Aero Force One
October 15, 2008

Hit Parader

40. Aerosmith, Pump

After a major struggle for survival in the rock wars, Aerosmith proved they still had what it took on Pump, a disc that produced no less than four hit songs and videos. Coming out at the apex of the Hair Metal explosion, Steven Tyler’s bunch showed a younger generation of bands exactly what great rock and roll was all about and they did it with a degree of style and substance that was unique to the Aero Force. With the metal-inspired ‘80s drawing to a close, change was in the air. But the Aerosmith boys took the ecade out in style.

26. Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation

With the hindsight that history so often provides, it’s hard to believe a band as important and influential as Aerosmith ever had to make a comeback. But after a messy breakup and reformation, some within the rock mainstream wondered if Aerosmith could still cut the rock and roll mustard. With Permanent Vacation they deftly proved they were still the preeminent American hard rock band in the land. With Dude look Like a Lady becoming a smash hit, the disc proceeded to sell over 5 million copies, securing the place of these Boston Bad Boys amid hard rock’s all-time greats.

7. Aerosmith, Rocks

It’s a well-documented bit of rock and roll lore that Aerosmith grew up absorbing the classic rock styles of everyone from the Yardbirds to the Stones. They showcased those roots – filtered with their own unique musical twists and turns – on their fourth album, Rocks, which still stands as one of the group’s ultimate efforts. By this time, the then Toxic Twins pairing of vocalist Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry was solidified as America’s answer to Jagger and Richards, and while the wheels would temporarily come off the Aero express just a few years later, this disc still stands as a definitive career high point.