Aero Force One
July 2, 2009

TimesoftheInternet

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer says he hopes to help those afflicted by depression and drug addiction with his new memoir.

Called “Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top,” the book, set to come out Tuesday, chronicles Kramer’s highs and lows in his 40-year rock ‘n’ roll career, but concentrates on his battles against his personal demons, The Boston Globe reported.

“Basically, I want to be of service and help folks out,” Kramer told the newspaper. “Anybody that relates to stuff that’s happened to me along the way — my anxiety, my depression, the drugs. If I can help someone, I’ll have accomplished my goal.”

Kramer said his father was abusive and unresolved feelings over his death helped fuel his lowest personal moments in his Aerosmith career.

“I didn’t comprehend it when I was a kid, but the way he disciplined me, which was abusive, was my fuel,” Kramer told the Globe. “I wasn’t (drumming) to please him, but the big thing he related to was the almighty dollar, so when I started making some of those, he paid attention.”

To read the original article, click (here).

Aero Force One
July 1, 2009

Meet Joey Kramer and get YOUR copy of “Hit Hard” autographed!

That’s right! Come meet Drum Legend and Rock Icon Joey Kramer of Aerosmith and get YOUR copy of “Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top” signed!

Check out where and when Joey will be!

Book Signing Events:

Monday, July 6th @ 7pm
Brookline Booksmith
Brookline, MA

Wednesday, July 8th @ 1pm
Borders (10-24 School St)
Boston, MA

Sunday, July 12th @ 2pm
Barnes & Noble (2051 N Federal Hwy)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Saturday, July 18th @ 4pm
Legacy Bookstore (7300 Dallas Pkwy)
Plano, TX

Wednesday, July 22nd @ 7pm
Barnes & Noble (96 Derby St)
Hingham, MA

Sunday, July 26th @ 2pm
Barnes & Noble (567 North Stephanie)
Henderson, NV

*Check back for more signing events, coming soon!

Reuters.com
July 4, 2009

Here’s Aerosmith by numbers: The veteran rock band has performed seven shows on its summer tour, but now two of its five members are on the sick list forcing the postponement of at least three shows. In the latest development singer Steven Tyler, 61, has been hobbled by an unspecified injury, putting the kibosh on Cincinnati (July 1), Hershey, Pa. (July 3) and Virginia Beach, Va. (July 5).

Guitarist Joe Perry sent out a Twitter message on Friday expressing “sincere apologies,” and asking fans to pray for Tyler’s speedy return. “It really bums me out too — you have no idea,” he said.

The tour was looking shaky before it even started in St. Louis on June 10. Guitarist Brad Whitford, 57, underwent surgery earlier that month after hitting his head while getting out of his Ferrari. He is scheduled to rejoin his bandmates in Raleigh, N.C., on July 7, assuming Tyler is back in the saddle by then.

The band says the three shows (so far) will be rescheduled. Dates are on tap for the North American trek through Sept. 16 in Detroit. The band’s publicist was unable to provide additional information about Tyler’s health.

Fans have said Tyler appeared to pull a leg muscle at the band’s last show, on Monday. Tyler has been troubled by his feet: In May 2008, he checked into rehab saying he needed “a safe environment to recuperate” following a series of painful foot surgeries. In 2006, the band was forced to cancel the remaining dates on a tour so that Tyler could undergo throat surgery.

Aero Force One
Billboard.com
Gary Graff, Detroit
July 3, 2009

Aerosmith’s next album might be “on the bench, in pieces,” waiting for the group to resume recording after it finishes touring in mid-September, but guitarist Joe Perry’s next solo album is just about ready to go.

Perry tells Billboard.com that he’s just finishing mixing the follow-up to 2005’s Grammy Award-nominated “Joe Perry” and expects it to be mastered next week. He plans to release a single in late July or early August, with the album coming out this fall.

“It’s a lot different than the last one,” Perry reports. “The last one was a straight-ahead rocker. This one’s got some different things on it.” The album was recorded in about seven weeks at Perry’s home studio, The Boneyard; he shares lead vocal duties with a German singer his wife, Billie, discovered on the Internet, and there’s one instrumental track. David Hull from the Joe Perry Project and Ben Tileston, who plays with two of Perry’s sons in TAB The Band, were also involved.

“We were working around the clock, through weekends and everything, and it was all live,” Perry says. “In fact, a lot of the vocals are live along with the rest of the band. (Sound) was bleeding from one track to another; if somebody had a bad take everybody had a bad take, and we played it ’til we got a good one. Of course we went in and overdubbed a lot of the other stuff, but the energy is there. You can feel it.”

The one thing Perry doesn’t have yet is a title; for that he’s holding a contest via Twitter, letting fans make suggestions. If one of the fan’s is chosen, the winner will receive a guitar. “It’s tough, obviously, without having heard the record for people to name it,” he notes, “but we may find something really good. There’ve already been a bunch that are possibilities.”

Once the album is released Perry hopes to hit the road with his own band for “a short, fast, hard tour. That’s what I’m really looking forward to…getting back out there with some old friends and some other musicians and doing it like the old days.”

The Aerosmith album, its first since 2004’s “Honkin’ on Bobo,” will also be a consideration at that point as the group — which wraps up its current tour with ZZ Top on Sept. 16 — hits the studio again with producer Brendan O’Brien. “That is the next project right after we get off the road,” Perry says. “We’ll take a little break and then put it together. I’m hoping it will come together pretty fast, but I’ve been saying that for five years, so…”

Aero Force One
July 2, 2009

Through Charitybuzz.com you can bid on Aerosmith VIP Ticket Packages for the Las Vegas and Los Angeles shows. Each package comes with:

- A pair of tickets to the show
- A back stage tour
- VIP pre-show party with special appearance by Joey Kramer
- A killer swag bag of Aerosmith merch

Here is the link to the Urban Farming auction page:
http://urbanfarming.charitybuzz.com/viewLots.do

About Urban Farming:

Urban Farming’s mission is to eradicate hunger, alleviate poverty and green our environment. We locate and secure unused land, space, rooftops and walls for the purpose of bringing people together to plant organic food gardens in low income urban areas throughout America and abroad. Children, adults and seniors are given the supplies, tools, and education to create a lasting sustainable solution to these local and global issues.

Neighbors are encouraged to share their healthy harvest with local food banks to help others in need. This system of increasing diversity while working together for a common cause builds safer cities, provides food security, and instills hope for a better future. Planting attractive food gardens beautifies the area and helps to lower the heat index, aiding in the fight against global warming. Growing locally reduces the use of fossil fuels related to transporting produce to and from stores.

Urban Farming host several green science gardens in schools K thru 12. Children learn about team building, skills training, self-sufficiency, environmental issues, nutrition, health, and balanced living. Kids are proud to bring their fresh produce and newly acquired skills home to share. Older students receive the education and inspiration to prepare them for many types of green jobs and are encouraged to stay in school and volunteer in their community. A portion of the food grown in schools is also donated to local food banks.

Our Urban Farming Food Chain ‘Edible’ Wall Gardens consist of growing panels vertically installed on the sides of concrete walls. They are also available as portable free standing walls on wheels. So far we have placed them at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, The Weingart Center, and The Rainbow Apartments in the Skid Row area of LA. These walls are to be as links in a chain across the world, providing food for the hungry and greening the globe. The most recent edible wall garden was installed at the Brotherhood and SisterSol after school program in Harlem, New York on April 16th. They serve over 250 students ages 7 thru 19.

During World War II Twenty million people planted “Victory Gardens” at their homes and grew 40% of this Nation’s produce. They did it then and we can do it again!

HamptonRoads.com, VA
July 2, 2009

Aerosmith has postponed its show scheduled for Sunday with ZZ Top at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. The show has been postponed due to “an artist injury,” according to a press release from Live Nation, which manages the venue. Tickets purchased for the show will be honored at a date yet to be scheduled.

The Patriot-News, PA
July 2, 2009

Friday night’s Aerosmith/ZZ Top concert at Hersheypark Stadium has been postponed. A Hershey spokesperson said the postponement is because of “an artist injury” to an Aerosmith band member, but had no further information. The show was not immediately rescheduled, but tickets purchased for the concert will be honored at the rescheduled date.

Aerosmith’s July 1 concert in Cincinnati, Ohio, was postponed, also blamed on an injury. There’s nothing on the band’s Web site about the postponements or injury.

Aerosmith and ZZ Top have been going strong for what seems like forever: more than 30 years for Aerosmith and 40 for ZZ Top. Aerosmith has won four Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, six Billboard Awards and 12 MTV Awards. ZZ Top has been inducted into the Rock ‘ Roll Hall of Fame, was named the Official Heroes of the State of Texas and cited for Best Group Video and Best Direction at the first MTV Video Music Awards.

Tickets for Friday’s show were $200, $95, $75, $55 and $35. The Hersheypark Concert Deal will be accepted on Friday; it gives ticket-holders a discount on Hersheypark admission the day of a concert.

A video of the tour’s June 21 show at Nissan Pavilion in Virginia. They opened with “Train Kept a Rollin’.” - (here).

WCPO.com, OH
July 1, 2009

Aerosmith has postponed their scheduled show for Wednesday night at the Riverbend Music Center because of an artist injury. Details of that injury are not immediately available.

A rescheduled date will be announced soon.

Tickets purchased for the July 1 Riverbend Music Center concert will be honored at the rescheduled date.

For additional tour and ticket information, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.aeroforceone.com.

Aero Force One
June 30, 2009

From WCSX - Detroit:

The drummer of Aerosmith, Joey Kramer, called in to talk about his new book- “Hit Hard- A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom At The Top.”

WBZ - Radio
KISW - Seattle