Another day, another Aerosmith autobiography. Since 2009, drummer Joe Kramer and then frontman Steve Tyler have both penned their life stories. Next up: Guitarist Joe Perry, who confirmed those plans in a new post on Twitter.
“Officially started writing my biography this week,” Perry writes. “More info. to come soon re: publisher, tentative release date, etc…”
Perry won’t be the last either, apparently. Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton is also working on a book, which reportedly will crafted as a fictionalized account. Somewhere in between all of these autobiographies, Aerosmith is attempting to complete its first album of original material in more than a decade, and also has plans for a U.S. tour to begin in June.
Fans have high hopes for the as-yet-unnamed new Aerosmith project, a reunion with producer Jack Douglas, who worked with the band in its 1970s hey day. Douglas has confirmed that Aerosmith is recording the album live, something that should provide an old-fashioned edge to the band’s initial release since 2004’s Honkin’ On Bobo, and their first full-length of new songs since 2001’s Just Push Play.
“We’re going back to the rawness. There’s something special about the vintage Aerosmith vibe, and that’s what we have here. It’s got that ’70s feel and sense of humor,” Douglas said. “To get that edge and spirit, it made sense to capture tracks live with the band playing all out.”
Tyler published Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? last year, while Kramer’s 2009 autobiography was called Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top.
Here’s a look back at our previous thoughts on Aerosmith. 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 this 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.
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.
- Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop, “When I Fall” (2024): Video premiere - March 15, 2024
- Disaster Pony,“Dead Neon & The Noon Sun” from ‘Disaster Pony’ (2024): Video premiere - February 27, 2024
- Christopher Hoffman, “Farewell Forever” from ‘Vision Is The Identity’ (2024): Streaming premiere - February 19, 2024
