Which Steven Tyler Era Is The Best?
Still Can’t Decide Which One’s Our Favorite
Steven Tyler is like fine wine – he only gets better with age. Sure, not every Aerosmith superfan was super excited with his transition into country music but hey, he made it work. So as a tribute to one of the greatest rock frontmen and vocalists, we’ll take a trip down memory lane to see which decade is your favorite:
1. ’70s
It was Aerosmith’s first taste of success. In the mid-’60s, when he was still a teenager, he was yet another Rolling Stones fan – eager to get a photo with Mick Jagger. A few years later, it was his autograph people wanted. They had a growing fan base and ‘Dream On’ became a huge hit. Eventually they broke into mainstream after releasing back-to-back chart-topping songs. They were no longer just a band who played small time gigs, they were headlining music festivals and playing in huge stadiums. Steven Tyler became a household name – he was now a prominent rock star and whether he liked it or not, a sexy symbol too. He even landed an offer to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In 1977, they were propelled into international stardom with tours in Japan and Europe. They were unstoppable. And before the decade ended, Tyler made his acting debut in the film “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
2. ’80s
‘Nothing lasts forever’ is not a cliché, it’s reality even for legendary rock ‘n roll bands like Aerosmith. You should expect that heavy drug use will eventually catch up with you. Huge hits left and right, sold-out stadium concerts – at some point, it will stall. Okay, have you ever wondered why Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were called Toxic Twins? Whatever ‘flattering’ reason it is you’re thinking, you’re wrong. That was their moniker because of their massive intake of heroin and stimulants. In 1980, Steven Tyler was injured due to a motorcycle accident and his drug addiction has gotten so bad, he would scour the streets of NYC just to look for dealers. In 1984, the band got back together and hired a new manager. After Tyler’s collapse during a show, they urged him to enter and complete a rehabilitation program. In 1986, they were back on track when Tyler and Perry made an appearance in Run DMC’s version of ‘Walk This Way.’ They came back with a bang! Thanks to the fusion of rock and hiphop, they now added more people to their fanbase. Tyler also co-wrote ‘Janie’s Got A Gun’ which earned them their first Grammy award.
3. ’90s
Aside from the massive success of their two latest albums, the band became an MTV sensation and they even recorded one of the first few episodes of Unplugged. By this time, Steven Tyler was no longer just any other rockstar – he was an icon, a legendary frontman. Everyone knew him (or anyone who loves rock ‘n roll, at least). In 1991, aside from being featured in The Simpsons, Aerosmith also penned a $30-million record deal. And for MTV’s 10th Anniversary, they performed ‘Dream On’ with an orchestra. It was in 1993 when they released their biggest album yet, ‘Get A Grip’, which sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. And lest we forget, it was in this decade when we got a glimpse of Steven’s daughter Liv after she starred in their ‘Crazy’ music video. But of course it doesn’t stop there. Steven along with Joe Perry, were featured in a Gap commercial. And even though Steven suffered from a ligament injury, the last two years of the decade were still good to him – they released “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” which earned them new generation of fans and Walt Disney World opened a Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ride.
4. 2000 – 2009
This is when Steven Tyler starts showing signs of his immortality. You see, if there’s any solid evidence that you can enjoy tremendous success after hitting rock bottom, Steven can attest to that. Aerosmith not only performed during the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show but they were also (finally!) inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Steven also sang the National Anthem for the 2001 Indianapolis 500 which became controversial for his improvisation of the lyrics. He was then prompted to issue a public apology. They had several tours and it would only take one look at Steven to see him with his usual boundless energy. It’s like the man hasn’t aged performance-wise. He showed no signs of slowing down and he even received an honorary degree from the Berklee College of Music and an honorary doctorate from University of Massachusetts Boston. He’s had various musical collaborations and cameo appearances in films and TV shows. It was in 2009, when rumors started going around that Steven was out to pursue a solo career.
5. 2010 – Present
Steven Tyler is unstoppable and he has every right to not slow down because he still has it. If you think he’s rusty and should retire, maybe you’re the problem. LOL. In 2010 alone, he replaced Simon Cowell as the judge of American idol. He also honored Paul McCartney at the Kennedy Center Honors and released an autobiography “Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?” He released his first solo single, “(It) Feels So Good” and though he has plenty of gigs and world tours with Aerosmith, he also managed to have non-music endeavors like the Andrew Charles’ signature scarf collection. Joe Perry and Steven were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. For the next few years, he embarked on a series of shows all over the globe. And in 2015, he released ‘Love Is Your Name’ from his debut album. There were talks of a farewell tour but so far, there’s no announcement. All we know is that Steven is having a blast on his foray into country music. And based on the Billboard charts, he is slaying it!
