Joe Perry

Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Their musical style is primarily rooted in blues-based hard rock and also incorporates elements of pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and rhythm and blues. The band’s primary songwriting partnership between Tyler and Perry is often referred to as the Toxic Twins.

Perry and Hamilton were originally part of a band called the Jam Band, through which they met Tyler, Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano. Aerosmith was formed soon after, and in 1971, Tabano was replaced by Whitford. The group released its debut album, “Aerosmith,” in 1973, followed by “Get Your Wings” in 1974. They gained mainstream success with “Toys in the Attic” (1975) and “Rocks” (1976), while “Draw the Line” (1977) and “Night in the Ruts” (1979) continued their success through the late 1970s. During this period, the band toured extensively and produced several charting singles, including “Sweet Emotion,” “Dream On,” and “Walk This Way.” By the end of the decade, Aerosmith had become one of the most prominent hard rock bands internationally. However, internal conflicts and substance abuse led to Perry’s and Whitford’s departures in 1979 and 1981, respectively, and the 1982 album “Rock in a Hard Place” did not achieve previous commercial success.

Perry and Whitford rejoined the band in 1984, and Aerosmith embarked on a comeback tour followed by the release of “Done with Mirrors” (1985). The group regained widespread popularity after collaborating with Run–D.M.C. on a 1986 remake of “Walk This Way” and releasing the multi-platinum album “Permanent Vacation” (1987). Subsequent albums, including “Pump” (1989), “Get a Grip” (1993), and “Nine Lives” (1997), were commercially successful and produced several hit singles such as “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Angel,” “Rag Doll,” “Love in an Elevator,” “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “What It Takes,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Cryin’,” and “Crazy.” The band became known for its high-profile music videos and appearances in film, television, and video games.

In 1998, Aerosmith achieved its first number-one hit with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” featured on the soundtrack of the film “Armageddon.” In 1999, the “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith” attraction opened at Walt Disney World. Later albums included “Just Push Play” (2001), which featured the single “Jaded,” the blues cover album “Honkin’ on Bobo” (2004), and “Music from Another Dimension!” (2012). In 2008, the band released the video game “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith,” noted as one of the best-selling band-themed video games. From 2019 to 2022, Aerosmith performed a Las Vegas residency that was temporarily paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following Tyler’s vocal injury during the third show of their farewell tour in 2023, the band retired from touring in 2024, though occasional one-off performances have continued, and new recordings have not been ruled out.

Aerosmith is one of the best-selling American rock bands, with estimated sales exceeding 150 million records worldwide, including more than 69 million in the United States. The group holds numerous certifications, including 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum albums, making them the American band with the most total certifications. Aerosmith has achieved 21 Top 40 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, nine number-one songs on the Mainstream Rock chart, and has received four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Tyler and Perry were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, and Aerosmith received the MusiCares Person of the Year award in 2020.

Full Wikipedia article: Aerosmith

Studio albums

Aerosmith (1973)

Get Your Wings (1974)

Toys in the Attic (1975)

Rocks (1976)

Draw the Line (1977)

Night in the Ruts (1979)

Rock in a Hard Place (1982)

Done with Mirrors (1985)

Permanent Vacation (1987)

Pump (1989)

Get a Grip (1993)

Nine Lives (1997)

Just Push Play (2001)

Honkin' on Bobo (2004)

Music from Another Dimension! (2012)