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 Fronted by Mick Jagger lookalike Steven Tyler and known for its aggressive blues-based style, Aerosmith was the top American hard-rock band of the mid-'70s, despite endless attacks from critics who considered them a poor man's Rolling Stones. But the members' growing drug problems and internal dissension contributed to a commercial decline that began with 1977's Draw the Line. Two crucial lineup changes and a few poorly received albums preceded a 1984 reunion of the original lineup and the multiplatinum Permanent Vacation, which signaled one of the most spectacular comebacks in rock history. Though now vociferous adherents to the sober lifestyle, Aerosmith forfeited none of their bad-boy image, and their live shows were among the best of their long career. Even critics liked them better the second time around. With its members now over 50, Aerosmith continues to embody classic rock grounded in a late-’70s style - typically, most of their recent hits have been power ballads.
The group was formed in 1970 by Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, and Tyler, who was then a drummer. The group was completed with drummer Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford; Tyler became lead singer. For the next two years all five members shared a small apartment in Boston and played almost nightly throughout the area, occasionally venturing to New York City. Clive Davis saw them perform at Max’s Kansas City in New York and signed them to Columbia. A minor hit and future FM-radio staple from their debut, “Dream On,” strengthened their regional following.
Meanwhile, Aerosmith began to tour widely. In 1976 “Dream On” recharted, rising to #6. And by the time of “Walk This Way” (#10, 1977), the band had become headliners. Its phenomenal success was short-lived, however. A series of sold-out tours and platinum albums (including Aerosmith, Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic) peaked in 1976.
By 1977 the group’s constant touring and the band members’ heavy drug use (Perry and Tyler were nicknamed “the Toxic Twins” for their heroin habits) had begun to take their toll. After months of rest, Aerosmith recorded Draw the Line and appeared as the villains in Robert Stigwood’s movie Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band their version of Lennon and McCartney’s “Come Together” from the soundtrack was a minor hit. But Aerosmith was unraveling: In 1979 Perry quit, admitting to long-standing personality and musical conflicts with Tyler, his songwriting partner. Jim Crespo took his place. The next year Whitford departed to form the Whitford/St. Holmes band with ex–Ted Nugent sidekick Derek St. Holmes and was replaced by Rick Dufay. Neither Perry’s nor Whitford’s outside records did particularly well.
Rock in a Hard Place, Aerosmith’s first new recording in almost three years and the first without Perry, peaked at #32, as the band was eclipsed by a new breed of young hard rockers. In early 1984 the five original members met backstage at an Aerosmith concert and decided to re-form. Done With Mirrors, their first “comeback” LP, sold moderately. The group’s reascendence began in earnest when Perry and Tyler appeared with rap duo Run-D.M.C. in a video for the latter’s version of the 1977 Aerosmith warhorse “Walk This Way” (#4, 1986). That fall, just as “Walk This Way” was peaking on the chart, Permanent Vacation (#11, 1987) was released, with three hit singles and their accompanying videos - “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” (#14, 1987), “Angel” (#3, 1988), and “Rag Doll” (#17, 1988) - introducing Aerosmith to a new generation.
Aerosmith further consolidated its success with the quadruple-platinum Pump (#5, 1989), which boasted “Love in an Elevator” (#5, 1989), “Janie’s Got a Gun” (#4, 1989) - the song about incest won 1990’s Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal - “What It Takes” (#9, 1990), and “The Other Side” (#22, 1990).
In 1991 the group signed a record deal with Sony worth a reported $30 million for four albums and including provisions for 22 percent royalties. Three years later, in summer 1994, the group landed a seven-figure deal from G.P. Putnam’s Sons for its group autobiography. With the hit singles “Living on the Edge” (#18, 1993), “Cryin” (#12, 1993), and “Crazy” (#7, 1993), Get a Grip hit #1, followed by 1994’s double-platinum #6 greatest-hits package, Big Ones, continuing Aerosmith’s run at the top. Box of Fire, a 12-CD compilation of Aerosmith’s Columbia output, went gold in early 1995.
Aerosmith got back into rougher waters in 1996. The band started working on the followup to Get a Grip - and its first album back on Columbia - but didn’t get along with producer Glen Ballard. Ballard left in the middle of the sessions and was replaced by Kevin Shirley. Meanwhile, Joey Kramer’s father had died, sending the drummer into such a depression that he had to be replaced by session drummer Steve Ferrone on some tracks. In the midst of it all, the band fired its longtime manager, Tim Collins, who had helped the musicians through sobriety and helmed their ’80s comeback. Collins retaliated by suggesting that some of the band members had fallen off the wagon; Tyler was then accused of “not being part of the team” in a letter sent to him by his four bandmates. Tyler denied taking drugs, saying, “I’ve had no mood-altering substances in 10 years.”
When Nine Lives finally came out in 1997, it entered the chart at #1. Yet it sold only a disappointing 140,000 copies the week of its release and didn’t yield any memorable singles - though “Pink” (#27, 1998) did win Aerosmith another Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal in 1999.
The group landed on its feet yet again when “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (#1, 1998), its contribution to the soundtrack of Armageddon (which starred Tyler’s increasingly successful daughter Liv), became a huge hit the following year and was nominated for an Academy Award. In early 2001, Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just as the band’s new album, Just Push Play (#2, 2001), yielded the hit single “Jaded” (#7, 2001).DISCOGRAPHY
Main Releases
Rockin' The Joint: Live at the Hard Rock Hotel
2005
Chronicles
2005
Gold
2005
Toys in the Attic [SACD]
2005
Honkin' On Bobo
2004
The Collection
2004
Terror State [Clean]
2003
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Aerosmith
2003
Cinco Gallos de la Cancion Ranchera
2003
O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits
2002
Los Tangos Mas Famosos del Siglo 20, Vol. 1
2002
Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology
2001
Let Every Instrument Be Tuned for Praise
2001
Just Push Play
2001
Not the Same Old Song & Dance: Aerosmith Tribute
1999
A Little South Of Sanity
1998
Merenguemania, Vol. 3
1998
Nine Lives
1997
Box Of Fire
1994
Big Ones
1994
Get A Grip
1993
Pandora's Box
1991
Pump
1989
Classics Live II
1988
Gems
1988
Permanent Vacation
1987
Classics Live
1986
Done With Mirrors
1985
Hour Live
1982
Rock In A Hard Place
1982
Greatest Hits
1980
Night In The Ruts
1979
Live! Bootleg
1978
Draw The Line
1977
Rocks
1976
Toys In The Attic
1975
Get Your Wings
1974
Aerosmith
1973
Singles
Labyrinth/Roots
2006
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
2002
Jaded
2001
Sympathy for the Devil [CD Single]
1994
Crazy [CD Single]
1994
Livin' on the Edge
1993
The Other Side
1990
Compilations
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Metal Giants
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur
2007
Powered by Fender: The Players
2003
Spider-Man
2002
Now, Vol. 9
2002
Now, Vol. 7
2001
Naked 4-Play
2000
From the Vaults 1007 WZLX
2000
Charlie's Angels
2000
Naughty Platinum Rock
2000
Stoned Immaculate: The Music Of The Doors
2000
Pop Music: The Modern Era, 1976-1999
1999
Movie Music: The Definitive Performances
1999
Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack For A...
1999
Rock Giants Vol. 1
1999
Millennium of Pop: Das Jahrhundert Album
1999
Rock: The Train Kept A Rollin'
1999
Armageddon: The Album
1998
Guitar Heroes [Rivie're]
1998
California Jam 2 - Live!
1995
Grammy's Greatest Moments, Vol. 2
1994
Woodstock 94
1994
The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience
1993
Last Action Hero
1993
Air America [Soundtrack]
1990
Less Than Zero
1987
Guest
Aerosmithsonian - A Tribute To Aerosmith
2005
The String Quartet Tribute To Aerosmith
2003
Sweet Emotion: The Songs of Aerosmith
Victor Dinaire
2001
String Quartet Tribute to R.E.M.
Rudy Colombini
1999
Armageddon
1998
Interviews, Vol. 2
Aerosmith
1996
Interview: Talk This Way
Aerosmith
1992
Trash
Alice Cooper
1989
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