Steven Tyler
| Steven Tyler | |
|---|---|
Steven Tyler live in 2007. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Victor Tallarico |
| Born | March 26, 1948 Yonkers, New York |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues-rock, Blues |
| Occupations | singer-songwriter, musician, actor and multi-instrumentalist |
| Instruments | vocals, harmonica, piano, guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, violin, flute, mellotron, hammered dulcimer, saxophone, trumpet,drums |
| Years active | 1964–present |
Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), better known as Steven Tyler, is an American vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is the frontman and lead singer for the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is well-known for his stage acrobatics. During his high-energy performances, he usually dresses in bright, colorful outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his microphone stand.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Tyler had a heavy drug and alcohol addiction. He completed drug rehabilitation in 1986 and maintained sobriety for over 20 years, aside from a painkiller addiction in the late 2000s, which he successfully received treatment for in 2009.[1] After Aerosmith resurrected in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tyler became a household name and has since embarked on several solo endeavors including guest appearances on other artists' music as well as film and TV roles, yet has continued to record music and perform with Aerosmith, after more than 40 years in the band. He was recently included among Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Singers[2] and was also ranked 3rd on Hit Parader's Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time. In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Aerosmith, and he was the presenter when AC/DC was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
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Early life
Steven Victor Tallarico was born in Scarsdale, New York, on March 26, 1948. He is of Italian ancestry (grandfather Giovanni Tallarico was born in Cotronei, Calabria) and German on the paternal. His background is Cherokee, Russian and Ukrainian by his mother. Tyler is the second of two, has an older sister, Lynda, is recently married Emily Williams. His family moved to Yonkers, where he attended Roosevelt High School. He was expelled from Roosevelt for drug use and later graduated from Leonard Quintano School for Young Professionals. Before working as a professional musician, Tyler says he had several jobs, including working in a bakery.
Music has always played an important role in Tyler's life as he was the son of a classical musician who led the Vic Tallarico Orchestra. His father taught music at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx for many years. Steven Tyler also took a liking to blues and in the 1960s, was originally a drummer and later became the lead singer in a variety of bands from rock n 'roll as The Strangeurs local (later changed to Chain Reaction) Chain, and William Proud. Tyler spent time in the summers of his youth in New Hampshire Sunapee Lake, where he met his future bandmates, Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton. He has homes in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Sunapee, NH, Cape Cod, New York and Los Angeles.
Career
Formation and success of Aerosmith
In 1965, before forming the band, Tyler wrote what would become Aerosmith's signature song, "Dream On". In 1969, Tyler attended a local rock show in Sunapee, New Hampshire where he first saw future bandmates Joe Perry (guitars) and Tom Hamilton (Bass). Tyler later stated he was struck by their raw power and "fuck all" attitude. Around 1970, the band moved to Boston, Massachusetts and shared a small apartment on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. Joey Kramer, a friend of Tyler's from New York, was recruited to play drums. They also added a second guitarist, Brad Whitford who replaced Tyler's boyhood friend Ray Tabano.
After spending time on a Boston club circuit under the tutelage of their first manager, Frank Connelly, the band began working with New York managers Steve Leber and David Krebs. They subsequently signed a record deal in 1971 and released their eponymous debut album in 1973. It was followed by Get Your Wings (1974), Toys in the Attic (1975), Rocks (1976), and Draw the Line (1977), 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 all five are considered to be among the greatest 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.
Tyler and Perry were often called the Toxic Twins, for their legendary intake of stimulants and heroin. Their relationship is well documented in many of Aerosmith's video releases as well as in the Aerosmith Behind the Music.
Perry left Aerosmith to begin his own band, the Joe Perry Project.
He was replaced by Jimmy Crespo, who formed a writing partnership with lead singer Andrew Agate, co-writing and producing the album Rock In A Hard Place. Crespo was the key in keeping Aerosmith together until Whitford left, being replaced by Rick Dufay.
Reuniting and getting clean
On February 14, 1984, Perry and Whitford, who left the band in 1979, showed up to an Aerosmith show. According to the band's Behind the Music special on VH1, Tyler alleges he made the first phone call to 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, "The Back in the Saddle Tour," and proceeded to record once again. The band was still using drugs, however, especially Tyler, who had collapsed onstage during several performances in the early 1980s and had long suffered a heroin addiction. In 1986, the rest of the band held a meeting in which they convinced Tyler to enter a drug rehabilitation program.
After Tyler had completed rehab, every other member of Aerosmith eventually followed suit; all had successfully exited their respective programs at various times in the mid-late 1980s.
Comeback and superstardom
In 1985, Aerosmith released their comeback album, Done with Mirrors, which met with lackluster reviews. In 1986, however, Tyler and Perry collaborated with Run-D.M.C. for a remake of Aerosmith's 1975 hit "Walk This Way", which hit #4 on the charts. In 1987, they released 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, charted four Top 40 singles 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 combined, produced theatrical music videos, and won the band dozens of awards. In 1994, the band topped off the success with the release of a greatest hits collection chronicling this time period entitled Big Ones, which sold four million copies and featured two new hit singles.
After the 18-month long Get a Grip Tour ended in December 1994, the band took a break in 1995 to spend time with their families, in the wake of their grueling lifestyle of the previous 10 years, under the helm of manager Tim Collins, who helped orchestrate much of the band's comeback and sustained success. Tyler and Perry also began writing for a new album and the band performed a couple one-off shows in Boston to try out the new material. Tyler and Perry also vacationed together with their families in Florida. However, Aerosmith almost broke up after the band's manager spread rumors that band members were saying bad things about each other and that Tyler was being unfaithful to his wife and using drugs again. The band subsequently fired Collins in 1996 in the middle of recording for their next album. In 1997, they released Nine Lives, which went double platinum; they toured for over two years in support of the album.
In 1997, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were featured in a commercial for the GAP.
In 1998, while on tour in support of Nine Lives, 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 had to wear a leg cast while filming the video for "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which hit #1 on the charts that year.
2000–08
In 2001, Aerosmith played at the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Since 2001, Aerosmith has launched a successful tour every year and has maintained an active role in the music industry, recording the albums Just Push Play (2001) and Honkin' on Bobo (2004). In addition to this, Tyler has kept busy with a variety of side projects and guest appearances.
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 numbers "Livin' on the Edge" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". The band flew back to Indianapolis to perform a show that same night.
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. Tyler sang with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson for a performance of "You Shook Me All Night Long." He also sang the National Anthem to kick off the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.
The 2004 film The Polar Express featured Tyler singing "Rockin' on Top of the World" alongside a group of computer-animated elves resembling Aerosmith.
In 2005, he sang lead vocals on Santana's hit single "Just Feel Better". Tyler also made a cameo appearance in the film Be Cool.
In 2006, after recovering from throat surgery and the grueling Rockin' the Joint Tour, Steven Tyler performed with Joe Perry and the Boston Pops Orchestra for the orchestra's annual Fourth of July concert, 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".
Tyler also recorded a duet with country music artist Keith Anderson, titled "Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll". The song, a remixed version of a song found on Anderson's debut album, was released as a single on the U.S. Hot Country Songs charts.
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. 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, he volunteered by serving Thanksgiving dinner to the needy at a restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida before an Aerosmith show there.
In 2007, Tyler kept active in Aerosmith with the band's world tour which saw them perform in 19 countries.
On May 21, 2008, Tyler checked into Las Encinas Hospital rehabilitation clinic, in Pasadena, California, to recover from multiple leg surgeries. He made a public statement saying that "The 'foot repair' pain was intense, greater than I'd anticipated. The months of rehabilitative care and the painful strain of physical therapy were traumatic. I really needed a safe environment to recuperate where I could shut off my phone and get back on my feet." [3]
On July 14, 2008, Tyler's mother, Susan Ray Tallarico, died at the age of 84.[4]
On July 18, 2008, Steven Tyler appeared with Billy Joel at the last concert to be played at Shea Stadium. Backed by Joel's band, he sang lead vocals on "Walk This Way".
In August 2008, HarperCollins won an auction to publish Tyler's autobiography.[5]
In December 2008, he made a surprise appearance at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concerts at Nassau Coliseum (December 12, 2008) and the Izod Center (December 13, 2008). At the Izod Center, he collaborated with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion".[6]
Recent events
On August 5, 2009, Tyler fell off a stage near Sturgis, South Dakota, injuring his head and neck and breaking his shoulder.[7] He was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital.[8][9][10][11] Aerosmith was forced to cancel the rest of their 2009 tour, except for two shows in Hawaii in October. Back in 2007 Aerosmith had to cancel their first concert in Maui, which resulted in a class action lawsuit involving 8,000 plaintiffs. Attendees received tickets and, in some cases, reimbursements for out of pocket expenses.
Steven Tyler has recently helped make a harmonica for Hohner as part of a "Signature Series."[12]
On November 9, 2009, it was reported that Steven Tyler has had no contact with the other members of Aerosmith and that they were unsure if he was still in the band.[13] On November 10, 2009, Joe Perry confirmed that Steven Tyler had quit Aerosmith to pursue a solo career and was unsure whether the move was indefinite. No replacement was announced.
Despite rumors of leaving the band, and notwithstanding Perry's comment as reported earlier the same day, Tyler joined The Joe Perry Project onstage November 10, 2009, at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza and performed "Walk This Way." According to sources at the event, Tyler assured the crowd that despite rumors to the contrary, he is "not quitting Aerosmith."[14]
On December 22, Rolling Stone reported that Tyler has checked into rehab for pain management and an addiction to painkillers.[15]
In 2010, Steven Tyler rejoined Aerosmith and went on the Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour.
Discography
With Aerosmith
Collaborative work
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Walk This Way" | Run-D.M.C. featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Perry | Raising Hell |
| 1988 | "Wild Thing" | Sam Kinison; guest performers include Steven Tyler | Have You Seen Me Lately? |
| 1989 | Various tracks | Alice Cooper; guest performers include Steven Tyler | Trash |
| 1989 | "Slice of Your Pie" | Mötley Crüe; guest performers include Steven Tyler | Dr. Feelgood |
| 1989 | "Sticky Sweet" | Mötley Crüe; guest performers include Steven Tyler | Dr. Feelgood |
| 1999 | "Roots,Rock,Reggae" | Bob Marley featuring Steven Tyler | Chant Down Babylon |
| 2001 | "Misery" | Pink featuring Steven Tyler and Richie Sambora | Missundaztood |
| 2002 | "Sing for the Moment" | Eminem featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (uncredited; Dream On sample used; New recording not done) | The Eminem Show |
| 2004 | "I'm a King Bee" | Steven Tyler and Joe Perry | Lightning in a Bottle Soundtrack |
| 2005 | "Just Feel Better" | Santana featuring Steven Tyler | All That I Am |
| 2006 | "Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll" | Keith Anderson featuring Steven Tyler | Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll |
| 2009 | "Cryin'" and "Smile" | Chris Botti featuring Steven Tyler | Chris Botti in Boston |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Member of the Future Villain Band ! |
| 1990 | Saturday Night Live: Musical guest; "Wayne's World" sketch | Himself |
| 1991 | The Simpsons: "Flaming Moe's" episode | Himself (voice) |
| 1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Himself |
| 1993 | Saturday Night Live: Musical guest; "Bad Dancer" sketch | Himself |
| 1997 | Saturday Night Live: Musical guest; "Mary Katherine Gallagher" sketch | Himself |
| 1999 | Clubland | David Foster |
| 2001 | Saturday Night Live: Musical guest | Himself |
| 2003 | Lizzie McGuire | Father Christmas/Himself |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Elf Lieutenant / Elf Singer |
| 2004 | Goodnight Joseph Parker | Sammy |
| 2005 | Be Cool | Himself |
| 2006 | Two and a Half Men: two episodes | Himself |
| 2009 | Chris Botti in Boston | Himself |
Dirico Motorcycles (formerly Red Wing Motorcycles)
On September 15, 2007, at New Hampshire International Speedway, Steven announced the launch of Dirico Motorcycles (formerly Red Wing Motorcycles). Dirico's bikes are designed by Steven Tyler, engineered by Mark Dirico, and built by AC Custom Motorcycles in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Steven has been a long time motorcycle fan and riding enthusiast.[16] About the new Dirico Motorcycles Tyler said, “You get on one of these bikes and you can ride for days. These bikes are slick, rugged, and just damn cool. And they’re amazing to look at.”
Steven Tyler also participates in a variety of charity auctions involving motorcycles, including the Ride for Children charity.[17][18]
Personal life
Relationships
Tyler had a brief relationship with fashion model Bebe Buell, during which he fathered actress Liv Tyler[19] (Buell initially claimed that the father was Todd Rundgren to protect her daughter from Tyler's drug addiction). In 1978, he married Cyrinda Foxe [19] an ex-Warhol model, and the former wife of New York Dolls' lead singer David Johansen, and fathered model Mia Tyler. He and Foxe divorced in 1987; in 1997, she published Dream On: Livin' on the Edge With Steven Tyler and Aerosmith, a memoir of her life with Tyler. Cyrinda Foxe died from brain cancer in 2002. He has one grandson, Milo William Langdon (born December 14, 2004, in New York City),[20] from daughter Liv's marriage to British musician Royston Langdon.
In 1988, he married clothing designer Teresa Barrick.[19] In February 2005, the couple announced that they were separating due to personal problems. In January 2006 the divorce was official. With Barrick, he fathered a daughter, Chelsea Tallarico (March 6, 1989), and a son, Taj Tallarico (January 31, 1991).
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 subsequently cancelled.
The surgery, to correct a popped blood vessel in his throat, was a success. In the words of Tyler: "He just took a laser and zapped the blood vessel." After a few weeks of rest, Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith entered the studio on May 20, 2006 to begin work on their new album.
On July 3–4, 2006, Tyler and Joe Perry performed at the Boston Waterfront with the Boston Pops Orchestra and sang the songs "Dream On", "Walk This Way", and "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" as part of the Boston 4 July Fireworks Spectacular. The concert was notable as Tyler's first public performance since the surgery. A tour launched later in fall 2006 with Mötley Crüe, titled the Route of All Evil Tour.
Steven Tyler's throat surgery was featured in 2007 on an episode of the National Geographic Channel series, Incredible Human Machine.
Battle with Hepatitis C
In a September 2006 interview with Access Hollywood, Steven Tyler revealed that he had been suffering from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C for the past 11 years. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2003 and had undergone extensive treatment from 2003–2006, including 11 months of interferon therapy, which he said was "agony."[21]
Painkiller addiction
The Associated Press reported on December 23, 2009, that Steven Tyler entered a rehab clinic to treat an addiction to pain killers he had been taking to cope with performance injuries. The band canceled a summer tour in August after Tyler fell off the stage during a performance in South Dakota and broke his left shoulder.
Tyler's doctor, Brian McKeon, told People magazine that orthopedic injuries over the past decade have left Tyler with severe chronic pain that will require surgeries on his knees and feet.
See also
- Toxic Twins
References
- ↑ Kate the Stanhope. "Steven Tyler Checks Into Rehab for Painkiller Addiction". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Steven-Tyler-Rehab-1013299.aspx.
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/greatestsingers/page/99
- ↑ "Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Speaks Out From Rehab". Jonathan Cohen. Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003809748. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
- ↑ Steven Tyler's mother dies.
- ↑ "HarperCollins lands Steven Tyler's memoir". Matthew Flamm. Crain Communications Inc.. http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/FREE/943003748/1084/information. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
- ↑ "Aerosmith Frontman Performs With Trans-Siberian Orchestra". blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110808. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
- ↑ Steven Tyler Damage Report: Broken Shoulder, Stitches…Canceled Tour?
- ↑ Aerosmith singer Tyler hurt in fall from stage
- ↑ Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler taken to hospital after fall from stage during Sturgis concert: report
- ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617795/20090806/aerosmith.jhtml
- ↑ Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's Fall From Stage at YouTube. (August 8, 2009) Published by the Associated Press Accessed August 11, 2009
- ↑ http://www.hohnerharmonicas.net/steven_tyler_signature.html
- ↑ Michaels, Sean (November 9, 2009). "Aerosmith guitarist: Steven Tyler has quit the band". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov/09/aerosmith-guitarist-steven-tyler. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
- ↑ STEVEN TYLER: I Am Not Leaving AEROSMITH!
- ↑ Aerosmith still on the rocks, say less-famous band members
- ↑ "Steven Tyler Designs $80,000 Harley Davidson Motorcycle". Starpulse.com. http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/09/20/steven_tyler_designs_80_000_harley_david. Retrieved June 20, 2006.
- ↑ "AEROSMITH’S STEVEN TYLER, THE SOPRANOS & ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS ATTEND". Brucerossmeyer.com. http://brucerossmeyer.com/t-bruce-fundraising-efforts.aspx.
- ↑ "Steven Tyler Appearing at the Fort Lauderdale Bikers Bash on December 7". Aero Force One. http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/957026/pid/302766.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Biography for Steven Tyler (I)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878911/bio. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ↑ "Liv Tyler Names Her Newborn Baby". People. December 14, 2004. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1007037,00.html. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
- ↑ "Steven Tyler reveals battle with hepatitis C". msnbc.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15020874.
External links
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