Aerosmith Spring Into Action

Aerosmith, whose last studio release was 2004's bluesy, covers-heavy Honkin' on Bobo, will start work on a new album in late spring. "It's going to be just like what the White Stripes are doing, and like a couple of songs on Sheryl Crow's new album," says frontman Steven Tyler. "You'll listen to it and be like, 'I've heard that before' -- but you never did." The band hopes to release the new album by year's end.

"I want to take elements of those experimental things like we did on [2001's] Just Push Play," adds guitarist Joe Perry. "I always start with bits and pieces, and hopefully they inspire other people to throw things in. I have stuff that I didn't put on my solo record [2005's Joe Perry] that may be up for grabs."

But before they return to the studio, Aerosmith have some business to attend to: They've recently extended their Rockin' the Joint tour by five weeks. Lenny Kravitz has been rolling with them since October, and Cheap Trick will take over support duties beginning March 2nd.

Aerosmith are especially enjoying getting back to their roots on this outing. "We're re-establishing our foothold as a rock band," Perry says. "I think that got a little blurry when we came out with those last few ballads. Every year we go out, there's another generation of fourteen-, fifteen-, sixteen- and seventeen-year-old kids who are interested in hearing classic rock, and that's the backbone of our set."

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Song Stories

“I'm Yours”

Jason Mraz | 2008

Jason Mraz re-emerged after his disappointing second album with this lead single, a Jack Johnson-esque ditty about giving yourself fully to someone else. The success of the reggae-tinged song (it earned two Grammy nods and a spot on the Billboard singles chart for well over a year) was something the folk-pop singer never predicted when he wrote it in 15 minutes at home. "I played a happy-hippie chord progression that would probably work without 50 different Bob Marley songs," he told Rolling Stone. "I thought, 'It's too novelty. This is a nursery rhyme,'" concluding that "you can never guess what's gonna be a hit."

More Song Stories entries »

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