Aerosmith

Areosmith consists of 5 members: lead singer Steven Tyler, lead guitarist Joe Perry, rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton, and drummer Joey Kramer.
	The story of Aerosmith's rise to glory in the 1970's, its fall from grace, and it's eventual return to the mountain top is as famous as classic songs like " Dream On," or "Sweet Emotion." The band formed in 1970, and it's debut was at a homecoming concert at Nimpoc Regional High School in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
About 5 years later, Aerosmith was prepared to go into the recording studio with Columbia Records to produce it's phenomenal 3rd album, Toys in the Attic. The album brought the band to national attention and musical fame. But, on the downside, it also served to highlight the beginning of 2 dangerous and destructive cycles-1st, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry's drug abuse, and 2nd, the fierce, bitter arguments that start to break-down the pair's once ironclad friendship. These cycles eventually led to the disintegration of the original group in 1979.
	The lifespan of Aerosmith is amazing. Not only because of it's length, but because it also helps illustrate the evolution of rock and roll, heavy metal, and pop music in America. The 1960's-when Joe and Steven were both entering their mid-teens-the era of the Beatles and the British Invasion. Joe said it was the Beatles who first motivated him to play the electric guitar. Tom Hamilton was also a devoted "Beatle maniac." His high school band, wanting to stay with the bug theme, was named the Mosquitoes.
There was another intangible-and potentially dangerous-element that accompanied rock and roll: the lifestyle. The idea of rebellion is central to rock and roll music-if your parents don't like it, it's good. Rock and roll music embodied a cry against the norm and often showed a non-conformist, in-your-face attitude.
	Steven loved it when visiting English bands toured the Northeast U.S. He would stand outside a group's hotel just to get a glimpse of them. For Steven and his band mates, there was nothing more cool than being a rock star; to look like a rocker, and do what he did. The role that drugs and alcohol often played in the rock and roll culture would haunt the members of Aerosmith for many years to come.
In the Spring of 1984, the original members of Aerosmith reunited after being separated for almost 5 years. With a new dedication to each other, to sobriety, and to the importance of their music, Aerosmith launched themselves anew. In 1986 the group contributed to Run-DMC's dynamic rap reworking of "Walk This Way." The single reached the No. 4 spot on the chart, and the accompanying music video helped catapult Aerosmith back into national prominence.
	But the band didn't stop there. In 1996 the Boston Music Awards named Aerosmith the band of the decade. And nothing in the group's wildest dreams could have prepared it for the bonanza of 1998. Aerosmith contributed numerous songs (including "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing") to the movie soundtrack Armageddon. When everything settled, Armageddon finished in Hollywood's top-grossing film of 1998 (earning $202 million). "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" became Aerosmith's 1st ever #1 hit, and the song's music video won MTV's Video Music Award. Aerosmith was given VIP status at Cape Canaveral, where they watched the Discovery launch put U.S. Senator John Glenn back into space.
Maybe it's the idea of space itself that best describes the band. If John Glenn can revisit zero-gravity after 35 years, then why can't a drug-free, dedicated Aerosmith continue it's rollicking, high-octane rock and roll adventure well into the 21st century? Steven Tyler concurs. "I think it's interesting," he says, "we're finally coming full circle."

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