Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston"
and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band."
Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock,
has come to also incorporate elements of pop,
heavy metal,
and rhythm and blues,
and has inspired many subsequent rock artists.
The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano, and formed Aerosmith. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, and the band began developing a following in Boston.
They were signed to Columbia Records in 1972, and released a string of multi-platinum albums, beginning with their 1973 eponymous debut album, followed by their 1974 album
Get Your Wings. In 1975, the band broke into the mainstream with the album
Toys in the Attic, and their 1976 follow-up
Rocks cemented their status as hard rock superstars.
Two additional albums followed in 1977 and 1979. Throughout the 1970s,
the band toured extensively and charted a string of Hot 100 singles. By
the end of the decade, they were among the most popular hard rock bands
in the world and developed a loyal following of fans, often referred to
as the "Blue Army".
However, drug addiction
and internal conflict took their toll on the band, which resulted in
the departures of Perry and Whitford in 1979 and 1981, respectively;
they were replaced by Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay.
The band did not fare well between 1980 and 1984, releasing a lone album,
Rock in a Hard Place, which went gold but failed to match their previous successes.
Perry and Whitford returned in 1984 and the band signed a new deal with Geffen Records. After a comeback tour, the band recorded
Done with Mirrors
(1985), which won some critical praise but failed to come close to
commercial expectations. It was not until the band released 1987's
Permanent Vacation that they regained the level of popularity they had experienced in the 1970s.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and
won numerous awards for music from the multi-platinum albums
Pump (1989),
Get a Grip (1993), and
Nine Lives
(1997), and embarked on their most extensive concert tours to date. The
band also became a pop culture phenomenon with popular music videos and
notable appearances in television, film, and video games. Their
comeback has been described as one of the most remarkable and
spectacular in rock 'n' roll history.
Additional albums followed in 2001 and 2004. The band toured throughout
the 2000s, touring every year except 2008. After 42 years of
performing, the band continues to tour and record music. Their upcoming
album,
Music from Another Dimension, is expected to be released November 6, 2012.
Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million albums worldwide,
including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone.
They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the
Billboard Hot 100, nine number-one Mainstream Rock hits, four Grammy Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and were included among both
Rolling Stone's and VH1's lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
