Aerosmith, the #58 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Aerosmith is one of the greatest rock & roll groups of all-time."

"I absolutely love these guys!"

"Aerosmith is definitely one of the greatest bands in history."

"They are legendary."

"Aerosmith will live on and on."

"An awesome band."

"Long live Aerosmith."

"Love Aerosmith forever."

"They're one of the most durable bands ever."

"They're a great band."


This venerable band brought blues and swagger to the scene, very much like a marriage between Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, the latter of which one can draw many musical reference points to.  But it wasn't until the late '80's, when they were elder statesmen of Rock, that they hit their stride.

In 1970, two bands from Boston, Massachusetts, Chain Reaction and the Jam Band, played at the same venue, a Sunapee, New Hampshire ice cream parlour called the Anchorage.  Chain Reaction drummer and backing vocalist Steven Tyler was impressed with the Jam Band and wanted to combine the two groups.  Tyler met with guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton of the Jam Band to discuss the prospects, but Tyler didn't want to proceed unless he stopped playing drums and sang lead vocals.  Joey Kramer played drums for the Jam Band, so the four formed Aerosmith.

The band soon brought rhythm guitarist Ray Tabana, a friend of Tyler's, into the fold, and after rehearsing, Aerosmith began playing live appearances, debuting at Nipmuc Regional High School (now Miscoe Hill Middle School) in Mendon, Massachusetts on November 6, 1970.  The next year, Brad Whitford replaced Tabano, and that lineup has been relatively intact.

Aerosmith signed a promotional deal with Frank Connelly and then secured a management deal with David Krebs and Steve Leber in 1972.  After Columbia Records President Clive Davis saw the group perform an excellent and well-received set at Max's Kansas City in New York City, Aerosmith signed a recording contract with Columbia.  

 

The band released their self-titled debut album in 1973.  "Dream On" was released as a single but despite it's lush strings and distorted guitars, stalled at #59.  The album sold over 500,000 copies and eventually was certified Double Platinum. The rocking "Mama Kin" is the Top Track* on the album.

 

After the disappointment of their debut, Aerosmith was nearly dropped from the label.  But a hectic tour schedule not only made them better songwriters but helped them tighten their sound.  Columbia stuck with the group and in 1974, Aerosmith released the album Get Your Wings, which began a lucrative arrangement with producer Jack Douglas.  Get Your Wings has now sold over three million copies, thanks to songs like "Same Old Song And Dance".

 

Nationwide tours cemented the band as one of the hardest-working in the business.  "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" is another leading track on the album.

 

The haunting "Seasons Of Wither" is another fan favorite.

Aerosmith's star was beginning to rise, a fact confirmed by their 1975 album Toys in the Attic.  "Sweet Emotion" peaked at #36.

 

"Toys In The Attic", featuring Perry's guitar solo, is a Top Track*.

 

Here is another great rocker from the album, "No More No More".

Thanks to a successful tour and their hits, the album has now sold over eight million copies.  Aerosmith reissued the single "Dream On" from their debut, and this time, it reached #6 in the U.S. and #10 overall.  With "Dream On", the group essentially built the prototype for the power ballad that many groups would build on in the years to come.

 

In 1976, the band returned with the album Rocks.  "Last Child" was the biggest hit at #21.

 

Since they scored their first hit with a reissue of "Dream On", Aerosmith tried it again with "Walk This Way" from their Toys in the Attic album.  Once again, the strategy paid off with a #7 hit in Canada and a #10 song in the United States.  On this song, Perry began to show the ability to come up with memorable guitar riffs for the ages.

Rocks, which perhaps more than any other album captured Aerosmith at their most raw and raucous, has now sold over four million units.  On the strength of Toys in the Attic and Rocks, the band now moved up to headliner status.

Although "Back In The Saddle" stopped at #38, it received album airplay at the time and has since grown in popularity.

 

Aerosmith rented out an abandoned convent outside New York City to record their next album.  The next year, the group released the album Draw the Line, which has now sold over two million copies. The best track is the title song.

 

We will also feature "Kings And Queens" from the album.

 

The group continued its heavy pace of touring, and contributed their cover of "Come Together" for the movie soundtrack Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The Beatles had enjoyed a #1 smash with it in 1969; the best Aerosmith could do with it was #23.

Band members increasingly used drugs, and as a result, Aerosmith did not enjoy another big hit for 10 years.

In 1978, the group released the album Live!  Bootleg.  But while preparing to play at the World Series of Rock festival in Cleveland, Ohio, the wives of Tyler and Perry argued backstage.  When Steven and Joe argued about the incident, Perry left the band and formed the Joe Perry Project.

Since their album was not finished, Whitford played some of Perry's lead guitar parts while Richie Supa, who had collaborated on songwriting in the past, filled in as well.  Finally in 1978, Aerosmith released the album Night in the Ruts.  Soon after, Jimmy Crespo became the band's regular guitarist.  The album went Platinum only after the group's success more than a decade later.

Clearly, Aerosmith was not the same without Perry, and this was evident by the smaller crowds on tour.  Tyler's drug use persisted, leading to his collapse on stage during a 1980 concert in Portland, Maine.  Tyler later was injured in a motorcycle accident that resulted in his hospitalization for two months that left him unable to tour or record.

Aerosmith released their Greatest Hits album in 1980.  Reflecting their waning popularity, that album also did not sell well until much later.  It now is over 11 million units sold.

In 1981, while working on their next studio album, Whitford left the group, eventually joining the Joe Perry Project until 1984.  Rick Dufay replaced him, and Aerosmith released the album Rock in a Hard Place in 1982.  The album stalled at #32.  Tyler again collapsed on stage at a show in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Following a show on February 14, 1984 in which Perry and Whitford attended, they met with the group backstage and rejoined Aerosmith.  Now with their lineup intact again, Aerosmith went on a successful tour, which resulted in the live album Classics Live II.  

Aerosmith signed with Geffen Records in an attempt to recapture the old glory.  In 1985, they released the album Done with Mirrors, which went Gold.  The next year, Tyler and Perry contributed to Run-D.M.C.'s remake of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way", which reached #4.

But drug use threatened to undo any progress Aerosmith had made.  After intervention by his bandmates, Tyler underwent drug rehabilitation and the other members of the group underwent similar treatment.  Manager Tim Collins promised that if all of the group's members completed their programs, he would make Aerosmith the biggest band in the world.

 

In 1987, Aerosmith enlisted the songwriting assistance of Desmond Child, Jim Vallance and Holly Knight, with Knight also providing backing vocals for their album.  Permanent Vacation became their biggest album in over a decade and restored them to their previous status as a major act.  The single "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" became a #4 Mainstream Rock hit and #14 overall in the U.S. and #10 in Ireland.

 

The group released "Angel" next, and had a #3 hit to show for it.

"Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" was nominated for Best Group Video and Best Performance in a Video while "Rag Doll" was nominated for Best Heavy Metal Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.  Permanent Vacation has now sold over five million copies.  The single "Rag Doll" peaked at #12 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #17 overall, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Eighteen years after they formed, Aerosmith enjoyed the biggest album of their career with Pump in 1989.  "Love In An Elevator" rose to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #5 Popular.

 

"Janie's Got A Gun" became one of Aerosmith's biggest hits, jumping to #1 in Australia, #2 in Canada and #43 in the U.S. The video for "Janie's Got A Gun" was nominated for eight MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year and Best Group Video, and it won trophies for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video and Viewer's Choice. 

Aerosmith won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for both "Love In An Elevator" and "Janie's Got A Gun".  The video for "Janie's Got A Gun" is ranked among the 100 greatest videos of all-time by MTV, Rolling Stone and VH1.

 

Pump has now sold over seven million copies and was the fourth-top-selling album of 1990.  The single "What It Takes" vaulted to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #9 overall.

Aerosmith also scored a #1 Mainstream Rock hit with "The Other Side", a song which stalled at #22 on the Popular chart.  

Aerosmith won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Heavy Metal Artist and were nominated for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist and Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album.  They also captured a Billboard Music Award for Rock Album Artist and another MTV Video Music Award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video (for "The Other Side").  Aerosmith's performance on Saturday Night Live was ranked by E! as the top moment in the history of the show.

 

In 1991, Aerosmith released the compilation Pandora's Box, which has topped one million in sales.  In 1993, the group continued their hot streak with the album Get a Grip, which debuted at #1.  The single "Livin' On The Edge" reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #18 overall in the U.S. and #10 in Canada.

Aerosmith released two songs that couldn't catch on with the larger audience before going with "Cryin'", which topped the Mainstream Rock chart and peaked at #12 overall.  It also reached #3 in Sweden, #4 in Switzerland, #5 in the Netherlands, #7 in West Germany and #8 in Canada. 

 

Get a Grip has now sold over seven million copies in the United States and over 20 million worldwide.  "Amazing" hit #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #24 overall in the U.S. and #4 in Canada.

 

The band released "Crazy" next, a #7 Mainstream Rock hit that also rose to #3 in Canada.

 

A Top Track* on the album is "Eat The Rich".

Aerosmith captured Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Livin' On The Edge" in 1994 and "Crazy" the following year.  The former and "Cryin'" were both nominated for Best Rock Song while "Boogie Man" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.  They also won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist, a People's Choice Award for Favorite Rock Group and a Billboard Music Award for #1 Rock Artist.  

Aerosmith earned 15 MTV Video Music Award nominations.  "Livin' On The Edge" won Viewer's Choice and was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Metal/Hard Rock Video and Breakthrough Video.  "Cryin'" won Video of the Year, Best Group Video and Viewer's Choice and was nominated for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video, "Amazing" received five production nominations

In addition to an extensive tour, Aerosmith performed two songs in the movie Wayne's World 2.  They also opened their own club, The Mama Kin Music Hall, in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1994, Aerosmith released the compilation album Big Ones, which consisted of their most popular songs from the three albums which constituted their comeback.  Big Ones has now sold over four million copies in the United States alone.

 

In 1997, the band released the album Nine Lives, which eventually went Double Platinum.   "Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)" jumped to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart but only #35 overall in the U.S. and #2 in Canada.

 

The clever "Pink" also hit #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. 

"Pink" gave the group another Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, a nomination for Best Clip (Hard Rock/Metal) at the Billboard Music Award and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.  The group was also nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)" and for Best Rock Album.  Aerosmith won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group and another MTV Video Music Award for "Falling In Love".  The group toured for two years to promote the album, but Tyler injured his leg at one show and Kramer suffered second degree burns when his hair caught fire at a gas station.

 

In 1998, Aerosmith released the single "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" from the movie Armageddon, which starred Tyler's daughter Liv.  It rocketed to #1 for four weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.  The song also topped charts in Australia, West Germany and Switzerland. 

Aerosmith earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.  The band won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Musical Group and a Billboard Music Award for Artist Achievement Award and was once again nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band at the American Music Awards.

In 1999, Walt Disney World constructed a ride called Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, with the group's music featured.  The ride was duplicated in 2001 at Disneyland Paris.

Aerosmith performed at halftime of Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 before releasing the album Just Push Play.
"Jaded" reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #7 Popular in the U.S. and #6 in Canada.

"Jaded" won a Billboard Music Award for Best Hard Rock Clip of the Year and was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the Grammy Awards and an MTV VMA for Best Rock Video.  Aerosmith also received nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Music Video, Short Form (for "Fly Away From Here").

The album sold over one million copies, and Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  After the murders of September 11, 2011, Aerosmith performed at the United We Stand:  What More can I Give benefit concert in Washington, D.C. to raise money for 9/11 victims and their families.

In 2002, the band released the double disc O, Yeah!  Aerosmith was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Girls Of Summer".  They also released the compilation Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, which has sold over two million copies.  

In 2004, the group released the blues album Honkin' on Bobo, before releasing the live album Rockin' the Joint the following year.

In 2006, Hamilton developed throat cancer, and David Hull filled in for him on tour while Tom recovered.  Later that year, Aerosmith released the compilation Devil's Got a New Disguise:  The Very Best of Aerosmith.

In 2007, Aerosmith went on a world tour of North America, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.  A 2009 tour, however, had to be cut short due Tyler suffering head and neck injuries and a broken shoulder after falling off a stage in Sturgis, South Dakota.

In 2010, Perry announced that Aerosmith was preparing to audition for a new singer to replace Tyler, who was still recovering from his injuries as well as an addiction to painkillers.  For his part, Tyler sent word through his attorney for the band to "cease and desist" efforts to replace him.

The two members patched up their differences and Aerosmith toured North America, Europe, South and Central America, Columbia, Peru and Greece.

Aerosmith released yet another compilation, Tough Love:  Best of the Ballads, in 2011.  Aerosmith released their 15th studio album, Music from Another Dimension! in 2012 and began a world tour with Cheap Trick.

In 2013, Tyler and Perry were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received the ASCAP Founders Award at their annual Pop Music Awards.  

Aerosmith continues to tour and its members continue to work on solo releases and their individual projects.

Aerosmith has chalked up 29 career hits, with seven going Top 10 and one #1.  They excelled with the much smaller Mainstream Rock audience, collecting 44 hits, 24 of which reached the Top 10 on that chart, and nine #1 songs.

Aerosmith has sold over 70 million records in the United States alone and over 150 worldwide.  They have won four Grammy Awards out of 17 nominations, six American Music Awards out of 10 nominations, four Billboard Music Awards from five nominations, two People's Choice Awards and 10 MTV Video Music Awards out of 36 nominations.