Aerosmith Fan Club

Nominated for a 1998 Grammy award for Best Rock Album and featuring the single, “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees),” nominated for a Best Rock Performance, Nine Lives is Aerosmith’s first album in their lucrative re-signing to Columbia Records. Together over 25 years, the Boston band has always been known for their gritty sex anthems, hard-buckling rhythms, and bic-flicking power ballads. Not nearly as flat-out rock as previous releases, Pump or Get A Grip, Nine Lives experiments with a multitude of instruments, including hammered dulcimer, Indian fiddle, and Chapman stick. This Noah’s Ark approach allows the band to experiment within its rock parameters with the appropriately titled “A Taste of India.” They haven’t sworn off the ballads (“Fallen Angels” is what you’d expect) and they still riff like the Aerosmith of old (“Crash”). –Rob O’Connor

Aerosmith’s 12th Album from 1997 was the First Marking their “re-debut” with Sony/Columbia Music, the Labe (more…)

In 1991, Aerosmith went back to Columbia Records/Sony Music by signing a whopping 30 million dollar contract, however their contractual obligations to their previous record label, Geffen Records, was not yet fulfilled.  The contract that Aerosmith signed with Geffen Records stipulated that the band needed to record six albums.  Done with Mirrors, Permanent Vacation, Pump, Get a Grip and Big Ones were all recorded under Geffen Records, but that meant that there still was one missing album before Aerosmith could begin recording under their new record label, Columbia Records/Sony Music.  Soon after the release of Big Ones, the band released a live compilation for Geffen.  This live compilation fulfilled Aerosmith’s contractual obligations, which meant that they could commence work for Columbia Records.

Before the production of their next album, Aerosmith took some time off to be with their families.  Their next album, “Nine Lives” was released in March of 1997.  During the production of the album, Aerosmith fired their manager, Tim Collins, and changed their album’s producer from Glen Ballard to Kevin Shirley.

Nine Lives was not the big hit album that many fans were waiting for, but it did go on to sell over 2 million copies in the United States alone.  The album also produced Aerosmith’s fourth Grammy award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1999 with the smash hit, Pink.

Soon after the release of Nine Lives, Aerosmith commenced a concert tour that lasted two years.  During this two year period, the band experienced many problems, including a bizarre accident involving Joey Kramer.  Kramer suffered second degree burns after his car caught fire at a gas station.  Steven Tyler also injured his leg while performing at one of the concerts.

In 1998, a highly marketed film by the name of Armageddon and starring Steven Tyler’s daughter, Liv, was released.  Aerosmith produced the love theme for the movie.  “I don’t want to miss a thing” was a big hit and  went on to be Aerosmith’s only number one single to date.  It remained at the top of the record charts for four weeks, and was later nominated for an Academy Award.

Aerosmith also released a double live album in 1998.  “A Little South of Sanity” was the product of performances from the Get a Grip and Nines Lives concert tours.  The album went platinum soon after it’s release.

The band continued touring to promote the Nine Lives album and their smash hit single, I don’t want to miss a thing.

Aerosmith was featured in the Disney Hollywood Studios, at Walt Disney World and later at Disneyland in Paris in 1999.  The Rock ‘n Roller Coaster in Paris had an Aerosmith soundtrack and theme.  In the fall of 1999, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were joined by Run D.M.C and Kid Rock for a live performance of “Walk this Way, at the MTV music awards.

Once Aerosmith was formed and their group members finalized in 1971, they began playing local shows and garnered some attention from talent scouts who were on the lookout for the next great band.  Aerosmith were booked through the Ed Malhoit Agency, and would later sign a promo deal with Frank Connelly.  Aerosmith’s signing with Frank Connelly would prove to be the turning point in the band’s career.  It wasn’t too long before the band signed on with David Krebs and Steve Leber.  The pair  invited Columbia Records to see Aerosmith perform live at Max’s Kansas City Club in New York City.  Aerosmith however, wasn’t  scheduled to play at the club on the night that Columbia Records were there and the group had to pay there way onto the bill.  That decision was probably the best decision in Aerosmith’s early years.  Columbia Records were very impressed with the band and signed them in 1972 for a reported $125,000.  A year later, Aerosmith released their self titled debut album ‘Aerosmith’.

Aerosmith’s sound of hard rock with blues influences was very appealing to the generation of music fans, and thus the band had an instant following.

Their debut album peaked on the charts at 166, with the song ‘Dream On’ claiming top spot at #59.

The album initially hit gold status, but over a ten year period Aerosmith’s debut album went on to sell 2 million copies, turning their gold record into a double platinum.

In 1974, Aerosmith released their second album titled “Get Your Wings”.  Get Your Wings was the first of many Aerosmith albums produced by Jack Douglas to  reach platinum status.

In 1975 Aerosmith took their local success to the international stage with their ‘Toys in the Attic’ album.  This album would ultimately put them on the same stage as the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

Toys in the Attic’s Sweet Emotion song was very successful.  It was the band’s first top 40 hit, and ‘Walk this Way’ was re-released in 1976 and reached top 10 on the charts.

Then there was “Big Ten Inch Record” which was a song originally recorded by Bull Moose Jackson.  This song would go one to become concert must plays.  Because of the song’s success, Aerosmith’s previous albums re-charted.  The albums popularity spawned a concert tour for the band.  This album and tour was the start or Aerosmith superstardum. It was also during this time that Aerosmith laid down their foundation in Waltham Massachusetts.  The Wherehouse” as it was known was everything Aerosmith.  This was where the band would rehearse and record their music, as well as conduct business.

Toys in the Attic went on to become Aerosmith’s best selling studio album with recorded U.S.A. sales of eight millions copies.