Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Kölnarena
Aero Force One
June 28, 2007
Aerosmith - Köln, Germany
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/28/07)
See more.... (here).
June 28, 2007
Aerosmith - Köln, Germany
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/28/07)
See more.... (here).
Köln, Germany
Aero Force One
June 28, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Kölnarena - June 28, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
What It Takes
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
S.O.S. Too Bad
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
June 28, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Kölnarena - June 28, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
What It Takes
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
S.O.S. Too Bad
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
News From The Road
Aero Force One
June 28, 2007
Who's Next?
Hey Everybody! Greetings from London!
A lot has happened since I wrote last. The band has been cruising through Europe for the first time since 1999. After Sweden the guys invaded Germany. We were based in Frankfurt for the week. The Stones happened to be playing Frankfurt that same week and they were checking into our hotel the day after us. Good thing we got there first because the Stones had more people in their entourage but we got the pick of the litter room wise.
My favorite German city has to be Munchen. Not only is it the most desirable city in Germany to live in, it has a pretty cool name too. We missed the Who by a day but more on them later.
The guys got inducted into the Munich version of the Walk of Fame before the show. There they put their hands in cement. Better having hand’s than feet in cement Tom commented. Brad was sick up until show time and didn’t make it but Joe wrote a big BW to honor the guitar wizard. How the f#@k good is Brad Whitford? I still can’t believe I get to listen to him play every other night. Lately he is sporting a Dion and Belmonts look and I expect him to break into Runaround Sue or The Wanderer.
Next up was Venice. What a pain in the ass place to get to. Our hotel was on its own Island. We got off the plane, got into vans to clear customs, then had to get into a water taxi to get us to the hotel. Our luggage had it worse though. Donny Wightman drew the short straw and had a not so excellent adventure with the bags. The bags came off the plane and got loaded into a truck, then they cleared customs and went into another truck and taken to a loading dock 20 minutes away. Then they were loaded into a boat with Donny and taken to the Hotel. About an hour later a few of us were starting to get worried. As we were sipping our Campari and soda on the terrace of the hotel we saw our real life Steve Zissou in the distant with some sort of rain gear over his head. I started waving hoping Donny would see me. He did and returned the wave using only one of his fingers. I thought that wasn’t very nice. Well, he got caught in the near hurricane that took out the show while we didn’t get a drop of rain on the Island. Needless to say all the guys in the band were really bummed out that the show was cancelled but judging by the pictures we were just glad no one was killed. The last time in Italy the show got postponed because of rain and flooding and Aerosmith had to play early the following day. It was a total bummer because I expected to see a few paesans there. We spent the next day in Venice walking around Saint Marks Square. It was a lot of fun but still pretty scary thinking about the kids that got hurt the day before.
Next up was Paris:
Joe at Notre Dame - Photo: John Bionelli
Paris is a great city if you don’t mind being treated like poop. The French have this way of making you feel like a moron, but they say it with that cute French accent. I did think that the Paris gig was the best show of the tour so far. The guys were in a groove. Chris Cornell lives there part time and was at the gig with his wife. He jumped from dressing room to dressing room saying hi to each guy before hand. The boys were as happy to see him as they were to see them. Steven had dinner with Johnny Depp and his family the night after in the Hotel. Brad, Steven, Tom and Joey each went to The Louvre during their stay while Joe decided to check out the Eiffel Tower and even went up it.
We did a hit and run in Belgium. Aerosmith played another out of the way festival that seemed to take hours to get there. On the bill was Papa Roach, Static X and Chris Cornell. It was a good show but you could tell the guys and their families were itching to get to London.
London was great even though we were up against a curfew. The show was trimmed down a little because of the time restraints. Normally the guys would say f#@k it and play longer but the penalty wasn’t monetary. If you went over you were brought to the torture room at the Tower of London and put into a Scavenger’s Daughter.
TAB and Joe at the torture chamber - Photo: John Bionelli
The guys got to do some sightseeing in London. Steven had his family with him and took his and everybody else’s family out for a post show pizza party.
TAB was on the bill in London and rocked. They played a half dozen shows in the UK and are really honing their craft. They will be heading straight into the studio this week to record their first full length album. (Check out their new site Tabtheband.com) Joe spent some time with his boys and took them to the Tower of London and to see the Who at Wembley Arena.
Behind Blue Eyes - Photo: Kazuyo Horie
Before the show he said hello to Roger and Pete. He asked Pete Townsend if he gets nervous before a hometown show and Pete said he never gets nervous. He said he could be playing in front of 200 or 200 thousand and it didn’t matter. The only time I get nervous is when I play with another performer. Joe as you know will be playing with Tom Jones on Sunday at the Princess Diana celebration.
He spent his day off Monday rehearsing with Wix Wickens and his band. Wix is the musical director for the show and up until recently was in Paul McCartney’s band for 18 years or so.
Next week I’ll give ya a recap on The Princess Diana show as well as Dublin and the guys visit to Latvia and Estonia.
Employee of the Week goes to:
Jim Survis. Jim started working for Aerosmith in 1992 while the guys were in Vancouver making "Get A Grip". He has been a loyal soldier ever since. When the guys are off the road he can be found on a Van Halen tour or with Cheap Trick. Jim is also very much involved when Aerosmith is in the studio. Joe usually has about 40 guitars with him on the road and he keeps them all in tune. In his spare time (yeah right!) Jim likes to drive his antique car on the Island he is in the process of buying. He also enjoys quiet nights by the fire and making smores and hanging with his dog Lefty. Someday he wants to open a Fitness Center repair shop and call it Gym Service.
See you on the Road!
John B.
BTW-What is up with old Ross Halfin beating up on poor Russ Irwin in his Diarrhea? I mean Diary. Russ did make the mistake of asking Ross if his tight shirt made him look fat. Halfin just took it from there. I just got word that Ross will be joining us (Oh Boy!) for the rest of the tour. As you know Ross’s favorite band is the Who and thinks they are the greatest thing since Spotted Dick.
June 28, 2007
Who's Next?
Hey Everybody! Greetings from London!
A lot has happened since I wrote last. The band has been cruising through Europe for the first time since 1999. After Sweden the guys invaded Germany. We were based in Frankfurt for the week. The Stones happened to be playing Frankfurt that same week and they were checking into our hotel the day after us. Good thing we got there first because the Stones had more people in their entourage but we got the pick of the litter room wise.
My favorite German city has to be Munchen. Not only is it the most desirable city in Germany to live in, it has a pretty cool name too. We missed the Who by a day but more on them later.
The guys got inducted into the Munich version of the Walk of Fame before the show. There they put their hands in cement. Better having hand’s than feet in cement Tom commented. Brad was sick up until show time and didn’t make it but Joe wrote a big BW to honor the guitar wizard. How the f#@k good is Brad Whitford? I still can’t believe I get to listen to him play every other night. Lately he is sporting a Dion and Belmonts look and I expect him to break into Runaround Sue or The Wanderer.
Next up was Venice. What a pain in the ass place to get to. Our hotel was on its own Island. We got off the plane, got into vans to clear customs, then had to get into a water taxi to get us to the hotel. Our luggage had it worse though. Donny Wightman drew the short straw and had a not so excellent adventure with the bags. The bags came off the plane and got loaded into a truck, then they cleared customs and went into another truck and taken to a loading dock 20 minutes away. Then they were loaded into a boat with Donny and taken to the Hotel. About an hour later a few of us were starting to get worried. As we were sipping our Campari and soda on the terrace of the hotel we saw our real life Steve Zissou in the distant with some sort of rain gear over his head. I started waving hoping Donny would see me. He did and returned the wave using only one of his fingers. I thought that wasn’t very nice. Well, he got caught in the near hurricane that took out the show while we didn’t get a drop of rain on the Island. Needless to say all the guys in the band were really bummed out that the show was cancelled but judging by the pictures we were just glad no one was killed. The last time in Italy the show got postponed because of rain and flooding and Aerosmith had to play early the following day. It was a total bummer because I expected to see a few paesans there. We spent the next day in Venice walking around Saint Marks Square. It was a lot of fun but still pretty scary thinking about the kids that got hurt the day before.
Next up was Paris:
Joe at Notre Dame - Photo: John Bionelli
Paris is a great city if you don’t mind being treated like poop. The French have this way of making you feel like a moron, but they say it with that cute French accent. I did think that the Paris gig was the best show of the tour so far. The guys were in a groove. Chris Cornell lives there part time and was at the gig with his wife. He jumped from dressing room to dressing room saying hi to each guy before hand. The boys were as happy to see him as they were to see them. Steven had dinner with Johnny Depp and his family the night after in the Hotel. Brad, Steven, Tom and Joey each went to The Louvre during their stay while Joe decided to check out the Eiffel Tower and even went up it.
We did a hit and run in Belgium. Aerosmith played another out of the way festival that seemed to take hours to get there. On the bill was Papa Roach, Static X and Chris Cornell. It was a good show but you could tell the guys and their families were itching to get to London.
London was great even though we were up against a curfew. The show was trimmed down a little because of the time restraints. Normally the guys would say f#@k it and play longer but the penalty wasn’t monetary. If you went over you were brought to the torture room at the Tower of London and put into a Scavenger’s Daughter.
TAB and Joe at the torture chamber - Photo: John Bionelli
The guys got to do some sightseeing in London. Steven had his family with him and took his and everybody else’s family out for a post show pizza party.
TAB was on the bill in London and rocked. They played a half dozen shows in the UK and are really honing their craft. They will be heading straight into the studio this week to record their first full length album. (Check out their new site Tabtheband.com) Joe spent some time with his boys and took them to the Tower of London and to see the Who at Wembley Arena.
Behind Blue Eyes - Photo: Kazuyo Horie
Before the show he said hello to Roger and Pete. He asked Pete Townsend if he gets nervous before a hometown show and Pete said he never gets nervous. He said he could be playing in front of 200 or 200 thousand and it didn’t matter. The only time I get nervous is when I play with another performer. Joe as you know will be playing with Tom Jones on Sunday at the Princess Diana celebration.
He spent his day off Monday rehearsing with Wix Wickens and his band. Wix is the musical director for the show and up until recently was in Paul McCartney’s band for 18 years or so.
Next week I’ll give ya a recap on The Princess Diana show as well as Dublin and the guys visit to Latvia and Estonia.
Employee of the Week goes to:
Jim Survis. Jim started working for Aerosmith in 1992 while the guys were in Vancouver making "Get A Grip". He has been a loyal soldier ever since. When the guys are off the road he can be found on a Van Halen tour or with Cheap Trick. Jim is also very much involved when Aerosmith is in the studio. Joe usually has about 40 guitars with him on the road and he keeps them all in tune. In his spare time (yeah right!) Jim likes to drive his antique car on the Island he is in the process of buying. He also enjoys quiet nights by the fire and making smores and hanging with his dog Lefty. Someday he wants to open a Fitness Center repair shop and call it Gym Service.
See you on the Road!
John B.
BTW-What is up with old Ross Halfin beating up on poor Russ Irwin in his Diarrhea? I mean Diary. Russ did make the mistake of asking Ross if his tight shirt made him look fat. Halfin just took it from there. I just got word that Ross will be joining us (Oh Boy!) for the rest of the tour. As you know Ross’s favorite band is the Who and thinks they are the greatest thing since Spotted Dick.
From Wire Image
WireImage.com
June 28, 2007
Lipteese – An Original Burlesque Performance with Dita von Teese - Inside
Steven Tyler and Family - June 27, 2007
Bloomsbury Ballroom - London, Great Britain
More photos: (here).
June 28, 2007
Lipteese – An Original Burlesque Performance with Dita von Teese - Inside
Steven Tyler and Family - June 27, 2007
Bloomsbury Ballroom - London, Great Britain
More photos: (here).
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pre-Sale Friday - New Tour Dates
Aero Force One
June 27, 2007
This just officially in!
Pre-sales for:
Jones Beach -- 9.12.07 -- Wantagh, NY
Nissan Pavilion -- 9.16.07 -- Bristow, VA
Pre-sales will take place Friday, June 29, 2007, at 7am EDT! Tickets are VERY limited - don't wait - check it out! Ticket package details will be posted tomorrow (Thursday, June 28, 2007) so be sure to check back to AeroForceOne.com!
Aerosmith Tour & Ticketing Info: (here).
June 27, 2007
This just officially in!
Pre-sales for:
Jones Beach -- 9.12.07 -- Wantagh, NY
Nissan Pavilion -- 9.16.07 -- Bristow, VA
Pre-sales will take place Friday, June 29, 2007, at 7am EDT! Tickets are VERY limited - don't wait - check it out! Ticket package details will be posted tomorrow (Thursday, June 28, 2007) so be sure to check back to AeroForceOne.com!
Aerosmith Tour & Ticketing Info: (here).
Marley Park
Aero Force One
June 26, 2007
Aerosmith - Dublin, Ireland
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/26/07)
See more.... (here).
June 26, 2007
Aerosmith - Dublin, Ireland
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/26/07)
See more.... (here).
Aerosmith Still Being Aerosmith
X17Video.com
...Rock band Aerosmith was in Paris - they had a concert on Monday - and took a little time outside their Park Hyatt hotel to sign autographs and take a few pics with fans...
Watch video: (here).
...Rock band Aerosmith was in Paris - they had a concert on Monday - and took a little time outside their Park Hyatt hotel to sign autographs and take a few pics with fans...
Watch video: (here).
Aerosmith Performs In London
NDTV Music
Jun 26, 2007
Aerosmith took to the stage in London's Hyde Park on Sunday, as part of their first European tour in eight years.
The band entertained rain-soaked fans with hits including Livin' on the Edge, Cryin' and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing.
"At the end of the day, it's really about a good time and letting loose," said Steve Tyler.
"My dad used to say 'musicians and cooks, they are the ones, because everyone has got to eat, and always at the end of everyone's day - even Hitler, he wanted to get up and dance.' I know it is a bad one to use, but whoever it is just wants to get up and dance and let it fly," he added.
They had an extra treat for the crowd - welcoming on stage Darryl McDaniels, for a reunion performance of their hit duet Walk This Way.
The duet was released as a single more than 20 years ago, and marked the first time rock and rap intertwined.
"All the 30 years since I've been in this business just ran past my eyes, but it was incredible to see the people with their hands up and all the hard rock people that I have been hanging with all weekend, who've probably never seen me perform, were looking at me like. It was awesome, because you feed off the crowd," said Darryl McDaniels, Singer.
Steve Tyler said that the song was an important moment in Aerosmith's career.
"It cut through a lot of sociological idioms, it broke though, it fused us with what was going on at the time, it was a great shot in the arm for Aerosmith because we reinvented ourselves by doing that," he said.
The open air show was part of the Hyde Park Calling two day festival, which also featured Crowded House and Peter Gabriel on Saturday, and Chris Cornell and Jet on Sunday.
Aerosmith continue their European tour in Dublin on Tuesday before moving on to shows in Koln, Germany; Riga, Latvia; Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands; Talinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; and Saint Petersburg in Russia.
The band will then play dates in Canada and California, in July.
Jun 26, 2007
Aerosmith took to the stage in London's Hyde Park on Sunday, as part of their first European tour in eight years.
The band entertained rain-soaked fans with hits including Livin' on the Edge, Cryin' and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing.
"At the end of the day, it's really about a good time and letting loose," said Steve Tyler.
"My dad used to say 'musicians and cooks, they are the ones, because everyone has got to eat, and always at the end of everyone's day - even Hitler, he wanted to get up and dance.' I know it is a bad one to use, but whoever it is just wants to get up and dance and let it fly," he added.
They had an extra treat for the crowd - welcoming on stage Darryl McDaniels, for a reunion performance of their hit duet Walk This Way.
The duet was released as a single more than 20 years ago, and marked the first time rock and rap intertwined.
"All the 30 years since I've been in this business just ran past my eyes, but it was incredible to see the people with their hands up and all the hard rock people that I have been hanging with all weekend, who've probably never seen me perform, were looking at me like. It was awesome, because you feed off the crowd," said Darryl McDaniels, Singer.
Steve Tyler said that the song was an important moment in Aerosmith's career.
"It cut through a lot of sociological idioms, it broke though, it fused us with what was going on at the time, it was a great shot in the arm for Aerosmith because we reinvented ourselves by doing that," he said.
The open air show was part of the Hyde Park Calling two day festival, which also featured Crowded House and Peter Gabriel on Saturday, and Chris Cornell and Jet on Sunday.
Aerosmith continue their European tour in Dublin on Tuesday before moving on to shows in Koln, Germany; Riga, Latvia; Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands; Talinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; and Saint Petersburg in Russia.
The band will then play dates in Canada and California, in July.
Dublin, Ireland
Aero Force One
June 26, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Marley Park - June 26, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
June 26, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Marley Park - June 26, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
Joe Perry to Play at Concert for Diana
Easier, UK
June 26, 2007
Fresh from Aerosmith’s blistering headline set at Hyde Park Calling on Sunday, guitar icon Joe Perry will join Tom Jones for a must-see live set at the eagerly anticipated Concert for Diana, July 1st at Wembley Stadium.
Currently on a major European tour, which includes dates in Germany, Ireland, France, Sweden and Belgium, Joe will play on three classic songs – marking only his second London performance in the past 8 years.
Aerosmith - Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer – are currently working on a new studio album.
During their dazzling 30-year career they have sold over 100 million albums, won four Grammy Awards and earned 95 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications - the biggest ever tally for a USA act.
Find out more by visiting Aerosmith.com and Concertfordiana.com.
June 26, 2007
Fresh from Aerosmith’s blistering headline set at Hyde Park Calling on Sunday, guitar icon Joe Perry will join Tom Jones for a must-see live set at the eagerly anticipated Concert for Diana, July 1st at Wembley Stadium.
Currently on a major European tour, which includes dates in Germany, Ireland, France, Sweden and Belgium, Joe will play on three classic songs – marking only his second London performance in the past 8 years.
Aerosmith - Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer – are currently working on a new studio album.
During their dazzling 30-year career they have sold over 100 million albums, won four Grammy Awards and earned 95 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications - the biggest ever tally for a USA act.
Find out more by visiting Aerosmith.com and Concertfordiana.com.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Brian May Comments About Aerosmith
Blabbermouth.net, NY
June 26, 2007
Queen guitarist Brian May wrote on his web site about this past weekend's Hyde Park Calling event in London, England where he witnessed performances by Aerosmith and Joe Satriani, among others. An excerpt from May's posting follows:
"There is so much fake stuff around these days, people short-cutting, not knowing their trade, having no respect for their audience, playing to clicks, and in many cases feeding all recorded stuff from hard disc into the PA, for their fans to listen to — sometimes you are really listening to an entire pre-record — like a crap TV mime show, brought into an arena or a stadium. Sometimes recently I have felt ashamed of my business, the music business ... and I resist the temptation to write about it here, because I hate to slag other artists off ... Sometimes it's VERY hard to resist.
"But Aerosmith brought back the smile to my face — brought back pride to me — these guys remind us that there IS still greatness out there ... there is still a band that is all real, and full of passion, and innovation, and courage, and brick-loads of polish too. This, to me, is the way it should be done. Some of it is what you ARE, and some it is what you DO. I know this art, this craft, this life, so I appreciate greatness in it all the more. These guys have been to the Wall and back, and it shows. Each one of them has devoted his life to his craft, like that great Carpenter I was talking about. And it shows. And for me, watching, I see all the elements that are rare and wonderful, and feel glad that my kids can see this, and I don't have to explain to them what REAL LIVE ROCK MUSIC is about.
"I loved every second. The most joyous thing about them is that they did NOT become SHOW-BIZ — they did NOT lose their roots. They are still treading that fine line between structure and improvisation, clean and dirty, love of what their music does, and love of it for itself, commercialism and art, fire and water, earth and air, light and shade. There will never be a rock group more all-round great than Aerosmith [in my humble opinion]. "
Read May's entire message at BrianMay.com.
June 26, 2007
Queen guitarist Brian May wrote on his web site about this past weekend's Hyde Park Calling event in London, England where he witnessed performances by Aerosmith and Joe Satriani, among others. An excerpt from May's posting follows:
"There is so much fake stuff around these days, people short-cutting, not knowing their trade, having no respect for their audience, playing to clicks, and in many cases feeding all recorded stuff from hard disc into the PA, for their fans to listen to — sometimes you are really listening to an entire pre-record — like a crap TV mime show, brought into an arena or a stadium. Sometimes recently I have felt ashamed of my business, the music business ... and I resist the temptation to write about it here, because I hate to slag other artists off ... Sometimes it's VERY hard to resist.
"But Aerosmith brought back the smile to my face — brought back pride to me — these guys remind us that there IS still greatness out there ... there is still a band that is all real, and full of passion, and innovation, and courage, and brick-loads of polish too. This, to me, is the way it should be done. Some of it is what you ARE, and some it is what you DO. I know this art, this craft, this life, so I appreciate greatness in it all the more. These guys have been to the Wall and back, and it shows. Each one of them has devoted his life to his craft, like that great Carpenter I was talking about. And it shows. And for me, watching, I see all the elements that are rare and wonderful, and feel glad that my kids can see this, and I don't have to explain to them what REAL LIVE ROCK MUSIC is about.
"I loved every second. The most joyous thing about them is that they did NOT become SHOW-BIZ — they did NOT lose their roots. They are still treading that fine line between structure and improvisation, clean and dirty, love of what their music does, and love of it for itself, commercialism and art, fire and water, earth and air, light and shade. There will never be a rock group more all-round great than Aerosmith [in my humble opinion]. "
Read May's entire message at BrianMay.com.
Steven and Joe - French TV Interview
Aero Force One
June 26, 2007
While the band was in Paris, Steven and Joe sat down with France 2 in Paris-Bercy on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 for a quick interview. Check out some video of that interview here! (Please note the audio is in French.)
June 26, 2007
While the band was in Paris, Steven and Joe sat down with France 2 in Paris-Bercy on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 for a quick interview. Check out some video of that interview here! (Please note the audio is in French.)
Hyde Park Calling 2007 review
The Sun, UK
June 25, 2007
You could be forgiven for thinking that Glastonbury was the only major musical event happening over the weekend. Not so…
Legendary blues rockers AEROSMITH re-united for their first UK gig in EIGHT years at London's Hyde Park Calling festival.
Led by Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry, they stormed onto stage in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans drenched from the afternoon rain.
Yet not even the miserable weather could dampen the spirit of the 'Toxic Twins' as Perry and Tyler masterfully crafted their way through decades of hits, spanning 1975's classic Toys In The Attic album all the way to 2004's Honkin' On Bobo.
From their opening number Love in an Elevator, it was clear that Aerosmith had lost none of their style, swagger or sex-appeal.
Classics like Cryin, Livin' On The Edge and I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing seemed to indulge the crowd into one giant karaoke session as thousands of fans sang back every word.
Hit after hit followed as Tyler and co effortlessly put on a show worthy of legendary status.
This tag was further justified as the band introduced Darryl McDaniels better known as one part of rap legends Run DMC as a surprise special guest.
Darryl and Tyler then proceeded in performing an amazing encore rendition of their 1986 classic Walk This Way.
Twenty years on and the fans still go as wild as ever for the timeless rock-rap collaboration which brought the festival to an energetic and memorable close.
Elsewhere on the bill former SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell performed an amazing 90 minute set in the worst weather conditions of the day.
Opening with the 1994 classic Spoonman, the rejuvenated Cornell delivered a stellar performance spanning his entire musical career that further cemented his status as one of the best singers in rock.
Aussie-rockers JET also graced the main stage with a plethora of hits including Are You Gonna Be My Girl and Cold Hard Bitch.
Belfast's finest THE ANSWER also wowed the thousands of fans with their own brand of classic rock.
The band are one of the best kept secrets on the UK music scene right now and are surely destined for great success after this performance.
Success is also on the menu for young Kentucky band BLACK STONE CHERRY who completely ripped up the second stage with their explosive brand of heavy southern rock that deserved a bigger stage.
But the final word has to go to Aerosmith, thirty years on and still showing the world how to put on a show.
A truly triumphant return in every sense of the word.
June 25, 2007
You could be forgiven for thinking that Glastonbury was the only major musical event happening over the weekend. Not so…
Legendary blues rockers AEROSMITH re-united for their first UK gig in EIGHT years at London's Hyde Park Calling festival.
Led by Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry, they stormed onto stage in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans drenched from the afternoon rain.
Yet not even the miserable weather could dampen the spirit of the 'Toxic Twins' as Perry and Tyler masterfully crafted their way through decades of hits, spanning 1975's classic Toys In The Attic album all the way to 2004's Honkin' On Bobo.
From their opening number Love in an Elevator, it was clear that Aerosmith had lost none of their style, swagger or sex-appeal.
Classics like Cryin, Livin' On The Edge and I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing seemed to indulge the crowd into one giant karaoke session as thousands of fans sang back every word.
Hit after hit followed as Tyler and co effortlessly put on a show worthy of legendary status.
This tag was further justified as the band introduced Darryl McDaniels better known as one part of rap legends Run DMC as a surprise special guest.
Darryl and Tyler then proceeded in performing an amazing encore rendition of their 1986 classic Walk This Way.
Twenty years on and the fans still go as wild as ever for the timeless rock-rap collaboration which brought the festival to an energetic and memorable close.
Elsewhere on the bill former SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell performed an amazing 90 minute set in the worst weather conditions of the day.
Opening with the 1994 classic Spoonman, the rejuvenated Cornell delivered a stellar performance spanning his entire musical career that further cemented his status as one of the best singers in rock.
Aussie-rockers JET also graced the main stage with a plethora of hits including Are You Gonna Be My Girl and Cold Hard Bitch.
Belfast's finest THE ANSWER also wowed the thousands of fans with their own brand of classic rock.
The band are one of the best kept secrets on the UK music scene right now and are surely destined for great success after this performance.
Success is also on the menu for young Kentucky band BLACK STONE CHERRY who completely ripped up the second stage with their explosive brand of heavy southern rock that deserved a bigger stage.
But the final word has to go to Aerosmith, thirty years on and still showing the world how to put on a show.
A truly triumphant return in every sense of the word.
Aerosmith take DMC for a Walk in Hyde Park
Aero Force One
June 25, 2007
Photos taken by Amanda Ayre - AF1
From NME.com
Boston's finest joined by special guest at London Calling
Aerosmith returned to the UK for their first full live show in nine years last night, headlining the second day of Hard Rock Cafe's London Calling event in Hyde Park.
Despite the poor weather conditions, the near-capacity crowd were clearly out to have a good time, standing in constant rain throughout the entire afternoon which featured performances from The Answer, Jet - who very nearly didn't make it due to a broken down ferry from Germany - and Chris Cornell.
Launching into a hit-laden set with 'Love In an Elevator', Steven Tyler's men proceeded to prove over the course of an hour that they've still got what it takes, with 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing' and 'Cryin' proving to be particularly popular with the crowd.
The encore saw the band joined onstage by DMC from 1980s rap trio Run DMC, for the 80's rock-rap classic 'Walk This Way' which ensured that everyone went home with a smile on their face.
Aerosmith played:
Elevator
Same Old Song
Cryin
Eat The Rich
Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please
Seasons
Dream On
Edge
Stop Messin'
Sweet E
Draw The Line
Walk This Way
More...
Check out the London concert recap page.
June 25, 2007
Photos taken by Amanda Ayre - AF1
From NME.com
Boston's finest joined by special guest at London Calling
Aerosmith returned to the UK for their first full live show in nine years last night, headlining the second day of Hard Rock Cafe's London Calling event in Hyde Park.
Despite the poor weather conditions, the near-capacity crowd were clearly out to have a good time, standing in constant rain throughout the entire afternoon which featured performances from The Answer, Jet - who very nearly didn't make it due to a broken down ferry from Germany - and Chris Cornell.
Launching into a hit-laden set with 'Love In an Elevator', Steven Tyler's men proceeded to prove over the course of an hour that they've still got what it takes, with 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing' and 'Cryin' proving to be particularly popular with the crowd.
The encore saw the band joined onstage by DMC from 1980s rap trio Run DMC, for the 80's rock-rap classic 'Walk This Way' which ensured that everyone went home with a smile on their face.
Aerosmith played:
Elevator
Same Old Song
Cryin
Eat The Rich
Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please
Seasons
Dream On
Edge
Stop Messin'
Sweet E
Draw The Line
Walk This Way
More...
Check out the London concert recap page.
Annual Fashion Rocks Event
Entertainment Tonight
Fashion rocks! And since clothing can bounce from grunge to girly glamour, it's no wonder musicians are so good at hitting all the right style notes. To honor the synergy between singers and their passion for fashion, the Conde Nast Media Group is gearing up for its Fourth Annual Fashion Rocks event, airing September 7th at
9 p.m. on CBS....
"Fashion Rocks" musical performers for the two-hour event include Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris, Martina McBride, Santana and Usher....
Fashion rocks! And since clothing can bounce from grunge to girly glamour, it's no wonder musicians are so good at hitting all the right style notes. To honor the synergy between singers and their passion for fashion, the Conde Nast Media Group is gearing up for its Fourth Annual Fashion Rocks event, airing September 7th at
9 p.m. on CBS....
"Fashion Rocks" musical performers for the two-hour event include Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris, Martina McBride, Santana and Usher....
Monday, June 25, 2007
Photos From Wire Image
WireImage.com
June 25, 2007
Aerosmith - 2007 Hyde Park Calling - Day 2
London, June 24, 2007
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith - 2007 Hyde Park Calling - Day 2
London, June 24, 2007
See more.... (here)
June 25, 2007
Aerosmith - 2007 Hyde Park Calling - Day 2
London, June 24, 2007
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith - 2007 Hyde Park Calling - Day 2
London, June 24, 2007
See more.... (here)
Aerosmith @ Hyde Park Calling Review
Londonist.com
June 25, 2007
Nobody would have guessed that Steven Tyler is a mere 59 years old judging by his performance at last night’s Hyde Park Calling finale with Aerosmith headlining a day of stellar bands. Strutting around the stage like only he can, Tyler had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opener “Love in an Elevator”.
Whilst Aerosmith undoubtedly stole the show, Hyde Park Calling was a three stage festival which showcases the best in current rock. London band Haunts played the packed out third stage, slowly warming up the crowds with their unique brand of danceable rock, akin to a lighter Biffy Clyro. Closing with “Live Fast, Die Young” they had everyone moving, and are surely ones to watch in the future for those with heavier tastes.
After them Brigade managed to entertain sufficiently the sizeable crowd on the third stage with their Placebo / Muse / Oceansize / My Vitriol style mixture of rock. Over on the main stage The Answer put in a performance of their lives, playing to their biggest audience yet and winning over a sizeable part, with massive “Answer” branded balloons bouncing along the audience. Fans of Led Zeppelin, Free or The Who should make sure they catch them – as they themselves said “We may be Irish, but we love London, so we’re around a lot”.
Jet were next on the main stage, putting in a decidedly average performance – their (few) hits sounded tired and jaded, and new material never goes down well at festivals. During Jet’s set the heavens opened, soaking everyone, leading to chants of “Get your brolly down” (and alternatives) from people further back when former Audioslave star Chris Cornell came on for his second-on-the-bill slot. Unafraid of the rain, he commented how it was just like being at home for him. Highlight of his varied set which mixed both his own solo material and Audioslave material was probably his most recent song, “You Know My Name”, title song for the recent Bond film.
Finally the stars arrived, 15 minutes late, and bounded through a greatest hits set that highlighted their long and varied career. “I don’t want to miss a thing” was thrown in early, much to the appreciation of the crowd, drowning out Steven Tyler. Prancing around the stage like he has done for the last 30 years, they really were not showing their age other than their short “Deckchair set” which saw Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry at the end of the catwalk sat in (some rather comfy looking) deckchairs.
Climaxing with a fantastic performance of... “Walk This Way”, Aerosmith were gone from London for another few years. Past their prime? Unlikely – they’re just as good as they have ever been.
Photos taken from author's own collection.
See more.... (here).
June 25, 2007
Nobody would have guessed that Steven Tyler is a mere 59 years old judging by his performance at last night’s Hyde Park Calling finale with Aerosmith headlining a day of stellar bands. Strutting around the stage like only he can, Tyler had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opener “Love in an Elevator”.
Whilst Aerosmith undoubtedly stole the show, Hyde Park Calling was a three stage festival which showcases the best in current rock. London band Haunts played the packed out third stage, slowly warming up the crowds with their unique brand of danceable rock, akin to a lighter Biffy Clyro. Closing with “Live Fast, Die Young” they had everyone moving, and are surely ones to watch in the future for those with heavier tastes.
After them Brigade managed to entertain sufficiently the sizeable crowd on the third stage with their Placebo / Muse / Oceansize / My Vitriol style mixture of rock. Over on the main stage The Answer put in a performance of their lives, playing to their biggest audience yet and winning over a sizeable part, with massive “Answer” branded balloons bouncing along the audience. Fans of Led Zeppelin, Free or The Who should make sure they catch them – as they themselves said “We may be Irish, but we love London, so we’re around a lot”.
Jet were next on the main stage, putting in a decidedly average performance – their (few) hits sounded tired and jaded, and new material never goes down well at festivals. During Jet’s set the heavens opened, soaking everyone, leading to chants of “Get your brolly down” (and alternatives) from people further back when former Audioslave star Chris Cornell came on for his second-on-the-bill slot. Unafraid of the rain, he commented how it was just like being at home for him. Highlight of his varied set which mixed both his own solo material and Audioslave material was probably his most recent song, “You Know My Name”, title song for the recent Bond film.
Finally the stars arrived, 15 minutes late, and bounded through a greatest hits set that highlighted their long and varied career. “I don’t want to miss a thing” was thrown in early, much to the appreciation of the crowd, drowning out Steven Tyler. Prancing around the stage like he has done for the last 30 years, they really were not showing their age other than their short “Deckchair set” which saw Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry at the end of the catwalk sat in (some rather comfy looking) deckchairs.
Climaxing with a fantastic performance of... “Walk This Way”, Aerosmith were gone from London for another few years. Past their prime? Unlikely – they’re just as good as they have ever been.
Photos taken from author's own collection.
See more.... (here).
London, England
Aero Force One
June 24, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Hyde Park Calling - June 24, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way (w/Run DMC)
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
June 24, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Hyde Park Calling - June 24, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way (w/Run DMC)
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Graspop Festival
Aero Force One
June 22, 2007
Aerosmith - Dessel, Belgium
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/22/07)
See more.... (here).
June 22, 2007
Aerosmith - Dessel, Belgium
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/22/07)
See more.... (here).
News From The Road
Aero Force One
June 22, 2007
Chris Cornell stopped by the guys Paris show...
Chris Cornell stopped by the guys Paris show on Tuesday. He has 3 shows coming up with the Boys from Boston. Read all about that and more in John B's upcoming News from the Road! The World Tour edition.
Photo: John Bionelli
June 22, 2007
Chris Cornell stopped by the guys Paris show...
Chris Cornell stopped by the guys Paris show on Tuesday. He has 3 shows coming up with the Boys from Boston. Read all about that and more in John B's upcoming News from the Road! The World Tour edition.
Photo: John Bionelli
Dessel, Belgium
Aero Force One
June 22, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Graspop Festival - June 22, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Lord Of The Thighs
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Train Kept A Rollin'
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
June 22, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Graspop Festival - June 22, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Same Old Song and Dance
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
Lord Of The Thighs
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Train Kept A Rollin'
Walk This Way
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Aerosmith on "Extra" this Weekend
Aero Force One
June 22, 2007
Check it out – Aerosmith will be featured on Extra this weekend! Extra interviewed the band in Vegas back in November about the Aerosmith/NASCAR relationship. That interview airs tonight (Friday, June 22, 2007) and over this weekend.
Here are some local time airings:
Boston (WHDH-7): Weekdays: 7:30pm, Sun: 12:00am
Los Angeles (KNBC-4): Weekdays: 7:00pm, Sat: 7:00pm, Sun: 12:35am
New York (WNBC-4): Weekdays: 7:00pm, Sat: 4:30am, Sun: 12:35am
Wanna find out when you can watch it in your area? Click (here).
Haven’t seen the Aerosmith/NASCAR video? Ya gotta check it out! Click (here).
June 22, 2007
Check it out – Aerosmith will be featured on Extra this weekend! Extra interviewed the band in Vegas back in November about the Aerosmith/NASCAR relationship. That interview airs tonight (Friday, June 22, 2007) and over this weekend.
Here are some local time airings:
Boston (WHDH-7): Weekdays: 7:30pm, Sun: 12:00am
Los Angeles (KNBC-4): Weekdays: 7:00pm, Sat: 7:00pm, Sun: 12:35am
New York (WNBC-4): Weekdays: 7:00pm, Sat: 4:30am, Sun: 12:35am
Wanna find out when you can watch it in your area? Click (here).
Haven’t seen the Aerosmith/NASCAR video? Ya gotta check it out! Click (here).
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Aerosmith's fowl demands
Monsters and Critics.com, UK
June 21, 2007
Legendry American Rock Band 'Aerosmith' lead Singer Steven Tyler (R) with Lead Guitarist Joe Perry addressing the media after the band's arrival at Bangalore Airport, June 1, 2007.
Aerosmith made a list of demands for their London festival appearance - including three roast chickens for each member.
The legendary rockers, who headline Hard Rock's Hyde Park Calling on Sunday (24.06.07), have requested five separate dressing rooms, 60kg of ice to keep them cool and several US soft drinks, including Diet Ice tea and Summer Berry Gatorade.
Surprisingly, there is no mention of any alcohol.
A source said: "Each member wants two roast chickens before the show and one for after. But there's no alcohol at all on their rider. They're the only act on the bill not to ask for it."
The band also want hip-hop act Run DMC to be flown in from the US to join them for their hit collaboration 'Walk This Way'.
Other bands set to perform at the two-day event include The Feeling and Jet, with Oasis, Geri Halliwell, Neve Campbell and Alicia Silverstone all expected to grace the VIP area.
Hyde Park Calling is the first stop on the Hard Rock' Ambassador of Rock tour...
June 21, 2007
Legendry American Rock Band 'Aerosmith' lead Singer Steven Tyler (R) with Lead Guitarist Joe Perry addressing the media after the band's arrival at Bangalore Airport, June 1, 2007.
Aerosmith made a list of demands for their London festival appearance - including three roast chickens for each member.
The legendary rockers, who headline Hard Rock's Hyde Park Calling on Sunday (24.06.07), have requested five separate dressing rooms, 60kg of ice to keep them cool and several US soft drinks, including Diet Ice tea and Summer Berry Gatorade.
Surprisingly, there is no mention of any alcohol.
A source said: "Each member wants two roast chickens before the show and one for after. But there's no alcohol at all on their rider. They're the only act on the bill not to ask for it."
The band also want hip-hop act Run DMC to be flown in from the US to join them for their hit collaboration 'Walk This Way'.
Other bands set to perform at the two-day event include The Feeling and Jet, with Oasis, Geri Halliwell, Neve Campbell and Alicia Silverstone all expected to grace the VIP area.
Hyde Park Calling is the first stop on the Hard Rock' Ambassador of Rock tour...
Today In History
Worcester Telegram, MA
June 21, 2007
Today's Birthdays:
Actress Jane Russell is 86. Actor Bernie Kopell is 74. Actor Monte Markham is 72. Songwriter Don Black is 69. Actor Ron Ely is 69. Actress Mariette Hartley is 67. Comedian Joe Flaherty is 66. Rock singer-musician Ray Davies (The Kinks) is 63. Singer Brenda Holloway is 61. Actress Meredith Baxter is 60. Actor Michael Gross is 60. Rock musician Joe Molland (Badfinger) is 60. Rock musician Don Airey (Deep Purple) is 59. Country singer Leon Everette is 59. Rock musician Joey Kramer (Aerosmith) is 57. . . .
June 21, 2007
Today's Birthdays:
Actress Jane Russell is 86. Actor Bernie Kopell is 74. Actor Monte Markham is 72. Songwriter Don Black is 69. Actor Ron Ely is 69. Actress Mariette Hartley is 67. Comedian Joe Flaherty is 66. Rock singer-musician Ray Davies (The Kinks) is 63. Singer Brenda Holloway is 61. Actress Meredith Baxter is 60. Actor Michael Gross is 60. Rock musician Joe Molland (Badfinger) is 60. Rock musician Don Airey (Deep Purple) is 59. Country singer Leon Everette is 59. Rock musician Joey Kramer (Aerosmith) is 57. . . .
Aerosmith ready to walk this way
Baltic Times, Latvia
June 21, 2007
It seems that every summer the Baltic capitals are visited by one hugely famous rock band, and this summer the honored guest is Aerosmith, who will be swinging through in early July as part of their World Tour 2007.
As of press time, tickets were still available for the two shows: in Riga’s Skonto Stadium on July 3 and in the A. le Coq Arena in Tallinn on July 5. Lithuanian fans will have to hoof it up to Riga to see the show, since the band won’t be coming to Vilnius.
A good number of Lithuanians might be doing just that; anticipation for the event is running high throughout the Baltics. If the local radio stations playing “Love in an elevator” almost hourly hasn’t created enough of a buzz, there’s the simple fact that this is the first time the U.S. band has toured Europe in eight years.
For anyone who has been living in a gulag, here’s the basic rundown: Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, with 150 million albums sold worldwide. They’ve been around since the early 70s, and have had the same line-up for the past 23 years. Their hits make up a big chunk of those tunes you’ve been hearing on your car radio for the last couple of decades, including “Walk this way,” “Jaded,” “Livin’ on the edge,” “Dude looks like a lady,” and “I don’t want to miss a thing,” the theme of the 1998 romantic meteorite thriller “Armageddon.”
All of the above tracks are on the set list for the show, which is essentially a “best of” presentation of 17 of their hits.
Opening for Aerosmith in both cities will be the Finnish group Los Bastardos Finlandeses and the Estonian band Tanel Padar & The Sun, who in Latvia are better known under the name “S.U.N.” and will be singing in English for the Riga audience.
According to Ilja Judeikin, press representative for the Tallinn concert, it’s going to be quite a show. To give us an idea of how big an event this is, he said that technicians would be arriving in seven buses, and that the equipment takes up six cargo trucks and requires two days to set up. In addition to the three big TV screens and the 30-meter catwalk – the longest ever used in Estonia – there will also be video effects and a small camera mounted on lead singer Steve Tyler’s microphone which he can use to tease the audience.
Judeikin said Estonian journalists who went ahead to preview the tour in Denmark were bowled over. “They told me it was absolutely amazing and great and unbelievable, and rock and roll is still alive,” he said.
For their part, the band seemed equally enthusiastic to be coming here. “We love the fact that on this tour we are playing countries and cities that used to be completely off-limits for Americans,” the band said in a release. “We never dreamt we could come here, because we grew up during the period of cold war. Even during these years we knew we had a lot of fans in Estonia, we couldn’t imagine we will ever meet them. But now our dream comes true and this is really great!”
There seems to be more to this than the obligatory PR lip-service. Judeikin said that Aerosmith’s bassist, Tom Hamilton, is something of a history buff who has been reading up on Estonia and Latvia. “He also said he’s very interested in seeing how Estonia has developed since independence ...and wanted to see it with his own eyes,” said Judeikin.
Those interested in getting to the concert should move now. It’s not clear whether tickets will reach the sell-out point, but inevitably the cheaper ones will go first. Lithuanians can purchase theirs through the www.ticketa.lt service for 150 litas. In Latvia www.bilesuserviss.lv is selling them for 25 – 55 lats, and in Estonia the Piletilevi agency (www.piletilevi.ee) is letting most of them go for 795 – 995 kroons.
Aerosmith
Skonto Stadium, Riga
July 3
Show starts 8 p.m.
A. le Coq Arena, Tallinn
July 5
Show starts 7 p.m.
Aerosmith starts 9:30 p.m.
June 21, 2007
It seems that every summer the Baltic capitals are visited by one hugely famous rock band, and this summer the honored guest is Aerosmith, who will be swinging through in early July as part of their World Tour 2007.
As of press time, tickets were still available for the two shows: in Riga’s Skonto Stadium on July 3 and in the A. le Coq Arena in Tallinn on July 5. Lithuanian fans will have to hoof it up to Riga to see the show, since the band won’t be coming to Vilnius.
A good number of Lithuanians might be doing just that; anticipation for the event is running high throughout the Baltics. If the local radio stations playing “Love in an elevator” almost hourly hasn’t created enough of a buzz, there’s the simple fact that this is the first time the U.S. band has toured Europe in eight years.
For anyone who has been living in a gulag, here’s the basic rundown: Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, with 150 million albums sold worldwide. They’ve been around since the early 70s, and have had the same line-up for the past 23 years. Their hits make up a big chunk of those tunes you’ve been hearing on your car radio for the last couple of decades, including “Walk this way,” “Jaded,” “Livin’ on the edge,” “Dude looks like a lady,” and “I don’t want to miss a thing,” the theme of the 1998 romantic meteorite thriller “Armageddon.”
All of the above tracks are on the set list for the show, which is essentially a “best of” presentation of 17 of their hits.
Opening for Aerosmith in both cities will be the Finnish group Los Bastardos Finlandeses and the Estonian band Tanel Padar & The Sun, who in Latvia are better known under the name “S.U.N.” and will be singing in English for the Riga audience.
According to Ilja Judeikin, press representative for the Tallinn concert, it’s going to be quite a show. To give us an idea of how big an event this is, he said that technicians would be arriving in seven buses, and that the equipment takes up six cargo trucks and requires two days to set up. In addition to the three big TV screens and the 30-meter catwalk – the longest ever used in Estonia – there will also be video effects and a small camera mounted on lead singer Steve Tyler’s microphone which he can use to tease the audience.
Judeikin said Estonian journalists who went ahead to preview the tour in Denmark were bowled over. “They told me it was absolutely amazing and great and unbelievable, and rock and roll is still alive,” he said.
For their part, the band seemed equally enthusiastic to be coming here. “We love the fact that on this tour we are playing countries and cities that used to be completely off-limits for Americans,” the band said in a release. “We never dreamt we could come here, because we grew up during the period of cold war. Even during these years we knew we had a lot of fans in Estonia, we couldn’t imagine we will ever meet them. But now our dream comes true and this is really great!”
There seems to be more to this than the obligatory PR lip-service. Judeikin said that Aerosmith’s bassist, Tom Hamilton, is something of a history buff who has been reading up on Estonia and Latvia. “He also said he’s very interested in seeing how Estonia has developed since independence ...and wanted to see it with his own eyes,” said Judeikin.
Those interested in getting to the concert should move now. It’s not clear whether tickets will reach the sell-out point, but inevitably the cheaper ones will go first. Lithuanians can purchase theirs through the www.ticketa.lt service for 150 litas. In Latvia www.bilesuserviss.lv is selling them for 25 – 55 lats, and in Estonia the Piletilevi agency (www.piletilevi.ee) is letting most of them go for 795 – 995 kroons.
Aerosmith
Skonto Stadium, Riga
July 3
Show starts 8 p.m.
A. le Coq Arena, Tallinn
July 5
Show starts 7 p.m.
Aerosmith starts 9:30 p.m.
Tom Reports From Dubai and Bangalore
Aero Force One
June 21, 2007
Dubai and Bangalore...
It’s a bit like a reunion. Maybe it’s my imagination but there’s quite a “welcome back” vibe from the fans. While we’ve been away we’ve been doing a lot of touring in The U.S., Canada and Japan so our basic skills have gotten better. There’s a lot of ways that we play the songs that are different and, I hope, better, than the way we did ten years ago or however long it was since we played Europe. We’ve been looking forward whipping ‘em out.
I keep talking about how amazing and ironic it is that we’re playing in the Middle East, India and even in areas that used to be behind the “iron curtain”. Dubai was off the scale. The magnitude of what they’re doing there is staggering. The entire city is under construction. They’ve made it a priority to shoot higher and dream bigger than almost anywhere in the world. I thought the Japanese were into futuristic architecture but I think Dubai is giving them a run for their money. I mean that almost literally because making money is what that city is all about. I mean that in a positive way. It’s like a lot of other areas of the world where people are having a taste of what they’re lives could be like and how much better off they could be and they’re not holding back. They’re gung ho. They’re going for it. One of the main things I liked about Dubai was that all different types of people from around the world could be there and let national, ethnic and religious differences be put on hold in the name of simply getting stuff done.
While we were there we went out for a dune ride in the desert. We piled into big SUVs and headed out of the city. I expected a scenic relaxing taste of the Arabian Desert. We turned off the highway and headed out into an ocean of sand. The dunes were really high and steep. At one point we rode along a ridge that dropped off to the right like a cliff. I thought our driver, Jafar, was cutting it kind of close but I figured he must be experienced enough so that he wouldn’t get too close and fall over. The next thing I know he spins the wheel to the right and suddenly we are diving straight down over the edge. I thought we were going to roll for sure. Next we charged straight up to the crest of another dune flew over the edge and dove. Everybody in the SUV gasped except Jafar who had a big smile on his face as he casually spun the steering wheel cranking it back and forth to counteract what would have had us standing on our heads. Just as we went over the top he whipped the wheel to the right so we were sideways on the slope. Every sphincter in the car tightened up for dear life. After a few minutes it became obvious that we weren’t going over but I had a hard time convincing most of my brain that we would stay upright.
When we finished the dune thing we stopped at a campground where they had tents set up with oriental rugs and hand woven cushions. In the center of the camp were long low tables where we would later have a buffet of freshly grilled food. I sat there looking at the desert, as the sun got lower in the sky and the heat mellowed. I had a moment where I realized how hard it must be for the nomadic desert people to give up this lifestyle. I felt like I could have stayed there staring at the sky all night. It was a deeply moving, soul inspiring taste of the paradise of being at one with the infinite embrace of nature. Plus I got to ride a camel.
The show happened a couple of days later with the desert making it’s presence known in the form of heat, sand and a red full moon. The crowd was a mixture of westerners, Arabs, Indians and Southeast Asians. It was a cool feeling to have our show be part of this new melting pot. We could forget whatever scary stuff was on the news and have an awesome time focusing on music.
The next day we slogged to the airport for the flight to Bangalore India. It went by pretty quickly and we all tried to anticipate what our first time there would be like. We had done a lot of advance press for this one and were told that people were looking forward to our show. It was confirmed the minute we walked through the airport. Suddenly we were surrounded by a huge group of fans and press people blasting us with cameras, pens, voices and autograph signing paraphernalia. We did our best to keep up with the chaos and give back the energy.
After 10 quick minutes we were on our way through the chaos of Bangalore’s traffic. They have these little vehicles called rickshaws. They’re not the old kind powered by a human. It’s like a big motorized tricycle. The driver sits at the front and up to two people sit in a seat behind him with a big yellow hood coming up and over their heads. The motors are tiny. The exhaust pipes are about the width of a garden hose. They swerve back and forth while making a sound like a bumblebee with a hard on.
Everyone beeps their horns all the time. At first I wondered why, then I realized that if they didn’t the whole scene would go out of control and melt down. There were cows by the side of the road. There were donkeys pulling carts. (I forgot to ask if they were called Asses). However you describe Bangalore, it’s a place where everyone has somewhere to go and something to do. It’s a city on it’s way up and nothing’s gonna stop it.
We got to our hotel, the Taj West End, and an entire new spectacle began. Two guys on horseback dressed in electric blue silks met us. They led us down a paved path surrounded by a lush cultivated jungle. We ended up at the end of a cul-de-sac where some of the rooms waited in low buildings tucked into the exotic vegetation. Suddenly we heard drumming coming from around a corner and the next thing you know our eyes and ears were assaulted by the spectacle of about ten or twelve guys playing hyper animated beats on big single drums they carried in front of them. They were dressed in colorful silk outfits and had obviously done this many times because they were tight. They played together really well and gave us inspiration to do the same when it was our turn the next day. As they banged away people from the hotel put leis around our necks of some kind of really strong smelling flowers. It reminded me of our first trip to Hawaii years ago. Maybe it’s a tradition in both places. All I knew is that they smelled really good. Meanwhile the drummers formed up into a pyramid and kept playing just as tight as before. You could see and hear the work they must put in at rehearsal. Good inspiration.
The jungle that the hotel sits on has over 8000 different species of plants on its 22 acres. It was cool the way it was cultivated without looking to perfect a la Beverly Hills. I’ve been known to stare at trees and other objects before but this time I was mesmerized. My eyes could hardly keep up with all the trees I had never seen before. Some of them were huge and over 100 years old.
For the next three days we could hardly move without someone being there asking if there was something they could do for us. Being in India was a bigger deal than I expected it would be. We had done a lot of press in advance of the show so we knew the excitement level was up there but this was more than we expected.
A lot of the news coverage went out over the whole country, which was pretty exciting considering there are about a billion people there.
This swell of frenzied excitement carried us for the next two days all the way up onto the stage. Since this was our first time playing there and also because we’ve been anticipating this for so long we wanted to really give it to ‘em good. The crowd was so over the top it made us feel really relaxed which is when we really play good. I know I’ve mentioned this before but its fun to feel that in a new exotic place like India.
We started the show with Taste of India especially for that night. We haven’t played that song in years but when we did our press conference in Dubai, there were journalists and radio people there asking if we would play it. How could we turn down a request like that?
Considering it’s been so long, it went down really well. We got through it right and made it cook. I could feel the satisfaction the band felt in kicking it out there and all the irony of finally coming to India and playing that song.
The next day was all about sitting by the pool, exploring Bangalore and for me, playing a little tennis on their funky red clay courts. The guy I played with was really good but he did a good job of letting me win a game here and there without making it obvious he was giving me a break. We went out looking around checking out the local stores. I got some really cool stuff to send home including some nice duds from a local designer named Manoviraj Khosla. Joey got some too.
I forgot to mention that earlier in the day we spent an hour hanging and taking pictures with an elephant. Her name was Lakshmee and she was 18 years old. I was a little taken aback by her incredible size and the fact that her curious trunk could have wound up in some awkward areas. Once we spent a little time we realized what a warm hearted animal she was. She was actually cute in spite of the fact that she weighs as much as a bulldozer and could pop your head with one foot. After an hour we had to be finished because she had a “prior engagement.”
It feels good to be able to say that we finally got to India and left our mark. It meant a lot to us that we played a good show and made a connection with some really awesome people.
TH
More Photos: (here).
June 21, 2007
Dubai and Bangalore...
It’s a bit like a reunion. Maybe it’s my imagination but there’s quite a “welcome back” vibe from the fans. While we’ve been away we’ve been doing a lot of touring in The U.S., Canada and Japan so our basic skills have gotten better. There’s a lot of ways that we play the songs that are different and, I hope, better, than the way we did ten years ago or however long it was since we played Europe. We’ve been looking forward whipping ‘em out.
I keep talking about how amazing and ironic it is that we’re playing in the Middle East, India and even in areas that used to be behind the “iron curtain”. Dubai was off the scale. The magnitude of what they’re doing there is staggering. The entire city is under construction. They’ve made it a priority to shoot higher and dream bigger than almost anywhere in the world. I thought the Japanese were into futuristic architecture but I think Dubai is giving them a run for their money. I mean that almost literally because making money is what that city is all about. I mean that in a positive way. It’s like a lot of other areas of the world where people are having a taste of what they’re lives could be like and how much better off they could be and they’re not holding back. They’re gung ho. They’re going for it. One of the main things I liked about Dubai was that all different types of people from around the world could be there and let national, ethnic and religious differences be put on hold in the name of simply getting stuff done.
While we were there we went out for a dune ride in the desert. We piled into big SUVs and headed out of the city. I expected a scenic relaxing taste of the Arabian Desert. We turned off the highway and headed out into an ocean of sand. The dunes were really high and steep. At one point we rode along a ridge that dropped off to the right like a cliff. I thought our driver, Jafar, was cutting it kind of close but I figured he must be experienced enough so that he wouldn’t get too close and fall over. The next thing I know he spins the wheel to the right and suddenly we are diving straight down over the edge. I thought we were going to roll for sure. Next we charged straight up to the crest of another dune flew over the edge and dove. Everybody in the SUV gasped except Jafar who had a big smile on his face as he casually spun the steering wheel cranking it back and forth to counteract what would have had us standing on our heads. Just as we went over the top he whipped the wheel to the right so we were sideways on the slope. Every sphincter in the car tightened up for dear life. After a few minutes it became obvious that we weren’t going over but I had a hard time convincing most of my brain that we would stay upright.
When we finished the dune thing we stopped at a campground where they had tents set up with oriental rugs and hand woven cushions. In the center of the camp were long low tables where we would later have a buffet of freshly grilled food. I sat there looking at the desert, as the sun got lower in the sky and the heat mellowed. I had a moment where I realized how hard it must be for the nomadic desert people to give up this lifestyle. I felt like I could have stayed there staring at the sky all night. It was a deeply moving, soul inspiring taste of the paradise of being at one with the infinite embrace of nature. Plus I got to ride a camel.
The show happened a couple of days later with the desert making it’s presence known in the form of heat, sand and a red full moon. The crowd was a mixture of westerners, Arabs, Indians and Southeast Asians. It was a cool feeling to have our show be part of this new melting pot. We could forget whatever scary stuff was on the news and have an awesome time focusing on music.
The next day we slogged to the airport for the flight to Bangalore India. It went by pretty quickly and we all tried to anticipate what our first time there would be like. We had done a lot of advance press for this one and were told that people were looking forward to our show. It was confirmed the minute we walked through the airport. Suddenly we were surrounded by a huge group of fans and press people blasting us with cameras, pens, voices and autograph signing paraphernalia. We did our best to keep up with the chaos and give back the energy.
After 10 quick minutes we were on our way through the chaos of Bangalore’s traffic. They have these little vehicles called rickshaws. They’re not the old kind powered by a human. It’s like a big motorized tricycle. The driver sits at the front and up to two people sit in a seat behind him with a big yellow hood coming up and over their heads. The motors are tiny. The exhaust pipes are about the width of a garden hose. They swerve back and forth while making a sound like a bumblebee with a hard on.
Everyone beeps their horns all the time. At first I wondered why, then I realized that if they didn’t the whole scene would go out of control and melt down. There were cows by the side of the road. There were donkeys pulling carts. (I forgot to ask if they were called Asses). However you describe Bangalore, it’s a place where everyone has somewhere to go and something to do. It’s a city on it’s way up and nothing’s gonna stop it.
We got to our hotel, the Taj West End, and an entire new spectacle began. Two guys on horseback dressed in electric blue silks met us. They led us down a paved path surrounded by a lush cultivated jungle. We ended up at the end of a cul-de-sac where some of the rooms waited in low buildings tucked into the exotic vegetation. Suddenly we heard drumming coming from around a corner and the next thing you know our eyes and ears were assaulted by the spectacle of about ten or twelve guys playing hyper animated beats on big single drums they carried in front of them. They were dressed in colorful silk outfits and had obviously done this many times because they were tight. They played together really well and gave us inspiration to do the same when it was our turn the next day. As they banged away people from the hotel put leis around our necks of some kind of really strong smelling flowers. It reminded me of our first trip to Hawaii years ago. Maybe it’s a tradition in both places. All I knew is that they smelled really good. Meanwhile the drummers formed up into a pyramid and kept playing just as tight as before. You could see and hear the work they must put in at rehearsal. Good inspiration.
The jungle that the hotel sits on has over 8000 different species of plants on its 22 acres. It was cool the way it was cultivated without looking to perfect a la Beverly Hills. I’ve been known to stare at trees and other objects before but this time I was mesmerized. My eyes could hardly keep up with all the trees I had never seen before. Some of them were huge and over 100 years old.
For the next three days we could hardly move without someone being there asking if there was something they could do for us. Being in India was a bigger deal than I expected it would be. We had done a lot of press in advance of the show so we knew the excitement level was up there but this was more than we expected.
A lot of the news coverage went out over the whole country, which was pretty exciting considering there are about a billion people there.
This swell of frenzied excitement carried us for the next two days all the way up onto the stage. Since this was our first time playing there and also because we’ve been anticipating this for so long we wanted to really give it to ‘em good. The crowd was so over the top it made us feel really relaxed which is when we really play good. I know I’ve mentioned this before but its fun to feel that in a new exotic place like India.
We started the show with Taste of India especially for that night. We haven’t played that song in years but when we did our press conference in Dubai, there were journalists and radio people there asking if we would play it. How could we turn down a request like that?
Considering it’s been so long, it went down really well. We got through it right and made it cook. I could feel the satisfaction the band felt in kicking it out there and all the irony of finally coming to India and playing that song.
The next day was all about sitting by the pool, exploring Bangalore and for me, playing a little tennis on their funky red clay courts. The guy I played with was really good but he did a good job of letting me win a game here and there without making it obvious he was giving me a break. We went out looking around checking out the local stores. I got some really cool stuff to send home including some nice duds from a local designer named Manoviraj Khosla. Joey got some too.
I forgot to mention that earlier in the day we spent an hour hanging and taking pictures with an elephant. Her name was Lakshmee and she was 18 years old. I was a little taken aback by her incredible size and the fact that her curious trunk could have wound up in some awkward areas. Once we spent a little time we realized what a warm hearted animal she was. She was actually cute in spite of the fact that she weighs as much as a bulldozer and could pop your head with one foot. After an hour we had to be finished because she had a “prior engagement.”
It feels good to be able to say that we finally got to India and left our mark. It meant a lot to us that we played a good show and made a connection with some really awesome people.
TH
More Photos: (here).
Aerosmith Notes
Aero Force One
June 20, 2007
Aerosmith: It's a Family Affair
When Aerosmith performs in London on June 24th at the Hyde Park Calling festival, the bill will include a few familiar faces. Steven Tyler's son-in-law (and Liv Tyler's husband) Royston Langdon, formerly of Space Hog, will perform with his band, Arckid. On the second stage will be TAB, which includes Joe Perry's sons, Tony and Adrian Perry. By Sal Cirrincione
Brad Whitford drives fast!
Last month, Aerosmith guitarist and race-car enthusiast Brad Whitford took part in the Richard Petty Experience in Las Vegas. Whitford got his stock car up to 160 miles-per-hour. Aerosmith are big NASCAR fans having worked with ESPN earlier this year for a promotional commercial for the network's coverage of NASCAR races in 2007. You can show off that association with the Aerosmith American Muscle t-shirt that's available now in the AF1 store.
June 20, 2007
Aerosmith: It's a Family Affair
When Aerosmith performs in London on June 24th at the Hyde Park Calling festival, the bill will include a few familiar faces. Steven Tyler's son-in-law (and Liv Tyler's husband) Royston Langdon, formerly of Space Hog, will perform with his band, Arckid. On the second stage will be TAB, which includes Joe Perry's sons, Tony and Adrian Perry. By Sal Cirrincione
Brad Whitford drives fast!
Last month, Aerosmith guitarist and race-car enthusiast Brad Whitford took part in the Richard Petty Experience in Las Vegas. Whitford got his stock car up to 160 miles-per-hour. Aerosmith are big NASCAR fans having worked with ESPN earlier this year for a promotional commercial for the network's coverage of NASCAR races in 2007. You can show off that association with the Aerosmith American Muscle t-shirt that's available now in the AF1 store.
Aero-dynamic
Belfast Telegraph, United Kingdom
June 20, 2007
“When I look at Joe Perry on stage”, says Steven Tyler of his band’s lead guitarist, “I see someone who looks as sculpted as one of his horses. I try to be the same because I’m an egomaniac. I see artists that have got frumpy or fat and they look a mere shadow of the Adonis they once were. Everybody’s got a hero they’ve watched go to seed, right?”
Were Aerosmith’s 59-year-old singer not so well preserved himself, his words might be harder to swallow. What might read to some like mild body fascism is, for Tyler, a simple expression of the rules of rock star engagement. To stay on top you have to walk it like you talk it, he says. Today, in his Knightsbridge hotel suite, Tyler is talking it, in leopard print shoes and a black leather jacket open to reveal his skinny bare torso. When asked about Aerosmith hits such as “Love in an Elevator”, he has a pleasing tendency to sing parts of his response. Inquire whether his background as a drummer helps explains why his vocals are so rhythmic, and he scats the chorus of “Rag Doll” while keeping time on an imaginary hi-hat.
Aerosmith are in town to headline Hyde Park Calling, their first full-length UK show in eight years, and on 1 July Joe Perry will play the Concert For Diana. Three years Tyler’s junior, Perry acknowledges that the pair are the worst possible advert for the dangers of drug abuse. “People look at us and think, ‘OK, they got away with it – why shouldn’t I?’” he says, square jaw tilting upwards. “The truth is it’s all in the genes. My Italian grandfather on my mother’s side had a full head of hair in his old age, and my paternal grandfather was this wiry Portuguese sailor.”
Formed in Sunapee, New Hampshire in 1970, Aerosmith initially struggled to shake off the tag of Stones copyists. By 1975’s Toys In The Attic, though, they had carved a niche and were sounding – and looking – like the band for which stadium concerts had been invented.
Marrying gutsy, high-octane guitar riffs with Tyler’s liking for a double en-tendre, the group quickly became a loveable tour de force that greatly influenced Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and scores of other hard rock acts. But Tyler and Perry didn’t earn their “Toxic Twins” epithet for nothing. Circa 1982’s aptly titled career nadir Rock In A Hard Place, their cocaine- and heroin-fuelled spats almost sunk Aerosmith.
“Of course I did way too many drugs”, says Tyler. “I spent a lost week in a hotel room with Roger Taylor from Queen, and he wasn’t the only guy. The highs were incredible but the lows made you feel like someone was sucking the blood from your jugular with a straw. I sunk to my knees and lost everything, but I’m part Italian and my good old-fashioned guilt came up and I had to check in to rehab. The only way out is through.”
Remarkably, while cocaine abuse tends to corrode a voice – witness the depleted upper ranges of Elton John or Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks – Tyler seems to have got off scot-free. The showboating notes in seminal 70s ballad “Dream On” remain well within his grasp despite his snorting of much of Columbia, not to mention some major throat surgery just last year.
“This note I can hit all day”, he says, unleashing a startling falsetto scream. “But this” and he delivers a coffee-table-rattling “Oh yeah!” from his diaphragm, “requires more work. When I was doing heroin it gave me a gravelly voice and I just couldn’t hit the notes, but I’m clean now of course. I take great pride in not chickening out of the big notes.”
Aerosmith rose again when mercurial producer Rick Rubin suggested they rework a key track from Toys In The Attic with the hip-hop act Run DMC. The resulting single “Walk This Way” became a huge crossover hit in 1986, paving the way for Aerosmith’s drug-free comeback album Permanent Vacation.
A string of Enormodome-filling albums followed, including 1989’s Pump, 1993’s Get A Grip and 2001’s Just Push Play. But 2004’s grittier collection of blues covers, Honkin’ On Bobo, seemed to acknowledge some overegged puddings.
With James Brown gone, Tyler says he feels the passing of the old guard more strongly than ever. He had the chance to sing with another funk legend, Sly Stone, at the 2006 Grammy Awards, but as an audience of millions witnessed, Stone wasn’t quite all there.
“I don’t know what happened to him”, Tyler says, alluding to Stone’s own drug abuse. “He must have zigged when he should have zagged. When I met him backstage he was standing before me in a motorcycle helmet, and right before we went on, his manager said to me, ‘Steven, you’ve got to sing Sly’s part.’ I was like, ‘Come on man – that’s sacred ground. In the end I had to do it, though.”
Tyler and Perry seem like the rock equivalent of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, retaining their looks and vitality while their peers slowly crumble like waterlogged impasto. But what of the inevitable waning of the male libido – does Tyler see it as a blessing or a curse?
“Youth is beautiful, man”, he says, slipping off a shoe to reveal black varnished nails. “There’s nothing good about your libido waning, even if it does free you up to do other stuff. And any man who tells you different is a liar. Life is not about hobbies and putting a ship in a bottle. I mean, talk about displacing one thing with another!”
Aerosmith play London’s Hyde Park 24 June and Dublin’s Marlay Park 26 June.
June 20, 2007
“When I look at Joe Perry on stage”, says Steven Tyler of his band’s lead guitarist, “I see someone who looks as sculpted as one of his horses. I try to be the same because I’m an egomaniac. I see artists that have got frumpy or fat and they look a mere shadow of the Adonis they once were. Everybody’s got a hero they’ve watched go to seed, right?”
Were Aerosmith’s 59-year-old singer not so well preserved himself, his words might be harder to swallow. What might read to some like mild body fascism is, for Tyler, a simple expression of the rules of rock star engagement. To stay on top you have to walk it like you talk it, he says. Today, in his Knightsbridge hotel suite, Tyler is talking it, in leopard print shoes and a black leather jacket open to reveal his skinny bare torso. When asked about Aerosmith hits such as “Love in an Elevator”, he has a pleasing tendency to sing parts of his response. Inquire whether his background as a drummer helps explains why his vocals are so rhythmic, and he scats the chorus of “Rag Doll” while keeping time on an imaginary hi-hat.
Aerosmith are in town to headline Hyde Park Calling, their first full-length UK show in eight years, and on 1 July Joe Perry will play the Concert For Diana. Three years Tyler’s junior, Perry acknowledges that the pair are the worst possible advert for the dangers of drug abuse. “People look at us and think, ‘OK, they got away with it – why shouldn’t I?’” he says, square jaw tilting upwards. “The truth is it’s all in the genes. My Italian grandfather on my mother’s side had a full head of hair in his old age, and my paternal grandfather was this wiry Portuguese sailor.”
Formed in Sunapee, New Hampshire in 1970, Aerosmith initially struggled to shake off the tag of Stones copyists. By 1975’s Toys In The Attic, though, they had carved a niche and were sounding – and looking – like the band for which stadium concerts had been invented.
Marrying gutsy, high-octane guitar riffs with Tyler’s liking for a double en-tendre, the group quickly became a loveable tour de force that greatly influenced Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and scores of other hard rock acts. But Tyler and Perry didn’t earn their “Toxic Twins” epithet for nothing. Circa 1982’s aptly titled career nadir Rock In A Hard Place, their cocaine- and heroin-fuelled spats almost sunk Aerosmith.
“Of course I did way too many drugs”, says Tyler. “I spent a lost week in a hotel room with Roger Taylor from Queen, and he wasn’t the only guy. The highs were incredible but the lows made you feel like someone was sucking the blood from your jugular with a straw. I sunk to my knees and lost everything, but I’m part Italian and my good old-fashioned guilt came up and I had to check in to rehab. The only way out is through.”
Remarkably, while cocaine abuse tends to corrode a voice – witness the depleted upper ranges of Elton John or Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks – Tyler seems to have got off scot-free. The showboating notes in seminal 70s ballad “Dream On” remain well within his grasp despite his snorting of much of Columbia, not to mention some major throat surgery just last year.
“This note I can hit all day”, he says, unleashing a startling falsetto scream. “But this” and he delivers a coffee-table-rattling “Oh yeah!” from his diaphragm, “requires more work. When I was doing heroin it gave me a gravelly voice and I just couldn’t hit the notes, but I’m clean now of course. I take great pride in not chickening out of the big notes.”
Aerosmith rose again when mercurial producer Rick Rubin suggested they rework a key track from Toys In The Attic with the hip-hop act Run DMC. The resulting single “Walk This Way” became a huge crossover hit in 1986, paving the way for Aerosmith’s drug-free comeback album Permanent Vacation.
A string of Enormodome-filling albums followed, including 1989’s Pump, 1993’s Get A Grip and 2001’s Just Push Play. But 2004’s grittier collection of blues covers, Honkin’ On Bobo, seemed to acknowledge some overegged puddings.
With James Brown gone, Tyler says he feels the passing of the old guard more strongly than ever. He had the chance to sing with another funk legend, Sly Stone, at the 2006 Grammy Awards, but as an audience of millions witnessed, Stone wasn’t quite all there.
“I don’t know what happened to him”, Tyler says, alluding to Stone’s own drug abuse. “He must have zigged when he should have zagged. When I met him backstage he was standing before me in a motorcycle helmet, and right before we went on, his manager said to me, ‘Steven, you’ve got to sing Sly’s part.’ I was like, ‘Come on man – that’s sacred ground. In the end I had to do it, though.”
Tyler and Perry seem like the rock equivalent of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, retaining their looks and vitality while their peers slowly crumble like waterlogged impasto. But what of the inevitable waning of the male libido – does Tyler see it as a blessing or a curse?
“Youth is beautiful, man”, he says, slipping off a shoe to reveal black varnished nails. “There’s nothing good about your libido waning, even if it does free you up to do other stuff. And any man who tells you different is a liar. Life is not about hobbies and putting a ship in a bottle. I mean, talk about displacing one thing with another!”
Aerosmith play London’s Hyde Park 24 June and Dublin’s Marlay Park 26 June.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Palais Omnisport de Bercy
Aero Force One
June 20, 2007
Aerosmith - Paris, France
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/19/07)
More photos: (here).
June 20, 2007
Aerosmith - Paris, France
(All photos by Amanda Ayre - AF1
- 06/19/07)
More photos: (here).
Bercy, Paris, France
Aero Force One
June 19, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Palais Omnisports de Paris - June 19, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
Janie's Got A Gun
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
S.O.S. (Too Bad)
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Mama Kin
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
June 19, 2007
Set List: Aerosmith - Palais Omnisports de Paris - June 19, 2007
Love In An Elevator
Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
Cryin'
Eat The Rich
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Jaded
Rag Doll
Janie's Got A Gun
Baby Please Don't Go
Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
Dream On
S.O.S. (Too Bad)
Livin' On The Edge
Stop Messin' Around
Sweet Emotion
Draw The Line
~~~~~Encore~~~~~
Walk This Way
Mama Kin
Thanks to: Aero Force One.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Dude hits like a lady
TMZ.com
June 19, 2007
Aerosmith lead swinger Steven Tyler went after a paparazzo yesterday in Paris, but the snapper isn't exactly quaking in his chaussures, if you know what we mean.
Tyler was strolling the boulevards with a lady friend while en vacances, those shaggy locks tucked under a leopard-print number out of the Diane Keaton collection circa "Manhattan Murder Mystery."
Then, the attack -- Tyler went all granny on this photog's derriere, though witnesses say it was all just one big rise.
June 19, 2007
Aerosmith lead swinger Steven Tyler went after a paparazzo yesterday in Paris, but the snapper isn't exactly quaking in his chaussures, if you know what we mean.
Tyler was strolling the boulevards with a lady friend while en vacances, those shaggy locks tucked under a leopard-print number out of the Diane Keaton collection circa "Manhattan Murder Mystery."
Then, the attack -- Tyler went all granny on this photog's derriere, though witnesses say it was all just one big rise.
Steven in Paris - Pictures
AF1 Forums
June 19, 2007
Paris, France 6/18/07
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler during a visit in Paris.
See more... (here)
Thanks to: Tylergasm
June 19, 2007
Paris, France 6/18/07
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler during a visit in Paris.
See more... (here)
Thanks to: Tylergasm
Wish Joey a Happy Birthday
Aero Force One
June 18, 2007
Hey AF1, this Thursday, June 21, Joey Kramer will celebrate his birthday and we’re gonna give you the chance to tell Joey just how much you love him and the way he plays. Email your birthday greeting (with your full name) to contests@aeroforceone.com by Thursday night and we’ll post the best ones on the site for all to read on Friday. We’ll also randomly select three winners from the submissions for an autographed picture of Joey and his drums.
Wish Joey a Happy Birthday today!
View the rules.
June 18, 2007
Hey AF1, this Thursday, June 21, Joey Kramer will celebrate his birthday and we’re gonna give you the chance to tell Joey just how much you love him and the way he plays. Email your birthday greeting (with your full name) to contests@aeroforceone.com by Thursday night and we’ll post the best ones on the site for all to read on Friday. We’ll also randomly select three winners from the submissions for an autographed picture of Joey and his drums.
Wish Joey a Happy Birthday today!
View the rules.
Aerosmith On German TV - Walk Of Stars
Aero Force One
June 18, 2007
Aerosmith were inducted into the Munich 'Walk Of Stars' in Germany on June 14, 2007, before their show at the Olympiahalle in Munich. Some lucky fanclub members who happened to be in the venue got the chance to witness the event, and the German channel ZDF showed it on their Leute Heute show as a news item the next day.
The band put their hand prints in a cement slab. This slab will be placed around the Olympic Lake walkway in the Olympic Park in Munich alongside the prints of The Dalai lama, Metallica, Bon Jovi, and many more.
More information on the Walk Of Stars can be found at: http://www.olympiapark-muenchen.de/index.php?.
Watch video clip: (here).
June 18, 2007
Aerosmith were inducted into the Munich 'Walk Of Stars' in Germany on June 14, 2007, before their show at the Olympiahalle in Munich. Some lucky fanclub members who happened to be in the venue got the chance to witness the event, and the German channel ZDF showed it on their Leute Heute show as a news item the next day.
The band put their hand prints in a cement slab. This slab will be placed around the Olympic Lake walkway in the Olympic Park in Munich alongside the prints of The Dalai lama, Metallica, Bon Jovi, and many more.
More information on the Walk Of Stars can be found at: http://www.olympiapark-muenchen.de/index.php?.
Watch video clip: (here).
Monday, June 18, 2007
Review: Instant Karma
BostonNOW, MA
June 17, 2007
Lennon's music reworked for Darfur
'good music for a good cause'
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a typical 'good music for a good cause' benefit package where a bunch of musicians donate a song to support something they believe in.
While no one will argue that the work being done by Amnesty International to save people in Darfur is important, the quality of the music on this specially priced two-disc CD package is much more open to debate. A lot of your opinion about the music will, of course, depend on how much you like the music of John Lennon's solo career to begin with, as well as how precious you are about that same music. For example, you may love the song Imagine, but you might absolutely hate the idea of having Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne sing it.
Some of the 23 songs on this set are fantastic. Give Peace a Chance, featuring Aerosmith and the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a funky re-working of the song that will blow you away. Likewise, it's cool to hear Christina Aguilera use her impressive set of pipes to take a lesser-known Lennon song like Mother and make it her own. And, credit where credit is due, Lavigne's Imagine is quite good, too.
On the other hand, U2's version of Instant Karma is dull, as is R.E.M. cover of #9 Dream. And why Jackson Browne was invited to be part of the disc to sing Oh, My Love, is a complete mystery.
June 17, 2007
Lennon's music reworked for Darfur
'good music for a good cause'
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a typical 'good music for a good cause' benefit package where a bunch of musicians donate a song to support something they believe in.
While no one will argue that the work being done by Amnesty International to save people in Darfur is important, the quality of the music on this specially priced two-disc CD package is much more open to debate. A lot of your opinion about the music will, of course, depend on how much you like the music of John Lennon's solo career to begin with, as well as how precious you are about that same music. For example, you may love the song Imagine, but you might absolutely hate the idea of having Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne sing it.
Some of the 23 songs on this set are fantastic. Give Peace a Chance, featuring Aerosmith and the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a funky re-working of the song that will blow you away. Likewise, it's cool to hear Christina Aguilera use her impressive set of pipes to take a lesser-known Lennon song like Mother and make it her own. And, credit where credit is due, Lavigne's Imagine is quite good, too.
On the other hand, U2's version of Instant Karma is dull, as is R.E.M. cover of #9 Dream. And why Jackson Browne was invited to be part of the disc to sing Oh, My Love, is a complete mystery.