So, it was the 1980's, and Aerosmith were all washed up. Getting themselves back on the road looked like it would take years, if at all, despite their recent success with their 'Back In The Saddle' tour. Then, it seemed as if someone had thrown them a lifeline, and from an unlikely direction.
At the time, the rap group Run DMC was adding their own style to one of Aerosmith's songs. The song, 'Walk This Way', was originally from 1975, and was on 'Toys In The Attic'. It had also managed to get into the US Top 10 in 1977. But, with its toung in cheek basis and a bang on Perry riff, it had a lot of potential, and Rick Rubin saw that it had a massive crossover potential. After a set of frantic negotiations with Tyler and Perry, they came to an agreement: Tyler and Perry would appear on the cover version and would also be filmed as part of the video as well.
Well, the result, as they say, is history. The single not only provided them with a shot in the arm to get them going, as well as a Top 10 single in the US, it also helped them crack the UK charts as well, and started the rap/rock crossover genre.
However, despite the fact that they were finally kick-started back into life, it threatened to soon backfire on the band. There was still the same old stumbling block: the band's addictions. And it was clear to see that a big change would have to happen, and fast; their comeback album 'Done With Mirrors' haddn't done as well as it needed to have done, and their tours breaking down, their manager Tim Collins gave the band an ultimatum: clean up or die.
Admittedly, it was a challenge, but after over a decade of their excesses, the band finally was able to give up their addictions, and soon set to work doing what they were best at: kick-ass rock'n'roll. In a short time, they had churned out brilliant albums, such as 'Permanent Vacation', 'Pump', 'Get A Grip', 'A Little South Of Sanity' and 'Nine Lives', all defiantly asserting the fact that Aerosmith were back, and here to stay as the best ever.
Their next achievement was to crown their renaissance with a best seller, and their best ever hit, which was the tear jerker 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing', which was used in the 1998 film Armageddon, and was their first chart-topper. Mind you, since one of the main stars was Liv Tyler, Steve Tyler's daughter by Bebe Buell, it was appropriate that there were some of Aerosmith's songs' used. It seemed that the song was perfectly tailored to the band, and Perry said later that Tyler "...sang the shit out of that song." How true.
However, despite the fact that it was their best ever hit, it was, ironically, not their own work. The song had actually come from Diane Warren, so it is a bit ironical that their best ever hit is in fact a cover version.
So, this is a basic history of one of the greatest kick-ass bands around, and will retain that title for a long time to come. Even now, they are releasing even more albums. Their latest album is called 'O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits', a double CD album that is as good as ever. After all, all they are doing is going out, playing music, trying to outdo one another and imagining that they are in front of a massive crowd, even if they are simply in Perry's basement practising for an up and coming tour. Mind you, what's new?