Editing Steven Tyler (section)

=== Formation and success of Aerosmith (1970–1978) ===
{{Main|Aerosmith}}

Before forming Aerosmith, Tyler wrote what would become one of Aerosmith's signature songs, "[[Dream On (Aerosmith song)|Dream On]]". In 1969, Tyler attended a local rock show in [[Sunapee, New Hampshire|Sunapee]], New Hampshire. While there, he saw future bandmates Joe Perry (guitars) and [[Tom Hamilton (musician)|Tom Hamilton]] (bass) playing in a band called the Jam Band. Tyler later stated he was struck by their raw power and attitude.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Around 1970, Tyler, Perry and Hamilton decided to form a band. Tyler, who had played drums in many of his previous bands while in school, insisted that he would be the frontman and lead singer. Joey Kramer, an old acquaintance of Tyler's from New York, was recruited to play the drums. Driven by a collective ambition to launch their careers as full-time musicians and hopeful recording artists, the band moved to the [[Boston]] area.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The band moved into a home together at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue<ref name="Commonwealth">{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2012/11/aerosmith_plans_concert_outsid.html|title=Aerosmith plans concert outside their former Allston apartment building at 1325 Comm. Ave.|first=Matt|last=Rocheleau|date=November 2, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823101220/http://archive.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2012/11/aerosmith_plans_concert_outsid.html|archive-date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> in Boston, where they wrote and rehearsed music together and relaxed in between shows.<ref name="Walk This Way, page 104">Davis, p. 104</ref> The members of the band reportedly spent afternoons getting high and watching ''[[Three Stooges]]'' reruns.<ref name="wildrs">{{cite magazine|last1=Wild|first1=David|title=Aerosmith's Amazing Road Back|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/aerosmiths-amazing-road-back-19900405|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=June 19, 2017|date=April 5, 1990}}</ref> One day, they met to try to come up with a name. Kramer said that, when he was in school, he would write the word "aerosmith" all over his notebooks.<ref name="Davis, pp. 106–107" /> The name had popped into his head after listening to [[Harry Nilsson]]'s album ''[[Aerial Ballet]]'', which featured jacket art of a circus performer jumping out of a biplane. Initially, Kramer's bandmates were unimpressed; they all thought he was referring to [[Arrowsmith (novel)|the Sinclair Lewis novel]] they were required to read in high school English class. "No, not Arrowsmith," Kramer explained. "A-E-R-O...Aerosmith."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aeronewsdaily.com/blog/2008/03/14/steven-tyler-interview|title=Interview with Steven Tyler|publisher=AeroNewsDaily|date=March 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080514055305/http://aeronewsdaily.com/blog/2008/03/14/steven-tyler-interview|archive-date=May 14, 2008|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref> The band settled upon this name after also considering "the Hookers" and "Spike Jones".<ref name="Davis, pp. 106–107">Davis, pp. 106–107</ref><ref name="mtv">{{cite web|title=The Aerosmith History 1969–2002|work=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/timeline.jhtml|access-date=March 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317194349/http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/timeline.jhtml|archive-date=March 17, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> At some point prior to the weekend of December 25, 1971, they were known as "Fox Chase".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Blechl|first=Robert |title=A Half-Century Ago, Little-Known Band Called Aerosmith Plays Littleton|url=https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/a-half-century-ago-little-known-band-called-aerosmith-plays-littleton/article_ca8e4e30-22c4-51bb-97fa-4e2304a1b0d9.html|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Caledonian Record|date=December 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Soon, the band hired [[Ray Tabano]], a childhood friend of Tyler, as rhythm guitarist and began playing local shows.<ref>Davis, pp. 105, 111</ref> Aerosmith played their first gig in [[Mendon, Massachusetts]] at [[Nipmuc Regional High School]] (now Miscoe Hill Middle School) on November 6, 1970. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by [[Brad Whitford]], who also attended the Berklee School of Music, and was formerly a member of the band [[Earth Inc.]]<ref>Davis, pp. 128–131</ref> Whitford, from [[Reading, Massachusetts]], had played at Reading's [[Coolidge Middle School (Reading, Massachusetts)|AW Coolidge Middle School]]. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, the line-up of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Kramer, and Whitford has stayed the same.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3508 |pure_url=yes}} | title = Aerosmith Biography |author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website = Allmusic |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

Aerosmith signed with Columbia in mid-1972 for a reported $125,000 and recorded their debut album, ''[[Aerosmith (album)|Aerosmith]]''.<ref>Huxley, Martin (1995). p. 25</ref> Released in January 1973, the album peaked at number 166.<ref name="allmusic" /> The album was straightforward rock and roll with well-defined blues influences, laying the groundwork for Aerosmith's signature [[blues rock]] sound.<ref name="STE">{{cite web|title=''Aerosmith'' – Review|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r167|pure_url=yes}}}}</ref> Although the highest-charting single from the album was "[[Dream On (Aerosmith song)|Dream On]]" at number 59,<ref>Davis, p. 202</ref> several tracks, such as "[[Mama Kin]]" and "[[Walkin' the Dog]]", would become staples of the band's live shows, and received airplay on rock radio.<ref>Davis, pp. 183, 190–191</ref> The album reached gold status initially, eventually went on to sell two million copies, and was certified double platinum after the band reached mainstream success over a decade later.<ref name="RIAA&nbsp;— Searchable Database">{{cite web|title=Searchable Database|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA.com)|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|archive-date=June 26, 2007|df=mdy}}</ref> After constant touring, the band released their second album, ''[[Get Your Wings]]'' in 1974, the first of a string of multi-platinum albums produced by [[Jack Douglas (record producer)|Jack Douglas]].<ref>Davis, p. 206</ref> This album included the rock radio hits "[[Same Old Song and Dance]]" and "[[Train Kept A-Rollin']]", a cover done previously by [[the Yardbirds]].<ref>Davis, p. 220</ref>

In 1975, Aerosmith released their third album, ''[[Toys in the Attic (album)|Toys in the Attic]]''.<ref name="Toys in the Attic Review" /> Originally derided as Rolling Stones knockoffs in part due to the physical resemblance between Tyler and [[Mick Jagger]],<ref name="Aerosmith: Biography: Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/biography|title=Aerosmith: Biography: Rolling Stone|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330065344/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/biography|archive-date=March 30, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Toys in the Attic'' showed that Aerosmith was a unique and talented band in their own right.<ref name="Toys in the Attic Review">{{cite web|title=''Toys in the Attic'' – Review|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r169|pure_url=yes}} | access-date=April 3, 2008}}</ref> ''Toys in the Attic'' was an immediate success, starting with the single "[[Sweet Emotion]]", which became the band's first [[Top 40]] hit.<ref>Davis, p. 244</ref> This was followed by a successful re-release of "[[Dream On (Aerosmith song)|Dream On]]" which hit No. 6, becoming their best charting single of the 1970s.<ref>Davis, p. 247</ref> "[[Walk This Way]]", re-released in 1976, reached the Top 10 in early 1977.<ref name="Aerosmith: Biography: Rolling Stone" />

In 1976, Aerosmith's fourth album, ''[[Rocks (Aerosmith album)|Rocks]],'' was released. Music historian Greg Prato described it as "captur[ing] Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking".<ref name="Rocks Review">{{cite web|title=''Rocks'' – Review|first=Greg|last=Prato|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r171|pure_url=yes}}}}</ref> It went [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] swiftly<ref name="RIAA&nbsp;— Searchable Database" /> and featured two Top 40 hits, "[[Last Child]]" and "[[Back in the Saddle]]", as well as the ballad "[[Home Tonight]]", which also charted.<ref name="Aerosmith Chart Positions">{{cite web|title=Aerosmith Chart Positions&nbsp;– Singles|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3508|pure_url=yes}} | access-date=April 1, 2008}}</ref>

In 1977, Aerosmith released their fifth album, ''[[Draw the Line (Aerosmith album)|Draw the Line]]''. Its recording was affected by the band's excesses, but the record still had memorable moments.<ref name="Aerosmith Chart Positions"/> The [[Draw the Line (song)|title track]] charted just shy of the Top 40 and remains a live staple, and "[[Kings and Queens (Aerosmith song)|Kings and Queens]]" also charted.<ref name="Aerosmith Chart Positions"/>