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Aerosmith on the Road: Backstage With Steven Tyler and Co.

7/1/09, 3:47 pm EST

Photo: Josh Rothstein for Rolling Stone

While Joe Perry lounges in a giant tour bus with a portrait of himself emblazoned the side, Steven Tyler is in his dressing room, dubbed “the Cave,” mimicking his stage moves in a device that looks like vertical trampoline. Rolling Stone got a rare look behind Aerosmith’s monster summer tour at their hometown gig — a show at Mansfield, Massachusetts’ Comcast Center — and in the new issue Brian Hiatt has the full story from their June 16th homecoming gig, a show in front of 20,000 including their family, friends and their longtime fans.

(Go behind Aerosmith’s homecoming show in exclusive backstage photos.)

Aerosmith have fought several battle in recent years: Tyler fought off pneumonia, guitarist Perry’s artificial knee became infected and guitarist Brad Whitford was forced to miss the opening shows of the band’s current tour because of an injury he sustained after bumping his head while exiting his Ferrari. Still, to quote the opening song from the Mansfield show, the “Train Kept a Rollin’,” and the band soldiered on to give the Boston fans an energetic set that featured their entire Toys in the Attic and a messy cover of the Standell’s “Dirty Water” featuring members of the night’s opening act, native sons the Dropkick Murphys.

Things have changed, however, since the days when Toys in the Attic was released. Not only is the band drug-free, they travel separately and settle into different dressing rooms. “We were such a tight unit, working every night, and all of the personality differences came out,” Tyler tells Rolling Stone. “Now a lot of that childish stuff is behind us.” For much more from backstage on the Aerosmith tour, including bassist Tom Hamilton working on a new song, check out the new issue of Rolling Stone. And don’t miss our report from the band’s New York show here.


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Comments

ROLLING STONE | 7/1/2009, 3:53 pm EST

AEROSMITH CANCELLED TONIGHTS SHOW IN CINCI…BIG PERSONAL ISSUES NO JOKE

tylerstwit | 7/1/2009, 4:35 pm EST

WHAT????????????

Haha | 7/1/2009, 6:03 pm EST

Steven’s heroin train kept a rollin, obviously.

Hank in Cincinasty | 7/1/2009, 8:46 pm EST

CARE TO ELABORATE ABOUT THE “BIG PERSONAL ISSUES” R/S IS THE ONLY MEDIA OUTLET TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL ISSUES. ALL OTHER OUTLETS ARE REPORTING A TYLER LEG INJURY FROM THE PREVIOUS SHOW.

joeIII | 7/2/2009, 11:47 am EST

Well maybe, just maybe the personal issues have to do with Kramer’s crummy book. Bought it yesterday, read it and Kramer sure blasted Tyler as a ‘demon’, diced up Perry and generally revealed himself as a toad with no personality.

Only Whitford escaped his wrath, hey Joey Kramer, you basically plagerised teh book “walk this way” except you threw in personal touches.

stick to drumming pal

It figures | 7/2/2009, 4:25 pm EST

The only book an Aerosmith fan can make it through in one day is the autobio of one of the band members.

LoopGuru | 7/3/2009, 11:09 am EST

Aerosmith has to play without Brad Whitford because his Ferrari fucked his head up? Oh, you poor, poor boy, what a nightmare for them! Still, Aerosmith is perhaps America’s best…group of musicians who travel separately. Someone turn the amps off on the way out.

Simka` | 7/3/2009, 7:20 pm EST

They are grown-ups and everyone has their own way of doing things that the others might find a tad hard on the nerves. Anyone with any life experience knows that you can’t live that close to someone(even your own family!) without going crazy after a few days/weeks. They are traveling smarter these days. Love you all guys. Love to see you come to my hometown London Ont. Canada

aerofan1996 | 7/4/2009, 4:11 am EST

Well, you know they cancelled for somewhere on the 5th and Hershey PA yesterday… I probably would have got to go :(

Rita | 7/4/2009, 4:52 pm EST

Depoimento emocionado sobre Michael Jackson da reporte Glória Maria.

“Comigo, as coisas não são normais. Eu não entrevistei o Michael Jackson (quando ele rodou um clipe no Brasil, em 1996), foi ele que me entrevistou. Eu o acompanhei quando gravou na Bahia e fiquei negociando para ver se ele falava comigo. Estávamos no Pelourinho e o Michael viu o carinho do povo comigo, então, disse que conversaríamos no Rio. Quando chegamos, subi a favela e a gente ficou conversando uns 20 minutos. Ele me perguntou como tinha sido o meu início. Contei que vim de uma família pobre, mas que tinha conseguido estudar. Ele queria saber se não havia discriminação e racismo no Brasil. Respondi que sim e ele ficou muito interessado em saber mais. No pouco tempo que fiquei com ele, tive um vislumbre do ser humano bacana que era. Vi o seu braço e pedi para passar a mão. Ele tinha uma pele muito fina e dava para ver que o corpo era todo tomado pela doença, o vitiligo.

Como tinha pouquíssimas partes mais escuras, realmente seria mais fácil clarear o pouco que restava de escuro. Aí, notei um buraco no nariz dele e vi que ele ficava sempre com uma gaze tampando. Perguntei o que era aquilo e ele disse que foi consequência da segunda cirurgia que fez, porque tinha um desvio de septo e que, por causa disso, ficou com uma infecção crônica no nariz. Naqueles poucos minutos, alguns dos tabus que todo mundo tinha, para mim, acabaram. Fiquei triste comigo mesma por ter entrado nessa história que todos comentavam sobre o seu embranquecimento, por ser uma coisa alheia à vontade dele.

Quando Michael terminou a gravação, fiz a passagem e ele ficou quietinho, humilde e com cara de bobo, esperando eu falar, mas sem entender nada do que eu dizia. E fez a declaração, dizendo “Eu amo o Brasil”. Foram várias surpresas em um encontro curto. Vi que era uma pessoa frágil, simples, sem frescura. No final, ele me puxou, me abraçou e me beijou. Aquele mito de que ele dormia numa bolha caiu. Eu estava imunda, cheirando mal, e ele me abraçou sem nojo, sem restrição.

O que me impressionou muito foi o olhar dele, de tristeza, o tempo todo. Só vi o olho dele brilhar, parecendo criança, quando estava com o Olodum. Michael pulava, corria de um lado para o outro, no Pelourinho. O Spike Lee, que era o diretor do clipe, nem o dirigiu, só captou a espontaneidade dele.

Fui pega de surpresa com a notícia da morte do Michael. Tive uma sensação de tristeza profunda. Ele foi um ser humano que não conseguiu ser feliz, não conseguiu ter serenidade na vida, apesar de ser um ídolo mundial. Todo mundo sabe que a vida dele, desde que nasceu, foi puro sofrimento. Esqueceram a pessoa que estava ali e, pelo menos para mim, ele demonstrou ser muito generoso. Para mim, ele não foi um ídolo, pois só gostava da música dele na época dos Jackson 5, mas, como ser humano, sempre me intrigou. Eu tenho identificação de alma com ele. Somos duas pessoas que, cada uma à sua maneira, conseguiram vencer.”

katie | 7/6/2009, 10:37 pm EST

im so worried

nur | 7/7/2009, 7:33 am EST

TO the President of USA. Dear sir i feel that Sir machael Jackson should be rest in peace where he has ask to do for him.At “Neverland Ranch”.He has done alot for the world. how can we do some thing for his last wish. SIR PRESIDENT we need your help.Pls help us. Thank u very much

aero force NONE | 7/9/2009, 7:54 pm EST

They ROCKED when They played in Virginia. Hell yeah they kicked ASS! They played the hits AND the entire toys in the attic. IT WAS SWEET! But DAMN these guys are OLD. Heres hoping they take better care of themselves so they can outlast the Stones and Tour forever.

dmd | 7/11/2009, 9:02 pm EST

Try reading the newspaper – THE BAND – STATES: they are POSTPONING a few concerts, NOT CANCELLING them. Stuff happens, “the man” got hurt, the show can’t go on without HIM!

jenny | 7/19/2009, 6:08 pm EST

they took my gun

Trudy (only God is Judge) | 8/10/2009, 6:06 am EST

God not we are the judge of Michael Jackson. I was not appointed judge, how about you? Then let us let the law work, and let God work and we will just know Michael Jackson sleeps in peace. Trust God or “Jehovah” to sort things out. I will remember his music and his charity contributions.
Trudy

christine | 9/21/2009, 9:57 pm EST

tyler, get better and rock all the nay sayers socks off.Without you the band does not stand a chance…………..

Jamie | 10/23/2009, 1:53 am EST

Tyler rocks

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