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

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

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