Steven Tyler will be there to promote the new season of “American Idol,” set to start on Wednesday. But the big news associated with his stop on Friday, Jan. 20, as a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” is a partial reunion of Aerosmith, as Tyler will be joined by guitarist Joe Perry for a musical performance.
Aerosmith is at work on what would be the band’s first album of all-new material since 2001. Fans have been anticipating a return to form, since they are working again with producer Jack Douglas, who helmed the classics Toys In The Attic and Rocks.
By the way, Perry will then return to the set of Leno just 10 days later, on Monday, Jan. 30, to play again — this time, performing “Man of Peace” from Bob Dylan’s 1980s-era Infidels project. That appearance is timed to promote the Jan. 24 release of Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.
Here’s a look back at our previous thoughts on Aerosmith, and related solo project. Click through the titles for complete reviews …
SOMETHING ELSE! FEATURED ARTIST: AEROSMITH: As Steven Tyler confirmed rumors that there will be a new Aerosmith album released next spring, we took a moment to reevaluate things. Here are a group lesser-known deep cuts from this cool-rocking band, most (but not all!) of which come from their creative peak in the 1970s. Well, and one minor hit that still holds rather fond memories.
FORGOTTEN SERIES: JOE PERRY – JOE PERRY (2005): Firmly ensconced in his home studio (the “Boneyard”), Joe was back to making “the big noise.” Perry plays all instruments and sings all of the lead vocals. The only exceptions are the drums played by friend and co-producer Paul Caruso and the analog synth played by Chris Noise on “Pray For Me.” In direct contrast to the last few Aerosmith albums (Honkin’ On Bobo excepted), Joe Perry has a much more stripped-down sound. In fact, the “I’m gonna fill every last one of these here 128 tracks” phenomenon is completely avoided.
AEROSMITH – HONKIN’ ON BOBO (2004): Horribly titled, but quite good. Honkin’ on Bobo was largely made up of rock versions of blues tunes, it was recorded in live sessions with all five members in the room at once, and it saw the return of producer Jack Douglas. More than that, though, it saw the return of the classic Aerosmith sound. The arrangements, while still often over the top, were stripped down from the bombast of their last few records, and it really had the feel of old-school Aerosmith.
AEROSMITH – ROCKS (1976; 2011 reissue): To be sure, the songs do rock and creep deep inside the brain cells and refuse to leave moments after hearing them, but a sense of cryptic chaos administers the event. Lead singer Steven Tyler’s rubbery vocals mumble and rumble with mystery, and the band is hungry, so hungry, it appears as if they are singing for their supper. These guys are wired! Loud, sleazy and erupting with power and venom, you can almost taste whatever chemical substances the band was inhaling when they created the record. For good reason, some folks consider Rocks to be Aerosmith’s best album.
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