Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Hard Rock Café’s ‘Guitar Hero: Aerosmith’ Tournament
MetroMix.com
July 29, 2008
The national competition plugs into Detroit for a night of gaming mayhem
“I WANNA ROCK!!!”
Okay, so maybe it’s a little ‘80s, but now you, too, can unleash your inner rock star at the Hard Rock Café when they host the “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” tournament in hopes to find Detroit’s best axe shredder.
The competition on Wednesday, July 30, marks the Detroit leg of the national tour, which takes place in 15 cities and features the newest release in the “Guitar Hero” video-game franchise.
“It’s a chance for us at Hard Rock to pair-up with Steven Tyler, who’s a big supporter for us,” says Mike Sypniewski, of Hard Rock Detroit’s sales department. “And, it’s happening at Hard Rocks across the country.”
Local fans can unleash their inner rock star in order to gain the top score, where everyone competes on the same song. “We can’t tell you what song because then people will go out and practice,” says Sypniewski. “But, actually we don’t even know what it is, yet.”
The top four scores will then go on to Boston for the star-studded finale event and see Steven Tyler in the flesh. They’ll also compete for the chance to win the grand prize: a custom Red Wing “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” Hard Rock Café motorcycle designed by Tyler himself.
“It’s a popular video game for all ages, so anyone from 15 to 45-years-old can be a rock star for a change,” says Sypniewski. “I’ve played it and I’m not very good, in fact I’m awful, but people really love it.
“Someone who enjoys the game and practices it a lot (has a good chance). It’s going to take a lot of practice to win,” Sypniewski adds.
As part of the national tour, Hard Rock is also giving Forge -- a nonprofit that works with displaced communities in Africa -- a $50,000 contribution during the final event in Boston.
Prizes from the 101.1 WRIF radio and the Hard Rock are also part of the contestant swag.
“This event gives Hard Rock the opportunity to partner with a legend of rock, America’s number one video game, SPIN magazine and the WRIF, while giving our guests a memorable experience in our café,” says Hard Rock Detroit management.
So instead of playing air guitar (come on, we know you do it) put those skills to use and “Rock This Way” at the “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” Rocks the Hard Rock event. Registration starts at 6 p.m. with game time at 7 p.m. The event’s free, but you must be 21 and older in order to rock-out.
July 29, 2008
The national competition plugs into Detroit for a night of gaming mayhem
“I WANNA ROCK!!!”
Okay, so maybe it’s a little ‘80s, but now you, too, can unleash your inner rock star at the Hard Rock Café when they host the “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” tournament in hopes to find Detroit’s best axe shredder.
The competition on Wednesday, July 30, marks the Detroit leg of the national tour, which takes place in 15 cities and features the newest release in the “Guitar Hero” video-game franchise.
“It’s a chance for us at Hard Rock to pair-up with Steven Tyler, who’s a big supporter for us,” says Mike Sypniewski, of Hard Rock Detroit’s sales department. “And, it’s happening at Hard Rocks across the country.”
Local fans can unleash their inner rock star in order to gain the top score, where everyone competes on the same song. “We can’t tell you what song because then people will go out and practice,” says Sypniewski. “But, actually we don’t even know what it is, yet.”
The top four scores will then go on to Boston for the star-studded finale event and see Steven Tyler in the flesh. They’ll also compete for the chance to win the grand prize: a custom Red Wing “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” Hard Rock Café motorcycle designed by Tyler himself.
“It’s a popular video game for all ages, so anyone from 15 to 45-years-old can be a rock star for a change,” says Sypniewski. “I’ve played it and I’m not very good, in fact I’m awful, but people really love it.
“Someone who enjoys the game and practices it a lot (has a good chance). It’s going to take a lot of practice to win,” Sypniewski adds.
As part of the national tour, Hard Rock is also giving Forge -- a nonprofit that works with displaced communities in Africa -- a $50,000 contribution during the final event in Boston.
Prizes from the 101.1 WRIF radio and the Hard Rock are also part of the contestant swag.
“This event gives Hard Rock the opportunity to partner with a legend of rock, America’s number one video game, SPIN magazine and the WRIF, while giving our guests a memorable experience in our café,” says Hard Rock Detroit management.
So instead of playing air guitar (come on, we know you do it) put those skills to use and “Rock This Way” at the “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” Rocks the Hard Rock event. Registration starts at 6 p.m. with game time at 7 p.m. The event’s free, but you must be 21 and older in order to rock-out.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith hits Australia on August 6th
Aero Force One
July 28, 2008
Tapping on fake instruments and screeching into microphones connected to video game consoles has become lucrative for music and gaming industries.
Downloadable tunes for music-based games Guitar Hero, Rock Band and SingStar are as vital as iTunes itself - and one of the last ways to expose youngsters to classic rock.
The genre will evolve again on August 6 when game publisher Activision and developer Neversoft release Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first such play-along rhythm game pegged to one band, instead of featuring a multi-artist compilation more akin to one of those Now That's What I Call Music! albums.
"The game is really about the spirit of guitar music," Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton says.
"It's all about being into music that sounds powerful, energetic and lush. You're rhythmically pushing buttons that create a certain reaction or sound along with the music.
"You can't say it doesn't have any musical relevance. It does."
Players start out as lead guitarist Joe Perry and can unlock Hamilton and Brad Whitford while playing in virtual versions of venues where Aerosmith once rocked.
Perry admits he is ordinary at the game, although he embraced the idea having seen his sons and road crew's passion for playing and wanted to jump on board before the opportunity and the technology passed the band by.
"When I see this new generation of kids getting turned on to this music because of the video games, it really perks me up," Perry says.
"But I noticed that they didn't have any Aerosmith songs on the first or the second one and I freaked out because I thought, 'This is the future, this is where the music business is going'."
While regular versions of Guitar Hero, Rock Band and SingStar come loaded with songs by bands like The Rolling Stones and Radiohead, the most recent incarnations of the games allow players to go online and download additional tracks for $1-3 per song, depending on the game.
The downloading doesn't stop there. Because the songs for the games can't be burned onto a CD or uploaded to an MP3 player, many players turn to other digital download services for their own copies - and also dig deeper into an artist's discography.
All that musical consumption is equalling big bucks for the flailing music industry. "Revenue back to the music industry can be huge," says entertainment and new media lawyer Paul Menes, who's brokered such arrangements.
"Getting your music in a video game was formerly all about the publicity, but because of the amount of sales these games are bringing in these days, the labels want to get paid. It's no longer just a vehicle for promotion."
The backstage deals vary. Typically, music publishers and musicians are paid advance royalties if their work is included on the original game disc.
More copies of the game sold equal more royalties back to the music-makers.
The same goes for revenue generated by those augmented new downloads, which are released every month.
Song downloads for MTV Games and Harmonix's Rock Band - which allows gamers to thrash with friends both online and in-person on various faux instruments, including a drumset - have passed the 12 million mark, according Paul DeGooyer, MTV senior vice president of electronic games and music.
In May, Motley Crue released the title track from their new album Saints of Los Angeles in two places before the record's June release date: Rock Band and iTunes.
The Rock Band sales of Saints of Los Angeles were actually five times higher than on iTunes, according to Billboard. Instead of an animated interface like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, the SingStar series broadcasts artists' music videos as players attempt to achieve a perfect pitch.
PlayStation 3's SingStar also takes a cue from YouTube with SingStar Online, which invites crooners to upload their performances as well as watch and rate others online.
The next evolution of the genre could reshape not just the music industry, but music as a whole. Guitar Hero World Tour - the recently announced fourth iteration of the franchise that started this trend - will feature a Rock Band-like assemblage of peripheral instruments and the ability to compose digital music from scratch.
Some of the biggest names in rock are also set to become part of the Guitar Hero world: including one of the greatest ever, Jimi Hendrix, and rock gods Metallica.
Metallica's next album, Death Magnetic, will be released in its entirety as downloadable content for Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero World Tour.
Hendrix will make an appearance on World Tour with Purple Haze and Wind Cries Mary on the disc and further tracks available for download later on.
Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS is already due for a sequel, called Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades.
Games publisher Konami, who recently sued Rock Band makers Harmonix for infringement of patent, will be bringing out their own band simulator, dubbed Rock Revolution, for all platforms.
More at HeraldSun.com.au: (here).
July 28, 2008
Tapping on fake instruments and screeching into microphones connected to video game consoles has become lucrative for music and gaming industries.
Downloadable tunes for music-based games Guitar Hero, Rock Band and SingStar are as vital as iTunes itself - and one of the last ways to expose youngsters to classic rock.
The genre will evolve again on August 6 when game publisher Activision and developer Neversoft release Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first such play-along rhythm game pegged to one band, instead of featuring a multi-artist compilation more akin to one of those Now That's What I Call Music! albums.
"The game is really about the spirit of guitar music," Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton says.
"It's all about being into music that sounds powerful, energetic and lush. You're rhythmically pushing buttons that create a certain reaction or sound along with the music.
"You can't say it doesn't have any musical relevance. It does."
Players start out as lead guitarist Joe Perry and can unlock Hamilton and Brad Whitford while playing in virtual versions of venues where Aerosmith once rocked.
Perry admits he is ordinary at the game, although he embraced the idea having seen his sons and road crew's passion for playing and wanted to jump on board before the opportunity and the technology passed the band by.
"When I see this new generation of kids getting turned on to this music because of the video games, it really perks me up," Perry says.
"But I noticed that they didn't have any Aerosmith songs on the first or the second one and I freaked out because I thought, 'This is the future, this is where the music business is going'."
While regular versions of Guitar Hero, Rock Band and SingStar come loaded with songs by bands like The Rolling Stones and Radiohead, the most recent incarnations of the games allow players to go online and download additional tracks for $1-3 per song, depending on the game.
The downloading doesn't stop there. Because the songs for the games can't be burned onto a CD or uploaded to an MP3 player, many players turn to other digital download services for their own copies - and also dig deeper into an artist's discography.
All that musical consumption is equalling big bucks for the flailing music industry. "Revenue back to the music industry can be huge," says entertainment and new media lawyer Paul Menes, who's brokered such arrangements.
"Getting your music in a video game was formerly all about the publicity, but because of the amount of sales these games are bringing in these days, the labels want to get paid. It's no longer just a vehicle for promotion."
The backstage deals vary. Typically, music publishers and musicians are paid advance royalties if their work is included on the original game disc.
More copies of the game sold equal more royalties back to the music-makers.
The same goes for revenue generated by those augmented new downloads, which are released every month.
Song downloads for MTV Games and Harmonix's Rock Band - which allows gamers to thrash with friends both online and in-person on various faux instruments, including a drumset - have passed the 12 million mark, according Paul DeGooyer, MTV senior vice president of electronic games and music.
In May, Motley Crue released the title track from their new album Saints of Los Angeles in two places before the record's June release date: Rock Band and iTunes.
The Rock Band sales of Saints of Los Angeles were actually five times higher than on iTunes, according to Billboard. Instead of an animated interface like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, the SingStar series broadcasts artists' music videos as players attempt to achieve a perfect pitch.
PlayStation 3's SingStar also takes a cue from YouTube with SingStar Online, which invites crooners to upload their performances as well as watch and rate others online.
The next evolution of the genre could reshape not just the music industry, but music as a whole. Guitar Hero World Tour - the recently announced fourth iteration of the franchise that started this trend - will feature a Rock Band-like assemblage of peripheral instruments and the ability to compose digital music from scratch.
Some of the biggest names in rock are also set to become part of the Guitar Hero world: including one of the greatest ever, Jimi Hendrix, and rock gods Metallica.
Metallica's next album, Death Magnetic, will be released in its entirety as downloadable content for Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero World Tour.
Hendrix will make an appearance on World Tour with Purple Haze and Wind Cries Mary on the disc and further tracks available for download later on.
Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS is already due for a sequel, called Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades.
Games publisher Konami, who recently sued Rock Band makers Harmonix for infringement of patent, will be bringing out their own band simulator, dubbed Rock Revolution, for all platforms.
More at HeraldSun.com.au: (here).
Monday, July 28, 2008
Rock Games Battle for Bands
RollingStone.com
July 25, 2008
Guitar Hero, Rock Band sign Hendrix, Aerosmith, G n' R and the Who
Aerosmith don't have a new album out, but the band still scored the biggest sales week of its 38-year career in early July, thanks to the fastest-growing new business in rock: video games. The new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith — which lets fans use the franchise's familiar plastic guitar controller to play 25 songs from "Sweet Emotion" to "Love in an Elevator" — sold over 567,000 copies in its first week, grossing more than $25 million, at $50 a game. In contrast, the band's last studio album, 2004's Honkin' on Bobo, sold 160,500 copies in its first week, grossing about $2 million. "We didn't have to think about it very much," says Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford. "We were all pretty aware of how popular the game was, and being the first band to have our own version of it seemed pretty exciting. We're the first band of many."
After the competing rock-themed video-game franchises Guitar Hero and Rock Band grossed nearly $1 billion combined in 2007, rock's most legendary names took note: In addition to Aerosmith, top acts like Guns n' Roses, Metallica, the Who, Jimi Hendrix and many more are making tour stops at Xboxes and PS3s this year. G n' R are debuting "Shackler's Revenge," a song from the endlessly awaited Chinese Democracy, as part of this fall's Rock Band 2; Metallica are making their new album, Death Magnetic, available for play on Guitar Hero the same day it's released in stores and on iTunes; and Hendrix-estate conservator Janie Hendrix tells Rolling Stone that some of Jimi's greatest hits will soon be on Guitar Hero.
Since Rock Band and Guitar Hero offer similar game play — the upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour will even let players take on drums and vocals, Rock Band-style — the games' makers are increasingly focused on differentiating themselves through deals with major artists. "There's a massive list of artists and songs that are available," says Tim Riley, head of music for Activision, which controls the GH franchise. "There's a smaller list of the ones you really want, and there's a supershort list of the ones you have to have. So it's safe to say we're all kind of going after similar things." Although the company won't yet confirm it, Metallica may also be the next band to have their own edition of Guitar Hero, according to an SEC filing by Activision.
And while Activision promises more games based around single bands, the company says there's a limited number of acts that could carry a title on their own. "There's actually just a handful of bands that have this really deep catalog of music that people would have a lot of fun playing," says Kai Huang, president and co-founder of Activision subsidiary RedOctane. One of those bands, Led Zeppelin, have taken themselves out of the running — they have yet to license songs to a game and have no plans to, because of concerns about turning over their masters to outsiders, according to their management company, Q Prime. Rock Band and Guitar Hero executives are pursuing the Beatles (who have also not licensed any master tracks to the games), but no plans have been announced.
But the ultimate guitar hero, Hendrix, is finally coming to GH in Guitar Hero: World Tour. The Hendrix estate, which had difficulty working with the original masters until now, has delivered multiple songs — including "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady" and "Little Wing" — to RedOctane for use in the game and as downloadable tracks. It has also authorized an official Hendrix avatar to use as a game character. "Guitar Hero really was on the ball, and they were biting at the bit to get this out this year, so we accommodated them," says Janie Hendrix, who is also working on a possible deal with Rock Band. "Jimi was a kid at heart — he definitely would have played these games."
While each edition of these games comes with dozens of playable songs — Rock Band 2 will include tracks from Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" to AC/DC's "Let There Be Rock" — both Guitar Hero and Rock Band offer hundreds more that can be downloaded through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Fans have bought 20 million of these $2-apiece tracks for Guitar Hero and 16 million for Rock Band. Bands and labels each earn about 50 cents per track, more than they get from iTunes and other standard download sites. "This fusion of gaming and music is really expanding the music industry," says Eran Egozy, co-founder of Harmonix, which makes Rock Band — and originally developed Guitar Hero before the franchise moved to Activision. "It's a revolution for the business."
While the Guitar Hero franchise dwarfs the newer Rock Band — 20.7 million Guitar Hero games have sold worldwide in various incarnations, versus 1.3 million of Rock Band — the latter has the power of media giant Viacom behind it. The company is promoting the game and its downloadable content on MTV and VH1, as on the recent VH1 Rock Honors: The Who special, which heavily pushed a Rock Band download package of 12 Who songs. "Rock Honors was originally floated as an idea to help sell Rock Band," Who guitarist Pete Townshend wrote in an e-mail to Rolling Stone, before making a bitter joke about smashing plastic guitars onstage.
But most veteran artists and their managers are less ambivalent about tying their fates to a video game. Allen Kovac, CEO of Tenth Street Entertainment, Mötley Crûe's management firm, says the company's internal research showed that the games are "bringing a whole new demographic and audience to rock." Accordingly, Mötley Crûe debuted the first single from their new album on Rock Band, selling 48,000 playable copies. "Pretty soon," says Kovac, "this is going to be the way you sell music."
July 25, 2008
Guitar Hero, Rock Band sign Hendrix, Aerosmith, G n' R and the Who
Aerosmith don't have a new album out, but the band still scored the biggest sales week of its 38-year career in early July, thanks to the fastest-growing new business in rock: video games. The new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith — which lets fans use the franchise's familiar plastic guitar controller to play 25 songs from "Sweet Emotion" to "Love in an Elevator" — sold over 567,000 copies in its first week, grossing more than $25 million, at $50 a game. In contrast, the band's last studio album, 2004's Honkin' on Bobo, sold 160,500 copies in its first week, grossing about $2 million. "We didn't have to think about it very much," says Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford. "We were all pretty aware of how popular the game was, and being the first band to have our own version of it seemed pretty exciting. We're the first band of many."
After the competing rock-themed video-game franchises Guitar Hero and Rock Band grossed nearly $1 billion combined in 2007, rock's most legendary names took note: In addition to Aerosmith, top acts like Guns n' Roses, Metallica, the Who, Jimi Hendrix and many more are making tour stops at Xboxes and PS3s this year. G n' R are debuting "Shackler's Revenge," a song from the endlessly awaited Chinese Democracy, as part of this fall's Rock Band 2; Metallica are making their new album, Death Magnetic, available for play on Guitar Hero the same day it's released in stores and on iTunes; and Hendrix-estate conservator Janie Hendrix tells Rolling Stone that some of Jimi's greatest hits will soon be on Guitar Hero.
Since Rock Band and Guitar Hero offer similar game play — the upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour will even let players take on drums and vocals, Rock Band-style — the games' makers are increasingly focused on differentiating themselves through deals with major artists. "There's a massive list of artists and songs that are available," says Tim Riley, head of music for Activision, which controls the GH franchise. "There's a smaller list of the ones you really want, and there's a supershort list of the ones you have to have. So it's safe to say we're all kind of going after similar things." Although the company won't yet confirm it, Metallica may also be the next band to have their own edition of Guitar Hero, according to an SEC filing by Activision.
And while Activision promises more games based around single bands, the company says there's a limited number of acts that could carry a title on their own. "There's actually just a handful of bands that have this really deep catalog of music that people would have a lot of fun playing," says Kai Huang, president and co-founder of Activision subsidiary RedOctane. One of those bands, Led Zeppelin, have taken themselves out of the running — they have yet to license songs to a game and have no plans to, because of concerns about turning over their masters to outsiders, according to their management company, Q Prime. Rock Band and Guitar Hero executives are pursuing the Beatles (who have also not licensed any master tracks to the games), but no plans have been announced.
But the ultimate guitar hero, Hendrix, is finally coming to GH in Guitar Hero: World Tour. The Hendrix estate, which had difficulty working with the original masters until now, has delivered multiple songs — including "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady" and "Little Wing" — to RedOctane for use in the game and as downloadable tracks. It has also authorized an official Hendrix avatar to use as a game character. "Guitar Hero really was on the ball, and they were biting at the bit to get this out this year, so we accommodated them," says Janie Hendrix, who is also working on a possible deal with Rock Band. "Jimi was a kid at heart — he definitely would have played these games."
While each edition of these games comes with dozens of playable songs — Rock Band 2 will include tracks from Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" to AC/DC's "Let There Be Rock" — both Guitar Hero and Rock Band offer hundreds more that can be downloaded through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Fans have bought 20 million of these $2-apiece tracks for Guitar Hero and 16 million for Rock Band. Bands and labels each earn about 50 cents per track, more than they get from iTunes and other standard download sites. "This fusion of gaming and music is really expanding the music industry," says Eran Egozy, co-founder of Harmonix, which makes Rock Band — and originally developed Guitar Hero before the franchise moved to Activision. "It's a revolution for the business."
While the Guitar Hero franchise dwarfs the newer Rock Band — 20.7 million Guitar Hero games have sold worldwide in various incarnations, versus 1.3 million of Rock Band — the latter has the power of media giant Viacom behind it. The company is promoting the game and its downloadable content on MTV and VH1, as on the recent VH1 Rock Honors: The Who special, which heavily pushed a Rock Band download package of 12 Who songs. "Rock Honors was originally floated as an idea to help sell Rock Band," Who guitarist Pete Townshend wrote in an e-mail to Rolling Stone, before making a bitter joke about smashing plastic guitars onstage.
But most veteran artists and their managers are less ambivalent about tying their fates to a video game. Allen Kovac, CEO of Tenth Street Entertainment, Mötley Crûe's management firm, says the company's internal research showed that the games are "bringing a whole new demographic and audience to rock." Accordingly, Mötley Crûe debuted the first single from their new album on Rock Band, selling 48,000 playable copies. "Pretty soon," says Kovac, "this is going to be the way you sell music."
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Steven Tyler Expected at Sturgis: Thunder Road - August 6-8
ThunderRoadSturgis.com
July 24, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith - A special celebrity guest at Thunder Road will be Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and his Red Wing Motorcycles. Tyler will be in the Thunderdome starting at noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, August 6-8.
More info: (here).
July 24, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith - A special celebrity guest at Thunder Road will be Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and his Red Wing Motorcycles. Tyler will be in the Thunderdome starting at noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, August 6-8.
More info: (here).
Saturday, July 26, 2008
A Few More Photos From Shea Stadium
WireImage.com
July 24, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
July 24, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
Friday, July 25, 2008
Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton in Blender
Aero Force One
July 24, 2008
The New "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Re-Creates Six Stages the Band has Rocked in Real Life. Here, Guitarist Joe Perry and Bassist Tom Hamilton Share Tales From Each Venue
Nipmuc Regional High School// Upton, Massachusetts [Level 1]
Joe Perry: "This was where we had our first gig, in 1970, using the name Aerosmith - it was the name nobody didn't like. We played a lot of suburban high schools; it gave us more freedom than playing clubs."
Tom Hamilton: "The students got out there and jumped and danced, and it was a rockin' time. I'm looking forward to [current] Nipmuc students finding out that their school is one of the venues. Watch, they'll probably sue us for a cut of the game."
Max's Kansas City// New York [Level 2]
Perry: "Max's was a pretty decadent scene; there were plenty of drugs floating around. We were the hicks from Boston - we weren't wearing tutus or high heels, like the New York Dolls. Clive Davis, who was then president of Columbia Records, saw us there in 1972 and said, 'I'm gonna make you guys stars.'"
Orpheum Theatre// Boston [Level 3]
Perry: "We started playing at the Orpheum around '73 or '74. We'd play, then we'd go party at friends' apartments. Drugs were around, but it wasn't too crazy - nobody had much money back then."
Hamilton: "Our most poignant gig there was in 1984, after we'd been broken in half for three years. The band was onstage with our two new guitar players, and [guitarist] Brad [Whitford] and Joe were there watching. Afterward, we had a massive hotel party and started putting the band back together."
Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show// Tampa, Florida [Level 4]
Hamilton: "When our fans heard we'd be playing with Britney Spears, some panicked that we were about to become her backup band. The show [2001] was a novelty, because it was a sporting event, and when we formed, sports guys were the ones who beat guys like us up. They only came around when they saw how much pussy was going on at our shows."
Olympiysky Arena// Moscow [Level 5]
Perry: "We played Russia for the first time in 2007. It was incredible performing for 60,000 people, but it wasn't just that. It was amazing being there, because we come from a generation where you couldn't go to Russia - it was verboten."
Hamilton: "We were Cold War kids, so I was like, Holy Crap, we're in Russia! The venue was this bizarre, gigantic indoor stadium - a Stalin-era kind of building that was supposed to demonstrate the glory of the State. Russia was really cool. I had a lot of caviar there."
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction// New York [Real Life]; Cleveland [In Game] [Level 6]
Perry: "That was one of those gigs [in 2001] where you pinch yourself and go, I can't believe we're here. I felt nervous on stage."
Hamilton: "I was cynical about it at first. Finally, I had the proper emotional response, which was to be humbled and to enjoy it. At the [all-star-jam finale], Keith Richards was onstage, and he turned around and faced me with a big smile on his face. That made my millennium."
More photos: (here).
July 24, 2008
The New "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Re-Creates Six Stages the Band has Rocked in Real Life. Here, Guitarist Joe Perry and Bassist Tom Hamilton Share Tales From Each Venue
Nipmuc Regional High School// Upton, Massachusetts [Level 1]
Joe Perry: "This was where we had our first gig, in 1970, using the name Aerosmith - it was the name nobody didn't like. We played a lot of suburban high schools; it gave us more freedom than playing clubs."
Tom Hamilton: "The students got out there and jumped and danced, and it was a rockin' time. I'm looking forward to [current] Nipmuc students finding out that their school is one of the venues. Watch, they'll probably sue us for a cut of the game."
Max's Kansas City// New York [Level 2]
Perry: "Max's was a pretty decadent scene; there were plenty of drugs floating around. We were the hicks from Boston - we weren't wearing tutus or high heels, like the New York Dolls. Clive Davis, who was then president of Columbia Records, saw us there in 1972 and said, 'I'm gonna make you guys stars.'"
Orpheum Theatre// Boston [Level 3]
Perry: "We started playing at the Orpheum around '73 or '74. We'd play, then we'd go party at friends' apartments. Drugs were around, but it wasn't too crazy - nobody had much money back then."
Hamilton: "Our most poignant gig there was in 1984, after we'd been broken in half for three years. The band was onstage with our two new guitar players, and [guitarist] Brad [Whitford] and Joe were there watching. Afterward, we had a massive hotel party and started putting the band back together."
Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show// Tampa, Florida [Level 4]
Hamilton: "When our fans heard we'd be playing with Britney Spears, some panicked that we were about to become her backup band. The show [2001] was a novelty, because it was a sporting event, and when we formed, sports guys were the ones who beat guys like us up. They only came around when they saw how much pussy was going on at our shows."
Olympiysky Arena// Moscow [Level 5]
Perry: "We played Russia for the first time in 2007. It was incredible performing for 60,000 people, but it wasn't just that. It was amazing being there, because we come from a generation where you couldn't go to Russia - it was verboten."
Hamilton: "We were Cold War kids, so I was like, Holy Crap, we're in Russia! The venue was this bizarre, gigantic indoor stadium - a Stalin-era kind of building that was supposed to demonstrate the glory of the State. Russia was really cool. I had a lot of caviar there."
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction// New York [Real Life]; Cleveland [In Game] [Level 6]
Perry: "That was one of those gigs [in 2001] where you pinch yourself and go, I can't believe we're here. I felt nervous on stage."
Hamilton: "I was cynical about it at first. Finally, I had the proper emotional response, which was to be humbled and to enjoy it. At the [all-star-jam finale], Keith Richards was onstage, and he turned around and faced me with a big smile on his face. That made my millennium."
More photos: (here).
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rocking the Hard Rock - "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith"
Aero Force One
Beginning in July, select Hard Rock Cafe locations across the country will host a series of competitions where local Guitar Hero Aerosmith players and fans will rock it out in their favorite game for a chance to win a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston and compete for the Grand Prize.
The top four scores across the Hard Rock Cafe competitions throughout the U.S. will compete in a Guitar Hero: Aerosmith showdown at the finale event at Hard Rock Cafe Boston on August 25th in front of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and a host of Boston area celebrities and sports heroes. Steven Tyler will personally award the Grand Prize winner his custom-designed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith / Hard Rock Cafe Red Wing motorcycle.
Committed to its “Love All, Serve All” creed, the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock finale event will benefit FORGE, a US-based non-profit organization that works with displaced communities in Africa.
Remaining Dates - Contest Schedule
July 26 - Hard Rock Cafe Washington, DC
July 28 - Hard Rock Cafe New York
July 30 - Hard Rock Cafe Detroit
July 31 - Hard Rock Cafe Chicago
Aug 05 - Hard Rock Cafe Denver
Aug 06 - Hard Rock Cafe Salt Lake City
Aug 10 - Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix
Aug 13 - Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco
Aug 25 - Hard Rock Cafe Boston Finale Event
For further information and full listings, please visit www.hardrock.com/promo/guitarhero/
Beginning in July, select Hard Rock Cafe locations across the country will host a series of competitions where local Guitar Hero Aerosmith players and fans will rock it out in their favorite game for a chance to win a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston and compete for the Grand Prize.
The top four scores across the Hard Rock Cafe competitions throughout the U.S. will compete in a Guitar Hero: Aerosmith showdown at the finale event at Hard Rock Cafe Boston on August 25th in front of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and a host of Boston area celebrities and sports heroes. Steven Tyler will personally award the Grand Prize winner his custom-designed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith / Hard Rock Cafe Red Wing motorcycle.
Committed to its “Love All, Serve All” creed, the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock finale event will benefit FORGE, a US-based non-profit organization that works with displaced communities in Africa.
Remaining Dates - Contest Schedule
July 26 - Hard Rock Cafe Washington, DC
July 28 - Hard Rock Cafe New York
July 30 - Hard Rock Cafe Detroit
July 31 - Hard Rock Cafe Chicago
Aug 05 - Hard Rock Cafe Denver
Aug 06 - Hard Rock Cafe Salt Lake City
Aug 10 - Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix
Aug 13 - Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco
Aug 25 - Hard Rock Cafe Boston Finale Event
For further information and full listings, please visit www.hardrock.com/promo/guitarhero/
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
"Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" - Joe Perry in Classic Rock Magazine
Classic Rock Magazine
August, 2008
Rock Revolution? Video Games.
"Could music-based video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band evolve into a new way for rock to reach the masses? Slash, Joe Perry, Def Leppard and young guns like The Answer and Dragonforce seem to think so...."
Photos courtesy: (AF1 Forum).
August, 2008
Rock Revolution? Video Games.
"Could music-based video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band evolve into a new way for rock to reach the masses? Slash, Joe Perry, Def Leppard and young guns like The Answer and Dragonforce seem to think so...."
Photos courtesy: (AF1 Forum).
Aerosmith's Joey Kramer to Appear at the Bird Ball Benefit
Providence Journal, RI
July 22, 2008
Middletown
Benefit Bird Ball: The Norman Bird Sanctuary will hold its fifth annual Bird Ball Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Paradise In Blue,” with a menu prepared by Blackstone Caterers and music by The James Montgomery Blues Band along with Joey Kramer from Aerosmith. Tickets are $100 each ($800 for 10 tickets) if purchased by Aug. 9, or $125 at the door. Tickets sold out last year, so early reservations are recommended. To register, visit (www.normanbirdsanctuary.org) or call 846-2577.
July 22, 2008
Middletown
Benefit Bird Ball: The Norman Bird Sanctuary will hold its fifth annual Bird Ball Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Paradise In Blue,” with a menu prepared by Blackstone Caterers and music by The James Montgomery Blues Band along with Joey Kramer from Aerosmith. Tickets are $100 each ($800 for 10 tickets) if purchased by Aug. 9, or $125 at the door. Tickets sold out last year, so early reservations are recommended. To register, visit (www.normanbirdsanctuary.org) or call 846-2577.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
News From The Road - Aerosmith's John B
Aero Force One
July 21, 2008
That Just Happened!
I’m not quite sure where to start? Maybe I should start by saying that Boston really does feel like the city of Champions. With the Patriots winning 3 Super Bowls since 2001, the Sox winning 2 World Series since 2004, now the Celts winning their record 17th World Championship banner this year and the Bruins still celebrating their 1972 Stanley Cup win over the Rangers that will go on until the Big Dig is finished.
Joey, as you know, was giving the owner of the Celtic Wyc Grousbeck drum lessons the weeks leading up to the playoffs (watch it here). Wyc then returned the favor by giving Joey and Steven floor tickets to the 6th and deciding game against the Lakers. Now I have seen Steven at hockey games, football games and his favorite sport baseball games but never a basketball game. Part of me was sitting back at home first jealous that he didn’t call me to go with him and then thinking Tyler has never even mentioned liking basketball. Then I realized that Steven is addicted to the thrill of the crowd and you could tell he was trying to play it cool but you could see he missed being on stage and hearing the roar of the fans going completely nuts for their home town team. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know the difference between Kobe Bryant or Kobe Beef he was soaking up the atmosphere and the thrill of it all. I did want to call him and tell him to close his legs but I was afraid his “Highway to Hell” ringtone would disturb a Kevin Garnett free throw. They both stayed to the end and even got stuck in a little after game traffic jam but it was well worth it he said later.
A few weeks back I went to our travel agent Randle Feagan’s wedding down in St. Barth’s. Brad was there with his wife Kim and we all had a blast. Randle is friends with the Hootie and the Blowfish guys and had them play at the reception. Needless to say they invited Brad up to play and he just shredded. No disrespect to Randle and his new bride Melissa but seeing Brad up there having a ball and the look on the Hootie guys faces while Brad was soloing was worth the trip down there, that and the amazing beaches and adult beverages I might add.
Photo by: John B. "Sorry ladies, Randle is now taken."
Then it was back to work! Guitar Hero Press Conference Hard Rock Café NYC. It was great seeing the guys all in the same building at the same time. It hasn’t happened since the end of September. They all looked pretty tan, healthy and rested. They had planned to play at the event but as some of you might think it’s easy to plug in and play a few songs - it’s not. Not one of their crew guys were available for starters and their wasn’t anytime to rehearse. I know what your thinking. These guys should be able to do “Dream On” and “Walk this Way” in their sleep but with the guys eyes and ears for perfection and also the fact that Steven and Joe haven’t performed on their recently repaired stems yet, they took on the side of caution. With them all in the same place at the same time it’s just a matter of time before the whole Aero-Machine get’s lubed and gassed up for another go in the barrel.
Joey Kramer - Guitar Hero
Joe Perry - Guitar Hero
Tom Hamilton - Guitar Hero
Billy Joel @ Shea Stadium July 18th.
Steven was asked to participate in an event in LA sponsored by the Grammy Foundation. It was to honor the most famous record producer of all time Sir George Martin. Unless you live in Siberia or are under the age of 16, Sir George was the producer for almost every single Beatles release. He also produced Gerry and the Pacemakers, America, Jeff Beck and Cheap Trick. He is considered the 5th Beatle (sorry Murray the K and Billy Preston). Steven was all set to fly out to LA and perform “Come Together” when he got news that his mother was sick and taking a turn for the worst. He cancelled his trip and got to spend the next week by her side with her and his father in NH. Sue past away on July 14th.
Steven still had a commitment with Billy Joel later in the week and used it as a way of not just paying homage to the closing of Shea Stadium but as a personal tribute to his Mother who was very supported of him all these years. I remember Steven changing the words to “Eat the Rich” on several occasions to include his Mother and Father. “If calling names kick back on you, then you best call Sue and Vic.” He would come up to me after the show and say “Did ya catch that”? Of course I did. Steven left early in the afternoon on the show day. It’s nice to have friends in high places and this friend lent him his plane on this day to go down to NYC from NH and right back after the show. Once we got to Shea he immediately went to the stage to rehearse with Billy and his band. Now I was never a huge fan of Billy Joel but if you look over the setlist you will be amazed at the body of work this guy has amassed. Hit after hit. Billy was awesome and the band nailed the song.
Photo by: John B. "We Wrote Movin' Out Before You Did..."
We then went back into the dressing room compound. Billy’s crew are top notch and made all the guests feel right at home. In the compound were Tony Bennett, Roger Daltrey, Garth Brooks and Steven. Garth Brooks looked like a tank. He wasn’t huge in a fat way but more like a Barry Bonds 2003 kinda way without the juice. Daltrey also didn’t look like he has missed the gym in the last 20 years or so and his voice sounded rested. Joe and I saw the WHO on their last tour in the US and Daltrey had to bail halfway through the show because of sore pipes.
Billy came back to say hi to Steven and offer his condolences. After a few minutes of chatting Ross Halfin’s favorite USA lens man Kevin Mazur took some photos of the 2 icons. I asked Billy if he wouldn’t mind signing my pass for my sister who is a huge fan. As he was signing, Steven told Billy about the time we were talking to Paul McCartney backstage at the Grammy’s. I pulled out an Aerosmith setlist for Paul to sign and Steven wanted to do the same but I didn’t have anymore setlists on me. Billy was looking bewildered at this Beatle related story but I couldn’t tell if he was amazed at the tale or if he was thinking he might have left his stove on at his Long Island mansion. I think the latter.
Photo by: John B. "Kevin Mazur Shoots the Boys...Daltrey was napping."
Steven was slotted to come out ¾ of the way into Billy’s set. We were set to leave immediately after ST performed. We now got confirmation that Paul McCartney had just landed at a nearby airport and was coming in to close the show. We had a 12:00am curfew at Laguardia and either had to leave right after “Walk this Way” or get stuck in NYC for the night. Needless to say Steven wanted to stay and still get back to NH. Our plane was coming back from Boston to pick us up and we diverted it to JFK where there is no curfew in order to see Macca. I am glad we did. After Steven kicked major ass he retreated to his dressing room. I loaded the car up with his bags and mic stand and then we went back to the side of the stage. After the set ended there was some commotion behind the stage and you could feel the electricity back there. Billy comes out and introduces McCartney and the place erupts. Steven saw the Beatles at Shea in 65’ and he was getting to see a Beatle again in 2008. We were 20 feet away from Sir Paul. After he played we flew out of the Stadium and headed for JFK. On our drive to the plane the car was filled with excitement and astonishment of what just went down but as soon as the door closed on the plane you could hear a pin drop. Not a word was spoken on the hour ride home. Just silence.
JB
July 21, 2008
That Just Happened!
I’m not quite sure where to start? Maybe I should start by saying that Boston really does feel like the city of Champions. With the Patriots winning 3 Super Bowls since 2001, the Sox winning 2 World Series since 2004, now the Celts winning their record 17th World Championship banner this year and the Bruins still celebrating their 1972 Stanley Cup win over the Rangers that will go on until the Big Dig is finished.
Joey, as you know, was giving the owner of the Celtic Wyc Grousbeck drum lessons the weeks leading up to the playoffs (watch it here). Wyc then returned the favor by giving Joey and Steven floor tickets to the 6th and deciding game against the Lakers. Now I have seen Steven at hockey games, football games and his favorite sport baseball games but never a basketball game. Part of me was sitting back at home first jealous that he didn’t call me to go with him and then thinking Tyler has never even mentioned liking basketball. Then I realized that Steven is addicted to the thrill of the crowd and you could tell he was trying to play it cool but you could see he missed being on stage and hearing the roar of the fans going completely nuts for their home town team. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know the difference between Kobe Bryant or Kobe Beef he was soaking up the atmosphere and the thrill of it all. I did want to call him and tell him to close his legs but I was afraid his “Highway to Hell” ringtone would disturb a Kevin Garnett free throw. They both stayed to the end and even got stuck in a little after game traffic jam but it was well worth it he said later.
A few weeks back I went to our travel agent Randle Feagan’s wedding down in St. Barth’s. Brad was there with his wife Kim and we all had a blast. Randle is friends with the Hootie and the Blowfish guys and had them play at the reception. Needless to say they invited Brad up to play and he just shredded. No disrespect to Randle and his new bride Melissa but seeing Brad up there having a ball and the look on the Hootie guys faces while Brad was soloing was worth the trip down there, that and the amazing beaches and adult beverages I might add.
Photo by: John B. "Sorry ladies, Randle is now taken."
Then it was back to work! Guitar Hero Press Conference Hard Rock Café NYC. It was great seeing the guys all in the same building at the same time. It hasn’t happened since the end of September. They all looked pretty tan, healthy and rested. They had planned to play at the event but as some of you might think it’s easy to plug in and play a few songs - it’s not. Not one of their crew guys were available for starters and their wasn’t anytime to rehearse. I know what your thinking. These guys should be able to do “Dream On” and “Walk this Way” in their sleep but with the guys eyes and ears for perfection and also the fact that Steven and Joe haven’t performed on their recently repaired stems yet, they took on the side of caution. With them all in the same place at the same time it’s just a matter of time before the whole Aero-Machine get’s lubed and gassed up for another go in the barrel.
Joey Kramer - Guitar Hero
Joe Perry - Guitar Hero
Tom Hamilton - Guitar Hero
Billy Joel @ Shea Stadium July 18th.
Steven was asked to participate in an event in LA sponsored by the Grammy Foundation. It was to honor the most famous record producer of all time Sir George Martin. Unless you live in Siberia or are under the age of 16, Sir George was the producer for almost every single Beatles release. He also produced Gerry and the Pacemakers, America, Jeff Beck and Cheap Trick. He is considered the 5th Beatle (sorry Murray the K and Billy Preston). Steven was all set to fly out to LA and perform “Come Together” when he got news that his mother was sick and taking a turn for the worst. He cancelled his trip and got to spend the next week by her side with her and his father in NH. Sue past away on July 14th.
Steven still had a commitment with Billy Joel later in the week and used it as a way of not just paying homage to the closing of Shea Stadium but as a personal tribute to his Mother who was very supported of him all these years. I remember Steven changing the words to “Eat the Rich” on several occasions to include his Mother and Father. “If calling names kick back on you, then you best call Sue and Vic.” He would come up to me after the show and say “Did ya catch that”? Of course I did. Steven left early in the afternoon on the show day. It’s nice to have friends in high places and this friend lent him his plane on this day to go down to NYC from NH and right back after the show. Once we got to Shea he immediately went to the stage to rehearse with Billy and his band. Now I was never a huge fan of Billy Joel but if you look over the setlist you will be amazed at the body of work this guy has amassed. Hit after hit. Billy was awesome and the band nailed the song.
Photo by: John B. "We Wrote Movin' Out Before You Did..."
We then went back into the dressing room compound. Billy’s crew are top notch and made all the guests feel right at home. In the compound were Tony Bennett, Roger Daltrey, Garth Brooks and Steven. Garth Brooks looked like a tank. He wasn’t huge in a fat way but more like a Barry Bonds 2003 kinda way without the juice. Daltrey also didn’t look like he has missed the gym in the last 20 years or so and his voice sounded rested. Joe and I saw the WHO on their last tour in the US and Daltrey had to bail halfway through the show because of sore pipes.
Billy came back to say hi to Steven and offer his condolences. After a few minutes of chatting Ross Halfin’s favorite USA lens man Kevin Mazur took some photos of the 2 icons. I asked Billy if he wouldn’t mind signing my pass for my sister who is a huge fan. As he was signing, Steven told Billy about the time we were talking to Paul McCartney backstage at the Grammy’s. I pulled out an Aerosmith setlist for Paul to sign and Steven wanted to do the same but I didn’t have anymore setlists on me. Billy was looking bewildered at this Beatle related story but I couldn’t tell if he was amazed at the tale or if he was thinking he might have left his stove on at his Long Island mansion. I think the latter.
Photo by: John B. "Kevin Mazur Shoots the Boys...Daltrey was napping."
Steven was slotted to come out ¾ of the way into Billy’s set. We were set to leave immediately after ST performed. We now got confirmation that Paul McCartney had just landed at a nearby airport and was coming in to close the show. We had a 12:00am curfew at Laguardia and either had to leave right after “Walk this Way” or get stuck in NYC for the night. Needless to say Steven wanted to stay and still get back to NH. Our plane was coming back from Boston to pick us up and we diverted it to JFK where there is no curfew in order to see Macca. I am glad we did. After Steven kicked major ass he retreated to his dressing room. I loaded the car up with his bags and mic stand and then we went back to the side of the stage. After the set ended there was some commotion behind the stage and you could feel the electricity back there. Billy comes out and introduces McCartney and the place erupts. Steven saw the Beatles at Shea in 65’ and he was getting to see a Beatle again in 2008. We were 20 feet away from Sir Paul. After he played we flew out of the Stadium and headed for JFK. On our drive to the plane the car was filled with excitement and astonishment of what just went down but as soon as the door closed on the plane you could hear a pin drop. Not a word was spoken on the hour ride home. Just silence.
JB
New Aerosmith Fan Club Platinum Member Video Posted
Aero Force One
July 18, 2008
"Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Event - Part 2
Check out some video from the "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Party event and press conference in NYC (at the Hard Rock in Times Square) that took place on Friday, June 27, 2008!
Click to watch: (here).
You have to be a Member to get in…
To access this you have to join as one of the member levels below.
Platinum Level 2008.
July 18, 2008
"Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Event - Part 2
Check out some video from the "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Party event and press conference in NYC (at the Hard Rock in Times Square) that took place on Friday, June 27, 2008!
Click to watch: (here).
You have to be a Member to get in…
To access this you have to join as one of the member levels below.
Platinum Level 2008.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith at Shea Stadium - New York
GettyImages.com
July 19, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
July 19, 2008
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
Backstage - Billy Joel "Last Play at Shea"
GettyImages.com
July 19, 2008
Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett and Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler and Billy Joel backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Tony Bennett and Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
July 19, 2008
Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett and Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler and Billy Joel backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Tony Bennett and Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Steven Tyler backstage before the 'Last Play at Shea' at Shea Stadium on July 18, 2008 in Queens, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
More photos: (here).
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Steven Tyler Performs with Billy Joel at Shea Stadium
The Associated Press
July 19, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Joel bade a stirring farewell to Shea Stadium on Friday during an electrifying, sold-out final show at the same ballpark where the Beatles famously ushered in a new era in rock 'n' roll four decades ago.
He was joined by an all-star lineup of friends including Paul McCartney, who told Joel, "Came here a long time ago. We had a blast that night and we're having another one tonight...."
....And as if the "Piano Man" playing the last concert at Shea wasn't thrilling enough, high-wattage guests turned up the excitement level.
Tony Bennett sang "New York State of Mind" with Joel on Friday, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed "Walk This Way," and Roger Daltrey of the Who did "My Generation. At the end of "My Generation," Joel smashed a guitar against the stage, breaking it in two.
McCartney came on at the end. He sang "I Saw Her Standing There" while on guitar and "Let It Be" on piano — the last song of the night. Joel sat on top of piano and sang backup.
Garth Brooks appeared on stage earlier wearing a Mets jersey, and in the audience, one of Joel's famous fans — ex-wife Christie Brinkley — sang along, word for word, to the chorus of "She's Always a Woman...."
Complete article: (here).
July 19, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Joel bade a stirring farewell to Shea Stadium on Friday during an electrifying, sold-out final show at the same ballpark where the Beatles famously ushered in a new era in rock 'n' roll four decades ago.
He was joined by an all-star lineup of friends including Paul McCartney, who told Joel, "Came here a long time ago. We had a blast that night and we're having another one tonight...."
....And as if the "Piano Man" playing the last concert at Shea wasn't thrilling enough, high-wattage guests turned up the excitement level.
Tony Bennett sang "New York State of Mind" with Joel on Friday, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed "Walk This Way," and Roger Daltrey of the Who did "My Generation. At the end of "My Generation," Joel smashed a guitar against the stage, breaking it in two.
McCartney came on at the end. He sang "I Saw Her Standing There" while on guitar and "Let It Be" on piano — the last song of the night. Joel sat on top of piano and sang backup.
Garth Brooks appeared on stage earlier wearing a Mets jersey, and in the audience, one of Joel's famous fans — ex-wife Christie Brinkley — sang along, word for word, to the chorus of "She's Always a Woman...."
Complete article: (here).
Joey Kramer at The Outerland - Martha's Vineyard, MA
Outerlandmv.com
July 18, 2008
The Kramer Montgomery Blues Explosion - July 17, 2008
Photo Credit: David Welch Photography - www.davidwelchphotography.com
More photos at the "O" Gallery: (here).
July 18, 2008
The Kramer Montgomery Blues Explosion - July 17, 2008
Photo Credit: David Welch Photography - www.davidwelchphotography.com
More photos at the "O" Gallery: (here).
Steven Tyler's mom dies at 84
Nashua Telegraph, NH
July 18, 2008
NASHUA – The mother of the singer of a legendary American rock band died at a local retirement community Monday.
Susan Ray Tallarico, mother of Aerosmith singer, Steven Tyler, and grandmother of actress Liv Tyler, died peacefully at the Hunt Community, said Davis Funeral Home officials who are handling her funeral. She was 84.
Tallarico, born Susan Ray Blancha, and her husband, accomplished pianist Victor Tallarico, had long spent a portion of every year living at the local residential community at the corner of Allds and Main streets.
The couple spent the rest of their time at their residence in Sunapee, according to the obituary, which will be published Sunday.
The couple had two children, Tyler, born Stephen Victor Tallarico, and his older sister, Lynda.
As a young couple, the Tallaricos lived in New York but spent summers in the Sunapee area where they operated the Trow-Rico Lodge with other family members.
The summer tradition ultimately joined their son with some of the other members of what would later became Aerosmith, according to Tyler in the band's biography, "Walk this Way."
Susan Tallarico was a craftswoman and diligent volunteer for a variety of causes, including making books in Braille, according to the obituary. She was a serious Scrabble player and an excellent cook, who apparently made a mean blueberry pie.
In her later years she joined a knitting group at the Hunt Community and was known for knitting clothing for newborns.
Funeral services for Tallarico are private.
July 18, 2008
NASHUA – The mother of the singer of a legendary American rock band died at a local retirement community Monday.
Susan Ray Tallarico, mother of Aerosmith singer, Steven Tyler, and grandmother of actress Liv Tyler, died peacefully at the Hunt Community, said Davis Funeral Home officials who are handling her funeral. She was 84.
Tallarico, born Susan Ray Blancha, and her husband, accomplished pianist Victor Tallarico, had long spent a portion of every year living at the local residential community at the corner of Allds and Main streets.
The couple spent the rest of their time at their residence in Sunapee, according to the obituary, which will be published Sunday.
The couple had two children, Tyler, born Stephen Victor Tallarico, and his older sister, Lynda.
As a young couple, the Tallaricos lived in New York but spent summers in the Sunapee area where they operated the Trow-Rico Lodge with other family members.
The summer tradition ultimately joined their son with some of the other members of what would later became Aerosmith, according to Tyler in the band's biography, "Walk this Way."
Susan Tallarico was a craftswoman and diligent volunteer for a variety of causes, including making books in Braille, according to the obituary. She was a serious Scrabble player and an excellent cook, who apparently made a mean blueberry pie.
In her later years she joined a knitting group at the Hunt Community and was known for knitting clothing for newborns.
Funeral services for Tallarico are private.
Friday, July 18, 2008
New Aerosmith Fan Club Platinum Member Video Posted
Aero Force One
July 17, 2008
"Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Event - Part 1
Check out some video from the "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Party event in NYC (at the Hard Rock in Times Square) that took place on Friday, June 27, 2008! Be sure to tune in for Part 2.
Click to watch: (here).
You have to be a Member to get in...
To access this you have to join as one of the member levels below.
Platinum Level 2008.
July 17, 2008
"Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Event - Part 1
Check out some video from the "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Launch Party event in NYC (at the Hard Rock in Times Square) that took place on Friday, June 27, 2008! Be sure to tune in for Part 2.
Click to watch: (here).
You have to be a Member to get in...
To access this you have to join as one of the member levels below.
Platinum Level 2008.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Peers React To Nugent’s 6000th
Aero Force One
July 11, 2008
(Westwood One - "The Fax" - Radio Tipsheet)
Legendary musician Ted Nugent is now past 6000 performances in his music career. The Motor City Madman surpassed the mark with a hometown gig in Detroit July 4th. “When I heard that Ted was celebrating his 6,000th gig, I thought they were talking about his new hard drive,” laughed Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, who called Nugent “the hardest driving rock star there is today.” Country superstar Toby Keith added, “The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame loses credibility every time you do another ass-kickin’ concert.” Nugent’s Damn Yankees cohort Jack Blades adds, “Just who does this Ted Nugent think he is? In the ‘70s, the critics wrote Ted off after The Amboy Dukes, but they forgot to tell Ted. Here we are, 2008, his 6000th show and he still is pissing people off.” Dee Snider, Lemmy Kilmister, Criss Angel, and Rob Zombie drummer Tommy Clufetos were also among those offering testimonials about the iconic rocker.
July 11, 2008
(Westwood One - "The Fax" - Radio Tipsheet)
Legendary musician Ted Nugent is now past 6000 performances in his music career. The Motor City Madman surpassed the mark with a hometown gig in Detroit July 4th. “When I heard that Ted was celebrating his 6,000th gig, I thought they were talking about his new hard drive,” laughed Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, who called Nugent “the hardest driving rock star there is today.” Country superstar Toby Keith added, “The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame loses credibility every time you do another ass-kickin’ concert.” Nugent’s Damn Yankees cohort Jack Blades adds, “Just who does this Ted Nugent think he is? In the ‘70s, the critics wrote Ted off after The Amboy Dukes, but they forgot to tell Ted. Here we are, 2008, his 6000th show and he still is pissing people off.” Dee Snider, Lemmy Kilmister, Criss Angel, and Rob Zombie drummer Tommy Clufetos were also among those offering testimonials about the iconic rocker.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Aerosmith Drive Record Activision Q1 Sales
BraveWords.com
July 14, 2008
According to Gamasutra.com, Activision has announced preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter, showing that the company expects record sales of $650 million - up from previous estimates of $500 million - driven by Kung Fu Panda and both Guitar Hero On Tour and Aerosmith. These are its final results prior to its merger with Blizzard.
The publisher says the Kung Fu Panda launch was the biggest of any DreamWorks licensed property, and called both Guitar Hero launches "record setting", as handheld title On Tour saw the biggest Activision North American DS launch, and Aerosmith a top-five North American multiplatform launch.....
Continued: (here).
July 14, 2008
According to Gamasutra.com, Activision has announced preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter, showing that the company expects record sales of $650 million - up from previous estimates of $500 million - driven by Kung Fu Panda and both Guitar Hero On Tour and Aerosmith. These are its final results prior to its merger with Blizzard.
The publisher says the Kung Fu Panda launch was the biggest of any DreamWorks licensed property, and called both Guitar Hero launches "record setting", as handheld title On Tour saw the biggest Activision North American DS launch, and Aerosmith a top-five North American multiplatform launch.....
Continued: (here).
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Guitar Wow! - Aerosmith: Live In Chicago
Guitar Wow!
July 6, 2008
132 min
Eat the Rich, Toys, Young Lust, Rag Doll, Seasons, Guitar Jam --> Saddle, Blind Man, Crazy, Cryin', Let the Music Do the Talkin', Walk On Water, What it Takes, Walkin' The Dog w/ Sax, Mama Kin w/ Sax, Janie, Stop Messin, Walk On Down, Last Child, Elevator, Dude, Sweet E, -India flavored Guitar Solo, -Dazed And Confused, Dream On, Edge, Popcorn --> Walk this way
Watch: (here).
July 6, 2008
132 min
Eat the Rich, Toys, Young Lust, Rag Doll, Seasons, Guitar Jam --> Saddle, Blind Man, Crazy, Cryin', Let the Music Do the Talkin', Walk On Water, What it Takes, Walkin' The Dog w/ Sax, Mama Kin w/ Sax, Janie, Stop Messin, Walk On Down, Last Child, Elevator, Dude, Sweet E, -India flavored Guitar Solo, -Dazed And Confused, Dream On, Edge, Popcorn --> Walk this way
Watch: (here).
Friday, July 11, 2008
Aerosmith Singer To Appear At Sturgis' Brouhaha!
Blabbermouth.net, NY
July 10, 2008
According to Motorcycle-USA.com, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will appear at this year's Brouhaha!, located at Thunder Road in Sturgis, which kicks off
August 8, 2008, and features dawn-to-dusk non-stop entertainment. Headlining the event is a ride-in bike show with skits, giveaways, music and special guests, including Tyler, major builders and magazine editors.
Participants in the ride-in bike show as well as show attendees will be awarded over $15,000 in swag.
"This is one of those once in a lifetime events that will be talked about whenever guys get together to talk about Sturgis," said Tom Monroe, Marketing Manager of Saddlemen. "We are especially looking forward to the live entertainment, wet t-shirts and burn outs."
Read more at Motorcycle-USA.com: (here).
July 10, 2008
According to Motorcycle-USA.com, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will appear at this year's Brouhaha!, located at Thunder Road in Sturgis, which kicks off
August 8, 2008, and features dawn-to-dusk non-stop entertainment. Headlining the event is a ride-in bike show with skits, giveaways, music and special guests, including Tyler, major builders and magazine editors.
Participants in the ride-in bike show as well as show attendees will be awarded over $15,000 in swag.
"This is one of those once in a lifetime events that will be talked about whenever guys get together to talk about Sturgis," said Tom Monroe, Marketing Manager of Saddlemen. "We are especially looking forward to the live entertainment, wet t-shirts and burn outs."
Read more at Motorcycle-USA.com: (here).
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
The Kramer Montgomery Blues Explosion - Live July 17th - with Aerosmith's Joey Kramer
Aero Force One
July 7, 2008
Live at the Outerland - The Vineyard's Largest Music Venue and Dance Hall
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tickets are $49.50
With Aerosmith's Joey Kramer, James Montgomery - Featuring Special Guests Jim Belushi with Rolling Stones horn section... The Uptown Horns.
One of the biggest events of the summer... You can't miss this powerhouse night of live music! One of rock's greatest drummers joins forces with a legendary blues master and a killer backup section for one of the hottest acts on tour this summer. A memorable night that promises to blow the roof off. You can thank us later but get Tickets (here)!!
(Info) James Montgomery
(Info) Joey Kramer
(Info) Jim Belushi
(Info) Uptown Horns
The Lineup:
James Montgomery - Vocals/Harp. The modern day master of the Harp, James was schooled by the best: John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, and James Cotton. The James Montgomery Band has toured with among others: The Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Dr. John. James continues to sit in with the Blues Brothers Band.
Joey Kramer - Drums. The legendary drummer and founding member of the Super Group Aerosmith is stepping out and returning to his roots while Aerosmith takes a well deserved break from touring. Joey began his professional career in the R&B Clubs in New York City and brings a handful of Aerosmith Blues based rockers to the set. Joey’s grooves will have the audience rocking.
David Hull - Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals. As a founding member of the power rock trio Fahrenheit, and bassist for the Joe Perry Project David has also played with The Buddy Miles Band, Joe Cocker, Ted Nugent, and a recent fill in for Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith. David brings it like no other.
George “Guitar” McCann - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals. George is a longtime member of the James Montgomery Band and has played with many of the giants in the business. George will be squeezing out the sparks with his guitar.
Paul Santo - Keyboards/Backing Vocals. Singer Songwriter and master of many instruments Paul will man the Keyboards for this power packed lineup. Paul has worked with Ozzie Osbourne, Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Raspberries, Chris Botti, Jonny Lang, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Kid Rock and Lee Ann Rimes amongst others.
The Uptown Horns Speak for themselves. For 15 years the autonomous unit has been revered as one of the most respected horn sections in the World. The Horns have toured or recorded with just to name a few: The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, James Brown, B52’s, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, R.E.M. and many others. The Horns put the “F” in Funk...
Special Guest: The Man... James Cotton
July 7, 2008
Live at the Outerland - The Vineyard's Largest Music Venue and Dance Hall
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tickets are $49.50
With Aerosmith's Joey Kramer, James Montgomery - Featuring Special Guests Jim Belushi with Rolling Stones horn section... The Uptown Horns.
One of the biggest events of the summer... You can't miss this powerhouse night of live music! One of rock's greatest drummers joins forces with a legendary blues master and a killer backup section for one of the hottest acts on tour this summer. A memorable night that promises to blow the roof off. You can thank us later but get Tickets (here)!!
(Info) James Montgomery
(Info) Joey Kramer
(Info) Jim Belushi
(Info) Uptown Horns
The Lineup:
James Montgomery - Vocals/Harp. The modern day master of the Harp, James was schooled by the best: John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, and James Cotton. The James Montgomery Band has toured with among others: The Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Dr. John. James continues to sit in with the Blues Brothers Band.
Joey Kramer - Drums. The legendary drummer and founding member of the Super Group Aerosmith is stepping out and returning to his roots while Aerosmith takes a well deserved break from touring. Joey began his professional career in the R&B Clubs in New York City and brings a handful of Aerosmith Blues based rockers to the set. Joey’s grooves will have the audience rocking.
David Hull - Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals. As a founding member of the power rock trio Fahrenheit, and bassist for the Joe Perry Project David has also played with The Buddy Miles Band, Joe Cocker, Ted Nugent, and a recent fill in for Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith. David brings it like no other.
George “Guitar” McCann - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals. George is a longtime member of the James Montgomery Band and has played with many of the giants in the business. George will be squeezing out the sparks with his guitar.
Paul Santo - Keyboards/Backing Vocals. Singer Songwriter and master of many instruments Paul will man the Keyboards for this power packed lineup. Paul has worked with Ozzie Osbourne, Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Raspberries, Chris Botti, Jonny Lang, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Kid Rock and Lee Ann Rimes amongst others.
The Uptown Horns Speak for themselves. For 15 years the autonomous unit has been revered as one of the most respected horn sections in the World. The Horns have toured or recorded with just to name a few: The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, James Brown, B52’s, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, R.E.M. and many others. The Horns put the “F” in Funk...
Special Guest: The Man... James Cotton
Joey Kramer at the Ringo Starr concert in Boston
Aero Force One
July 3, 2008
Joey with Ringo Starr
Photos: Rob Shanahan
RobShanahan.com
More photos: (here).
July 3, 2008
Joey with Ringo Starr
Photos: Rob Shanahan
RobShanahan.com
More photos: (here).
Aerosmith News - Bikers to take over the Boston waterfront
KiwiCollection.com
July 7, 2008
Aerosmith will take motor bike enthusiasts on a wild ride in support of their chosen charity, Ride for the Children
Steven Tyler - The Demon of Screamin' - and the Aerosmith rock group will be gathering 1,000 bikers by the Boston MA waterfront August 23-25, 2008.
Aerosmith's current line-up is Tyler, lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards and percussion; Tom Hamilton, bass, backing vocals; Joey Kramer, drums, percussion, backing vocals; Joe Perry, guitar, vocals; Brad Whitford, guitar. The motor bike enthusiasts will enjoy Boston and have obviously super networking, all in the aid of Aerosmith's chosen charity, Ride for Children.
In September 2007, Steve Tyler joined up with AC Custom Motorcyles, based in Manchester NH, to form Red Wing Motorcycles: these luxury celebrity motorbikes, in which Tyler has a design hand, are engineered by biking genius Mark Dirico and built by AC Custom Motorcycles so that, as Tyler says, you get on one of these bikes, which are just damn cool, and you can ride for days.
The official hotel for the jamboree is the InterContinental Boston, right on the waterfront. The hotel's energetic General Manager, Tim Kirwan, is himself an avid Honda biker, and he has ridden with Steve Tyler on many occasions.
July 7, 2008
Aerosmith will take motor bike enthusiasts on a wild ride in support of their chosen charity, Ride for the Children
Steven Tyler - The Demon of Screamin' - and the Aerosmith rock group will be gathering 1,000 bikers by the Boston MA waterfront August 23-25, 2008.
Aerosmith's current line-up is Tyler, lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards and percussion; Tom Hamilton, bass, backing vocals; Joey Kramer, drums, percussion, backing vocals; Joe Perry, guitar, vocals; Brad Whitford, guitar. The motor bike enthusiasts will enjoy Boston and have obviously super networking, all in the aid of Aerosmith's chosen charity, Ride for Children.
In September 2007, Steve Tyler joined up with AC Custom Motorcyles, based in Manchester NH, to form Red Wing Motorcycles: these luxury celebrity motorbikes, in which Tyler has a design hand, are engineered by biking genius Mark Dirico and built by AC Custom Motorcycles so that, as Tyler says, you get on one of these bikes, which are just damn cool, and you can ride for days.
The official hotel for the jamboree is the InterContinental Boston, right on the waterfront. The hotel's energetic General Manager, Tim Kirwan, is himself an avid Honda biker, and he has ridden with Steve Tyler on many occasions.
Tom Hamilton Checks In After "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" Hits The Streets
Aero Force One
July 7, 2008
Whoa, just getting to the point where I can look back at the launch of the game last weekend. We met up in New York, after weeks and months of conference calls, faxes, emails , telegrams and carrier pigeons, and all got in the same room. Everybody looks great considering some of the wounds we're still healing. Joe's eyes are deep and the fires are burning. His leg is sore but you can feel his ship is plowing through the breakers. Sorry, didn't want to get all literary there. It just felt good to join in the energy.
I've been seeing a lot of awesome bands lately. Saturday night we went to the Pearl Jam show at Comcast. It used to be the Tweeter Center nee Great Woods. It's impossible to keep up with the naming rights activity at these places. Almost every place we play on tour has had three or four names by now. What's next? Preparation H Center for the Performing Arts? Tampax Arena? Imagine the iconic branding graphics! Hey, we should make a corporate naming rights deal! We could be Kraft Macaroni Aerosmith for a tour! Think of the cash flow!
So I was talking about the Pearl Jam show. Those guys are the real deal. They run on inspiration. Mike and Jeff came out and said Hi before they went on. A few minutes later they were blasting it out there. Terry and I saw two songs from the side of the stage and then went out to the mix position for the rest. A lot of people like to stay on the side to get the close-up view but you just can't hear what's going on. If you want to see and hear everything you have to go out front. Backstage is overrated.
(Photo by: Kevin Mazur)
Man Steven was a needle in the groove last week. He showed up in a nasty dark brown striped suit and took the helm. Not only did the band get to hang together but we also got to see all the faces we love that keep the machine running while we get to have musical daydreams.
(Photo by: Kevin Mazur)
Speaking of daydreams, this Guitar Hero: Aerosmith thing is right out of daydreams we didn't even know to have when we started. I mean this thing is fun. When I learned that they use the original multi-track tapes to make all the guitar and bass parts I had to pinch myself. I thought, here's a big company that's committed to the authenticity and the spirit. They could have made a pretty cool game and saved some money by having experts write parts that were interpretations of the originals but they went for the real stuff. When there was a delay in locating the multi’s from the first album, they encouraged us to try cutting new versions on their dime. We had a great time. We've been thinking for a long time about going into the studio and re-cutting some of our old material with present day recording technology. We've always been technology freaks even back in the days when there wasn't any. Anyway we re-cut “Mama Kin,” “Dream On,” “Movin' Out” and “Make-It.”
So the point last week was to do the proverbial promo blitz. We went over o the Hard Rock in Times Square and were led inside through numerous elevators, hallways, alcoves, foyers and stairways of varying height until we popped out into the dressing room area. In our early years we could tell which room in any given building was our dressing room by just finding the deli tray. It's still that way but the food has gotten a lot better - much better. There are so many chefs now they have their own dressing room. (no, not really).
While we were inside getting ready for the press stuff, footage of the game with our animated characters was blazing away on the giant screens outside in Times Square. I hope there was somebody out there with a video camera because I want to see what it looked like. Anybody know anybody who...?
The club has a pretty decent size stage and concert area and that's where we held the press conference. As soon as we came out, the curtain went up and there were all the journalists and photographers. We barely said hello before zillions of camera strobes started blazing away. Have you ever driven in a snowstorm? That's what it looks like except the snowflakes are freakin' nuclear. For the next three minutes or so the flashes flashed and blinded us. Somewhere beyond the cameras in the darkness voices called out: "Over here! To the left! Joey! Down here you guys!" It's really funny but you have to laugh to yourself so you can maintain your camera face. When there's that big a spray of cameras going off you have to be careful or you'll get caught with one of those in-between faces that doesn't even look like you. Or worse: You're tongue will be out. It's a wicked buzz kill when you hurry to see the latest band photos in the paper the next day and you're tongue is sticking out.
You know what? It would be really funny if everybody scoured the net for pictures of band members who got caught with their tongue out. Maybe we could post 'em....
What the hell am I saying? What an idiotic idea. Don't do it.
It was pretty cool that mixed in with the paparazzi pros were people from various video gaming sites snapping casual shots to post later. It was nice seeing the grass roots thing. Most of the sites are well established but there were also a lot of people who looked like they were just starting out.
For the next 20 minutes we answered questions about the usual stuff but there were also a few random outlandish ones. I love that. I will never lose my love of the ridiculous.
So I hope everybody likes the game. When I got my copy I was nervous that I'd have to unlearn all the arrangements in order to play the game. Not true. The practicing has paid off.
TH
July 7, 2008
Whoa, just getting to the point where I can look back at the launch of the game last weekend. We met up in New York, after weeks and months of conference calls, faxes, emails , telegrams and carrier pigeons, and all got in the same room. Everybody looks great considering some of the wounds we're still healing. Joe's eyes are deep and the fires are burning. His leg is sore but you can feel his ship is plowing through the breakers. Sorry, didn't want to get all literary there. It just felt good to join in the energy.
I've been seeing a lot of awesome bands lately. Saturday night we went to the Pearl Jam show at Comcast. It used to be the Tweeter Center nee Great Woods. It's impossible to keep up with the naming rights activity at these places. Almost every place we play on tour has had three or four names by now. What's next? Preparation H Center for the Performing Arts? Tampax Arena? Imagine the iconic branding graphics! Hey, we should make a corporate naming rights deal! We could be Kraft Macaroni Aerosmith for a tour! Think of the cash flow!
So I was talking about the Pearl Jam show. Those guys are the real deal. They run on inspiration. Mike and Jeff came out and said Hi before they went on. A few minutes later they were blasting it out there. Terry and I saw two songs from the side of the stage and then went out to the mix position for the rest. A lot of people like to stay on the side to get the close-up view but you just can't hear what's going on. If you want to see and hear everything you have to go out front. Backstage is overrated.
(Photo by: Kevin Mazur)
Man Steven was a needle in the groove last week. He showed up in a nasty dark brown striped suit and took the helm. Not only did the band get to hang together but we also got to see all the faces we love that keep the machine running while we get to have musical daydreams.
(Photo by: Kevin Mazur)
Speaking of daydreams, this Guitar Hero: Aerosmith thing is right out of daydreams we didn't even know to have when we started. I mean this thing is fun. When I learned that they use the original multi-track tapes to make all the guitar and bass parts I had to pinch myself. I thought, here's a big company that's committed to the authenticity and the spirit. They could have made a pretty cool game and saved some money by having experts write parts that were interpretations of the originals but they went for the real stuff. When there was a delay in locating the multi’s from the first album, they encouraged us to try cutting new versions on their dime. We had a great time. We've been thinking for a long time about going into the studio and re-cutting some of our old material with present day recording technology. We've always been technology freaks even back in the days when there wasn't any. Anyway we re-cut “Mama Kin,” “Dream On,” “Movin' Out” and “Make-It.”
So the point last week was to do the proverbial promo blitz. We went over o the Hard Rock in Times Square and were led inside through numerous elevators, hallways, alcoves, foyers and stairways of varying height until we popped out into the dressing room area. In our early years we could tell which room in any given building was our dressing room by just finding the deli tray. It's still that way but the food has gotten a lot better - much better. There are so many chefs now they have their own dressing room. (no, not really).
While we were inside getting ready for the press stuff, footage of the game with our animated characters was blazing away on the giant screens outside in Times Square. I hope there was somebody out there with a video camera because I want to see what it looked like. Anybody know anybody who...?
The club has a pretty decent size stage and concert area and that's where we held the press conference. As soon as we came out, the curtain went up and there were all the journalists and photographers. We barely said hello before zillions of camera strobes started blazing away. Have you ever driven in a snowstorm? That's what it looks like except the snowflakes are freakin' nuclear. For the next three minutes or so the flashes flashed and blinded us. Somewhere beyond the cameras in the darkness voices called out: "Over here! To the left! Joey! Down here you guys!" It's really funny but you have to laugh to yourself so you can maintain your camera face. When there's that big a spray of cameras going off you have to be careful or you'll get caught with one of those in-between faces that doesn't even look like you. Or worse: You're tongue will be out. It's a wicked buzz kill when you hurry to see the latest band photos in the paper the next day and you're tongue is sticking out.
You know what? It would be really funny if everybody scoured the net for pictures of band members who got caught with their tongue out. Maybe we could post 'em....
What the hell am I saying? What an idiotic idea. Don't do it.
It was pretty cool that mixed in with the paparazzi pros were people from various video gaming sites snapping casual shots to post later. It was nice seeing the grass roots thing. Most of the sites are well established but there were also a lot of people who looked like they were just starting out.
For the next 20 minutes we answered questions about the usual stuff but there were also a few random outlandish ones. I love that. I will never lose my love of the ridiculous.
So I hope everybody likes the game. When I got my copy I was nervous that I'd have to unlearn all the arrangements in order to play the game. Not true. The practicing has paid off.
TH
Monday, July 07, 2008
Steven Tyler & Joey Kramer in Sunapee, NH
Plochmann.blogspot.com
July 6, 2008
Photo courtesy: (Purplelady80 - AF1 Forum)
"Special thanks to the two Aerosmith rockers as Steven participated in our small town July 4th parade & Joey spoke w/ us about our female Weimaraner. Very gratious celebs who are sought often by starstruck fans. Steven has been a longtime Sunapee resident & we always love it when he returns."
July 6, 2008
Photo courtesy: (Purplelady80 - AF1 Forum)
"Special thanks to the two Aerosmith rockers as Steven participated in our small town July 4th parade & Joey spoke w/ us about our female Weimaraner. Very gratious celebs who are sought often by starstruck fans. Steven has been a longtime Sunapee resident & we always love it when he returns."
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Notes & Quotes
Starpulse.com
July 5, 2008
"You have the freedom to wave your freak flag as high as you want; to aspire as high as you want; to aim high and hit your mark if you're so inspired." Aerosmith star Steven Tyler is proud to be an American on Independence Day.
July 5, 2008
"You have the freedom to wave your freak flag as high as you want; to aspire as high as you want; to aim high and hit your mark if you're so inspired." Aerosmith star Steven Tyler is proud to be an American on Independence Day.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
At "Guitar Hero" Launch, Aerosmith Say They're Headed to the Studio
RollingStone.com
June 30, 2008
Aerosmith took the stage at New York’s Hard Rock Café on Friday [06/27], not to play music, but to announce the launch of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the latest installment of the massively popular game and the first to be built around a single band. “It feels weird to be up here without a guitar,” quipped guitarist Joe Perry, who later posed with the small plastic axe that comes with the game. Guests at the Hard Rock got a chance to try out the new edition, which includes hits like “Love in an Elevator” and “Dream On,” as well as more obscure tracks like “Combination” and songs by artists Aerosmith has played with, including Run DMC and Joan Jett.
After the press conference, band members told Rolling Stone how they spent weeks performing their songs in motion-detecting suits so that the game could recreate the real experience of an Aerosmith show. “I did six, seven hours a day for two weeks,” says frontman Steven Tyler, who attended the event three days after leaving a rehab facility where he was treated for addiction to sleeping pills. “I managed to pull all the moves that we do all night, with Joe and my arm around him so they could get those things that are really what Aerosmith is.” The band also had to re-record several of the songs, since their labels, Geffen and Columbia, couldn’t locate the master tapes. “The record companies play games — it’s sad,” says Tyler. “It just goes on and on. We’re looking forward to the new millennium.”
The band also talked about returning to the studio to work on their first album since 2004’s Honkin’ on Bobo. “I’m interested to get back in the studio — I feel rejuvenated,” says Perry, who is recovering from a leg injury. “Some time in the late summer, early fall we’ll get back in there and start putting it together.” And maybe release it on a future version of Guitar Hero? “Why not? That’s a great way to do it.”
June 30, 2008
Aerosmith took the stage at New York’s Hard Rock Café on Friday [06/27], not to play music, but to announce the launch of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the latest installment of the massively popular game and the first to be built around a single band. “It feels weird to be up here without a guitar,” quipped guitarist Joe Perry, who later posed with the small plastic axe that comes with the game. Guests at the Hard Rock got a chance to try out the new edition, which includes hits like “Love in an Elevator” and “Dream On,” as well as more obscure tracks like “Combination” and songs by artists Aerosmith has played with, including Run DMC and Joan Jett.
After the press conference, band members told Rolling Stone how they spent weeks performing their songs in motion-detecting suits so that the game could recreate the real experience of an Aerosmith show. “I did six, seven hours a day for two weeks,” says frontman Steven Tyler, who attended the event three days after leaving a rehab facility where he was treated for addiction to sleeping pills. “I managed to pull all the moves that we do all night, with Joe and my arm around him so they could get those things that are really what Aerosmith is.” The band also had to re-record several of the songs, since their labels, Geffen and Columbia, couldn’t locate the master tapes. “The record companies play games — it’s sad,” says Tyler. “It just goes on and on. We’re looking forward to the new millennium.”
The band also talked about returning to the studio to work on their first album since 2004’s Honkin’ on Bobo. “I’m interested to get back in the studio — I feel rejuvenated,” says Perry, who is recovering from a leg injury. “Some time in the late summer, early fall we’ll get back in there and start putting it together.” And maybe release it on a future version of Guitar Hero? “Why not? That’s a great way to do it.”
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
A Gamer, a Racer, and a Rocker Walk Into a Party Tent...
Maxim.com
July 1, 2008
By: Gerry
Charles Huang (creator of Guitar Hero), Dario Franchitti (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith car driver), Brad Whitford (real guitar hero)
I was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway celebrating the release of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith when the game's developer, the race's No. 7 qualifier, and Aerosmith's rhythm guitarist started chatting me up. The highlights...
Brad, I saw you in the pits looking at Dario's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith car. You've been to a race or two and have a special collection of vehicles—is there one that you prize more than the others?
Brad Whitford: They're like my music: I like all types of music, I like all types of vehicles. I have some European cars and I have some American cars. I’m not a snob when it comes to that. One day I might be driving a '69 Camaro and the next day I might be driving a '07 Forrester.
OK, so Guitar Hero: Aerosmith—what does it mean for this Hall of Fame rock band to now have this kind of platform for its music?
Dario Franchitti: First of all, I have Guitar Hero because everybody loves the game. You see the amount of drivers out there; Jimmie Johnson’s out there getting beaten by his wife in Guitar Hero right now. All the guys would go back to the buses and have little tournaments because this is where we all live for four days a week. To be already playing the game and then have the opportunity to drive their car, it’s a reaction I haven’t ever seen by other people.
BW: There are so many fans of this game. It is just a real phenomenon, and it’s great that Aerosmith is part of it. We had a history of good fortune and this is just another page of that good fortune for us.
Why are people so bananas for these games?
Charles Huang: Music needed a shot in the arm. There hasn’t been anything new since, arguably, the music video. You start off listening to music, and we’ve done that for decades. Then music videos came out, now you can watch music. What we’ve done is given people that third dimension, so now you can interact with the music itself. In an era where the record industry is having trouble selling CDs and music downloads, in the first seven months of Guitar Hero 3, we’ve sold 16 million song downloads. When you give consumers a different experience with music, they are willing to pay for it.
DF: It’s like any game: you can do things that you would not normally be able to do. Years ago, I broke my back in a bike accident, so I was immobilized for a month or two. I just laid in front of a 12-foot screen in a recliner with a body brace on and played Tiger Woods Golf. Then I got my brace off and went golfing—I was pissed off that I couldn’t drive the ball 325 yards with spin on it.
Isn’t it weird opening up the game and seeing yourself there? I open up home videos and I don’t even see myself in them.
BW: I was all like, "Can you fix my hair there?" or "Can you make me a little bit younger?" It's not like watching yourself on a video saying, "Oh geez, I should have shaved today" or, "Man, I can’t believe I’m getting a pimple on my nose." It’s pretty cool. The details are incredible.
OK, cutting the crap, which Aerosmith song has gotten the most guys laid?
BW: I don’t know about myself, but we play these concerts and we see certain songs, like “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” and people are suddenly making out. It’s like whoa. People out there giving each other rings. It is amazing how people get really attached to certain types of music. It coincides with things that happened in your life and it stays with you.
CH: If I had to pick one, I would probably say "Sweet Emotion." Somehow that riff—yeah, that’s what I’d say.
Do you think some "Sweet Emotion" can happen while playing Guitar Hero: Aerosmith?
BW: You never know. Could be some X-rated game playing going on there.
July 1, 2008
By: Gerry
Charles Huang (creator of Guitar Hero), Dario Franchitti (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith car driver), Brad Whitford (real guitar hero)
I was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway celebrating the release of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith when the game's developer, the race's No. 7 qualifier, and Aerosmith's rhythm guitarist started chatting me up. The highlights...
Brad, I saw you in the pits looking at Dario's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith car. You've been to a race or two and have a special collection of vehicles—is there one that you prize more than the others?
Brad Whitford: They're like my music: I like all types of music, I like all types of vehicles. I have some European cars and I have some American cars. I’m not a snob when it comes to that. One day I might be driving a '69 Camaro and the next day I might be driving a '07 Forrester.
OK, so Guitar Hero: Aerosmith—what does it mean for this Hall of Fame rock band to now have this kind of platform for its music?
Dario Franchitti: First of all, I have Guitar Hero because everybody loves the game. You see the amount of drivers out there; Jimmie Johnson’s out there getting beaten by his wife in Guitar Hero right now. All the guys would go back to the buses and have little tournaments because this is where we all live for four days a week. To be already playing the game and then have the opportunity to drive their car, it’s a reaction I haven’t ever seen by other people.
BW: There are so many fans of this game. It is just a real phenomenon, and it’s great that Aerosmith is part of it. We had a history of good fortune and this is just another page of that good fortune for us.
Why are people so bananas for these games?
Charles Huang: Music needed a shot in the arm. There hasn’t been anything new since, arguably, the music video. You start off listening to music, and we’ve done that for decades. Then music videos came out, now you can watch music. What we’ve done is given people that third dimension, so now you can interact with the music itself. In an era where the record industry is having trouble selling CDs and music downloads, in the first seven months of Guitar Hero 3, we’ve sold 16 million song downloads. When you give consumers a different experience with music, they are willing to pay for it.
DF: It’s like any game: you can do things that you would not normally be able to do. Years ago, I broke my back in a bike accident, so I was immobilized for a month or two. I just laid in front of a 12-foot screen in a recliner with a body brace on and played Tiger Woods Golf. Then I got my brace off and went golfing—I was pissed off that I couldn’t drive the ball 325 yards with spin on it.
Isn’t it weird opening up the game and seeing yourself there? I open up home videos and I don’t even see myself in them.
BW: I was all like, "Can you fix my hair there?" or "Can you make me a little bit younger?" It's not like watching yourself on a video saying, "Oh geez, I should have shaved today" or, "Man, I can’t believe I’m getting a pimple on my nose." It’s pretty cool. The details are incredible.
OK, cutting the crap, which Aerosmith song has gotten the most guys laid?
BW: I don’t know about myself, but we play these concerts and we see certain songs, like “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” and people are suddenly making out. It’s like whoa. People out there giving each other rings. It is amazing how people get really attached to certain types of music. It coincides with things that happened in your life and it stays with you.
CH: If I had to pick one, I would probably say "Sweet Emotion." Somehow that riff—yeah, that’s what I’d say.
Do you think some "Sweet Emotion" can happen while playing Guitar Hero: Aerosmith?
BW: You never know. Could be some X-rated game playing going on there.
'Guitar Hero' Gamers Rock Out With Aerosmith In NYC
Aero Force One
July 1, 2008
New York City's Hard Rock Cafe transformed its souvenir bedecked, rock'n'roll halls into a gamer's fantasy world Friday (June 27), as officials unveiled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, offering fans a free test-run of the game's latest installment, as well as a guest cameo from its stars -- Aerosmith!
Velvet ropes sectioned off corners for wide-screen TVs and booming sound systems, and adoring fans of Aerosmith and Guitar Hero alike lined up to have their chance at rocking out like Joe Perry on jams like "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way." Further immortalizing the rock legends, the game follows the rock icons from their first gig at Nipmuc Regional High School to their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in vivid, real-life graphics, down to the detail in Joe Perry's Gibson Les Paul and Steven Tyler's gaping mouth.
Preparing for "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock" -- a 16-date nationwide tournament sponsored by Spin seeking the best Guitar Hero shredders, kicking off July 8 in Hollywood -- fans were focused and locked in, so much so that when the real-life members of Aerosmith traipsed down the halls, few gamers peeled their eyes from the screens.
We asked Aerosmith themselves: If you could pick any band to follow in your footsteps, which would be the next one to undergo the Guitar Hero treatment?
Name: Joe Perry
Age: 58
Hometown: Lawrence, MA
Occupation: Aerosmith guitarist
"The Rolling Stones"
Name: Steven Tyler
Age: 60
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Occupation: Aerosmith vocalist
"AC/DC or the Stones"
Name: Tom Hamilton
Age: 56
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation: Aerosmith bassist
"The Who"
Name: Brad Whitford (Left), Joey Kramer (Right)
Age: 56, 58
Hometown: Winchester, MA / New York, NY
Occupation: Aerosmith guitarist / Aerosmith drummer
"Metallica," "Van Halen"
July 1, 2008
New York City's Hard Rock Cafe transformed its souvenir bedecked, rock'n'roll halls into a gamer's fantasy world Friday (June 27), as officials unveiled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, offering fans a free test-run of the game's latest installment, as well as a guest cameo from its stars -- Aerosmith!
Velvet ropes sectioned off corners for wide-screen TVs and booming sound systems, and adoring fans of Aerosmith and Guitar Hero alike lined up to have their chance at rocking out like Joe Perry on jams like "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way." Further immortalizing the rock legends, the game follows the rock icons from their first gig at Nipmuc Regional High School to their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in vivid, real-life graphics, down to the detail in Joe Perry's Gibson Les Paul and Steven Tyler's gaping mouth.
Preparing for "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock" -- a 16-date nationwide tournament sponsored by Spin seeking the best Guitar Hero shredders, kicking off July 8 in Hollywood -- fans were focused and locked in, so much so that when the real-life members of Aerosmith traipsed down the halls, few gamers peeled their eyes from the screens.
We asked Aerosmith themselves: If you could pick any band to follow in your footsteps, which would be the next one to undergo the Guitar Hero treatment?
Name: Joe Perry
Age: 58
Hometown: Lawrence, MA
Occupation: Aerosmith guitarist
"The Rolling Stones"
Name: Steven Tyler
Age: 60
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Occupation: Aerosmith vocalist
"AC/DC or the Stones"
Name: Tom Hamilton
Age: 56
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation: Aerosmith bassist
"The Who"
Name: Brad Whitford (Left), Joey Kramer (Right)
Age: 56, 58
Hometown: Winchester, MA / New York, NY
Occupation: Aerosmith guitarist / Aerosmith drummer
"Metallica," "Van Halen"
Aerosmith in a Can? No, in Guitar Hero
New York Times, NY
June 29, 2008
When Joe Perry first tried Guitar Hero, he thought that his 30-odd years as lead guitarist of Aerosmith would mean he’d master the video game with little effort. But when he picked up the electric-guitar controller and started strumming, so to speak, he bombed. “Not being able to play it past the first level was a very humbling realization,” Mr. Perry said in a telephone interview.
He may have an easier time playing the latest version of Guitar Hero. Neversoft, which makes the wildly successful video game, enlisted Mr. Perry and his band mates to create their own version, the first built entirely around a single group.
Guitar Hero Aerosmith... is something of a hybrid between a video game and a biographical box set. Players chronologically follow the band’s career, starting off at Nipmuc high school in Massachusetts, where Aerosmith played its first live show, and making their way up to larger halls like Max’s Kansas City in New York and the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Interspersed between the levels are exclusive interviews with Aerosmith, whose members share memories of the six chapters of their career documented in the game.
“There have been a ton of different games that have been guitar driven, but none quite like this,” said Steven Tyler, Aerosmith’s vocalist, who added that he grew nostalgic making and then playing the game. “It’s like watching your yearbook in a DVD form. You see the girl that you took to the prom, and you go, ‘Oh my God, look at what I look like.’ ”
The endeavor is not just a stroll down memory lane. While the game maker would not reveal the financial details, Aerosmith does stand to gain a new generation of fans. Though the group has sold 66.5 million albums in the United States alone, it has not released a studio album of all original material since 2001, and its absence hasn’t exactly been noticed.
But in October, when one of Aerosmith’s classics, “Same Old Song and Dance,” was featured on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, sales of the song more than doubled, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and increased another five-fold during the week leading up to Christmas. Clearly the game, which sold more than 2.7 million units in 2007, led to new interest in the song.
“After that we thought, ‘Maybe we ought to do something here,’ ” Mr. Tyler said.
So Aerosmith went to Neversoft’s motion capture studio, where the band members were filmed wearing special suits affixed with tracking balls before being digitally rendered, animated and placed in the game. Mr. Tyler spent four weeks in the studio, capturing his posturing and trademark exaggerated expressions.
“There was a girl whose job was to come into my trailer and put these little balls on my face; it turned into a running joke,” he said. “She would glue those balls onto my upper lip, lower lip, my smile line, and I spent an hour with her doing this. At the end I pulled the balls off my face and put them in a little plastic bag and stole them.”
The game maker’s attention to detail, evident in the careful reconstruction of old concert halls and the inclusion of visual elements inspired by the band’s album covers, is meant to immerse players in Aerosmith’s world. Players can become invested in guiding Aerosmith along with their in-game, pore-free avatars. And if advance orders are any indication, all of those sessions with the little balls might be worth the trouble.
Mr. Tyler expressed only one regret about the final product: “I’m bummed that it wasn’t Lead Singer Hero.”
June 29, 2008
When Joe Perry first tried Guitar Hero, he thought that his 30-odd years as lead guitarist of Aerosmith would mean he’d master the video game with little effort. But when he picked up the electric-guitar controller and started strumming, so to speak, he bombed. “Not being able to play it past the first level was a very humbling realization,” Mr. Perry said in a telephone interview.
He may have an easier time playing the latest version of Guitar Hero. Neversoft, which makes the wildly successful video game, enlisted Mr. Perry and his band mates to create their own version, the first built entirely around a single group.
Guitar Hero Aerosmith... is something of a hybrid between a video game and a biographical box set. Players chronologically follow the band’s career, starting off at Nipmuc high school in Massachusetts, where Aerosmith played its first live show, and making their way up to larger halls like Max’s Kansas City in New York and the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Interspersed between the levels are exclusive interviews with Aerosmith, whose members share memories of the six chapters of their career documented in the game.
“There have been a ton of different games that have been guitar driven, but none quite like this,” said Steven Tyler, Aerosmith’s vocalist, who added that he grew nostalgic making and then playing the game. “It’s like watching your yearbook in a DVD form. You see the girl that you took to the prom, and you go, ‘Oh my God, look at what I look like.’ ”
The endeavor is not just a stroll down memory lane. While the game maker would not reveal the financial details, Aerosmith does stand to gain a new generation of fans. Though the group has sold 66.5 million albums in the United States alone, it has not released a studio album of all original material since 2001, and its absence hasn’t exactly been noticed.
But in October, when one of Aerosmith’s classics, “Same Old Song and Dance,” was featured on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, sales of the song more than doubled, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and increased another five-fold during the week leading up to Christmas. Clearly the game, which sold more than 2.7 million units in 2007, led to new interest in the song.
“After that we thought, ‘Maybe we ought to do something here,’ ” Mr. Tyler said.
So Aerosmith went to Neversoft’s motion capture studio, where the band members were filmed wearing special suits affixed with tracking balls before being digitally rendered, animated and placed in the game. Mr. Tyler spent four weeks in the studio, capturing his posturing and trademark exaggerated expressions.
“There was a girl whose job was to come into my trailer and put these little balls on my face; it turned into a running joke,” he said. “She would glue those balls onto my upper lip, lower lip, my smile line, and I spent an hour with her doing this. At the end I pulled the balls off my face and put them in a little plastic bag and stole them.”
The game maker’s attention to detail, evident in the careful reconstruction of old concert halls and the inclusion of visual elements inspired by the band’s album covers, is meant to immerse players in Aerosmith’s world. Players can become invested in guiding Aerosmith along with their in-game, pore-free avatars. And if advance orders are any indication, all of those sessions with the little balls might be worth the trouble.
Mr. Tyler expressed only one regret about the final product: “I’m bummed that it wasn’t Lead Singer Hero.”
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Jamming with Aerosmith
Yahoo! News
July 1, 2008
Legendary rock band attached their talent to 'Guitar Hero'
Watch video: (here).
July 1, 2008
Legendary rock band attached their talent to 'Guitar Hero'
Watch video: (here).
'Guitar Hero: Aerosmith' Rocks the Hard Rock
HardRock.com
June 30, 2008
Get ready to “Rock This Way” with the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock contest. Hard Rock Cafe, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, and SPIN Magazine have teamed up to give you the chance to unleash your inner rock star and win a trip to Boston to meet Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and play for the chance to ride home on his custom designed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith / Hard Rock Cafe / Red Wing Motorcycle!
More info: (here).
June 30, 2008
Get ready to “Rock This Way” with the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Rocks the Hard Rock contest. Hard Rock Cafe, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, and SPIN Magazine have teamed up to give you the chance to unleash your inner rock star and win a trip to Boston to meet Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and play for the chance to ride home on his custom designed Guitar Hero: Aerosmith / Hard Rock Cafe / Red Wing Motorcycle!
More info: (here).
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Watch Aerosmith tonight, July 1st, on Entertainment Tonight!
Aero Force One
July 1, 2008
ET will show coverage of the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith NYC launch event, including an interview with Steven and Joe. The segment airs tonight, July 1, 2008, nationally.
Go here to determine when it airs where you live: http://www.etonline.com
Here are some local times and channels in a few cities:
LOS ANGELES, CA
KCBS-TV
Monday-Friday 7:00P
NEW YORK, NY
WCBS-TV
Monday-Friday 7:30P
BOSTON, MA
WBZ-TV
Monday-Friday 7:30P
BOSTON, MA
WMUR-TV
Monday-Friday 7:00P
Be sure to Tune-In!
July 1, 2008
ET will show coverage of the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith NYC launch event, including an interview with Steven and Joe. The segment airs tonight, July 1, 2008, nationally.
Go here to determine when it airs where you live: http://www.etonline.com
Here are some local times and channels in a few cities:
LOS ANGELES, CA
KCBS-TV
Monday-Friday 7:00P
NEW YORK, NY
WCBS-TV
Monday-Friday 7:30P
BOSTON, MA
WBZ-TV
Monday-Friday 7:30P
BOSTON, MA
WMUR-TV
Monday-Friday 7:00P
Be sure to Tune-In!
Brad Whitford at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Loudon, New Hampshire
GettyImages.com
June 30, 2008
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 29: Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford stands on pit road prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 29, 2008 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 29: Dario Franchitti, driver of the #40 Guitar Hero/Target Dodge, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 29, 2008 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
More photos: (here).
June 30, 2008
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 29: Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford stands on pit road prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 29, 2008 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 29: Dario Franchitti, driver of the #40 Guitar Hero/Target Dodge, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 29, 2008 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
More photos: (here).
