Still rockin' after all these years
Indianapolis Star, IN
October 13, 2006
For the luckiest rock bands, time marches on while the fans stay the same age. Young listeners discover yesterday's chart-toppers through their parents' record collections, advice from siblings, Internet research and "heritage" radio stations...
Audience members are expected to range from 10 to 60 years old when the Aerosmith/Motley Crue "Route of All Evil" tour stops tonight at Verizon Wireless Music Center.
"I just have to be very stunned," Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry says of seeing 'tweens, teens and twentysomethings when he looks out from the stage.
"It's come around so far that it's beyond being hip or cool to not like yesterday's music. It's just about good rock 'n' roll. I think younger fans just like that kind of music. They appreciate it when a band like ours comes through and they're actually going to see us play live."
Aerosmith is weathering one of the most difficult years in the band's history. Bass player Tom Hamilton hasn't performed as part of the current tour while he recovers from treatment for throat cancer. Longtime Aerosmith associate David Hull has subbed for him, and Perry says Hamilton could join the tour in late October or early November...
"The attitude of the band is strong, but we haven't had to deal with these kinds of problems before," Perry says in a telephone interview...
"It's just up to the fortunes," Perry says. "There have been enough bad things in our paths that could have taken any one of us out. It's just good luck that we've made it this far, I think."
The band's new single, "Devil's Got a New Disguise," is a no-frills, libidinous rocker that Perry says reminds him of "Night in the Ruts" -- the 1979 album that he worked on until he quit the band in the middle of recording sessions...
Perry says he and his bandmates maintain a belief that signature tracks "Dream On," "Walk this Way" and "Sweet Emotion" were only the beginning.
"I don't think we put out enough records in the early days," he says. "If we didn't spend so much time on the road, we could have put more records out. I feel like we still have a bunch of music left to write..."
Perry agrees that his band has outlasted any stigma associated with longevity.
"Classic rock doesn't have such an onerous ring to it (today)," Perry says. "It's not unusual to hear an Aerosmith song next to a Stone Temple Pilots song next to a Rolling Stones song next to a Franz Ferdinand song. It's just rock."
Aerosmith & Motley Crue
• When: 7:30 p.m. today.
• Where: Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St.
• Tickets: $200, $125, $79.50 and $45.
• Info: Call (317) 239-5151.
October 13, 2006
For the luckiest rock bands, time marches on while the fans stay the same age. Young listeners discover yesterday's chart-toppers through their parents' record collections, advice from siblings, Internet research and "heritage" radio stations...
Audience members are expected to range from 10 to 60 years old when the Aerosmith/Motley Crue "Route of All Evil" tour stops tonight at Verizon Wireless Music Center.
"I just have to be very stunned," Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry says of seeing 'tweens, teens and twentysomethings when he looks out from the stage.
"It's come around so far that it's beyond being hip or cool to not like yesterday's music. It's just about good rock 'n' roll. I think younger fans just like that kind of music. They appreciate it when a band like ours comes through and they're actually going to see us play live."
Aerosmith is weathering one of the most difficult years in the band's history. Bass player Tom Hamilton hasn't performed as part of the current tour while he recovers from treatment for throat cancer. Longtime Aerosmith associate David Hull has subbed for him, and Perry says Hamilton could join the tour in late October or early November...
"The attitude of the band is strong, but we haven't had to deal with these kinds of problems before," Perry says in a telephone interview...
"It's just up to the fortunes," Perry says. "There have been enough bad things in our paths that could have taken any one of us out. It's just good luck that we've made it this far, I think."
The band's new single, "Devil's Got a New Disguise," is a no-frills, libidinous rocker that Perry says reminds him of "Night in the Ruts" -- the 1979 album that he worked on until he quit the band in the middle of recording sessions...
Perry says he and his bandmates maintain a belief that signature tracks "Dream On," "Walk this Way" and "Sweet Emotion" were only the beginning.
"I don't think we put out enough records in the early days," he says. "If we didn't spend so much time on the road, we could have put more records out. I feel like we still have a bunch of music left to write..."
Perry agrees that his band has outlasted any stigma associated with longevity.
"Classic rock doesn't have such an onerous ring to it (today)," Perry says. "It's not unusual to hear an Aerosmith song next to a Stone Temple Pilots song next to a Rolling Stones song next to a Franz Ferdinand song. It's just rock."
Aerosmith & Motley Crue
• When: 7:30 p.m. today.
• Where: Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St.
• Tickets: $200, $125, $79.50 and $45.
• Info: Call (317) 239-5151.
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