Aerosmith Trivia

 In a decade with the worst beginning ever, there are many golden rock anniversaries. Albums released, 70th/75th birthdays, and above all that, one of America's prominent bands celebrates five decades of existence this year. For your reading pleasure, here is some interesting Aerosmith trivia.



They're not from Boston

Sure, they earned the title "Bad Boys from Boston," but don't get the wrong idea folks. None of Aerosmith's members are from Beantown. Tom Hamilton is from Colorado Springs, Colo., Steven "Tallarico" Tyler, Ray Talabano, Rick Dufay, and Jimmy Crespo are from New York City, as is Kramedog. The only two members from Mass (but outside The Hub) are Joe Perry and Brad Withford - from Lawrence and Winchester Mass respectively.

Steven Tyler wrote Dream On before ever forming Aerosmith - at 17!

Tyler came up with Aerosmith's first song, Dream On, at his rural New Hampshire summer home. The leaves began turning golden, and it was getting dark much earlier, which inspired Tyler to take to the bench and write the song. 

Their name is (partially) an ode to Harry Nilsson

Drummer Joey Kramer had an obession with Harry Nilsson's 1968 LP Aerial Ballet, and used to write the word "Aerosmith" all over his notebooks. Though the band initially disapproved, as it reminded them of the novel by Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, that they had to read in high school, Kramedog however spelled out the proper name for the band, and they iinstantly changed their minds. Alternatives considered at the time were The Hookers and Spike Jones.

They're a merger of two bands

Steven Tyler, by 1966, was fronting The Chain Reaction whose main rivals at the time were The Jam Band, formed by Perry and Hamilton. One summer evening, in Sunnapee, NH, Tyler came to see The Jam Band and got familliar with Perry telling him they should play there. 

Eventually the two bands shared one bill, and Tyler decided he liked Jam Band's sound, but only agreed to join in if he could be the frontman. Without another one before him, Perry and Hamilton agreed. It was then that Tyler's childhood friend, Ray Talabano joined and they rented an apartment at 1325 Commenwealth in Boston where they could live and rehearse.

They have made a number of covers

Aerosmith, as much as they have recorded originals, have covered several songs - most noteable, the Yardbirds' Train Kept a Rollin' on their 1974 LP Get your Wings, The Fab Four's Come Together, which contributed in 1978 to the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie soundtrack, and in 1979 The Shangri-La's Remember (Walkin' in the Sand). Ultimately their one and only hit from 1979's Night in The Ruts.

They performed No Surprize seven years before they recorded it

By the third quarter of 1971, Aerosmith was seeing the fruits of their labor by packing Boston area clubs. Two of the notorious attendees were New York managers Steve Leber and Dave Krebs, who arranged for Aerosmith to play at Max's Kansas City, and invited then Columbia Records president, Clive Davis, to see them.

Davis was inpressed and signed them on within days. The aforementioned track, from 1979's Night in The Ruts, sums up Aerosmith's first years.

Even today, Aerosmith appeals to younger generations

Very few rock artists have made their mark  on the planet by making music for younger generations, but as far as Aerosmith, that is really the case. In 1985, Run DMC decided to record Aerosmith's Walk this Way, and Tyler and Perry joined them. This led to a renowned interest in Aerosmith's music, and the massive success of 1987's Permanent Vacation and 1989's Pump. 

Aerosmith are one of the few acts making music today. They have continued to make music in the 90s, well into the 2000s, and fifty years into their career, have issued fifteen studio albums with a possible sixteenth in the works.

They've preserved a near-constant lineup

After Withford replaced Talbano in 1971, Aerosmith maintained the same lineup, except for a time between 1978 and 1984, when Perry was replaced with Jimmy Crespo, and Withford left in 1981 to be replaced with Rick Dufay for 1982's Rock in a Hard Place. The original five crossed paths in 1984 at a Joe Perry Project gig (with Perry on lead vocals), and then decided to record together resulting in the turning album, 1985's Done with Mirrors. Perhaps the only other sustainable band like this has been Bon Jovi.

U2 Were Originally to Record I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

The Diane Warren-penned ballad topped the US charts and once again proved to be an Aerosmith rebound. However, it was one of the more popular bands of the day, U2, who were going to record music for the Armageddon movie. Ultimately, Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv, was cast to be the main star, so the fate changed completely.

In addition, Aerosmith contributed Sweet Emotion and Come Together for the movie.

 


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