Aerosmith consists of Brad Whitford (guitar), Joe Perry (guitar), Joey Kramer (drums), Steven Tyler (vocals), Tom Hamilton (bass).
Aerosmith is a preeminent American rock band. Although they are known as a Boston, Massachusetts band, none of the members are actually from the city. Three of the members, Steven Tallarico (Tyler), Joe Pereira (Perry), and Tom Hamilton had originally met in Sunapee, New Hampshire in the late 60's, but had not yet formed a band together. Tyler was from Yonkers, New York, Perry from Hopedale, Massachusetts, and Hamilton from New London, New Hampshire . In 1970, The three decided they would form a band together, and that Boston, Massachusetts would be the place to do it.
Joe Perry and Todd Hamilton moved to Boston in September of 1970. There they met Joey Kramer, who was, coincidentally, from Yonkers, New York, and also knew Steven Tallarico (soon to be Tyler). Shortly after meeting and after hearing Perry and Hamilton play, Kramer agreed to join the band they were forming, with the understanding that Tyler, whom he'd always hoped one day to play with, would be the Lead Vocalist. Steven Tyler then joined them in Boston in October of 1970 and Aerosmith was born. The five original members were: Steven Tyler (Vocals), Joe Perry (Lead Guitar), Tom Hamilton (Bass), Joey Kramer (Drums), and Ray Tabano (Rhythm Guitar). It wouldn't be until the summer of 1971 that Ray Tackano was replaced by Brad Whitford of Reading, Massachusetts on guitar, and that Aerosmith would be complete. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, this is the line-up that is still Aerosmith today.
The band enjoyed major popularity throughout the 1970's, but the split from 1979-84, and the serious substance abuse and drug addictions that contributed to their decline ( The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia reportedly said they were "the druggiest bunch of guys I've ever seen"), would almost succeed in relegating them to the annals of history. However, in 1984, chiefly due to the tireless efforts of Joe Perry's then manager, Tom Collins, to reform the band, Aerosmith was born again. Despite the insistence of his own client Perry that it was unthinkable, Collins succeeded in helping the band resolve old differences and to ultimately overcome their addictions. They went on to enjoy a resurgence in popularity that has made them one of top-selling and most popular rock bands in the world today.
