Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler

Stephen Victor Tallarico (born March 26 1948 in New Hampshire, better known as Steven Tyler (and often nicknamed the Demon of Screamin'), is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known for his work in the rock band Aerosmith as their lead singer.

Biography and career

Steven Tyler is of Italian and German descent on his father's side and of Native American (Cherokee) and Russian descent on his mother's.[1]. He is renowned for his wide grin and big lips (a trait he shares with fellow rocker Mick Jagger) and for his high energy stage performances, in which he usually dresses in bright colors and crazy outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his mic stand. In the band's early days, he was also known for having a bottle of Jack Daniel's on stage with him, but he has since discontinued.

Early life and formation of Aerosmith

Tyler (center) with the rest of Aerosmith on the cover of Get Your Wings (1974)

Tyler is from Yonkers, NY, and attended Roosevelt High School. Music has always played a large role in Tyler's life as he was the son of a locally famous classical musician who helmed the Vic Tallarico Orchestra. Tyler also took a liking to blues and in the 1960s, he was a drummer and singer in a variety of local rock and roll bands including The Strangeurs/Chain Reaction, The Chain, Fox Chase, and William Proud. In 1969, he met up with a guitarist named Joe Perry in Sunapee, New Hampshire. In 1970, they met up again and Aerosmith was formed. Tyler and his guitar-playing Aerosmith colleague Joe Perry were often called the Toxic Twins, for their legendary intake of stimulants and Heroin; they have now been clean for more than twenty years. Perry and Tyler met when Perry was working in an ice cream parlour in Sunapee, NH, and they formed a band with bassist Tom Hamilton. The original lineup of Aerosmith showcased a second guitarist, Ray Tabano, who was replaced early into the formation of Aerosmith by guitarist Brad Whitford; drummer Joey Kramer was also added. After spending time on the Boston club circuit, under the tutelage of their first manager, Frank Connelly, they secured New York management in the form of Steve Leber and David Krebs, a record deal and released their self-titled debut album. It was followed up with the classics Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic, Rocks, and Draw the Line, which catapulted Aerosmith to international fame and recognition. These albums produced legendary hits like "Dream On, "Walk This Way", and "Sweet Emotion". Aerosmith's first five albums have also all gone multi-platinum, and Toys in the Attic and Rocks are considered to be among the most influential hard rock albums of all time. However, as the decade wore on, the fast-paced life of touring, recording, living together, and using drugs began to take its toll on the band.

Toxic Twins

Main article: Toxic Twins

Tyler's relationship with his musical "other half" Joe Perry is worthy of note. The two have long been known as the Toxic Twins and their relationship is well documented in many of Aerosmith's video releases as well as in the Aerosmith Behind the Music. Tyler, apparently much more dedicated to the band, seemed to resent Perry's passive attitude and envied Perry's prioritization of the women in his life. The tense dynamic between Tyler, Perry, and their once-friendly girlfriends was apparently a leading factor in the gradual decay of Aerosmith circa 1980. Additionally, the constant touring and recording, the major drug abuse, and long-harbored differences between band members helped lead to Aerosmith's near collapse at the end of the 1970s, just after completion of 1979's Night in the Ruts.

Reuniting and getting clean

In 1984, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, who left the band in 1979 and 1981 respectively, showed up to an Aerosmith show on Valentine's Day of 1984. According to the band's Behind the Music special on VH1, Tyler alleges he made the first phone call to Joe Perry encouraging them to meet up again. Backstage, they all met and Perry and Whitford agreed to join the band once again. Aerosmith embarked on a reunion tour called The Back in the Saddle Tour and proceeded to record once again. One problem was still remaining, however, and that was the drug addictions of the band members, most notably Steven Tyler, who had collapsed onstage during a performance in 1980 and had long suffered a heroin addiction. Aerosmith's new manager Tim Collins and the rest of the reunited band knew that they wouldn't get anywhere with their leader Steven Tyler still under the heavy influence of drugs. In 1985, they held a meeting in which they pressured Tyler into entering a strict drug rehabilitation program. After Tyler had completed drug rehab, every other member of Aerosmith eventually went into rehab and all had successfully exited their respective programs at various times in the mid-late 1980s. Since then, all members have refrained from using drugs and alcohol, and even have gone so far as to try and prevent any member of the band's road crew from using drugs or alcohol in their presence.

Comeback and superstardom

In 1985, Aerosmith released their comeback album Done With Mirrors, which produced generally lackluster results for the band. In 1986, however, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry collaborated with Run-D.M.C. for a remake of Aerosmith's 1976 hit "Walk This Way", which hit #4 on the charts and introduced both rap music and Aerosmith to a new generation, as well as helping sow the seeds for a major comeback. Aerosmith came back big in 1987 with Permanent Vacation which charted three Top 20 singles and sold five million copies. The band followed up in 1989 with Pump and once again in 1993 with Get a Grip, both of which sold seven million copies apiece and launched the band into global superstardom, well eclipsing their success in the 1970s. The three albums won critical acclaim for their innovative musical styles, featured a dozen Top 40 singles, produced theatrical music videos, and won the band dozens of awards. Aerosmith's subsequent touring and appearance on television and in film turned the band into one of the biggest pop culture icons. Steven Tyler, as the frontman for the group, became a symbol for the band, a pop icon, and a household name in his own right.

The band took a healthy break in 1995 to spend time with their families, in wake of their grueling lifestyle the previous ten years, under the helm of manager Tim Collins, who helped orchestrate much of the band's comeback and sustained success. However, Aerosmith almost came to a screeching halt as Collins kept pressuring the exhausted band members. Tensions heated between Tyler and Collins as Collins almost destroyed the band, trying to come between Steven Tyler and other band members and even going so far as to accuse Tyler of having extramarital affairs and using drugs again, both of which were completely false. He was subsequently fired. This, along with a producer change, delayed the recording process for Nine Lives, which was finally released in 1997. While not coming close to the sales figures of Get a Grip, it still went double platinum, and the band managed to stay on top and toured for over two years in support of the album.

In 1997, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were featured in a commerical for the GAP, performing a bluesy number with Tyler on harmonica. This was part of an ad campaign by Gap featuring a variety of music artists.

In 1998, while on tour in support of the album Nine Lives, Steven Tyler suffered a ligament injury when his mic stand came crashing into his knee. Tyler and the band finished the show, but they had to cancel several dates and Tyler still had trouble walking for the filming of the video for "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which hit #1 on the charts that year.

Recent events

The beginning of the 21st century saw Aerosmith spotlight at the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show, be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and release another platinum album.

Since 2001, Aerosmith has launched a successful tour ever year and has maintained an active role in the music industry, recording the albums Just Push Play (2001) and Honkin' on Bobo (2004) as well as a new album expected to be released in 2007. In addition to this, Steven Tyler has kept busy with a variety of side projects and guest appearances.

On 27 May, 2001, at the 85^th Indianapolis 500, Steven Tyler sang the national anthem of the USA. He came under criticism when he replaced "home of the brave'" with "home of the Indianapolis 500." He immediately apologized and reaffirmed his patriotism after the incident.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the band performed at the benefit concert "United We Stand" in Washington, D.C.. Tyler donned a full-length jacket featuring the American flag and the band performed a brief set including the moving numbers "Livin' on the Edge" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which seemed to take on new meaning in wake of the attacks. Amazingly, the band flew back to Indianapolis to perform a show that same night.

In December 2002, Steven Tyler played Santa on a holiday episode of the children's television show Lizzie McGuire. He also performed the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." This was also the last episode that Lizzie McGuire shot.

File:Brian Johnson Steven Tyler.jpeg

Steven Tyler singing with AC/DC's Brian Johnson at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Tyler received an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music, and, in 2005, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Boston. In 2003, Tyler also inducted AC/DC into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after he and his band were inducted two years earlier. Tyler sang with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson for a performance of "You Shook Me All Night Long."

In 2004, Tyler appeared in a television commerical for Sony digital cameras. "The Grind", from Aerosmith's Honkin' on Bobo, is also featured.

The 2004 Christmas movie The Polar Express featured Steven Tyler singing the lyrics to a rocking number entitled "Rockin' on Top of the World" as well as a group of computer-animated elves resembling Aerosmith performing the song.

While Joe Perry kept busy in 2005 with his self-titled solo album, Steven Tyler kept busy with a variety of projects. That year, he sang lead vocals on Santana's hit single "Just Feel Better". Tyler also cameoed in the film Be Cool which stars John Travolta and Uma Thurman. In the film, Steven Tyler does a duo of "Cryin'" with upcoming singer Linda Moon (played by Christina Milian).

In 2006, after healing from throat surgery and the grueling Rockin' the Joint Tour, Steven Tyler came back better than ever. One noteworthy event was when he performed with Joe Perry and the Boston Pops Orchestra for the orchestra's annual Fourth of July spectacular, his first major public appearance since the surgery. During the concert, which was broadcast nationally on CBS, Tyler, Perry, and the orchestra performed a medley of "Walk This Way", "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and "Dream On". Overwhelming applause erupted as Tyler successfully belted out his infamous scream on "Dream On."

Later that year, in addition to working with Aerosmith by touring and recording a new album, Tyler made several more public appearances. He made a cameo appearance on the sitcom Two and a Half Men, playing himself as a noisy, obnoxious neighbor. On October 14, 2006 Tyler sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at Game #3 of the National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. On November 24, Steven volunteered by serving Thanksgiving dinner to the needy at a restaruant in West Palm Beach, Florida before an Aerosmith show there.

Personal life

Relationships

In 1976, he had a passionate love affair with fashion model Bebe Buell, during which he fathered actress Liv Tyler (Buell initially claimed that the father was Todd Rundgren to protect Liv from Steven's then drug addiction). In 1978, he married Cyrinda Foxe, an ex-Warhol model, and the former wife of New York Dolls' lead singer David Johansen, and fathered plus-sized model Mia Tyler. He and Foxe divorced in 1988; in 1997, she published Dream On, a memoir of life with Tyler. Cyrinda Foxe passed away from brain cancer in 2002. In 1988, he married clothing designer Teresa Barrick, with whom he fathered two children: a daughter, Chelsea Anna Tallarico, and a son, Taj Monroe Tallarico; in February 2005, they announced that they were separating due to personal problems. In January 2006 the divorce was official.

Throat surgery

On March 22, 2006, the Washington Post reported that Tyler would undergo surgery for an "undisclosed medical condition." A statement from Tyler's publicist read in part, "Despite Aerosmith's desire to keep the tour going as long as possible, [Tyler's] doctors advised him not to continue performing to give his voice time to recover." Aerosmith's remaining North American tour dates in 2006 on the Rockin' the Joint Tour were cancelled as a result.

The surgery, done to correct a popped blood vessel in his throat, was a success. After a few weeks of rest, Steven Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith entered the studio on May 20, 2006 to begin work on their new album. A tour launched later in fall 2006 with Mötley Crüe, titled the Route of All Evil Tour.

Hepatitis C

In an interview with Access Hollywood, Steve Tyler revealed that he had been suffering from Hepatitis C for an unknown time. He had undergone extensive treatment in the last three years, including 11 months of interferon therapy, which he said "nearly killed me." He went on to add that after the treatment, the disease was now "non-existent" in his blood stream. He calls Hepatitis C, "The Silent Killer." No known cause was provided.

Miscellaneous

• Co-owned, along with Aerosmith band member Joe Perry and other partners, Mount Blue, a restaurant in Norwell, Massachusetts - Tyler and Perry sold their interest in Mount Blue in September 2006.
• His cousin, Tommy Tallarico, is a prolific composer of video game music
• Steven Tyler was born in 1948, the same year as a number of other legendary rock singers including Ozzy Osbourne, Robert Plant, Ted Nugent, and Alice Cooper.
• In Ted Nugent's book God, Guns, and Rock and Roll, Nugent claimed that Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are good friends of his, and praised them for abandoning drug abuse. He also mentioned that the two, especially Steven, enjoyed shooting high-powered firearms and eating home-cooked meals with him during tour stop-offs in Michigan.
• While being interviewed at the 2007 Brit Awards by BBC's Chris Moyles he revealed he has a 27-inch waist.

Quotes

• "Sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll...take out the drugs and you've got more time for the other two"
• "We believed that anything worth doing was worth overdoing"
• "You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap"
• "Was it as good for you as it was for me?"
• "Once I'd tapped into the insanity, the song wrote itself"

See also

• Aerosmith
• Toxic Twins
• Liv Tyler

External links

• Steven Tyler at IMDb
• Steven Tyler discography at MusicBrainz
• Template:Last.fm
• Steven Tyler at Aeroworld