, Perry said that the group "realized there wasn't any chance of getting [the album] finished before we hit the road for the summer." The tour featured ZZ Top
as the opening act for most of the tour. The Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
, presented by Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, was officially announced and the first dates released on April 8, 2009.
The tour was slated to take the band across North America from June to September 2009. The tour featured the band perform nearly all of the songs on the band's 1975 album Toys in the Attic
during the first seven dates of the tour and also featured Joe Perry sing lead vocals on the 1976 deep cut
"Combination". The tour was plagued with several health problems, however. Guitarist Brad Whitford
had to sit out the first seven dates of the tour in order to recover from head surgery, after injuring his head getting out of his car. On June 28, 2009, at the band's seventh show of the tour at the Mohegan Sun Arena
in Uncasville, Connecticut
, lead singer Steven Tyler
injured his leg, which required seven shows to be postponed. As soon as the band resumed the tour on July 15, Whitford returned to the fold. However, Tom Hamilton
had to depart the tour in order to recover from non-invasive surgery. On August 5, 2009, Tyler was rushed to the hospital after falling from the stage at a concert in Sturgis, South Dakota
. He was helped up by security staff and taken backstage, before guitarist Joe Perry told the audience the show was over. Tyler was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital, where he received treatment for head and neck injuries and a broken shoulder. In the wake of Tyler's injuries, the band was forced to postpone five shows in Western Canada. On August 14, 2009, Aerosmith announced that they had decided to cancel the rest of their U.S. tour dates with ZZ Top, due to Tyler's injuries.
In the midst of the tour, Perry completed work on his fifth solo album, Have Guitar, Will Travel and drummer Joey Kramer
released his autobiography, Hit Hard. Perry's solo album was released on October 6, 2009.
After Tyler recovered from falling off stage, the band returned to the stage in mid-October for two shows in Hawaii, one in Maui
which was rescheduled from 2007 and finally played as part of a legal settlement, and an additional show which was played in Honolulu. In early November, the band played a concert in Abu Dhabi
at the Grand Prix
.
In November 2009, Joe Perry stated that Tyler had not been in contact with the band and could be on the verge of quitting Aerosmith. Perry stated that the rest of the group was "looking for a new singer to work with." It had also been reported that singer Lenny Kravitz
had been approached for Steven Tyler's position, which he then declined.
However, despite the rumors of him leaving the band, Tyler joined The Joe Perry Project onstage on November 10, 2009 at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, and Tyler and Perry performed the Aerosmith single "Walk This Way
" together. According to sources at the event, Tyler assured the crowd that he was "not quitting Aerosmith."
On December 22, People
magazine reported that Tyler had entered a rehabilitation facility to manage his addiction to painkillers, brought on by injuries to his knees, legs, and feet, that resulted from years of performing. In his statement, Tyler said he is grateful for the support he is receiving, is committed to getting things taken care of, and is eager to get back on stage and in the recording studio with his bandmates.
On January 20, 2010, Perry confirmed the band were about to audition for a new singer to replace Tyler. Perry said that Tyler's surgery to his legs would "take him out of the picture" for up to a year and a half, and in the meantime, the rest of the band wanted to continue performing. Perry also said that the band would be willing to continue working with Tyler in the future if the singer wanted to. In response, Tyler's attorney sent the band and its manager a "cease and desist" letter and threatened further legal action against both if the band did not discontinue this effort to replace Tyler.
On February 15, 2010, it was announced that Aerosmith were to headline Download Festival
at Donington Park
, England in June 2010. Steven Tyler was confirmed as the frontman for the show by festival promoter Andy Copping. It was also announced that the band would precede the June 13 date with an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival
on June 10 in Sölvesborg
. During the Donington show, Perry celebrated Tyler's position as frontman, dubbing him "the best frontman in rock and roll". On February 24, the band announced the first batch of dates for their upcoming Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour
. The tour saw the band play seven dates in South and Central America in May, followed by eleven dates in Europe, in June and early July. The band performed in Colombia, Peru and Greece for the first time in their careers on this tour. The band also performed 24 concerts in North America in late July, August, and September. Many of the concerts were in locations the band canceled on in 2009. As part of the tour, the band played Fenway Park
in Boston with fellow Bostonians the J. Geils Band
.
Problems on the band's Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour arose in August 2010, including Steven Tyler accidentally hitting Joe Perry in the head with his microphone stand at a show in Wantagh, New York
and Perry bumping into Tyler at the Toronto
show, which caused Tyler to tumble off the stage. Perry suffered a minor head injury at the Wantagh show and Tyler was helped back up by fans and Perry at the Toronto show, and both shows went on.
Around the same time as these incidents, tension flared again between Perry and Tyler due to Tyler's plans to become a talent judge on American Idol
. Perry criticized Tyler for not consulting the rest of the band, saying that he "found out on the internet, like the rest of the world" and that nobody else in the band knew anything about it. On August 18, it was reported that Tyler officially signed on with the show. When asked about this in October, Perry declared he understood Tyler's reasons and wished him luck, but stated that he would seek different projects - "I'm tired of waiting around, so I'm not passing up anything right now".
While announcing the Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour in 2009, Tyler and Perry said that the next item on the agenda was a new Aerosmith album, the group's first since 2004's Honkin' on Bobo. The group did some recording with producer Brendan O'Brien in 2008 but halted because of Tyler's health problems. On November 5, 2010, Brad Whitford said the recording sessions will probably be in Los Angeles, where American Idol is headquartered, and a world tour would follow.
Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald
in September 2010 that Tyler believes he has the time and energy to continue fronting the band while also being a judge on American Idol. Hamilton explained, "Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record. He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that's the way it will come out."
In a November 2010 interview reported at NME.com, drummer Joey Kramer
confirmed that the band had every intention to finish and release their long-delayed album in 2011, stating, "Really, at this point in time, the only thing that's going to stop us is if someone out-and-out dies. Other than that, we've already been through what we've been through and stood the test of time. What else is there?" On January 18, 2011, Tyler declared that "Joe (Perry) has got some licks and I've got a bunch of songs that I've written for solo and/or Aerosmith" and the band would start prepping the album that week.
On March 20, 2011, Aerosmith announced a new greatest hits album, Tough Love: Best Of The Ballads
, to be released on May 10, 2011. On May 14, 2011, the band announced a tour of Latin America in the fall of 2011. In June, Joe Perry announced that the band is going to meet at the recording studio to produce the next album of the band in July. On August 30, it was announced that the new album will be released around May 2012. The album will be produced by Jack Douglas
, who produced four albums for the band in the 1970s. Aerosmith began their fall tour of Latin America and Japan
on October 22 in Lima, Peru. As part of the tour, the band performed in Paraguay
, Panama
, and Ecuador
for the first time in their careers. Their show in Asuncion, Paraguay was postponed a day, after lead singer Steven Tyler sustained facial injuries after falling in his hotel room shower, due to a bout of food poisoning that dehydrated him and caused him to faint.
Former members
:
. Later, when the band resurrected itself in the late 1980s and 1990s, Aerosmith made further appearances, including the "Wayne's World
" sketch on Saturday Night Live
in 1990, the "Flaming Moe's
" episode of The Simpsons
in 1991, and the film Wayne's World 2
in 1993. The band has also been featured in the 2005 hit comedy Be Cool
, starring John Travolta
, Uma Thurman
, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Cedric the Entertainer
and Vince Vaughn
. Steven Tyler
plays a major role, helping Chili Palmer (Travolta
) and Edie Athens (Thurman
) bring pop music star Linda Moon (Christina Milian
) into the limelight.
The band has been the subject of several video games including Revolution X
in 1994, Quest for Fame
in 1995, and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
, in June 2008. The band has also made over 30 major music videos, and released seven home videos or DVDs.
for the re-mix of "Walk This Way
" with Run-D.M.C.
. In 1990, Aerosmith won their first Grammy award, for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and went on to win a total of four such awards (all of them in the 1990s) for "Janie's Got a Gun
", "Livin' on the Edge
", "Crazy
", and "Pink
". Aerosmith is second only to U2
in the number of awards won in that category.
In addition, Aerosmith's music videos won numerous awards throughout the 1990s. Aerosmith ranks as the fourth most successful artist of all-time at the MTV Video Music Awards
(VMAs), with ten such awards to date. Aerosmith is also the all-time leader in the categories Best Rock Video
(with four such awards) and Viewer's Choice
(with three such awards). Aerosmith has also won once each in the categories Video of the Year, Best Group Video
, and Best Video from a Film
. The videos for which Aerosmith has won VMAs are "Janie's Got a Gun" (2 awards), "The Other Side
", "Livin' on the Edge", "Cryin'" (3 awards), "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
", "Pink", and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
".
Over the course of their career (primarily 1990 and after), Aerosmith has also collected seven American Music Awards
, four Billboard Music Awards, two People's Choice Awards
, sixteen Boston Music Awards
, and numerous other awards and honors. Some of the high accolades Aerosmith have achieved include induction into Hollywood's Rock Walk in 1990, a declaration of "Aerosmith Day" in the state of Massachusetts
by then-Governor William Weld
on April 13, 1993, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2001, and being honored with the mtvICON
award in 2002.
In the fields of technology and video games, Aerosmith has achieved several feats. In 1994, Aerosmith released the song "Head First" on the CompuServe online service, which is considered to be the first full-length commercial product available online. In 2008, Aerosmith became the first artist to have an entire Guitar Hero video game based around them with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
.
Aerosmith also holds several chart and album sales feats, including the second highest number of number one singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart for a group with nine, the only number one debut on the Billboard Hot 100
by a rock group with "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", and the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group. From the Recording Industry Association of America
, Aerosmith has achieved 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum album certifications, in addition to one diamond album and four gold singles. Media often refer to Aerosmith, who have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide and 66.5 million in the United States, as the best-selling American rock band.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-based hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, has come to also incorporate elements of pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, and rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, and has inspired many subsequent rock artists. The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
and bassist Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (musician)
Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
, drummer Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
, and guitarist Ray Tabano
Ray Tabano
Ray Tabano is a musician and former Aerosmith guitarist. Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971....
, and formed Aerosmith. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford
Brad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
, and the band began developing a following in Boston.
They were signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1972, and released a string of multi-platinum albums, beginning with their 1973 eponymous debut album
Aerosmith (album)
Aerosmith is the eponymous debut album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in January 1973 by Columbia Records. The song "Walkin' the Dog" is a cover song originally performed by Rufus Thomas. Also featured on the album is "Dream On" which became an American top ten single when...
, followed by their 1974 album Get Your Wings
Get Your Wings
-Side two:-Song information:Same Old Song and Dance*Built around a riff Joe Perry came up with while sitting on his amp, Steven Tyler quickly came up with the verse riff. The song appears in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock...
. In 1975, the band broke into the mainstream with the album Toys in the Attic
Toys in the Attic (album)
For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
, and their 1976 follow-up Rocks
Rocks (album)
Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time...
cemented their status as hard rock superstars. The band released two more albums, toured extensively, and charted a string of Hot 100 singles. By the end of the 1970s, they were among the most popular hard rock bands in the world and developed a loyal following of fans, often referred to as the "Blue Army
Blue Army (Aerosmith)
Blue Army is a term that refers to American hard rock band Aerosmith's loyal fanbase.-Overview:The term was originally coined by the band. According to Aerosmith's autobiography Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith, the term first came into fruition around 1975...
". However, drug addiction and internal conflict took their toll on the band, which resulted in the departures of Perry and Whitford, in 1979 and 1981 respectively. They were replaced by Jimmy Crespo
Jimmy Crespo
James "Jimmy" Crespo Jr. is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. Jimmy co-wrote Rock in a Hard Place with Steven Tyler...
and Rick Dufay
Rick Dufay
Richard Marc "Rick" Dufay is a guitarist who played in Aerosmith in the period after Brad Whitford left the band in 1980 up to his return in 1984....
. The band did not fare well between 1980 and 1984, releasing a lone album, Rock in a Hard Place
Rock in a Hard Place
-Notes:The track "Cry Me a River" is a cover written by Arthur Hamilton.The last track of the album, "Push Comes to Shove" is about Tyler's then girlfriend and future wife Teresa Barrick and her twin sister Lisa.-Band:...
, which went gold but failed to match their previous successes.
Perry and Whitford returned in 1984 and the band signed a new deal with Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. After a comeback tour, the band recorded Done with Mirrors
Done with Mirrors
Done with Mirrors is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released November 9, 1985. The release marked the return to the band of Joe Perry, who had left the group in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who had left the band in 1981. It was also the band's first album released by Geffen...
(1985), which won some critical praise but failed to come close to commercial expectations. It was not until the band sobered up and released 1987's Permanent Vacation
Permanent Vacation (album)
Permanent Vacation is the ninth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in August 1987 by Geffen Records.The album marks a turning point in the band's career. It is their first album to employ professional songwriters, instead of featuring material solely composed by members of the...
that they regained the level of popularity they had experienced in the 1970s. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and won numerous awards for music from the multi-platinum albums Pump
Pump (album)
*After the end of "What It Takes" there is a brief, untitled, instrumental hidden track composed and performed by Randy Raine-Reusch. This was not included on all the releases in all countries.-Bonus track :-Lawsuit:...
(1989), Get a Grip
Get a Grip
Get a Grip is the 11th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. Get a Grip was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records....
(1993), and Nine Lives
Nine Lives (Aerosmith album)
-Bonus track :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Artwork:...
(1997). The band also became a pop culture phenomenon with popular music videos and notable appearances in television, film, and video games. Their comeback has been described as one of the most remarkable and spectacular in rock 'n' roll history. Additional albums followed in 2001 and 2004. After years of performing, the band continues to tour and record music. The band's next album is expected to be released in the spring of 2012.
Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
albums by an American group. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, nine number-one Mainstream Rock
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
hits, four Grammy Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 2001, and were included among both Rolling Stones and VH1's lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Formation (1969–71)
In 1964, Steven TylerSteven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
formed his own band called The Strangeurs—later Chain Reaction— in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Meanwhile, Perry and Hamilton formed the Jam Band (commonly known as "Joe Perry's Jam Band"), which was based on free-form and blues. Hamilton and Perry moved to Boston, Massachusetts in September. There they met Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
, a drummer from Yonkers, New York. Kramer had known Steven Tyler and had always hoped to play in a band with him. Kramer, a Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
student, decided to quit school to join Jam Band. In 1970, Chain Reaction and Jam Band played at the same gig. Tyler immediately loved Jam Band's sound, and wanted to combine the two bands. In October 1970, the bands met up again and considered the proposition. Steven Tyler, who had been a drummer and backup singer in Chain Reaction, adamantly refused to play drums in this new band, insisting he would only take part if he could be the frontman and lead vocalist. The others agreed, and a new band was born, although it was still missing a name.
The members of the band reportedly spent afternoons getting stoned and watching Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
reruns. One day, they had a post-Stooges meeting to try to come up with a name. Kramer said that when he was in school he would write the word aerosmith all over his notebooks. The name had popped into his head after listening to Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
's album Aerial Ballet
Aerial Ballet
Aerial Ballet is the third album by Harry Nilsson released in 1968.Aerial Ballet was Nilsson's second album for RCA Victor, and was titled after the highwire circus act of his grandparents. It consists almost entirely of songs written by him, including "One", which later became a Number Five hit...
, which featured jacket art of a circus performer jumping out of a biplane. Initially, Kramer's bandmates were nonplussed; they all thought he was referring to the Sinclair Lewis novel
Arrowsmith (novel)
Arrowsmith is a novel by American author and playwright Sinclair Lewis that was published in 1925. It won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for Lewis but he refused to accept it. Lewis was greatly assisted in its preparation by science writer Dr. Paul de Kruif, who received 25% of the royalties on sales, but...
they were forced to read in high school English class. "No, not Arrowsmith," Kramer explained. "A-E-R-O...Aerosmith." The band settled upon this name after also considering "The bananas" and "Spike Jones."
Soon, the band added Ray Tabano
Ray Tabano
Ray Tabano is a musician and former Aerosmith guitarist. Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971....
, a childhood friend of Tyler, as rhythm guitarist and began playing local shows. Aerosmith played their first gig in Mendon, Massachusetts
Mendon, Massachusetts
Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,839 at the 2010 census.Mendon is very historic and is now part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, the oldest industrialized region in the United States.- Early history :The Nipmuc people...
at Nipmuc Regional High School
Nipmuc Regional High School
Nipmuc Regional High School is a public high school in Upton, Massachusetts, part of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District.Nipmuc High School was home to the first gig of the American rock band Aerosmith on November 6, 1970.- External links :*...
(now Miscoe Hill Elementary School) on November 6, 1970. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford
Brad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
, who also attended the Berklee School of Music and was formerly of the band Earth Inc. Brad Whitford, being from Reading, Massachusetts
Reading, Massachusetts
Reading is an affluent town situated in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, some north of central Boston. The population was 24,747 at the 2010 census.-Settlement and Independence:...
, had played at Reading's AW Coolidge Middle School
Coolidge Middle School (Reading, Massachusetts)
A.W Coolidge Middle School is a public middle school in Reading, Massachusetts, USA. It was named after Arthur W. Coolidge, a Massachusetts politician who served multiple positions within the state government and was fourth cousin to U.S. President John Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge Middle is managed...
. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, the line-up of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Kramer, and Whitford has stayed the same.
Record deal, Aerosmith, Get Your Wings, and Toys in the Attic (1971–75)
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, the band signed a promotion deal with Frank Connelly and eventually secured a management deal with David Krebs and Steve Leber in 1972. Krebs and Leber invited Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
President Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
to see the band at Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
in New York City. Aerosmith was not originally scheduled to play that night at the club, but they paid from their own pockets to secure a place on the bill, reportedly the only band ever to do so at Max's. "No Surprize" off their Night in the Ruts
Night in the Ruts
-Side two:-Personnel:*Steven Tyler - lead vocals*Joe Perry - guitar, backing vocals*Brad Whitford - guitar*Tom Hamilton - bass*Joey Kramer - drums-Additional personnel:*Jimmy Crespo - additional guitars*Richie Supa - additional guitars - "Mia"...
album celebrates the moment their fame began. Aerosmith signed with Columbia in mid-1972 for a reported $125,000 and issued their debut album, Aerosmith
Aerosmith (album)
Aerosmith is the eponymous debut album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in January 1973 by Columbia Records. The song "Walkin' the Dog" is a cover song originally performed by Rufus Thomas. Also featured on the album is "Dream On" which became an American top ten single when...
. Released in January 1973, the album peaked at number 166. The album was straightforward rock and roll with well-defined blues influences, laying the groundwork for Aerosmith's signature blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
sound. Although the highest charting single from the album was "Dream On
Dream On (Aerosmith song)
"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
" at number 59, several tracks (such as "Mama Kin
Mama Kin
"Mama Kin" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith, which appeared on its debut self-titled album. The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler.-Song structure:...
" and "Walkin' the Dog") would become staples of the band's live shows and receive airplay on rock radio. The album reached gold status initially, eventually went on to sell two million copies, and was certified double platinum after the band reached mainstream success over a decade later. After constant touring, the band released their second album Get Your Wings
Get Your Wings
-Side two:-Song information:Same Old Song and Dance*Built around a riff Joe Perry came up with while sitting on his amp, Steven Tyler quickly came up with the verse riff. The song appears in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock...
in 1974, the first of a string of multi-platinum albums produced by Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (record producer)
Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
. This album included the rock radio hits "Same Old Song and Dance
Same Old Song and Dance
"Same Old Song and Dance" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. It was released on March 19, 1974 as the lead single of their second studio album, Get Your Wings...
" and "Train Kept A-Rollin'
Train Kept A-Rollin'
"Train Kept A-Rollin" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann. Bradshaw first recorded the song as a jump blues in 1951—his best known recording. After a rock and roll version of the song was recorded and released by Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio in 1956, numerous...
", a cover done previously by The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
. The album also contained several fan favorites including "Lord of the Thighs
Lord of the Thighs
"Lord of the Thighs" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by frontman Steven Tyler, and released on the band's 1974 album Get Your Wings. Drummer Joey Kramer has said it is his favorite song to perform live. Kramer and singer Steven Tyler have each said that he...
", "Seasons of Wither
Seasons of Wither
"Seasons of Wither" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and is five minutes and thirty-eight seconds in length. It was released in 1974 on the band's second album Get Your Wings.-Song information:...
", and "S.O.S. (Too Bad)
S.O.S. (Too Bad)
"S.O.S. " is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released in 1974 as their third single from their second album Get Your Wings.-Background:...
", 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
Toys in the Attic (album)
For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
, however, that established Aerosmith as international stars competing with the likes of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. Originally derided as Rolling Stones knockoffs in part due to the physical resemblance between lead singers Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Toys in the Attic showed that Aerosmith was a unique and talented band in their own right. Toys in the Attic was an immediate success, starting with the single "Sweet Emotion
Sweet Emotion
"Sweet Emotion" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records in April 1975 on the album Toys in the Attic and was released as a single a month later on May 19th . The song began a string of pop hits and large-scale mainstream success for the band that would continue for...
", which became the band's first Top 40 hit. This was followed by a successful re-release of "Dream On
Dream On (Aerosmith song)
"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
" which hit number 6, becoming their best charting single of the 1970s. "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
", re-released in 1976, reached the Top 10 in early 1977.
In addition, "Toys in the Attic
Toys in the Attic (song)
"Toys in the Attic" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, it is the first song and title track from the band's third album Toys in the Attic, their bestselling studio album in the United States. The song is three minutes, five seconds long...
" and "Big Ten Inch Record" (a song originally recorded by Bull Moose Jackson
Bull Moose Jackson
Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson was an American blues and rhythm and blues singer and saxophonist, who was most successful in the late 1940s.-Career:...
) became concert 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. The band toured in support of Toys in the Attic, where they started to get more recognition. Also around this time, the band established their home base as "The Wherehouse
Wherehouse
The Wherehouse, officially titled A. Wherehouse, is a warehouse located at 55 Pond Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was rented out by the rock band Aerosmith, starting in 1975 and continuing for the remainder of the decade, and into the 1980s as well...
" in Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
, where they would record and rehearse music, as well as conduct business.
Rocks, Draw the Line, and Live! Bootleg (1976–78) Aerosmith's next album was 1976's Rocks
Rocks (album)
Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time...
, which "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". It went platinum swiftly and featured two FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
hits, "Last Child
Last Child
"Last Child" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Brad Whitford. It was released as the first single from the band's hard rock album Rocks in 1976...
" and "Back in the Saddle
Back in the Saddle
"Back in the Saddle" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. It is the first song on Aerosmith's pinnacle hard rock album Rocks released in 1976. The song was released as the third single from the album in 1977...
", as well as the ballad "Home Tonight
Home Tonight
"Home Tonight" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, the song is a ballad and is the last track on Aerosmith's hard rock album Rocks...
", which also charted. 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 Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
, and are cited by members of Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, and Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
as having large influences on their music. Soon after Rocks
Rocks (album)
Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time...
was released, the band continued to tour heavily, this time headlining their own shows and playing to several large stadiums and rock festivals.
Aerosmith's next album was 1977's Draw the Line. The album was considered a step back from the group's previous two efforts, due to the hectic lifestyles and excesses of the band members, but still had more memorable moments than not. The title track Draw the Line (still a live staple), and "Kings and Queens
Kings and Queens (Aerosmith song)
"Kings and Queens" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Jack Douglas, their producer, who helped the band write many of the songs on Draw the Line. The song first appeared on the album Draw the Line...
" charted. The album went on to sell 2 million copies; however drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and the fast-paced life of touring and recording began affecting their output. 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
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
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 during the heyday of the Draw the Line tour. The stand-alone single "Chip Away the Stone
Chip Away the Stone
"Chip Away the Stone" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by band friend and songwriter Richie Supa, it was released in 1978 as the only single to support the band's live album Live! Bootleg...
" was also released in 1978 and charted at number 77. Lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry became known as "The Toxic Twins" because of their notorious abuse of drugs on and off the stage.
Departures of Perry and Whitford, Night in the Ruts, and Rock in a Hard Place (1979–84)
In the middle of the recording of their sixth studio album, 1979's Night in the RutsNight in the Ruts
-Side two:-Personnel:*Steven Tyler - lead vocals*Joe Perry - guitar, backing vocals*Brad Whitford - guitar*Tom Hamilton - bass*Joey Kramer - drums-Additional personnel:*Jimmy Crespo - additional guitars*Richie Supa - additional guitars - "Mia"...
, Joe Perry left the band and formed The Joe Perry Project
The Joe Perry Project
The Joe Perry Project is an American rock band formed by Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry. Perry started working on forming the band shortly before his departure from Aerosmith in 1979...
. Perry was replaced first by longtime band friend and songwriter Richard Supa and then by guitarist Jimmy Crespo
Jimmy Crespo
James "Jimmy" Crespo Jr. is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. Jimmy co-wrote Rock in a Hard Place with Steven Tyler...
(formerly of the band Flame). Night in the Ruts quickly fell off the charts (although it would eventually go platinum several years later), its only single being a cover of The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", which topped out at number 67.
The band continued to tour in support of Night in the Ruts with new guitarist Jimmy Crespo onboard, but by 1981, the band's popularity had waned. Steven Tyler collapsed onstage during a performance in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
in early 1980. Also in 1980, Aerosmith released its Greatest Hits album. The album has gone on to become the band's bestselling album in the United States, with sales of 11 million copies. In the fall of 1980, Tyler was injured in a serious motorcycle accident, which left him hospitalized for two months, and unable to tour or record well into 1981. In 1981, the band suffered another loss with the departure of Brad Whitford who recorded Whitford/St. Holmes
Whitford/St. Holmes
Whitford/St. Holmes is the self-titled debut of then ex-Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford and then ex-Ted Nugent vocalist Derek St. Holmes, released in 1981.-History:...
with former Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
vocalist/guitarist Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes
Derek St. Holmes is an American musician best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's successful early solo career.-Early years:...
. After recording guitar parts for the song "Lightning Strikes
Lightning Strikes (Aerosmith song)
"Lightning Strikes" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released as the first of two singles from the band's 1982 album Rock in a Hard Place...
", Whitford was replaced by Rick Dufay
Rick Dufay
Richard Marc "Rick" Dufay is a guitarist who played in Aerosmith in the period after Brad Whitford left the band in 1980 up to his return in 1984....
and the band recorded their seventh album Rock in a Hard Place
Rock in a Hard Place
-Notes:The track "Cry Me a River" is a cover written by Arthur Hamilton.The last track of the album, "Push Comes to Shove" is about Tyler's then girlfriend and future wife Teresa Barrick and her twin sister Lisa.-Band:...
in 1982. The album was commercially weak, only going gold, and produced only a moderate hit single, "Lightning Strikes." During the tour for Rock in a Hard Place, Tyler again collapsed on stage, this time at the band's homecoming show in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, after getting high with Joe Perry, who met with Aerosmith backstage that evening.
On February 14, 1984, Perry and Whitford saw Aerosmith perform at Boston's Orpheum Theater, which in turn led to their official re-induction into the ranks of the band two months later. Steven Tyler recalls:
Back in the Saddle reunion tour, Done with Mirrors, and drug rehab (1984–86)
In 1984, Aerosmith embarked on a reunion tour, the Back in the Saddle TourBack in the Saddle Tour
The Back in the Saddle Tour was a comeback concert tour by the American rock group Aerosmith, which had been relatively inactive for several years. The tour began on June 22, 1984 in Concord, New Hampshire and ended on January 18, 1985 in Columbus, Ohio....
, which led to the live album Classics Live II. While concerts on the tour were well-attended, it was plagued with several incidents, mostly attributed to drug abuse by band members. Their problems still not behind them, the group was signed to Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and began working on a comeback. Despite the band signing on to a new record company, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
continued to reap the benefits of Aerosmith's comeback, releasing the live companion albums Classics Live I and II
Classics Live I and II
Classics Live and Classics Live II are a set of albums by the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, released in 1986 and 1987, respectively. Together, they constitute the band's second live offering, after Live! Bootleg...
and the collection Gems.
In 1985 the band signed a new record contract with Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and released the album Done with Mirrors
Done with Mirrors
Done with Mirrors is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released November 9, 1985. The release marked the return to the band of Joe Perry, who had left the group in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who had left the band in 1981. It was also the band's first album released by Geffen...
, their first studio album since reuniting. While the album did receive some positive reviews, it only went gold and failed to produce a hit single or generate any widespread interest. The album's most notable track, "Let the Music Do the Talking
Let the Music Do the Talking (song)
"Let the Music Do the Talking" is a song recorded by The Joe Perry Project in 1980 and later re-recorded by the re-united Aerosmith in 1985. It was written by Joe Perry.-Overview:...
", 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
Done with Mirrors Tour
The Done with Mirrors Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted from August 1985 to August 1986. The tour was put on in support of the band's 1985 comeback album Done with Mirrors, released in November 1985.-Background:...
, well into 1986. In 1986, Tyler and Perry appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
", a track blending rock and roll with hip hop
Rap rock
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
. In reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song and its frequently aired associated video confirmed rap's mainstream appeal and resurrected Aerosmith's career by introducing the band's music to a new generation.
Yet the band members' drug problems still stood in their way. In 1986, Tyler completed a successful drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
program, at the direction of his fellow band members and manager Tim Collins
Tim Collins (manager)
Tim Collins is a businessman, manager, and mentor most noted for his work as the manager for American hard rock band Aerosmith from 1984-1996.-Personal History:...
, who believed that the band's future would not be bright if Tyler did not get treated. The rest of the band members also completed drug rehab programs over the course of the next couple of years. According to the band's tell-all autobiography, Collins pledged in September 1986 he could make Aerosmith the biggest band in the world by 1990 if they all completed drug rehab. Their next album was crucial because of the commercial disappointment of Done With Mirrors, and as the band members became clean, they worked hard to make their next album a success.
Permanent Vacation and Pump (1987–91)
Permanent VacationPermanent Vacation (album)
Permanent Vacation is the ninth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in August 1987 by Geffen Records.The album marks a turning point in the band's career. It is their first album to employ professional songwriters, instead of featuring material solely composed by members of the...
was released in September 1987, becoming a major hit and the band's bestselling album in over a decade (selling 5 million copies in the U.S.), with all three of its singles ("Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
"Dude " is a song by United States hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released as the first of three singles from the Permanent Vacation album in 1987. It reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #41 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and peaked at #45 on the UK...
", "Rag Doll
Rag Doll (Aerosmith song)
"Rag Doll" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It is from the 1987 album Permanent Vacation. It was released as the final single from the album in 1988...
", and "Angel
Angel (Aerosmith song)
"Angel" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriting collaborator Desmond Child...
") reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. The group went on a subsequent tour
Permanent Vacation Tour
The Permanent Vacation Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted from October 1987 to September 1988. The tour was put on in support of the band's commercially-successful comeback album Permanent Vacation, released in September 1987.-Background:The tour was notable as...
with labelmates Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
(who have cited Aerosmith as a major influence), which was intense at times because of Aerosmith's new struggle to stay clean amidst Guns N' Roses' well-publicized, rampant drug use.
Aerosmith's next album was even more successful. Pump
Pump (album)
*After the end of "What It Takes" there is a brief, untitled, instrumental hidden track composed and performed by Randy Raine-Reusch. This was not included on all the releases in all countries.-Bonus track :-Lawsuit:...
, released in September 1989, featured three Top Ten singles: "What It Takes", "Janie's Got a Gun
Janie's Got a Gun
"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
", and "Love in an Elevator
Love in an Elevator
"Love in an Elevator" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler and guitarist/backing vocalist Joe Perry. It was released in August 1989 as the lead single from their third album with Geffen Records, Pump, released in September...
", as well as the Top 30 "The Other Side
The Other Side (Aerosmith song)
-Radio Single:...
", re-establishing the band as a serious musical force. Pump was a critical and commercial success, eventually selling 7 million copies, spawning several music videos that were in regular rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and achieving four-star ratings from major music magazines. The band also won its first Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for "Janie's Got a Gun". The recording process for Pump was documented in the video The Making of Pump
The Making of Pump
The Making of Pump is a video and DVD documentary about the making of the Pump album by Aerosmith. It also features interviews with the band.-Personnel:*Tom Hamilton*Joey Kramer*Joe Perry*Steven Tyler*Brad Whitford*Bruce Fairbairn-See also:...
, which has since been re-released as a DVD. The music videos for the album's singles were featured on the release Things That Go Pump in the Night
Things That Go Pump in the Night
Things That Go Pump in the Night is a 1990 VHS featuring music videos by the American hard rock band Aerosmith. The video features band interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.- Track listing :# "Love in an Elevator"# "Janie's Got a Gun"...
, which quickly went platinum.
In support of Pump, the band embarked on the 12-month Pump Tour
Pump Tour
The Pump Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted twelve months, from mid-October 1989 to mid-October 1990. The tour was put on in support of the band's second consecutive multi-platinum album Pump, released in September 1989....
, which lasted for most of 1990. On February 21, 1990, the band appeared in a "Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
" sketch on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, debating the fall of communism and the Soviet Union, and performed their recent hits "Janie's Got a Gun
Janie's Got a Gun
"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
" and "Monkey on My Back
Monkey on My Back
"Monkey on My Back" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry, the song was released on the band's 1989 album Pump...
". On August 11, 1990, the band's performance on MTV's Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
aired. In October 1990, the Pump Tour ended, with the band's first ever performances in Australia. That same year, the band was also inducted to the Hollywood Rock Walk. In November 1991, the band appeared on The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Flaming Moe's
Flaming Moe's
"Flaming Moe's" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons third season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 21, 1991. In the episode, Homer tells Moe Szyslak of a secret alcoholic cocktail that includes cough medicine and fire that he calls "Flaming Homer"...
" and released a box set titled Pandora's Box
Pandora's Box (album)
-Disc two:-Disc three:-Recording locations:*Back in the Saddle- Recorded at the Wherehouse, Waltham, Mass. & Record Plant Studios, NYC, Feb-March 1976*Cheese Cake- Recorded at Media Sound and Record Plant Studios, NYC, May-Aug., 1979...
. In 1992, Tyler and Perry appeared live as guests of Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
during the latter's 1992 worldwide pay-per-view show in Paris, performing a medley of "Mama Kin" (which GN'R covered in 1986) and "Train Kept-A Rollin".
Get a Grip and Big Ones (1992–95)
The band took a brief break before recording their follow-up to Pump in 1992. Despite significant shifts in mainstream music at the beginning of the 1990s, 1993's Get a GripGet a Grip
Get a Grip is the 11th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. Get a Grip was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records....
was just as successful commercially, becoming their first album to debut at number 1 and racking up sales of 7 million copies in a two-and-a-half-year timespan. The first singles were the hard rocking "Livin' on the Edge
Livin' on the Edge
"Livin' on the Edge" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Mark Hudson. It was released in 1993 as the first single from the band's commercially successful album Get a Grip...
" and "Eat the Rich
Eat the Rich (Aerosmith song)
"Eat the Rich" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Jim Vallance. It was released as the second single from the band's 1993 album Get a Grip. The song had success on rock radio, peaking at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks...
". Though many critics were unimpressed by the focus on the subsequent interchangeable power-ballads in promoting the album, all three ("Cryin'", "Crazy
Crazy (Aerosmith song)
"Crazy" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was the final single from Aerosmith's massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip. It was released as a single in 1994 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the...
" and "Amazing
Amazing (Aerosmith song)
"Amazing" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and longtime band friend and collaborator Richie Supa...
") proved to be huge successes on radio and MTV. The music videos featured then up-and-coming actress Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life: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
Liv Tyler
Liv Rundgren Tyler is an American actress and model. She is the daughter of Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, and Bebe Buell, model and singer. Tyler began a career in modeling at the age of 14, but after less than a year she decided to focus on acting. She made her film debut in the 1994...
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, and over 20 million copies worldwide. The band won two Grammy Awards for songs from this album in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1980 and 2011.The award was discontinued after the 2011 award season in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
: for "Livin' on the Edge" in 1994 and "Crazy" in 1995.
During the making of Get a Grip, the management and record company brought in a variety of professional songwriting collaborators to help give nearly all the songs on the album more commercial appeal, a trend which would continue until the early 2000s. However, this led to accusations of selling out
Selling out
"Selling out" is the compromising of integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for money or "success" . It is commonly associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream audience...
that would continue throughout the 90s. In addition to Aerosmith's grueling 18 month world tour
Get a Grip Tour
The Get a Grip Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted over eighteen months, from early June 1993 to mid-December 1994...
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
Wayne's World 2
Wayne's World 2 is a 1993 comedy film starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as hosts of a Public-access television cable TV show from Aurora, Illinois. The film was adapted from a sketch on NBC's Saturday Night Live and is the sequel to Wayne's World....
where they performed two songs, the appearance of the band and their music in the video games Revolution X
Revolution X
Revolution X is a arcade rail shooter game developed and published by Midway, featuring the rock band Aerosmith. The game features gameplay similar to Midway's earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day...
and Quest for Fame
Quest for Fame
Quest for Fame is a music video game developed by Virtual Music and distributed by IBM. They were eventually acquired by Namco to create karaoke machines....
, performing at Woodstock '94
Woodstock '94
Woodstock '94, often called the "commercial Woodstock" or "Mudstock", was a music festival organized to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival of 1969...
, using their song "Deuces Are Wild
Deuces Are Wild
"Deuces Are Wild" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriter Jim Vallance...
" in The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience
The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience
The Beavis and Butt-head Experience is a compilation album, released in 1993 by Geffen Records. The name is a reference to Jimi Hendrix's original band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Overview:...
, and opening their own club, The Mama Kin Music Hall, in Boston, MA in 1994. That same year saw the release of the band's compilation for Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, entitled Big Ones
Big Ones
Big Ones is one of the many compilation albums by the American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 1, 1994 by Geffen Records...
featuring their biggest hits from Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip, as well as three new songs, "Deuces Are Wild
Deuces Are Wild
"Deuces Are Wild" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriter Jim Vallance...
", "Blind Man
Blind Man
"Blind Man" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Taylor Rhodes. It was released as a single in December 1994 from the Geffen-era compilation album Big Ones, one of three songs from that greatest hits record not previously released on any...
", and "Walk on Water
Walk on Water (Aerosmith song)
"Walk On Water" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jack Blades, and Tommy Shaw. It was released in 1995 as the third single from 1994's Big Ones a compilation album featuring 12 of Aerosmith's biggest hits from the Geffen-era, which included...
", all of which experienced great success on the rock charts.
Nine Lives and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (1996–2000)
Aerosmith had signed a $30 million contract with Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
/Sony Music in 1991, but had only recorded three of their six contractual albums with Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
at that point (Done with Mirrors, Permanent Vacation, and Pump). Between 1991 and 1996, they released two more albums with Geffen (Get a Grip and Big Ones), which meant they now had five albums with Geffen under their belt (along with a planned live compilation), which meant they could now begin recording for their new contract with Columbia. The band took time off with their families before working on their next album, Nine Lives
Nine Lives (Aerosmith album)
-Bonus track :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Artwork:...
, which was plagued with personnel problems, including the firing of manager Tim Collins
Tim Collins (manager)
Tim Collins is a businessman, manager, and mentor most noted for his work as the manager for American hard rock band Aerosmith from 1984-1996.-Personal History:...
, who, according to band members, had nearly caused the band to break up. The album's producer was also changed from Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
to Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley is a music producer and mixer for many artists, such as the bands Journey, Iron Maiden, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Joe Bonamassa, Marya Roxx, Dream Theater, Tyler Bryant, Mr. Big, and Europe.-Biography:...
. Nine Lives was released in March 1997. Reviews were 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 its singles, "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
"Falling in Love " is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and record producer/writer Glen Ballard...
", the ballad "Hole in My Soul
Hole in My Soul
"Hole in My Soul" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and professional songwriter Desmond Child...
", and the crossover-pop smash "Pink
Pink (song)
"Pink" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and professional songwriters Richie Supa and Glen Ballard...
" (which won the band their fourth Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1999 in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1980 and 2011.The award was discontinued after the 2011 award season in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
category). It was followed by the over two-year-long Nine Lives Tour
Nine lives tour
The Nine Lives Tour was a tour headlined by Aerosmith which ran for over 2 years and saw the band playing shows in North America, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal. The tour...
, which was plagued by problems including lead singer Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
injuring his leg at a concert, and Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
suffering second degree burns when his car caught fire at a gas station.
In 1998, in the midst of setbacks during the Nine Lives Tour, the band released the single "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
", the love theme, written by Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
(with uncredited support from Joe Perry), for the 1998 film Armageddon, starring Steven Tyler's daughter Liv
Liv Tyler
Liv Rundgren Tyler is an American actress and model. She is the daughter of Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, and Bebe Buell, model and singer. Tyler began a career in modeling at the age of 14, but after less than a year she decided to focus on acting. She made her film debut in the 1994...
. The song became Aerosmith's first and only number 1 single when it debuted at the top position on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and stayed on top of the charts for four weeks. The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 1999. The song helped open Aerosmith up to a new generation and remains a slow-dance staple. 1998 also saw the release of the double-live album, A Little South of Sanity
A Little South of Sanity
-Personnel:*Tom Hamilton – bass*Joey Kramer – drums, percussion*Joe Perry – guitar, backing vocals, talkbox on "Sweet Emotion", pedal steel guitar on "Rag Doll"*Steven Tyler – lead vocals, percussion*Brad Whitford – guitar...
, which was assembled 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, Aerosmith was featured in the Disney Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
at Walt Disney World (and later in 2001 at Disneyland Paris in the Walt Disney Studios Park
Walt Disney Studios Park
Walt Disney Studios Park is the second theme park to open at Disneyland Paris, owned and operated by Euro Disney S.C.A.. It is located to the west of the hub, next door to Disneyland Park at the heart of the resort in Marne-la-Vallée....
) ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, providing the ride's soundtrack and theme. On September 9, 1999, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry reunited with Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
and were also joined by Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
for a collaborative live performance of "Walk This Way" at the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
, a precursor to the Girls of Summer Tour
Girls of Summer Tour
The Girls of Summer Tour was a North American concert tour headlined by Aerosmith that ran from August to December 2002. The tour was put on in support of the band's 2-disc compilation, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, a comprehensive collection which spanned their whole career...
. The band celebrated the new millennium with a brief tour of Japan
Roar of the Dragon Tour
The Roar of the Dragon Tour was a brief concert tour of Japan by American hard rock band Aerosmith.-Background:The Roar of the Dragon Tour lasted from 1999–2000, and included a New Year/Millennium show in Osaka on December 31, 1999, parts of which were recorded and later broadcast on ABC television...
, and also contributed the song "Angel's Eye
Angel's Eye
"Angel's Eye" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry, and songwriting collaborators Marti Frederiksen and Taylor Rhodes. The song was released in 2000 as a promotional single and was written for the namesake film Charlie's...
" to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
. In the fall of 2000, they started work on their next album.
Just Push Play, O, Yeah!, and Rocksimus Maximus (2001–03)
The band entered their next decade by performing at the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
, in January 2001, along with pop stars 'N Sync
'N Sync
N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, and Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
. All of the stars collaborated with Aerosmith at the end for a performance of "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
".
In March 2001, the band released their 13th studio album Just Push Play
Just Push Play
Just Push Play is the 13th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 9, 2001. The album was co-produced by song collaborators Marti Frederiksen and Mark Hudson....
, which quickly went platinum, fueled by the Top 10 single "Jaded
Jaded (Aerosmith song)
"Jaded" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Marti Frederiksen. It was released on December 21, 2000 as the first single off of the album Just Push Play...
" and the appearance of the title track
Just Push Play (song)
"Just Push Play" is the title track from American hard rock band Aerosmith's 2001 album Just Push Play. The song was written by Steven Tyler, Mark Hudson, and Steve Dudas...
in Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
commercials. They were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
soon after their album was released, in late March 2001. Aerosmith is the only band to be inducted to the Hall of Fame with a song active in the charts ("Jaded"). Later that year, the band performed as part of the United We Stand: What More Can I Give
United We Stand: What More Can I Give
United We Stand: What More Can I Give was a benefit concert held on October 21, 2001 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The concert was the third major concert held in tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The other two were held in New York City.-Performances:The concert was a...
benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
in Washington D.C. for 9/11 victims and their families. The band flew back to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
for a show the same night, as part of their Just Push Play Tour
Just Push Play Tour
The Just Push Play Tour was a concert tour headlined by Aerosmith that took the band to dozens of shows across North America and Japan. The tour was put on in support of their 2001 release Just Push Play and ran from June 2001 to February 2002...
.
The band started 2002 by ending the Just Push Play tour, and simultaneously recording segments for their Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
special on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, which not only chronicled the band's history but also the band's current activities and touring. The special was one of the few Behind the Musics to run two hours in length. In May, Aerosmith covered the "Theme from Spider-Man" for the soundtrack of the 2002 film of the same name
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
. On June 27, the band performed a collaboration live with B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
. While FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
offered Aerosmith to perform for the event, the band accepted the offer with the condition of going on the stage along with B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
. In July 2002, Aerosmith released a two-disc career-spanning compilation O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, which featured the new single "Girls of Summer
Girls of Summer
"Girls of Summer" is a single by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry and professional songwriter Marti Frederiksen. It was released in 2002 as the only single from the band's 2002 greatest hits album, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith...
" and embarked on the Girls of Summer Tour
Girls of Summer Tour
The Girls of Summer Tour was a North American concert tour headlined by Aerosmith that ran from August to December 2002. The tour was put on in support of the band's 2-disc compilation, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, a comprehensive collection which spanned their whole career...
with Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
and Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
opening. O, Yeah! has since been certified double platinum. MTV honored Aerosmith with their mtvICON
MTV Icon
MTV Icon was a series of annual television specials produced by MTV between 2001 and 2004, each paying homage to a musical artist or band selected as a cultural icon, in a format similar to the network's annual Video Music Awards and Movie Awards events...
award in 2002. Performances included Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
covering "Janie's Got a Gun". Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
performed "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
played "Mama Kin" and "Last Child", Train
Train (band)
Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
performed "Dream On" and Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
covered "Sweet Emotion". In addition, testimonials featured surprise guests Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, as well as Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
singer Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
, Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life:Silverstone...
and Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis
Milena "Mila" Kunis is an American actress. Her work includes the role of Jackie Burkhart on the TV series That '70s Show and the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated series Family Guy...
.
In 2003, Aerosmith co-headlined with Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
on the Rocksimus Maximus Tour
Rocksimus Maximus Tour
The Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by Aerosmith and Kiss. The tour was referred to as the "World Domination Tour" by Kiss and was called the Rocksimus Maximus Tour by Aerosmith. It is sometimes referred to informally as the "AeroKiss...
, in preparation for release of their blues album. They also performed a song for Rugrats Go Wild, "Lizard Love".
Honkin' on Bobo, Rockin' the Joint, and Devil's Got a New Disguise (2004–06)
Aerosmith's long-promised blues album Honkin' on BoboHonkin' on Bobo
Honkin' on Bobo is the 14th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 30, 2004 by Columbia Records. The album includes 11 covers and one original track titled "The Grind"...
was released in 2004. This was a return to the band's roots, including recording the album in live sessions, working with former producer Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (record producer)
Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
, and laying down their blues-rock grit. It was followed by a live DVD, You Gotta Move
You Gotta Move (video)
You Gotta Move is a live DVD by the American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released on November 23, 2004. It was filmed live at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, FL on April 3, 2004 on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour.The DVD features concert footage, band interviews, behind the scenes footage and a...
, in December 2004, culled from performances on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour
Honkin' on Bobo Tour
Aerosmith embarked on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour to support their new album Honkin' on Bobo, the follow-up 2001's Just Push Play. The tour sent the band to small venues throughout North America as well as Japan....
. "Dream On" was also featured in an advertising campaign for Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
in 2004, targeting that marque's market which is now composed largely of people who were teenagers when the song first charted.
2005 saw Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
appear in the film Be Cool
Be Cool
Be Cool is a 2005 crime-comedy film adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1999 novel of the same name and the sequel to Leonard's 1990 novel Get Shorty about mobster Chili Palmer's entrance into the film industry.The film adaptation of Be Cool began production in 2003. It was directed by F...
. Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
released his self-titled solo album
Joe Perry (album)
Joe Perry is the first solo album by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, released on May 3, 2005 on Sony BMG. Joe Perry is his first solo album without The Joe Perry Project. The album peaked at #110 at the Billboard charts...
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
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
. In October 2005, Aerosmith released a CD/DVD Rockin' the Joint
Rockin' the Joint
-Personnel:*Tom Hamilton – bass*Joey Kramer – drums, percussion*Joe Perry – guitar, backing vocals*Steven Tyler – lead vocals*Brad Whitford – guitar-Album:-External links:...
. The band hit the road for the Rockin' the Joint Tour
Rockin' the Joint Tour
The Rockin' the Joint Tour was a North American concert tour headlined by Aerosmith, that ran from 2005-2006. The tour was put on in support of their live album titled Rockin' the Joint which was released in the fall of 2005. The first leg ran from October 30 to February 24 hitting most major...
on October 30 with Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
for a fall/winter tour of arenas in the largest U.S. markets. The band planned to tour with Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
in the spring, hitting secondary markets in the U.S. Almost all of this leg of the tour was canceled, however. Dates were initially canceled one by one until March 22, 2006, when it was announced that lead singer Steven Tyler needed throat surgery, and the remaining dates on the tour were subsequently canceled.
Aerosmith commenced recording a new album on Armed Forces Day 2006. Tyler and Perry performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
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
Route of All Evil Tour
The Route of All Evil Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by American hard rock band Aerosmith and heavy metal/glam metal band Mötley Crüe that took the bands to 40 amphitheaters and arenas from September to December 2006...
with Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
in late 2006. On August 24, 2006 it was announced that Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (musician)
Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
was undergoing treatment for throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
. 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
David Hull (musician)
David Hull is an American bass guitar player.- Biography :He is most notable for being the substitute bass player for Aerosmith during a portion of their 2006 Route of All Evil Tour , while the band's regular bassist Tom Hamilton was absent while recovering from throat cancer...
substituted for Hamilton until his return. On September 5, 2006, Aerosmith kicked off the Route of All Evil Tour
Route of All Evil Tour
The Route of All Evil Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by American hard rock band Aerosmith and heavy metal/glam metal band Mötley Crüe that took the bands to 40 amphitheaters and arenas from September to December 2006...
with Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
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. The tour ended December 17.
On October 17, 2006, the compilation album Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith was released. The album contained previous hits with the addition of two new songs, "Devil's Got a New Disguise
Devil's Got a New Disguise (song)
"Devil's Got A New Disguise" is a promotional single by Aerosmith that was the title track of their compilation album Devil's Got a New Disguise. The song was released to rock radio in October 2006 and peaked at #15 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks....
" and "Sedona Sunrise", which were older outtakes re-recorded for the album. "Devil's Got a New Disguise" peaked at number 15 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart. The album was intended to fulfill Aerosmith's contract with Sony and tide fans over until the band's new studio album was released.
Touring, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, and unfinished album (2007–09)
In early 2007, the band announced a new World TourAerosmith World Tour 2007
Aerosmith World Tour 2007 was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that saw the band performing outside North America or Japan for the first time in about 8 years , and in some countries, the first time in 14 years...
, their first for nearly a decade to include dates outside North America or Japan. The band performed at London's Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
in February 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
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
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 in Middle East countries such as the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and India for the first time. The band also played a few select dates in California and Canada in late July. One such date, a July 21 concert in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, was the largest in that province's history. In September, the band performed eight dates in major markets in Northeastern North America. These shows were opened by Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
. The band also played a private gig in Hawaii. A public show in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
was canceled for logistical reasons, which spurred a class action lawsuit against the band. In April 2009, Aerosmith agreed to compensate all ticket buyers of the canceled show with a free ticket to a rescheduled Maui show to be held on October 20, 2009, along with reimbursements of all out-of-pocket expenses related to the show.
On November 1, 2007, the band entered the studio to work on the final studio album of their current contract with Sony. At the time, it was believed that the album would include both re-recorded tracks left off previous albums as well as brand new material. In an interview, guitarist Joe Perry revealed that in addition to creating a new album, the band was working closely with the makers of the Guitar Hero series to develop Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. It was released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, with a Wii version developed by Vicarious Visions, a PlayStation 2 version by Budcat Creations and with a PC and Mac version by Aspyr Media...
, a video game dedicated to the band's music. The game was released on June 29, 2008 and contains many of their most popular songs. Steven Tyler announced on VH1 Classic Radio on September 4, 2008 that Aerosmith intends to enter the studio at the end of September 2008 to complete the band's 15th studio album. It will be the band's first album of original material since 2001's Just Push Play. Tyler also confirmed that the band plans to begin a new U.S. tour in June 2009, in support of the as-yet-untitled album. This tour was supposed to be preceded by a concert in Venezuela on February 1, 2009. However, on January 15, 2009, Tyler said the band would be unable to play the gig because of a second knee injury of guitarist Joe Perry. In mid-February 2009, it was announced that the album would be produced by the famed Brendan O’Brien
Brendan O'Brien (music producer)
Brendan O’Brien is a record producer, mixer, engineer, and musician.At age 14, O'Brien played guitar for the Atlanta-based cover band Pranks. In the late 1970s, he moved on to writing, performing and recording with the Samurai Catfish band...
and that the album would likely be recorded live, like their earlier records. Although the band had hoped to finish the album before the tour
Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
The Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour, sometimes referred to as the A to Z Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Tour, was a concert tour headlined by American hard rock bands Aerosmith and ZZ Top...
started in June 2009, Perry said that the group "realized there wasn't any chance of getting [the album] finished before we hit the road for the summer." The tour featured ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
as the opening act for most of the tour. The Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
The Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour, sometimes referred to as the A to Z Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Tour, was a concert tour headlined by American hard rock bands Aerosmith and ZZ Top...
, presented by Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, was officially announced and the first dates released on April 8, 2009.
Toys in the Attic (album)
For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
during the first seven dates of the tour and also featured Joe Perry sing lead vocals on the 1976 deep cut
Deep Cut
Deep Cut is a play performed by Cardiff based theatre company Sherman Cymru and written by Philip Ralph. It premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008 and won the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award in the same year as well as best Actor and Best Actress awards with The Stage's...
"Combination". The tour was plagued with several health problems, however. Guitarist Brad Whitford
Brad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
had to sit out the first seven dates of the tour in order to recover from head surgery, after injuring his head getting out of his car. On June 28, 2009, at the band's seventh show of the tour at the Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena
The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut located inside Mohegan Sun. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span...
in Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, lead singer Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
injured his leg, which required seven shows to be postponed. As soon as the band resumed the tour on July 15, Whitford returned to the fold. However, Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (musician)
Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
had to depart the tour in order to recover from non-invasive surgery. On August 5, 2009, Tyler was rushed to the hospital after falling from the stage at a concert in Sturgis, South Dakota
Sturgis, South Dakota
Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,627 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Meade County. Sturgis is famous for being the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world, which is held annually on the first full week...
. He was helped up by security staff and taken backstage, before guitarist Joe Perry told the audience the show was over. Tyler was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital, where he received treatment for head and neck injuries and a broken shoulder. In the wake of Tyler's injuries, the band was forced to postpone five shows in Western Canada. On August 14, 2009, Aerosmith announced that they had decided to cancel the rest of their U.S. tour dates with ZZ Top, due to Tyler's injuries.
In the midst of the tour, Perry completed work on his fifth solo album, Have Guitar, Will Travel and drummer Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
released his autobiography, Hit Hard. Perry's solo album was released on October 6, 2009.
After Tyler recovered from falling off stage, the band returned to the stage in mid-October for two shows in Hawaii, one in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
which was rescheduled from 2007 and finally played as part of a legal settlement, and an additional show which was played in Honolulu. In early November, the band played a concert in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
at the Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One race. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates...
.
Tyler-Perry feud, Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour, and new album (2009–present)
Tyler pulled out of a planned South American tour at the end of 2009 and seemed intent on pursuing solo projects, including his autobiography Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?. Tyler told Classic Rock magazine, "I don’t know what I'm doing yet, but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler: working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler." Meanwhile, guitarist Joe Perry toured the United States at the end of 2009, and Japan and the UK early in 2010.In November 2009, Joe Perry stated that Tyler had not been in contact with the band and could be on the verge of quitting Aerosmith. Perry stated that the rest of the group was "looking for a new singer to work with." It had also been reported that singer Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
had been approached for Steven Tyler's position, which he then declined.
However, despite the rumors of him leaving the band, Tyler joined The Joe Perry Project onstage on November 10, 2009 at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, and Tyler and Perry performed the Aerosmith single "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" together. According to sources at the event, Tyler assured the crowd that he was "not quitting Aerosmith."
On December 22, People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine reported that Tyler had entered a rehabilitation facility to manage his addiction to painkillers, brought on by injuries to his knees, legs, and feet, that resulted from years of performing. In his statement, Tyler said he is grateful for the support he is receiving, is committed to getting things taken care of, and is eager to get back on stage and in the recording studio with his bandmates.
On January 20, 2010, Perry confirmed the band were about to audition for a new singer to replace Tyler. Perry said that Tyler's surgery to his legs would "take him out of the picture" for up to a year and a half, and in the meantime, the rest of the band wanted to continue performing. Perry also said that the band would be willing to continue working with Tyler in the future if the singer wanted to. In response, Tyler's attorney sent the band and its manager a "cease and desist" letter and threatened further legal action against both if the band did not discontinue this effort to replace Tyler.
On February 15, 2010, it was announced that Aerosmith were to headline Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
, England in June 2010. Steven Tyler was confirmed as the frontman for the show by festival promoter Andy Copping. It was also announced that the band would precede the June 13 date with an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
on June 10 in Sölvesborg
Sölvesborg
Sölvesborg is a locality and the seat of Sölvesborg Municipality in Blekinge County, Sweden with 7,883 inhabitants in 2005.Sölvesborg is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city...
. During the Donington show, Perry celebrated Tyler's position as frontman, dubbing him "the best frontman in rock and roll". On February 24, the band announced the first batch of dates for their upcoming Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour
Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour
The Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that took place during mid-2010. In late spring and early summer of 2010, the band performed in South America and Europe, respectively, marking their first concerts on those continents since 2007. During...
. The tour saw the band play seven dates in South and Central America in May, followed by eleven dates in Europe, in June and early July. The band performed in Colombia, Peru and Greece for the first time in their careers on this tour. The band also performed 24 concerts in North America in late July, August, and September. Many of the concerts were in locations the band canceled on in 2009. As part of the tour, the band played Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston with fellow Bostonians the J. Geils Band
J. Geils Band
The J. Geils Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, best known for its 1981 single, "Centerfold" which charted #1 in the U.S. in early 1982. The band played R&B-influenced blues-rock in the 1970s before moving towards a more pop-influenced sound in the 1980s...
.
Problems on the band's Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour arose in August 2010, including Steven Tyler accidentally hitting Joe Perry in the head with his microphone stand at a show in Wantagh, New York
Wantagh, New York
Wantagh is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States...
and Perry bumping into Tyler at the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
show, which caused Tyler to tumble off the stage. Perry suffered a minor head injury at the Wantagh show and Tyler was helped back up by fans and Perry at the Toronto show, and both shows went on.
Around the same time as these incidents, tension flared again between Perry and Tyler due to Tyler's plans to become a talent judge on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Perry criticized Tyler for not consulting the rest of the band, saying that he "found out on the internet, like the rest of the world" and that nobody else in the band knew anything about it. On August 18, it was reported that Tyler officially signed on with the show. When asked about this in October, Perry declared he understood Tyler's reasons and wished him luck, but stated that he would seek different projects - "I'm tired of waiting around, so I'm not passing up anything right now".
While announcing the Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour in 2009, Tyler and Perry said that the next item on the agenda was a new Aerosmith album, the group's first since 2004's Honkin' on Bobo. The group did some recording with producer Brendan O'Brien in 2008 but halted because of Tyler's health problems. On November 5, 2010, Brad Whitford said the recording sessions will probably be in Los Angeles, where American Idol is headquartered, and a world tour would follow.
Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
in September 2010 that Tyler believes he has the time and energy to continue fronting the band while also being a judge on American Idol. Hamilton explained, "Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record. He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that's the way it will come out."
In a November 2010 interview reported at NME.com, drummer Joey Kramer
Joey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
confirmed that the band had every intention to finish and release their long-delayed album in 2011, stating, "Really, at this point in time, the only thing that's going to stop us is if someone out-and-out dies. Other than that, we've already been through what we've been through and stood the test of time. What else is there?" On January 18, 2011, Tyler declared that "Joe (Perry) has got some licks and I've got a bunch of songs that I've written for solo and/or Aerosmith" and the band would start prepping the album that week.
On March 20, 2011, Aerosmith announced a new greatest hits album, Tough Love: Best Of The Ballads
Tough Love: Best of the Ballads
Tough Love: Best of the Ballads is a 2011 compilation album by Aerosmith. The album was announced on March 30, 2011, and was released on Geffen Records on May 10, 2011.-US version:-UK version:-Personnel:*Steven Tyler - lead vocals, harmonica...
, to be released on May 10, 2011. On May 14, 2011, the band announced a tour of Latin America in the fall of 2011. In June, Joe Perry announced that the band is going to meet at the recording studio to produce the next album of the band in July. On August 30, it was announced that the new album will be released around May 2012. The album will be produced by Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (record producer)
Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
, who produced four albums for the band in the 1970s. Aerosmith began their fall tour of Latin America and Japan
Back On the Road Tour
The Back On the Road Tour is a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith, planned for eighteen shows in Latin America and Japan in late 2011...
on October 22 in Lima, Peru. As part of the tour, the band performed in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
for the first time in their careers. Their show in Asuncion, Paraguay was postponed a day, after lead singer Steven Tyler sustained facial injuries after falling in his hotel room shower, due to a bout of food poisoning that dehydrated him and caused him to faint.
Band members
Current members- Steven TylerSteven TylerSteven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
– lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion (1970–present) - Tom HamiltonTom Hamilton (musician)Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
– bass, backing vocals (1970–present) - Joey KramerJoey KramerJoseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
– drums, percussion (1970–present) - Joe PerryJoe Perry (musician)Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
– guitar, backing vocals (1970–79, 1984–present) - Brad WhitfordBrad WhitfordBradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
– guitar (1971–81, 1984–present)
Former members
- Ray TabanoRay TabanoRay Tabano is a musician and former Aerosmith guitarist. Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971....
– guitar (1970–71) - Jimmy CrespoJimmy CrespoJames "Jimmy" Crespo Jr. is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. Jimmy co-wrote Rock in a Hard Place with Steven Tyler...
– guitar, backing vocals (1979–84) - Rick DufayRick DufayRichard Marc "Rick" Dufay is a guitarist who played in Aerosmith in the period after Brad Whitford left the band in 1980 up to his return in 1984....
– guitar (1981–84)
Studio albums
| Date of release | Title | Billboard Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... peak |
RIAA cert. RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 13, 1973 | Aerosmith Aerosmith (album) Aerosmith is the eponymous debut album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in January 1973 by Columbia Records. The song "Walkin' the Dog" is a cover song originally performed by Rufus Thomas. Also featured on the album is "Dream On" which became an American top ten single when... |
21 | 2× Platinum | Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| March 1, 1974 | Get Your Wings Get Your Wings -Side two:-Song information:Same Old Song and Dance*Built around a riff Joe Perry came up with while sitting on his amp, Steven Tyler quickly came up with the verse riff. The song appears in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock... |
70 | 3× Platinum | |
| April 8, 1975 | Toys in the Attic Toys in the Attic (album) For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock... |
11 | 8× Platinum | |
| May 3, 1976 | Rocks Rocks (album) Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time... |
3 | 4× Platinum | |
| December 1, 1977 | Draw the Line | 11 | 2× Platinum | |
| November 1, 1979 | Night in the Ruts Night in the Ruts -Side two:-Personnel:*Steven Tyler - lead vocals*Joe Perry - guitar, backing vocals*Brad Whitford - guitar*Tom Hamilton - bass*Joey Kramer - drums-Additional personnel:*Jimmy Crespo - additional guitars*Richie Supa - additional guitars - "Mia"... |
14 | Platinum | |
| August 1, 1982 | Rock in a Hard Place Rock in a Hard Place -Notes:The track "Cry Me a River" is a cover written by Arthur Hamilton.The last track of the album, "Push Comes to Shove" is about Tyler's then girlfriend and future wife Teresa Barrick and her twin sister Lisa.-Band:... |
32 | Gold | |
| November 9, 1985 | Done with Mirrors Done with Mirrors Done with Mirrors is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released November 9, 1985. The release marked the return to the band of Joe Perry, who had left the group in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who had left the band in 1981. It was also the band's first album released by Geffen... |
36 | Gold | Geffen Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:... |
| September 5, 1987 | Permanent Vacation Permanent Vacation (album) Permanent Vacation is the ninth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in August 1987 by Geffen Records.The album marks a turning point in the band's career. It is their first album to employ professional songwriters, instead of featuring material solely composed by members of the... |
11 | 5× Platinum | |
| September 8, 1989 | Pump Pump (album) *After the end of "What It Takes" there is a brief, untitled, instrumental hidden track composed and performed by Randy Raine-Reusch. This was not included on all the releases in all countries.-Bonus track :-Lawsuit:... |
5 | 7× Platinum | |
| April 20, 1993 | Get a Grip Get a Grip Get a Grip is the 11th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. Get a Grip was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records.... |
1 | 7× Platinum | |
| March 18, 1997 | Nine Lives Nine Lives (Aerosmith album) -Bonus track :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Bonus tracks :-Artwork:... |
1 | 2× Platinum | Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| March 6, 2001 | Just Push Play Just Push Play Just Push Play is the 13th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 9, 2001. The album was co-produced by song collaborators Marti Frederiksen and Mark Hudson.... |
2 | Platinum | |
| March 30, 2004 | Honkin' on Bobo Honkin' on Bobo Honkin' on Bobo is the 14th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 30, 2004 by Columbia Records. The album includes 11 covers and one original track titled "The Grind"... |
5 | Gold |
Singles
Aerosmith has had twenty-one singles chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
:
- 1975: "Sweet EmotionSweet Emotion"Sweet Emotion" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records in April 1975 on the album Toys in the Attic and was released as a single a month later on May 19th . The song began a string of pop hits and large-scale mainstream success for the band that would continue for...
", No. 36 - 1976: "Dream OnDream On (Aerosmith song)"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
", No. 6 - 1976: "Last ChildLast Child"Last Child" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Brad Whitford. It was released as the first single from the band's hard rock album Rocks in 1976...
", No. 21 - 1977: "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
", No. 10 - 1977: "Back in the SaddleBack in the Saddle"Back in the Saddle" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. It is the first song on Aerosmith's pinnacle hard rock album Rocks released in 1976. The song was released as the third single from the album in 1977...
", No. 38 - 1978: "Come TogetherCome Together"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....
", No. 23 - 1987: "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"Dude " is a song by United States hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released as the first of three singles from the Permanent Vacation album in 1987. It reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #41 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and peaked at #45 on the UK...
", No. 14 - 1988: "AngelAngel (Aerosmith song)"Angel" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriting collaborator Desmond Child...
", No. 3 - 1988: "Rag DollRag Doll (Aerosmith song)"Rag Doll" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It is from the 1987 album Permanent Vacation. It was released as the final single from the album in 1988...
", No. 17 - 1989: "Love in an ElevatorLove in an Elevator"Love in an Elevator" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler and guitarist/backing vocalist Joe Perry. It was released in August 1989 as the lead single from their third album with Geffen Records, Pump, released in September...
", No. 5 - 1990: "Janie's Got a GunJanie's Got a Gun"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
", No. 4
- 1990: "What it Takes", No. 9
- 1990: "The Other SideThe Other Side (Aerosmith song)-Radio Single:...
", No. 22 - 1993: "Livin' on the EdgeLivin' on the Edge"Livin' on the Edge" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Mark Hudson. It was released in 1993 as the first single from the band's commercially successful album Get a Grip...
", No. 18 - 1993: "Cryin'", No. 12
- 1994: "AmazingAmazing (Aerosmith song)"Amazing" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and longtime band friend and collaborator Richie Supa...
", No. 24 - 1994: "CrazyCrazy (Aerosmith song)"Crazy" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was the final single from Aerosmith's massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip. It was released as a single in 1994 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the...
", No. 17 - 1997: "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)"Falling in Love " is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and record producer/writer Glen Ballard...
", No. 35 - 1998: "PinkPink (song)"Pink" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and professional songwriters Richie Supa and Glen Ballard...
", No. 27 - 1998: "I Don't Want to Miss a ThingI Don't Want to Miss a Thing"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
", No. 1 - 2001: "JadedJaded (Aerosmith song)"Jaded" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Marti Frederiksen. It was released on December 21, 2000 as the first single off of the album Just Push Play...
", No. 7
Filmography and videography
In addition to recording and performing music, Aerosmith has also been involved with films, television, video games, and music videos. In 1978, the band starred as the "Future Villain Band" in the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...
. Later, when the band resurrected itself in the late 1980s and 1990s, Aerosmith made further appearances, including the "Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
" sketch on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in 1990, the "Flaming Moe's
Flaming Moe's
"Flaming Moe's" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons third season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 21, 1991. In the episode, Homer tells Moe Szyslak of a secret alcoholic cocktail that includes cough medicine and fire that he calls "Flaming Homer"...
" episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
in 1991, and the film Wayne's World 2
Wayne's World 2
Wayne's World 2 is a 1993 comedy film starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as hosts of a Public-access television cable TV show from Aurora, Illinois. The film was adapted from a sketch on NBC's Saturday Night Live and is the sequel to Wayne's World....
in 1993. The band has also been featured in the 2005 hit comedy Be Cool
Be Cool
Be Cool is a 2005 crime-comedy film adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1999 novel of the same name and the sequel to Leonard's 1990 novel Get Shorty about mobster Chili Palmer's entrance into the film industry.The film adaptation of Be Cool began production in 2003. It was directed by F...
, starring John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
, Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
and Vince Vaughn
Vince Vaughn
Vincent Anthony "Vince" Vaughn is an American film actor, screenwriter, producer and comedian. He began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 movie Swingers...
. Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
plays a major role, helping Chili Palmer (Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
) and Edie Athens (Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
) bring pop music star Linda Moon (Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
) into the limelight.
The band has been the subject of several video games including Revolution X
Revolution X
Revolution X is a arcade rail shooter game developed and published by Midway, featuring the rock band Aerosmith. The game features gameplay similar to Midway's earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day...
in 1994, Quest for Fame
Quest for Fame
Quest for Fame is a music video game developed by Virtual Music and distributed by IBM. They were eventually acquired by Namco to create karaoke machines....
in 1995, and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. It was released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, with a Wii version developed by Vicarious Visions, a PlayStation 2 version by Budcat Creations and with a PC and Mac version by Aspyr Media...
, in June 2008. The band has also made over 30 major music videos, and released seven home videos or DVDs.
Concert tours
- 1970-72: Club Days
- 1973: AerosmithAerosmith (album)Aerosmith is the eponymous debut album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in January 1973 by Columbia Records. The song "Walkin' the Dog" is a cover song originally performed by Rufus Thomas. Also featured on the album is "Dream On" which became an American top ten single when...
Tour - 1974: Get Your WingsGet Your Wings-Side two:-Song information:Same Old Song and Dance*Built around a riff Joe Perry came up with while sitting on his amp, Steven Tyler quickly came up with the verse riff. The song appears in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock...
Tour - 1975: Toys in the AtticToys in the Attic (album)For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
Tour - 1976-77: RocksRocks (album)Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time...
Tour - 1977-78: Aerosmith Express Tour (supporting Draw the Line album)
- 1978: Live! BootlegLive! BootlegLive! Bootleg is a double live album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in 1978.While most of the performances were drawn from concerts in 1977 and 1978, the covers "I Ain't Got You" and "Mother Popcorn" were taken from a radio broadcast of a Boston performance on March 20, 1973.The...
Tour - 1979-80: Night in the RutsNight in the Ruts-Side two:-Personnel:*Steven Tyler - lead vocals*Joe Perry - guitar, backing vocals*Brad Whitford - guitar*Tom Hamilton - bass*Joey Kramer - drums-Additional personnel:*Jimmy Crespo - additional guitars*Richie Supa - additional guitars - "Mia"...
Tour - 1982-83: Rock in a Hard PlaceRock in a Hard Place-Notes:The track "Cry Me a River" is a cover written by Arthur Hamilton.The last track of the album, "Push Comes to Shove" is about Tyler's then girlfriend and future wife Teresa Barrick and her twin sister Lisa.-Band:...
Tour - 1984: Back in the Saddle TourBack in the Saddle TourThe Back in the Saddle Tour was a comeback concert tour by the American rock group Aerosmith, which had been relatively inactive for several years. The tour began on June 22, 1984 in Concord, New Hampshire and ended on January 18, 1985 in Columbus, Ohio....
- 1985-86: Done with Mirrors TourDone with Mirrors TourThe Done with Mirrors Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted from August 1985 to August 1986. The tour was put on in support of the band's 1985 comeback album Done with Mirrors, released in November 1985.-Background:...
- 1987-88: Permanent Vacation TourPermanent Vacation TourThe Permanent Vacation Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted from October 1987 to September 1988. The tour was put on in support of the band's commercially-successful comeback album Permanent Vacation, released in September 1987.-Background:The tour was notable as...
- 1989-90: Pump TourPump TourThe Pump Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted twelve months, from mid-October 1989 to mid-October 1990. The tour was put on in support of the band's second consecutive multi-platinum album Pump, released in September 1989....
- 1993-94: Get a Grip TourGet a Grip TourThe Get a Grip Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted over eighteen months, from early June 1993 to mid-December 1994...
- 1997-99: Nine Lives TourNine lives tourThe Nine Lives Tour was a tour headlined by Aerosmith which ran for over 2 years and saw the band playing shows in North America, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal. The tour...
- 1999-2000: Roar of the Dragon TourRoar of the Dragon TourThe Roar of the Dragon Tour was a brief concert tour of Japan by American hard rock band Aerosmith.-Background:The Roar of the Dragon Tour lasted from 1999–2000, and included a New Year/Millennium show in Osaka on December 31, 1999, parts of which were recorded and later broadcast on ABC television...
- 2001-02: Just Push Play TourJust Push Play TourThe Just Push Play Tour was a concert tour headlined by Aerosmith that took the band to dozens of shows across North America and Japan. The tour was put on in support of their 2001 release Just Push Play and ran from June 2001 to February 2002...
- 2002: Girls of Summer TourGirls of Summer TourThe Girls of Summer Tour was a North American concert tour headlined by Aerosmith that ran from August to December 2002. The tour was put on in support of the band's 2-disc compilation, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, a comprehensive collection which spanned their whole career...
- 2003: Rocksimus Maximus TourRocksimus Maximus TourThe Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by Aerosmith and Kiss. The tour was referred to as the "World Domination Tour" by Kiss and was called the Rocksimus Maximus Tour by Aerosmith. It is sometimes referred to informally as the "AeroKiss...
- 2004: Honkin' on Bobo TourHonkin' on Bobo TourAerosmith embarked on the Honkin' on Bobo Tour to support their new album Honkin' on Bobo, the follow-up 2001's Just Push Play. The tour sent the band to small venues throughout North America as well as Japan....
- 2005-06: Rockin' the Joint TourRockin' the Joint TourThe Rockin' the Joint Tour was a North American concert tour headlined by Aerosmith, that ran from 2005-2006. The tour was put on in support of their live album titled Rockin' the Joint which was released in the fall of 2005. The first leg ran from October 30 to February 24 hitting most major...
- 2006: Route of All Evil TourRoute of All Evil TourThe Route of All Evil Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by American hard rock band Aerosmith and heavy metal/glam metal band Mötley Crüe that took the bands to 40 amphitheaters and arenas from September to December 2006...
- 2007: World Tour 2007Aerosmith World Tour 2007Aerosmith World Tour 2007 was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that saw the band performing outside North America or Japan for the first time in about 8 years , and in some countries, the first time in 14 years...
- 2009: Aerosmith/ZZ Top TourAerosmith/ZZ Top TourThe Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour, sometimes referred to as the A to Z Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Tour, was a concert tour headlined by American hard rock bands Aerosmith and ZZ Top...
- 2010: Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock TourCocked, Locked, Ready to Rock TourThe Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that took place during mid-2010. In late spring and early summer of 2010, the band performed in South America and Europe, respectively, marking their first concerts on those continents since 2007. During...
- 2011: "Back On the Road TourBack On the Road TourThe Back On the Road Tour is a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith, planned for eighteen shows in Latin America and Japan in late 2011...
"
Awards and achievements
Despite Aerosmith's popularity and success in the 1970s, it wasn't until their comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s that they started winning awards and major recognition. In 1987, Aerosmith won the Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap - SingleSoul Train Music Award for Best Rap - Single
The Soul Train Music Award winners for Best Rap - Single The award has not been given out since 1988....
for the re-mix of "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" with Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
. In 1990, Aerosmith won their first Grammy award, for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and went on to win a total of four such awards (all of them in the 1990s) for "Janie's Got a Gun
Janie's Got a Gun
"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
", "Livin' on the Edge
Livin' on the Edge
"Livin' on the Edge" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Mark Hudson. It was released in 1993 as the first single from the band's commercially successful album Get a Grip...
", "Crazy
Crazy (Aerosmith song)
"Crazy" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was the final single from Aerosmith's massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip. It was released as a single in 1994 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the...
", and "Pink
Pink (song)
"Pink" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and professional songwriters Richie Supa and Glen Ballard...
". Aerosmith is second only to U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
in the number of awards won in that category.
In addition, Aerosmith's music videos won numerous awards throughout the 1990s. Aerosmith ranks as the fourth most successful artist of all-time at the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
(VMAs), with ten such awards to date. Aerosmith is also the all-time leader in the categories Best Rock Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video was first given out in , and it was one of the four original genre categories added to the VMAs that year. That year, though, the award was called the Best Heavy Metal Video. From 1990 to 1995, the award was called the Best Metal/Hard Rock Video, and...
(with four such awards) and Viewer's Choice
MTV Video Music Award - Viewer's Choice
The MTV Video Music Award for Viewer's Choice was first awarded at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. The Viewer's Choice award nominees were the originally the same as the Video of the Year nominees, something which continued until 1994...
(with three such awards). Aerosmith has also won once each in the categories Video of the Year, Best Group Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video was first given out at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards; and in 2007, going along with how the VMAs were revamped that year, the award was renamed Best Group, as it awarded the artist's body of work for the full year rather than a specific video...
, and Best Video from a Film
MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film was first awarded in 1987, recognizing the best videos whose songs were a part of a movie soundtrack or featured in a film. As time went on, though, music videos taken from movie soundtracks became more rare, and so the last of this award was...
. The videos for which Aerosmith has won VMAs are "Janie's Got a Gun" (2 awards), "The Other Side
The Other Side (Aerosmith song)
-Radio Single:...
", "Livin' on the Edge", "Cryin'" (3 awards), "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)
"Falling in Love " is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and record producer/writer Glen Ballard...
", "Pink", and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
".
Over the course of their career (primarily 1990 and after), Aerosmith has also collected seven American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
, four Billboard Music Awards, two People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
, sixteen Boston Music Awards
Kahlua Boston Music Awards
The Boston Music Awards is an annual set of music awards that showcase talent in the Boston, Massachusetts area. The awards were founded in 1987 and were presented as part of the annual NEMO Music Showcase and Conference until that event's final presentation in 2006...
, and numerous other awards and honors. Some of the high accolades Aerosmith have achieved include induction into Hollywood's Rock Walk in 1990, a declaration of "Aerosmith Day" in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
by then-Governor William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
on April 13, 1993, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 2001, and being honored with the mtvICON
MTV Icon
MTV Icon was a series of annual television specials produced by MTV between 2001 and 2004, each paying homage to a musical artist or band selected as a cultural icon, in a format similar to the network's annual Video Music Awards and Movie Awards events...
award in 2002.
In the fields of technology and video games, Aerosmith has achieved several feats. In 1994, Aerosmith released the song "Head First" on the CompuServe online service, which is considered to be the first full-length commercial product available online. In 2008, Aerosmith became the first artist to have an entire Guitar Hero video game based around them with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. It was released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, with a Wii version developed by Vicarious Visions, a PlayStation 2 version by Budcat Creations and with a PC and Mac version by Aspyr Media...
.
Aerosmith also holds several chart and album sales feats, including the second highest number of number one singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart for a group with nine, the only number one debut on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
by a rock group with "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", and the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group. From the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, Aerosmith has achieved 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum album certifications, in addition to one diamond album and four gold singles. Media often refer to Aerosmith, who have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide and 66.5 million in the United States, as the best-selling American rock band.
Rankings on lists
- "Dream OnDream On (Aerosmith song)"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
", "Toys in the AtticToys in the Attic (song)"Toys in the Attic" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, it is the first song and title track from the band's third album Toys in the Attic, their bestselling studio album in the United States. The song is three minutes, five seconds long...
", and "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (with Run-D.M.C.) are all listed on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. - In 1993, "Rolling Stone: The Top 100 Music Videos" included "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (w/ Run-D.M.C.) at number 11 and "Janie's Got a GunJanie's Got a Gun"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
" at number 95. - In 1999, "MTV: 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made" included "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (w/ Run-D.M.C.) at number 5 and "Janie's Got a GunJanie's Got a Gun"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
" at number 48. - In 2000, "VH1: 100 Greatest Rock Songs" included "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" at number 35 and "Dream OnDream On (Aerosmith song)"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
" at number 47. - In 2000, ranked number 11 on VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". - In 2001, "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos" included "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (w/ Run-D.M.C.) at number 11, "CrazyCrazy (Aerosmith song)"Crazy" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was the final single from Aerosmith's massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip. It was released as a single in 1994 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the...
" at number 23, and "Janie's Got a GunJanie's Got a Gun"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was originally titled "Danny's Got a Gun" after a close friend of Steven Tyler, but was later changed. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989...
" at number 48. - In 2003, Rolling Stones The 500 Greatest Albums of All TimeThe 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
included RocksRocks (album)Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking". Rocks also ranked #176 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time...
at number 176 and Toys in the AtticToys in the Attic (album)For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
at number 228. - In 2003, "VH1: 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years" included "I Don't Want to Miss a ThingI Don't Want to Miss a Thing"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
" at number 45. - In 2004, Rolling Stones The 500 Greatest Songs of All TimeThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
included "Dream OnDream On (Aerosmith song)"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit and classic rock radio staple...
" at number 172, "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (with Run-D.M.C.) at number 287, "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" (original) at number 336, and "Sweet EmotionSweet Emotion"Sweet Emotion" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records in April 1975 on the album Toys in the Attic and was released as a single a month later on May 19th . The song began a string of pop hits and large-scale mainstream success for the band that would continue for...
" at number 408. - In 2004, ranked number 18 on the "Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years" chart.
- In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Aerosmith number 57 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
- In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked the original version of "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" at number 34 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. - In 2009, "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" ranked Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" (original) at number 8.
- In 2010, "VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time" ranked Aerosmith at number 30.
- In 2011, Gibson.com ranked Aerosmith number 2 on their list of the Top 50 American Rock Bands of all Time.
See also
- Aero Force OneAero Force OneAero Force One is the name of the fan club for American hard rock band Aerosmith.-Background:The origins of the fan club were rooted in the mid 1970s, when the band first broke through with their album Toys in the Attic. The band became a popular act with a loyal following of fans, often referred...
- List of Aerosmith outtakes
- List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart
- List of best-selling albums in the United States
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
Interviews
- Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (January 1, 1982) – WolfgangsVault.com