A Crue of Aero-dynamic men continues to rock
Times-Beacon, NJ
September 24, 2006
Holmdel -— Tommy Lee is an avid Aerosmith fan.
Who knew?
At the kickoff of their Route of All Evil Tour at the PNC Bank Arts Center, and after a grueling set with Motley Crue, the manic drummer sat on stage behind a speaker wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, pumping his arms with as much excitement as the fans while Steven Tyler and Joe Perry rocked out Aerosmith tunes.
This is the first time the two groups are touring together. The event began in Holmdel on Sept. 14, schedules stops from New Jersey to California and ends in Florida.
Motley Crue played a blistering 90-minute set, pumped by Lee's drums and Vince Neil's high-pitched vocals. A rousing version of "Dr. Feelgood" started the show at an ear-splitting decibel level that never lagged. Other Crue numbers, with Nikki Sixx on bass and Mick Mars on guitar, included "Home Sweet Home," "Helter Skelter," "Same Ol' Situation" and "Girls, Girls, Girls."
The stage was a goth-rock lover's dream, decorated with three tall iron cross-like sculptures, and the show featured extravagant special effects, including fire, fireworks, smoke, sexy female dancers and a rope artist dangling above the stage.
Film on the screens — one large one on stage behind the bands and smaller ones on each side of the stage — alternated images of the bands with sometimes bizarre music-video images, including the usual heavy metal icons — crosses, skulls, flames and scantily clad women.
But the energy was in the performance, with Lee pounding the skins relentlessly — and shirtlessly, all the better to see his range of tattoos.
Neil's unique voice pierced through the thundering bass and howling guitar notes.
A raging guitar-smashing by Sixx closed the Crue show.
That set the stage for a raucous, blues rock-oriented Aerosmith routine.
Lead singer Steven Tyler danced onto the stage in tight red and black leather pants and a leopard-print jacket and scarf, with guitarist Joe Perry clad in a dark blue jacket and black leather pants for the opener, "Jaded."
Tyler dedicated the set to bass player Tom Hamilton, who is recovering from radiation and chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer and hopes to join the tour in October. David Hull filled in for Hamilton, joining regulars Brad Whitford on guitar and Joey Kramer on drums.
A 70-foot-long ramp stretched from the stage into the crowd and gave the crowd an up close and personal look at Tyler and Perry, who both strutted along the catwalk.
Aerosmith classics included "Eat the Rich," "Dream On," "Last Child," "Sweet Emotion," "Cryin', " "My Big 10 Inch" and "Walk This Way," with several burning guitar solos from Perry and incendiary harmonica riffs from Tyler, while numerals flashed on the three screens during "Love in an Elevator."
Surprisingly, Perry made more costume changes than Tyler, including a leather vest without shirt that indicated he's been putting in some serious gym time and a silk magenta shirt, with which he whipped the stage after a long solo.
Although the decibel level dropped a tad with the Aerosmith set, the sellout crowd was still standing, even after being on their feet throughout the Crue performance. The only sitting occurred during the long intermission for set changes.
While both groups have been around for years, they still appeal to more than one generation. I attended with my daughter Adrienne and granddaughters Jillian and Kaitlyn and we all loved the show.
We have yet to figure out how Tyler hits those high notes after throat surgery, and how Lee can pound the drums so consistently for 90 minutes.
But the music — not how they made it — was what mattered to the fans.
Next up for Aerosmith is a spring album. Motley Crue will be the subject of a documentary film titled "Dirt," based on the group's autobiography.
Lee will tour with his new band after complying with a court order that followed a trademark infringement suit regarding its name. Gilby Clarke, former Guns N' Roses guitarist, and Jason Newsted, ex-Metallica bassist, are part of the band, which will be fronted by Lukas Rossi. Instead of Supernova, already the name of a California punk band, the new group will be called Rock Star Supernova, after the TV series in which Lukas Rossi won the gig as the band's frontman. Their debut CD is due Nov. 21 and their tour, with "Rock Star" host Dave Navarro's new band Panic Channel, kicks off at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.
September 24, 2006
Holmdel -— Tommy Lee is an avid Aerosmith fan.
Who knew?
At the kickoff of their Route of All Evil Tour at the PNC Bank Arts Center, and after a grueling set with Motley Crue, the manic drummer sat on stage behind a speaker wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, pumping his arms with as much excitement as the fans while Steven Tyler and Joe Perry rocked out Aerosmith tunes.
This is the first time the two groups are touring together. The event began in Holmdel on Sept. 14, schedules stops from New Jersey to California and ends in Florida.
Motley Crue played a blistering 90-minute set, pumped by Lee's drums and Vince Neil's high-pitched vocals. A rousing version of "Dr. Feelgood" started the show at an ear-splitting decibel level that never lagged. Other Crue numbers, with Nikki Sixx on bass and Mick Mars on guitar, included "Home Sweet Home," "Helter Skelter," "Same Ol' Situation" and "Girls, Girls, Girls."
The stage was a goth-rock lover's dream, decorated with three tall iron cross-like sculptures, and the show featured extravagant special effects, including fire, fireworks, smoke, sexy female dancers and a rope artist dangling above the stage.
Film on the screens — one large one on stage behind the bands and smaller ones on each side of the stage — alternated images of the bands with sometimes bizarre music-video images, including the usual heavy metal icons — crosses, skulls, flames and scantily clad women.
But the energy was in the performance, with Lee pounding the skins relentlessly — and shirtlessly, all the better to see his range of tattoos.
Neil's unique voice pierced through the thundering bass and howling guitar notes.
A raging guitar-smashing by Sixx closed the Crue show.
That set the stage for a raucous, blues rock-oriented Aerosmith routine.
Lead singer Steven Tyler danced onto the stage in tight red and black leather pants and a leopard-print jacket and scarf, with guitarist Joe Perry clad in a dark blue jacket and black leather pants for the opener, "Jaded."
Tyler dedicated the set to bass player Tom Hamilton, who is recovering from radiation and chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer and hopes to join the tour in October. David Hull filled in for Hamilton, joining regulars Brad Whitford on guitar and Joey Kramer on drums.
A 70-foot-long ramp stretched from the stage into the crowd and gave the crowd an up close and personal look at Tyler and Perry, who both strutted along the catwalk.
Aerosmith classics included "Eat the Rich," "Dream On," "Last Child," "Sweet Emotion," "Cryin', " "My Big 10 Inch" and "Walk This Way," with several burning guitar solos from Perry and incendiary harmonica riffs from Tyler, while numerals flashed on the three screens during "Love in an Elevator."
Surprisingly, Perry made more costume changes than Tyler, including a leather vest without shirt that indicated he's been putting in some serious gym time and a silk magenta shirt, with which he whipped the stage after a long solo.
Although the decibel level dropped a tad with the Aerosmith set, the sellout crowd was still standing, even after being on their feet throughout the Crue performance. The only sitting occurred during the long intermission for set changes.
While both groups have been around for years, they still appeal to more than one generation. I attended with my daughter Adrienne and granddaughters Jillian and Kaitlyn and we all loved the show.
We have yet to figure out how Tyler hits those high notes after throat surgery, and how Lee can pound the drums so consistently for 90 minutes.
But the music — not how they made it — was what mattered to the fans.
Next up for Aerosmith is a spring album. Motley Crue will be the subject of a documentary film titled "Dirt," based on the group's autobiography.
Lee will tour with his new band after complying with a court order that followed a trademark infringement suit regarding its name. Gilby Clarke, former Guns N' Roses guitarist, and Jason Newsted, ex-Metallica bassist, are part of the band, which will be fronted by Lukas Rossi. Instead of Supernova, already the name of a California punk band, the new group will be called Rock Star Supernova, after the TV series in which Lukas Rossi won the gig as the band's frontman. Their debut CD is due Nov. 21 and their tour, with "Rock Star" host Dave Navarro's new band Panic Channel, kicks off at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.
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