In 1970, the first incarnation of Aerosmith formed when vocalist Steven Tyler met guitarist Joe Perry while working
at a Sunapee, NH, ice cream parlor. Tyler, who originally was a drummer, and Perry decided to form a power trio
with bassist Tom Hamilton. The group soon expanded to quartet, adding a second guitarist called Ray Tabano; he
was quickly replaced by Brad Whitford, a former member of Earth Inc. With the addition of drummer Joey Kramer,
Tyler became the full-time lead singer by the end of year. Aerosmith relocated to Boston at the end of 1970.

Aerosmith's third record, 1975's Toys in the Attic, both commercially and artistically. By the time the album was
recorded, the band's sound had developed into a sleek, hard-driving hard rock powered by simple, almost brutal,
blues-based riffs. Many critics at the time labelled the group as punk rockers, and it's easy to see why -- instead of
adhering to the world-music pretensions of Led Zeppelin or the prolonged gloomy mysticism of Black Sabbath,
Aerosmith stripped heavy metal to its basic core, spitting out spare riffs that not only rocked, but rolled. Steven
Tyler's lyrics were filled with double entendres and clever joke and the entire band had a street-wise charisma that
separated them from the heavy, lumbering arena rockers of the era. Toys in the Attic captured the essence of the
newly invigorated Aerosmith.

"Sweet Emotion," the slyly funky first single from Toys in the Attic , broke into the Top 40 in the summer of 1975,
with the album reaching number 11 shortly afterward. Its success prompted the re-release of the power ballad
"Dream On," which shot into the Top Ten in early 1976. Both Aerosmith and Get Your Wings climbed back up the
charts in the wake of Toys in the Attic , peaking at number 21 and 74 respectively. "Walk This Way," the final single
from Toys in the Attic , was released around the time of the group's new 1976 album, Rocks. Although it didn't
feature a Top Ten hit like "Walk This Way," Rocks went platinum quickly, peaking at number three.
 
 
 

In early 1977, Aerosmith took a break and prepared material for their fifth album. Released late in 1977, Draw the
Line was another hit, climbing to number 11 on the U.S. charts, but it showed signs of exhaustion. In addition to
another tour in 1978, the band appeared in the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performing "Come
Together," which eventually became a number 23 hit. Live! Bootleg appeared late in 1978 and became another
success, reaching number 13. Aerosmith recorded Night in the Ruts in 1979, releasing the record at the end of the
year. By the time of its release, Joe Perry had left the band to form the Joe Perry Project with vocalist Ralph Noran,
bassist David Hull, and drummer Ronnie Stewart. Night in the Ruts performed respectably, climbing to number 14
and going gold, yet it was the least successful Aerosmith record to date. Brad Whitford left the group in early 1980,
forming the Whitsford-St. Holmes Band with former Ted Nugent guitarist Derek St. Holmes.

As Aerosmith regrouped with new guitarists Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, the band released Aerosmith's Greatest
Hits in late 1980; the record would eventually sell over six million copies. The new lineup of Aerosmith released
Rock in a Hard Place in 1982. Peaking at number 32, failed to match the performance of Night in the Ruts and the
record showed that the band was out of ideas. Perry and Whitford returned to the band in 1984 and the group began
a reunion tour dubbed "Back in the Saddle." Early in the tour, Tyler collapsed on stage, offering proof that the band
hadn't conquered their notorious drug and alcohol addictions. The following year, Aerosmith released Done with
Mirrors, the original lineup's first record since 1979 and their first for Geffen Records. Although it didn't perform
as well as Rock in a Hard Place, the album showed that the band was revitalized.

After the release of Done with Mirrors, Tyler and Perry completed a rehabilitation program. In 1986, the pair
appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of "Walk This Way," along with appearing in the video. "Walk This Way" became
a hit, reaching number four and receiving saturation air play in MTV. "Walk This Way" set the stage for the band's
full-scale comeback effort, the Bruce Fairburn-produced Permanent Vacation (1987). Tyler and Perry collaborated
with professional hard rock songwriters like Holly Knight and Desmond Child, resulting in the hits "Dude (Looks
like a Lady)," "Rag Doll" and "Angel." Permanent Vacation peaked at number 11 and sold over three million copies.

Pump, released in 1989, continued the band's winning streak, reaching number five, selling over four million copies,
and spawning the Top Ten singles "Love in an Elevator," "Janie's Got a Gun," and "What It Takes." Aerosmith
released Get a Grip in 1993. Like Permanent Vacation and Pump, Get a Grip was produced by Bruce Fairburn and
featured significant contributions by professional songwriters. The album was as successful as the band's previous
two records, featuring the hit singles "Livin' on the Edge," "Cryin'," and "Amazing." In 1994, Aerosmith released
Big Ones, a compilation of hits from their Geffen years; it went double platinum shortly after its release.

Biography courtesy of Box of Fire,