Aerosmith

Fronted by Mick Jagger look-alike Steven Tyler and known for their aggressive blues-based style, Aerosmith were the top American hard-rock band of the mid-Seventies, despite endless attacks from critics who considered them a poor man's Rolling Stones. But the members' growing drug problems and internal dissension contributed to a commercial decline that began with 1977's Draw the Line. Two crucial lineup changes and a few poorly received albums preceded a 1984 reunion of the original lineup and the multiplatinum Permanent Vacation, which signaled one of the most spectacular comebacks in rock history. Though now vociferous adherents to the sober lifestyle, Aerosmith forfeited none of their bad-boy image, and their live shows were among the best of their long career. Even critics liked them better the second time around. With members now over 50, Aerosmith continue to embody classic rock grounded in a late-Seventies style — typically, most of their more recent hits have been power ballads.

The group was formed in 1970 by Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Tyler, who was then a drummer. The group was completed with drummer Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford; Tyler became lead singer. For the next two years all five members shared a small apartment in Boston and played almost nightly throughout the area, occasionally venturing to New York City. Clive Davis saw them perform at Max's Kansas City in New York and signed them to Columbia. A minor hit and future FM-radio staple from their debut, "Dream On," strengthened their regional following.

Meanwhile, Aerosmith began to tour widely. In 1976 "Dream On" recharted, rising to Number Six. And by the time of "Walk This Way" (Number 10, 1977), the band had become headliners. Its phenomenal success was short-lived, however. A series of sold-out tours and platinum albums (including Aerosmith, Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic) peaked in 1976.

By 1977 the group's constant touring and its members' heavy drug use (Perry and Tyler were nicknamed "the Toxic Twins" for their heroin habits) had begun to take their toll. After months of rest, Aerosmith recorded Draw the Line and appeared as the villains in Robert Stigwood's movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and their version of Lennon and McCartney's "Come Together" from the soundtrack was a minor hit. But Aerosmith was unraveling: In 1979 Perry quit, admitting to long-standing personality and musical conflicts with Tyler, his songwriting partner. Jim Crespo took his place. The next year Whitford departed to form the Whitford/St. Holmes band with ex–Ted Nugent sidekick Derek St. Holmes and was replaced by Rick Dufay. Neither Perry's nor Whitford's outside records did particularly well.

Rock in a Hard Place, Aerosmith's first new recording in almost three years and the first without Perry, peaked at Number 32, as the band was eclipsed by a new breed of young hard rockers. In early 1984 the five original members met backstage at an Aerosmith concert and decided to re-form. Done With Mirrors, their first "comeback" LP, sold moderately. The group's re-ascendance began in earnest when Perry and Tyler appeared with rap duo Run-D.M.C. in a video for the latter's version of the 1977 Aerosmith warhorse "Walk This Way" (Number Four, 1986). That fall, just as "Walk This Way" was peaking on the chart, Permanent Vacation (Number 11, 1987) was released, with three hit singles and their accompanying videos — "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (Number 14, 1987), "Angel" (Number Three, 1988) and "Rag Doll" (Number 17, 1988) — introducing Aerosmith to a new generation.

Aerosmith further consolidated their success with the quadruple-platinum Pump (Number Five, 1989), which boasted "Love in an Elevator" (Number Five, 1989), "Janie's Got a Gun" (Number Four, 1989) — the song about incest won 1990's Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal — "What It Takes" (Number Nine, 1990) and "The Other Side" (Number 22, 1990).

In 1991 the group signed a record deal with Sony worth a reported $30 million for four albums that included provisions for 22 percent royalties. Three years later, in summer 1994, Aerosmith landed a seven-figure deal from G.P. Putnam's Sons for their group autobiography. With the hit singles "Living on the Edge" (Number 18, 1993), "Cryin" (Number 12, 1993) and "Crazy" (Number Seven, 1993), Get a Grip hit Number One, followed by 1994's double-platinum Number Six greatest-hits package, Big Ones, continuing Aerosmith's run at the top. Box of Fire, a 12-CD compilation of Aerosmith's Columbia output, went gold in early 1995.

Aerosmith got back into rougher waters in 1996. The band started working on the follow-up to Get a Grip — and its first album back on Columbia — but didn't get along with producer Glen Ballard. Ballard left in the middle of the sessions and was replaced by Kevin Shirley. Meanwhile, Joey Kramer's father had died, sending the drummer into such a depression that he had to be replaced by session drummer Steve Ferrone on some tracks. In the midst of it all, the band fired its longtime manager, Tim Collins, who had helped the musicians through sobriety and helmed their Eighties comeback. Collins retaliated by suggesting that some of the band members had fallen off the wagon; Tyler was then accused of "not being part of the team" in a letter sent to him by his four bandmates. Tyler denied taking drugs, saying, "I've had no mood-altering substances in 10 years."

When Nine Lives finally came out in 1997, it entered the chart at Number One. Yet it sold only a disappointing 140,000 copies the week of its release and didn't yield any memorable singles — though "Pink" (Number 27, 1998) did win Aerosmith another Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal in 1999.

The group landed on its feet yet again when "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Number One, 1998), its contribution to the soundtrack of Armageddon (which starred Tyler's increasingly successful daughter Liv), became a huge hit the following year and was nominated for an Academy Award. In early 2001, Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just as the band's new album, Just Push Play (Number Two, 2001), yielded the hit single "Jaded" (Number Seven, 2001).

O, Yeah! The Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (Number Four, 2002) was the first best-of collection to combine music from the band's Columbia and Geffen tenures, and included a new single, the tepidly received "Girls of Summer." Tours with the likes of Kiss and Kid Rock followed, as did Honkin' on Bobo (Number Five, 2004), an album of blues covers that was certified gold in the U.S, in spite of its title. That same year, Perry launched a line of hot sauce, Joe Perry's Rock Your World, which included such flavors as Boneyard Brew and Mango Peach Tango.

In 2006, two members of the band fell ill: Tyler announced that he had ruptured blood vessels in his larynx, while Hamilton disclosed that he was being treated for throat cancer. Both recovered, though Hamilton missed much of the band's 2006 tour. Devil's Got a New Disguise — The Very Best of Aerosmith (Number 33, 2006) was the fifth greatest-hits album of the band's career, and a new studio album is planned for 2008.