In 1970, the first incarnation of Aerosmith formed when vocalist Steven Tyler met guitarist Joe Perry while working at a Sunapee, NH, ice cream parlor. Tyler, who originally was a drummer, and Perry decided to form a power trio with bassist Tom Hamilton. The group soon expanded to quartet, adding a second guitarist called Ray Tabano; he was quickly replaced by Brad Whitford, a former member of Earth Inc. With the addition of drummer Joey Kramer, Tyler became the full-time lead singer by the end of year. Aerosmith relocated to Boston at the end of 1970.
After playing clubs in the Massachusetts and New York areas for two years, the group landed a record contract with Columbia Records in 1972. Aerosmith's self-titled debut album was released in the fall of 1973, climbing to number 166. "Dream On" was released as the first single and it was a minor hit, reaching number 59. For the next year, the band built a fan base by touring America, supporting groups as diverse as the Kinks, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sha Na Na, and Mott the Hoople. The performance of Get Your Wings (1974), the group's second album and first produced by Jack Douglas, benefitted from their constant touring, spending a total of 86 weeks on the chart.
Aerosmith's third record, 1975's Toys in the Attic, both commercially and artistically. By the time the album was recorded, the band's sound had developed into a sleek, hard-driving hard rock powered by simple, almost brutal, blues-based riffs. Many critics at the time labelled the group as punk rockers, and it's easy to see why -- instead of adhering to the world-music pretentions of Led Zeppelin or the prolonged gloomy mysticism of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith stripped heavy metal to its basic core, spitting out spare riffs that not only rocked, but rolled. Steven Tyler's lyrics were filled with double entendres and clever joke and the entire band had a street-wise charisma that separated them from the heavy, lumbering arena rockers of the era. Toys in the Attic captured the essence of the newly invigorated Aerosmith.
"Sweet Emotion," the slyly funky first single from Toys in the Attic, broke into the Top 40 in the summer of 1975, with the album reaching number 11 shortly afterward. Its success prompted the re-release of the power ballad "Dream On," which shot into the Top Ten in early 1976. Both Aerosmith and Get Your Wings climbed back up the charts in the wake of Toys in the Attic, peaking at number 21 and 74 respectively. "Walk This Way," the final single from Toys in the Attic, was released around the time of the group's new 1976 album, Rocks. Although it didn't feature a Top Ten hit like "Walk This Way," Rocks went platinum quickly, peaking at number three.
In early 1977, Aerosmith took a break and prepared material for their fifth album. Released late in 1977, Draw the Line was another hit, climbing to number 11 on the U.S. charts, but it showed signs of exhaustion. In addition to another tour in 1978, the band appeared in the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performing "Come Together," which eventually became a number 23 hit. Live! Bootleg appeared late in 1978 and became another success, reaching number 13. Aerosmith recorded Night in the Ruts in 1979, releasing the record at the end of the year. By the time of its release, Joe Perry had left the band to form the Joe Perry Project with vocalist Ralph Morman, basssist David Hull, and drummer Ronnie Stewart. Night in the Ruts performed respectably, climbing to number 14 and going gold, yet it was the least successful Aerosmith record to date. Brad Whitford left the group in early 1980, forming the Whitsford-St. Holmes Band with former Ted Nugent guitarist Derek St. Holmes.
As Aerosmith regrouped with new guitarists Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, the band released Aerosmith's Greatest Hits in late 1980; the record would eventually sell over six million copies. The new lineup of Aerosmith released Rock in a Hard Place in 1982. Peaking at number 32, failed to match the performance of Night in the Ruts and the record showed that the band was out of ideas. Perry and Whitford returned to the band in 1984 and the group began a reunion tour dubbed "Back in the Saddle." Early in the tour, Tyler collapsed on stage, offering proof that the band hadn't conquered their notorious drug and alcohol addictions. The following year, Aerosmith released Done with Mirrors, the original lineup's first record since 1979 and their first for Geffen Records. Although it didn't perform as well as Rock in a Hard Place, the album showed that the band was revitalized.
After the release of Done with Mirrors, Tyler and Perry completed a rehabilitation program. In 1986, the pair appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of "Walk This Way," along with appearing in the video. "Walk This Way" became a hit, reaching number four and receiving saturation airplay in MTV. "Walk This Way" set the stage for the band's full-scale comeback effort, the Bruce Fairburn-produced Permanent Vacation (1987). Tyler and Perry collaborated with professional hard rock songwriters like Holly Knight and Desmond Child, resulting in the hits "Dude (Looks like a Lady)," "Rag Doll" and "Angel." Permanent Vacation peaked at number 11 and sold over three million copies.
Pump, released in 1989, continued the band's winning streak, reaching number five, selling over four million copies, and spawning the Top Ten singles "Love in an Elevator," "Janie's Got a Gun," and "What It Takes." Aerosmith released Get a Grip in 1993. Like Permanent Vacation and Pump, Get a Grip was produced by Bruce Fairburn and featured significant contributions by professional songwriters. The album was as successful as the band's previous two records, featuring the hit singles "Livin' on the Edge," "Cryin'," and "Amazing." In 1994, Aerosmith released Big Ones, a compilation of hits from their Geffen years; it went double platinum shortly after its release.
1973
Aerosmith first hit the road in '73 in support of their first album. Touring
constantly, they build a large and loyal following around clubs and colleges.
That fall they record Get Your Wings with Jack Douglas.
ALBUM: GET YOUR WINGS - CERTIFICATION: DOUBLE PLATINUM
1975
Aerosmith releases Toys in the Attic, their biggest selling album to
date, and becomes the top concert attraction.
ALBUM: TOYS IN THE ATTIC - CERTIFICATION: SEXTUPLE PLATINUM
SINGLES: SWEET EMOTION - POSITION: 36, WALK THIS WAY - POSITION: 10
1976
Rocks. Highest charting release - hit #3 stateside. Recorded at the
Record Plant, NY with Producer Jack Douglas. First album without any cover
songs.
ALBUM: ROCKS - CERTIFICATION: TRIPLE PLATINUM
SINGLES: BACK IN THE SADDLE - POSITION: 38, HOME TONIGHT: 71, LAST CHILD:
21
1977
Draw the Line, the band's fifth album is released shortly before
Christmas and goes Platinum faster than any previous album. Jack Douglas
produces.
ALBUM: DRAW THE LINE - CERTIFICATION: PLATINUM
SINGLES: DRAW THE LINE - POSITION: 42, KINGS AND QUEENS: 70
1978
Aerosmith make their movie debut in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandLive! Bootleg which features nightclub cover
tunes and stadium renditions of new material.
ALBUM: LIVE! BOOTLEG - CERTIFICATION: PLATINUM
SINGLES: COME TOGETHER - POSITION: 23, CHIP AWAY THE STONE: 77
1979
Aerosmith slow their touring pace and switch to English producer Gary Lyons for
Night in the Ruts. Joe Perry leaves Aerosmith for a solo career; Jimmy
Crespo joins (Night in the Ruts was originally the working title for
Get Your Wings).
ALBUM: NIGHT IN THE RUTS - CERTIFICATION: GOLD
SINGLE: REMEMBER - POSITION: 67
1980
Aerosmith resumes touring and releases their mulit-platinum Greatest Hits
album. Joe Perry releases Let the Music Do the Talking and tours
nightclubs and small halls with his new band, the Joe Perry Project.
ALBUM: GREATEST HITS - CERTIFICATION: SEXTUPLE PLATINUM
1981
Guitarist Brad Whitford leaves the band and teams up with Derek St. Holmes. Joe
Perry records I've Got the Rock n' Rolls Again during this period, while
Steven Tyler recovers from a motorcycle accident.
1982-1983
Guitarist Rick Dufay replaces Brad Whitford. Aerosmith teams up again with
producer Jack Douglas to record Rock in a Hard Place, and resumes their
rigorous touring pace. The Joe Perry Project leaves Columbia and records Once
a Rocker Always a Rocker for MCA.
ALBUM: ROCK IN A HARD PLACE - CERTIFICATION: GOLD
1984
On Valentine's Day, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford visit their old bandmates after
an Aerosmith show at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. In April, the announcement
is made that the original Aerosmith lineup will reunite for the Back in the
Saddle Tour.
1985-1986
Aerosmith signs a new record deal with Geffen and records Done With
Mirrors with Ted Templeton producing. An extensive world tour follows to
support the album release. Steven and Joe appear on Run DMC's cover of "Walk
This Way," now recognized as an early rap classic.
ALBUM: CLASSICS LIVE! - CERTIFICATION: GOLD
ALBUM: DONE WITH MIRRORS - CERTIFICATION: GOLD
1987-1988
Permanent Vacation proves that Aerosmith is stronger than ever and marks
the band's first collaboration with Bruce Fairburn. With extensive radio play,
the band starts a world tour that takes them across the U.S., Europe, and
Japan. Scrapbook Video and 3 x 5 Video are both released and go
gold. Texxas Jam, '78 is also released.
ALBUM: PERMANENT VACATION - CERTIFICATION: QUINTUPLE PLATINUM, ALSO
RELEASED: CLASSICS LIVE II AND GEMS
SINGLES: DUDE - POSITION: 14, ANGEL: 3, RAG DOLL: 17
VIDEO: 3X5 - GOLD, SCRAPBOOK - GOLD, TEXXAS JAM
1989
The Band unleashes Pump in the fall and the album torpedoes straight
to the top of the charts.
ALBUM: PUMP - SEXTUPLE PLATINUM
SINGLES: LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR: 5, JANIE'S GOT A GUN: 4, WHAT IT TAKES: 9, THE
OTHER SIDE: 22
1990
The Pump Tour, beginning in Europe, exposes Aerosmith as never before. The
band sets more hall sale records than any other act during this period and is
seen or heard by just over 1 billion people spanning the globe. Things
That Go Pump in the Night and The Making of Pump videos are
released and go Gold.
1991
Aerosmith takes a well deserved break and begin writing for a new album.
They ink a new record deal with Sony Music, win a Grammy for "Janie's Got a
Gun" and appear on The Simpsons. The band is inducted into the Boston
Garden Hall of Fame, release a 3 CD boxed set entitled Pandora's Box
and make the "Sweet Emotion" video.
ALBUM: PANDORA'S BOX - CERTIFICATION: GOLD
1992
Win Outstanding Rock Band and Best Rock Video at the Boston Video Awards.
Donate $10,000 to help fight censorship. Shoot Rock the Vote video.
Commence recording of Get a Grip.
1993
Get a Grip is released on April 20 and debuts at #1 - a first for any
Aerosmith album. Aerosmith launches an unprecedented assault on the masses.
"Livin' on the Edge," "Cryin'" and "Amazing" blast onto the charts and the
band kicks off a world tour on June 2 in Topeka, KS to a sold out crowd.
Aerosmith garners a slew of awards including - a Viewers Choice Award for
"Livin' on the Edge" at the MTV Video Music Awards, a star on Boston's Tower
Records "Walk of Fame" and a Billboard Music Award for Best Rock Act.
ALBUM: GET A GRIP - CERTIFICATION: SEXTUPLE PLATINUM
SINGLES: LIVIN' ON THE EDGE - POSITION: 18, CRYIN':12, AMAZING: 24, CRAZY:
17
1994
In 1994, Aerosmith accelerates the momentum established the year before,
continuing their world tour with a sold out show at the Boston Garden on
New Year's day. The band hits nearly every country in Europe and plays
South America for the first time. By the end of the tour, they have played
225 shows and Get a Grip has sold over 12 million copies.
Other performance highlights for the year include a kick-ass headline spot
at Woodstock '94, in front of more than 400,000 and the opening night of
the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
Throughout the year Aerosmith continues accumulating awards - winning a
Grammy for the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for
"Livin' on the Edge;" three MTV Video Music Awards for "Cryin;'" two
American Music Awards, the People's Choice Award for Favorite Musical
Group; the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Award for Favorite Musical Group; seven
awards and the Boston Music Awards and a host of magazine readers' poll
categories.
Columbia re-issues, for European release only, "Pandora's Toys" featuring
Aerosmith's 12 favorite songs from Pandora's Box. The Box of
Fire limited edition CD set is released by Columbia Records featuring
12 re-mastered classic Aerosmith albums. In November, Big Ones is
released debuting at #6 in the U.S. Days later, the band performs and
picks up an award at the first annual MTV Europe Video Music Awards in
Berlin. Within a couple of weeks, Aerosmith makes history with the first
ever extensive tour of cyberspace, chatting online with fans on four
consecutive nights via the Internet, Prodigy, Compuserve and America
Online.
Aerosmith rounds out the year and the Get a Grip tour in grand Aero-fashion
with the launch of Mama Kin Music hall on Lansdowne Street in Boston
(December 19) - the band's own clum dedicated to helping aspiring
musicians.
ALBUM: BOX OF FIRE - GOLD, BIG ONES: DOUBLE PLATINUM
SINGLE: BLIND MAN - 70
1995
The udder kept a milkin' all new year's long! Aerosmith marches into '95
with a Grammy for best Rock Performance By a Due or Group with Vocal for
"Crazy" and the People's Choice Award for Best Rock Group.
In January, Steven and Joe induct Led Zeppelin into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. Aerosmith's Greatest Hits spends it's 200th week on the
charts and the band begins writing for their first, new Columbia release
following their historic return the the label, due out next year.