One of the most popular band of the 70's was Aerosmith. Their heavy, blues-based, dirty-riffing, and power ballads set the standard for rock 'n' roll for years to come. Influencing bands such as Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi,and Motley Crue. One of Aerosmith's main factors in success was their mixing of hard rocking tunes like "Walk This Way", "Sweet Emotion" and "Back In The Saddle", with power ballads like "Dream On", "Seasons of Wither", and "You See Me Cryin'", this combination made them extremely popular in their 70's heyday. However, starting at about the time of their 1977 album "Draw The Line" drugs started to take over the band, and their audience declined immensley, with subsequent albums "Night In The Ruts" and "Rock In A Hard Place" drawing terrible reviews, from fans and critics alike. Their popularity lessened even more in the 80's decade and it appeared that the band was finished. They then exectued one of the most celebrated comebacks in rock history.
Aerosmith first formed in 1970, in Sunapee, New Hampshire. When vocalist/drummer Steven Tyler saw guitarist Joe Perry playing at a club there called The Barn. They then decided to form a band together, but Perry agreed to join only if bassist Tom Hamilton came along, and Tyler agreed. The band was now a power trio, but Tyler wanted two guitarists, and nominated his friend Raymond Tabano. However, Tabano soon fell out of favor with the band and was replaced by guitarist Brad Whitford. Tabano later went on to be head of the band's fan club, and designed the modern Aerosmith "Wings" logo. Aerosmith auditioned drummers, and decided on Joey Kramer, to take Tyler out from behind the drums, to become full-time singer. The band was now set, relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, and moved in together at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue.
After several years of playing clubs and rehearsing Aerosmith had several original songs, including "Dream On", "Major Barbara", "Movin' Out", "Mama Kin', and "One Way Street". But they soon ran out of money and a place to rehearse. Quickly, they met John O' Toole, who let them rehearse in his theatre. Soon after, they played a gig at Max's Kansas City and got signed to management contracts with Frank Conally, David Krebs, and Steve Leber. At their next gig at "Max's" Clive Davis of Columbia Records saw them perform and signed them to a recording contract. Then in 1972, Aerosmith recorded their self-titled debut album for Columbia, and it was released in January of 1973. The album made barely a ripple in the charts going only to #166 and it's lone single "Dream On" was a only minor hit at #59. Since "Aerosmith" didn't sell enough copies Davis wanted to dump them from their contract, but when "Dream On" did respectably and they begged enough Aerosmith stayed on to fulfill their contract.
Slowly but surely though, Aerosmith (thanks to their hectic touring schedule)was building a fan base. They then recorded their sophmore effort "Get Your Wings" which was released in 1974. It was produced by Jack Douglas, who would become the band's longtime friend and producer. "Get Your Wings" fared much better than their first album, spending a total of 86 weeks on the chart, behind singles like "Same Old Song And Dance", and eventually going gold.
"Toys In The Attic", released in 1975 was the band's breakthrough album. By this time, Aerosmith had developed their own style, and it was clearly showing. Behind the success of Top 40 single "Sweet Emotion" and Top 10 single "Walk This Way", "Toys" shot to #11 on the charts. This album secured the band's success as one of the biggest acts of the 70's. The success of those two singles and the album itself prompted a rerelease of "Dream On" which went into the Top 10 this time. Their first two albums were also re-released and fared better this time around.
In 1976, Aerosmith released their fourth album "Rocks" which shipped platinum, and got to #3 on the charts. It didn't feature a big hit single, but is considered one of the greatest rock album of all-time, and is considered by many to be the group's finest effort.
Aerosmith had another hit album in 1977 with "Draw The Line". Although it was a hit at #11, it clearly showed signs of decay due to their heavy drug use. Many said that except for the title track, and "Kings And Queens" the album was nothing but filler. Still, it was a hit for Aerosmith. Later, in 1978 Aerosmith appeared in the movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" as the "Evil Band" and performed the song "Come Together" for the soundtrack. It was a #23 hit for the band, and would be their last Top 40 song for almost ten years.
Aerosmith's first live album "Live! Bootleg" was released in 1978, and went to #13. Then at the end of 1979 Aerosmith released "Night In The Ruts". Shortly before the release of this album Joe Perry left the band due to internal frictions to form The Joe Perry Project. The Project, in various incarnations released three albums, but none of them were major hits. Meanwhile, "Night In The Ruts" hit #13 and went gold, but was Aerosmith's least successful album up to that point. Then in 1980, Brad Whitford also left the band to form Whitford/St. Holmes with singer Derek St. Holmes, formely of Ted Nugent. They recorded 1 album to little success.
The band later reformed with Jimmy Crepso on lead guitar and Rick Dufay on rhythm. Their next release would be "Greatest Hits", which would eventually become their bestselling album. The "new" Aerosmith's first album would be "Rock in a Hard Place", released in 1982. The album reached only #32, and was widely considered a commercial failure, and they were ousted from Columbia Records after the release.
After this the members of Aerosmith were devoting so much of their time and money to drugs that they had little time for music. They all lost money, cars, their houses, and other valuables in order to pay for their drugs. Joe Perry even lived in a boarding house for a short period. Around this time Tim Collins started managing the "Project"... Later, Brad Whitford joined The Joe Perry Project onstage for a few concerts, once the former guitar tandem attended an Aerosmith concert. The bands then met backstage and decided to reform Aerosmith with the original lineup. They then went on a reunion tour dubbed "Back In The Saddle" in 1984. However Perry refused to re-upp their management contract with Leber/Krebs. He convinced the rest of Aerosmith to let Collins manage them, thus forming a long partnership. The band then signed a new record deal with Geffen after a bitter court dispute with Leber/Krebs. The reunited Aerosmith released it's first album in 5 years "Done With Mirrors" in 1985, to little critical acclaim or sales.
In 1986 Tyler and Perry made a smart commercial move by appearing in Run DMC's cover of "Walk This Way", and appeared in the video. The single became a hit, as did the video on MTV. This put the band back in the mainstream, and they began recording their next album. "Permanent Vacation" was released in 1987 to good reviews and sales. The album represented a change in Aerosmith's formula as they collabrated with professional songwriters on the album, but nonetheless released the Top 10 singles "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)", "Rag Doll", and "Angel".
In 1989 Aerosmith released "Pump" considered by many to be their best album and included 3 more Top 10 singles "Janie's Got A Gun", "Love In An Elevator", and "What It Takes", as well as another hit single, "The Other Side". The album was a huge success, and set the band on track for the 90's. Later, in 1990, Aerosmith appeared on "MTV Unplugged" to strong reviews, but never released the concert on album.
In 1993, Aerosmith released the long-awaited successor to "Pump", "Get A Grip". "GAG" was one of Aerosmith's most successful albums to date, featuring strong singles "Amazing", "Livin' on the Edge", "Cryin", "Crazy", and "Eat The Rich", and won several Grammy and People's Choice Awards. Then in 1994 they released "Big Ones", a Greatest Hits of sorts from their Geffen catalog, it was yet another hit and quickly went platinum.
A huge 224-show Get A Grip tour was launched and was a huge success. However the years between this tour and the recording of their subsequent album "Nine Lives" resulted in turmoil. Members of Aerosmith had to go to therapy sessions and rumors came out about them doing drugs again. They denied this, but rumors persisted. Collins soon fell out of favor with the band, and was fired. Wendy Laister and Fred Goldstein were hired as Aerosmith's new managers.
Almost four years later they released "Nine Lives" which debuted at #1 and quickly went platinum, but to mixed reviews. Aerosmith then embarked on a successful world tour, appearing on several radio concerts and on MTV. During the tour Tyler was swinging his mikestand during "Mama Kin" at a show in Anchorage, Alaska and injured his knee. He finished the show using the mike as a crutch, but many of the subsequent shows were cancelled. Later in the tour Joey Kramer's Ferrari erupted in flames while he was filling it up with gas, and more dates were cancelled.
Later they appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "Armageddon" with four songs, including hit originals "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and "What Kind of Love Are You On". "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" went on to become a huge hit and the band's first #1 single.
A document of the last two tours was then released dubbed "A Little South of Sanity" which debuted at #12 and quickly went platinum.
