Aerosmith

Aerosmith is an American rock band originated in 1970 in Boston. Vocalist Steven Tyler, who started his music career as a drummer, has always been the leader of the band. In 1971, the present lineup was formed: Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford. The debut album by Aerosmith with the same name demonstrated the direction they had chosen to move further – blues-based hard rock with elements of glam. In 1974, Aerosmith prepared their second album, Get Your Wings. It was the first CD in the streak of multi platinum albums. In a year, they recorded Toys in the Attic. This album proved that Aerosmith had created their own style instead of copying celebrated groups. In 1976, they released Rocks, the album still regarded as the heaviest one in the discography of Aerosmith. Rocks ran platinum quickly, while the songs Last Child, and Back in the Saddle became radio hits. At that time, Aerosmith were doing concerts as headliners already, supporting nobody any longer.

The popularity came together with big troubles. Aerosmith parted with Perry and, shortly after, with Whitford, both guitarists. Moreover, the musicians on Aerosmith led an unhealthy way of life taking too much alcohol and drugs. These factors predetermined creative crisis of the musicians. In 1982, the band produced Rock in a Hard Place, a failure vividly proving their problems. During concerts, the musicians collapsed right on the stage. In 1984, Aerosmith went on a successful tour under the symbolic title Back in the Saddle to celebrate the return of Perry and Whitford. During this tour, they recorded the live album, Classics Live! Vol. 2. The first studio album, recorded after the reunion, was Done with Mirrors (1985). Aerosmith began winning back the lost positions, but narcotics remained a very serious problem to the musicians of Aerosmith. Tim Collins, their manager, pledged to make Aerosmith the best band of 90’s, if the musicians were done with drugs. It did work out. In several years, they received full treatment and left drugs behind. Permanent Vacation was released in August 1987. It was a smash: five million copies sold out in the States alone; all three singles (Dude (Looks Like a Lady), Rag Doll, and Angel) hit Top 20 of Billboard. Pump (1989) earned even more credits. This time, the singles found themselves in Top 10, and Aerosmith won their first Grammy for Janie’s Got a Gun.

After that, Aerosmith took a short pause to gather energy for the new album. It was released in 1993 under the title Get a Grip, and gained good response, although new trends had come into fashion lately. Aerosmith changed their music, too. They focused on making more ballads and softening the sound. This hit-oriented approach did not escape sharp criticism. The album was followed by eighteen months of touring. In 1994, Aerosmith released a compilation of the best songs from the three last albums, called Big Ones. The album Nine Lives, produced in 1997, had different reviews and found support not among all the fans. It had a long chart life, yet not always being a leader. Just Push Play, released in 2001, ran platinum at once, and the single Jaded climbed seventh in Billboard. Later that year, Aerosmith were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In a year, they produced a double CD collection named O, Yeah! with the only new song recorded, Girls of Summer. In 2003, the band worked on a blues album and toured America with KISS. The long-expected Honkin' on Bobo (2004) became a bestseller in the USA and Europe, where blues was again in high demand. The album was supported by the live video You Gotta Move, available on DVD since December 2004. In 2006, Aerosmith launched a large scale tour with Motley Crue and released Devil’s Got a New Disguise: The Very Best Of featuring their top songs and two new tracks. Tyler said that the session for the new as-yet-unnamed album began at the end of September 2008.