intro

"We're not worthy", proclaimed Wayne and Garth, and they're most likely correct. This supergroup have produced a back catalogue of albums that any other major rock act would be proud of. Aerosmith have got to be one of the hardest working bands in music history, working their way up through clubs and cover songs in the late sixties, to become perhaps the world's greatest Hard Rock band. They work hard and they play hard, and instead of slowing the pace, they only get bigger and better.

Biography

1964 - Steven Tyler, (drummer!), forms "The Strangeurs", later renamed "Chain Reaction", in Sunapee NH. Co-writing songs with keyboard player, Don Solomon, Steven and the band covered all the contemporary favourites; The Beatles, The Stones, Animals, Yardbirds.

1966 - "Chain Reaction" enters the studio to record two singles, "The Sun/When I needed you", and "You should have been here yesterday/ Ever lovin' man". Meanwhile Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton form the combo "Pipe dream", also in Sunapee NH.

1967 - "Chain Reaction" supports "The Yardbirds", for 4 shows at New York's Anderson theatre. This was recorded and subsequently released as the controversial "Live Yardbirds".

1969 - With the band still supporting high profile gigs such as "The Byrds", "Beach Boys", "The Yardbirds", Tyler and co. finally meet up with Perry and Hamiliton in Sunapee. The rest, as they say, is history.

1970 - Aerosmith play their first public performance at Nipmuc Regional high school, (Mendon MA). The band shared an apartment in Boston, and between gigs, played outside the Boston University student union building. "That's basically how we got billed. We never got much publicity in the magazines and newspapers", (Steven Tyler interview - Circus Magazine 6/75).

1971 - Guitarist Ray Tabano quits the band, (to return years later as a member of the Aerosmith crew and director of marketing, and fan club organiser). Tabano is replaced by Brad Whitford. Still unassigned, Aerosmith played gigs and earned little as they awaited their lucky break.

1972 - Steven Tallarico changes his name to Steven Tyler, and in the summer, following a gig at Max's Kansas city NY, Aerosmith are finally noticed and gain a $125,000 deal with Columbia records. Later this year, the band goes on to record their debut album titled, simply, "Aerosmith" at intermedia sound studios.

1973 - "Aerosmith" is released on Columbia Records. The band tour extensively, supporting bands like "Mott the Hoople", "The Kinks", "Hawkwind", and "John Mcloughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra". The album is well received in Boston, and gains an outstanding review from "Creem" magazine, however, the album does not break mainstream. "Dream On/ Somebody" is released as a single, and gets voted as top single on Boston radio.

1974 - Aerosmith record, "Get your wings", at the Record Plant NY. They release the first single "Same old song and Dance", "Pandora's box". Circus Magazine reviews the album, and runs an article on the band. Now big news in Boston and New York, Aerosmith are getting noticed and well on their way to success. September this year, the band release "Train kept a rollin"/ "Spaced", spawned from their early days as "Chain Reaction". (Train kept a rollin', was also a "Yardbirds" favourite number).

1975 - "Get your Wings", goes Gold! February sees the release of single "S.O.S" /"Spaced", and in April the band are back in the studio recording, "Toys in the Attic", again recorded at the Record Plant NY. With singles release throughout this year; "Sweet Emotion"/"Uncle Salty", "Walk this way"/"Round and Round", "You see me cryin"/"Toys in the Attic". Aerosmith play before a crowd of 80,000 at the Detroit "Lions" Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan. They now become a headlining act, together with the likes of "ZZ Top", and "Kiss".

1976 - Aerosmith record their fourth album, "Rocks", reputed as their finest, the album is released in May and goes platinum. Aerosmith get voted #1 band, and "Rocks" voted #1 album in "Creem" magazine. The "Rolling Stone" magazine features Aerosmith, and a front cover of Tyler. Singles released this year: "Last Child"/ "Combination". "Home tonight"/ "Pandora's box". "Walk this way"/ "Uncle Salty" (re-released). "Dream On"/ "Sweet emotion", (re-released, "Dream On" reached #3 in the billboard chart).

1977 - The band tour Japan. Single, "Back in the saddle"/ "Nobody's fault", is released. Aerosmith set up HQ in a 300 room, 60 acre convent known as the Cenacle, to record their fifth album "Draw the Line". Summer this year sees the start of the second European tour. October, "Draw the line" is released, and by December the album goes platinum, selling faster than any previous Aerosmith album. The tour lasts throughout 1978-79.

1978 - Summer, and Aerosmith play "California Jam 2", U.S biggest open air festival, together with the likes of Ted Nugent. They are featured on the double album release of the concert. Aerosmith break the news headlines by paying $3,650 to bail 52 fans at Fort Wayne, Indiana, for allegedly violating a No-smoking enforcement at the gig.

Aerosmith wrap up the tour playing at "Paradise", Boston MA, under the alias "Dr.J.Jones & the interns", which subsequently found their way onto "Live!" Bootleg, released later this year on Columbia. The band also found time to make their Hollywood debut in Robert Stigwood's movie, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's club band".

1979 - Aerosmith take some time out, and begin work on their seventh album, "Night in the Ruts". After a disagreement, Joe Perry quits, to go solo with "The Joe Perry Project". Jimmy Crespo replaces Perry.

1980 - Aerosmith release Greatest hits on Columbia records. Brad Whitford now leaves the band.

1981 - Rick Dufay replaces Brad Whitford on guitar. Steven Tyler has a motorcycle accident.

1982 - August, and "Rock in a Hard place" is released on Columbia. With Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay on guitars, the band set out to tour until early 1984.

1984 - February, at the Orpheum theatre, Boston. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford decide to take a backstage visit. By April, the original Aerosmith line-up are reunited. The band sign to Geffen Records.

1985 - New Year's eve, and Aerosmith finish their 70 date "Back in the Saddle" tour with a gig back at the Orpheum theatre, Boston. By July, they are in the studio again to record "Done with mirrors", with producer Ted Templeman, (Van Halen). Aerosmith team up with Run-DMC and release the mega hit "Walk this way", which launches the band back into the spotlight.

1987- With new found popularity, Aerosmith release their ninth studio recording, "Permanent Vacation", which goes triple platinum !

1988 - Aerosmith win MTV Best group video for "Dude looks like a Lady".

1989 - The album "Pump" is released, reaches #5 in the charts and also goes multi-platinum.

1990 - Aerosmith sign with Sony Music, (Columbia records). They receive a Grammy for "Janie's got a gun". "Pandora's Box", 3 CD set is released. They also guest on "the Simpsons". September sees them win MTV Best Metal/Hard Rock video for "The other side".

1992 - The band win more acclaim at the Boston music awards, "Outstanding Rock band", and "Best Rock video".

1993 - the excellent "Get a Grip" album is released and heads straight to the number one spot, selling more than 5 million copies. September they play at Madison Square Garden NY. Sony/Columbia reissue all twelve Aerosmith releases in a box set titled, "Box of Fire".

1994 - August, and Aerosmith headline Woodstock, along with "Metallica", "Blind Mellon", and "Nine-inch Nails". The "Get a Grip", tour continues worldwide. More MTV awards for the single, "Cryin", including "Best video", "All time favourite video". They are honoured at the "American music awards".

1995 - The band win their 3rd Grammy for, "Best performance by a Duo or group with vocal". for "Crazy".

1997 - The album "Nine Lives", is released and hits the Billboard number one in it's first week! Four weeks later and the album goes Gold in six countries, and eventually double-Platinum. They win MTV "Best Rock video" for, "Fallin in Love is hard on the Knees".

1998 - They are again Grammy winners, "Best Rock Album", (Nine Lives), and again, "Best performance by a Duo or group with vocal", (Falling in Love is hard..). Boston music awards, and they also win "Best Rock Album", Steven Tyler wins, "Best Vocalist". Aerosmith sell out the Japan, Dome tour in March. "Nine Lives", goes double-Platinum in the US.

April, and the band record the lead track for the film "Armageddon", "I don't wanna miss a thing", (the film co-starring Steven's daughter, Liv Tyler). The single is a hit worldwide. "Armageddon" is release with four tracks by Aerosmith; "I don't wanna miss a thing", "What kind of Love are you on", "Sweet Emotion", and "Come together". The album goes Platinum. Minor accidents by Tyler and Kramer mean the extensive tour suffers cancellations and is eventually postponed until September.

Aerosmith win two MTV awards, "Best Rock video", for "Pink", and "Best video from a film", for.. you guessed it , "I don't wanna miss a thing".

1999 -

2001 - January, and Aerosmith debut their new single, "Jaded". They perform at Superbowl 35 - Half time show, with their new single, as well as "I don't wanna miss a thing", and "Walk this way". March sees the release of "Just Push Play", with single releases, "Jaded", "Fly away", and "Sunshine".

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