Abort Magazine, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
January 26, 2010

Joe Perry, General Motors Place, Vancouver, B.C., Canada – 1/24/10
(Photo by Scott Alexander/Obsidian Fox Photography)

More photos:  (here).

People.com
January 29, 2010

As performances go, Steven Tyler nailed it.

The longtime Aerosmith frontman, who announced in December that he had entered rehab for pain management and an addiction to prescription painkillers, put on a brief show in the unlikeliest of places: a Home Depot.

Last Saturday, the singer, 61, visited the home improvement store’s outlet in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where he serenaded shoppers over the p.a. system with Aerosmith hits “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Oddly, it wasn’t his only impromptu desert gig lately. On Jan. 19, he also joined a group of people at the Tilted Kilt, a Palm Desert pub, watching a karaoke competition. After two singers were booed during their rendition of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” Tyler grabbed the mike and finished the song, Mike May (a.k.a. DJ Kermie), who was working that night, told the Desert Sun.

The sightings have led to speculation that the singer has completed his treatment. In fact, Tyler is still in rehab.

“Steven Tyler has completed the first 30 days of intensive sobriety treatment and is now in a 90-day residential day treatment program,” Eric Sherman, the president of Tenth Street Entertainment, Tyler’s management company, tells PEOPLE.

A source close to Tyler explains that the singer “has privileges to leave the grounds,” and the reason for his Home Depot trip was simple: “He was shopping.”

Sherman says the singer is “a performer 24/7 – whether he’s on stage, at the Home Depot or singing karaoke,” and adds, “We are all really proud of Steven’s continuing successful therapy and look forward to the day he returns to the stage and recording studio with Aerosmith to make new music for the fans.”

Tyler, who has suffered orthopedic injuries over the past decade that have left him with chronic pain, will require additional surgeries on his knees and feet, his physician, Dr. Brian McKeon, Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at Tufts School of Medicine, said in December.

In a recent interview, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry expressed hope that Tyler would be well enough to rejoin the band in the future: “I’m ready to write with him, to play on stage with him anytime he’s physically ready and wants to do it.”

Aero Force One
January 28, 2010

Be sure to catch Joey Kramer on the upcoming 4th season of That Metal Show! Tune-in Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 11pm ET/PT, 10pm CT on VH1 Classic to watch Eddie Trunk interview the Kramedog.

Aero Force One
January 24, 2010

This is a story I wrote for our book,”Walk This Way.” It was broken into sections and mingled with other people’s recollections about this particular incident. I thought you might like to check it out in its original form. The story is about our insane, occasionally violent friend, Gary Cabozzi, who lived in the basement of our building. He protected us, helped us and made us very nervous at the same time. Another character mentioned was John O’toole who was also generous and occasionally violent. Both of these guys are mentioned in detail in the book. Also mentioned is Frank Connelly, our beloved first manager.

Somehow we got it into our heads around the time of the first album that we should hire Gary to be our roadie. He was already helping us out from time to time so… why not make it official?

We have a long history of giving friends who had no experience at a particular job, THAT job. This time it was a real disaster.

Things started out okay. God knows Cabozzi was enthusiastic and he also knows that he was big and strong enough to lug the gear. The only trouble was that if Gary ran into some kind of problem, he usually solved it by threatening to beat the s#@t out of somebody. It didn’t help that the work day usually started with a couple of six-packs. More and more we’d get to a gig and somebody would tell us about how Gary was threatening and antagonizing everybody at the venue. It pretty much came to an end one day when we were down at Intermedia doing some recording. Intermedia was a studio in Boston where we had recorded our first album and where we returned from time to time to do other projects. We arrived sometime after Gary and started hearing politely phrased reports from the engineers about this big guy that was basically taking over the studio. We had a quick meeting and decided it was time to talk to John (O’Toole) and Frank about Firing Gary.

We knew there was no way he was going to see it as simply a business decision. As far as he was concerned, we were blood friends for life and firing him was like sh@#ting on all the favors he had done for us. What we were mostly concerned about was that he would take a s@#t on us.

“How the hell are we going to tell him?” no one in particular asked, “He’ll freak out!”

“Yeah and then what?” “I don’t even want to think about it!”

“Aw, f@#k it. I’ll tell him” John offered. To us it made perfect sense. If Gary wigged out, John, with all his street knowledge, would know how to handle it.

We split, went back to the apartment and waited to hear how it went. A while later Frank called:

“Gary freaked out, he’s on a rampage, meet me at Giro’s.”

A little while later we were there. Giro’s was one of the many Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End. It was also a hang-out for Frank and some of the more notorious locals he did business with. Within a few minutes the first order of business was taken care of: Drinks.

“So what’s going on with Gary… anybody heard anything?”

“I heard he was runnin’ around the neighborhood smashing cars with a baseball bat.”

“What!!? You’re kiddin’… he must be PISSED! He’ll kill us!

“Don’t worry boys I’ve taken precautions” Frank said in that smooth way of his. “Ah, here he is now”.

Just then, John O’Toole came to the table and sat down.

“Did you get it?” Frank asked.

“Sure thing Frank” John reached into his jacket and pulled out a 45.”

“Gimme THAT THING!” Frank spat.

John slipped him the gun and Frank reached around to stuff it into the back of his pants. The rest of us threw nervous glances. Heads motionless, eyes darting.

After sitting around drinking and eating for a while we came up with a plan. We would all go out to a hotel a few miles out of town and hide out ‘til Gary calmed down.

“Excuse me gentlemen, I have to visit the men’s room” Frank slurred. He was well into a fine buzz by this time. He got up, and noticed none other but Ricardo Montalban (a famous movie star) sitting at a nearby table. Thinking it was Fernando Lamas (another famous movie star, or something) who he had recently promoted, he zigged and zagged this way over to his table to say hello. After a few quick, and probably choice words about booking him when he was nothing, he turned on his heel and set a course for the can. Montalban’s face suddenly turned to shock as Frank walked away. When he had put the gun into his belt, his jacket got tucked in between the handle and his back so it was sticking out for all to see. He left a wake of stunned faces as he drifted off to the other end of the restaurant.

A little while later, we fled to a couple of rooms at the Sheraton Tara way out in Framingham. What started out as an escape from peril, turned into a huge party. We spent a couple of hours getting wasted, decided we were being ridiculous about the whole thing and went home. That was pretty much the end of it.

-TH

TMZ.com
January 26, 2010

Rehabbing rock star Steven Tyler treated a bunch of shoppers at a Home Depot to an impromptu concert this weekend — by singing two of Aerosmith’s biggest hits a cappella over the store’s loudspeaker.

TMZ spoke to multiple employees at the H.D. in Rancho Mirage, CA., who tell us Tyler randomly picked up the microphone on Saturday and belted out snippets of “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for all the weekend warriors to enjoy.

And get this: We’re also told Tyler took a hit from a helium machine and kept singing Bee Gees style while signing autographs for anyone who asked.

Coolest. Guy. Ever.

Aero Force One Forum
January 25, 2010

Tom Hamilton and Adam Ezra Group, 01/23/10

More photos:  (here).

Boston Herald, MA
January 25, 2010

Big Brothers Big Sisters prez and CEO Wendy Foster, left, has a hug for Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer during Big Night 11, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. (Photo by Christopher Evans )

Inside Track: We hear that the Big Brothers Big Sisters bash at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center was a Big coming-out party for Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer and his new wife, Linda, who tied the knot in Hawaii in November. Joey, whose drum set from the “Honkin on Bobo” tour fetched $30,000 at auction, emceed the event, which starred the J. Geils Band . Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck’s band, French Lick, closed out the evening, which raised a whopping $2 million. And that Grousbeck has called in Aerosmith’s video crew to shoot and edit a DVD for French Lick. Download alert!

Boston Globe, MA
January 25, 2010

The J. Geils Band entertained more than 1,000 costumed revelers at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s annual fund-raiser at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on Saturday night. VIPs at the event included longtime big brother Charlie Baker and his wife, Lauren, Highland Capital’s Dan Nova and his wife, Annette, event chairs Joe and Christa Ayoub, former lieutenant governor Kerry Healey, Harrah’s Entertainment boss Gary Loveman, Adage Capital’s Phill Gross, and Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, who auctioned off a drum set that he had previously bought from Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer. Kramer served as the night’s emcee.

Kramer wasn’t the only Aerosmith personality to raise money for charity over the weekend. At the Paradise Rock Club on Saturday night, legendary bassist Tom Hamilton jumped onstage with the Adam Ezra Group at the band’s CD release show, which raised money for Haiti relief efforts. Hamilton joined Adam Ezra and friends for an impromptu cover of “All Along the Watchtower,’’ and told the sold-out crowd, of Aerosmith’s early years, “I remember the first time we played the Paradise.’’ Then he added with a laugh, “Actually, I don’t remember.’’ For the record, upbeat rocker Ezra says he is not on Aerosmith’s list to replace Steven Tyler.

Victoria Times Colonist, Victoria, B.C., Canada
January 24, 2010

Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith) is the opening act for Motley Crue’s Dead of Winter tour. Perry takes centre stage with his band at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, B.C. January 23, 2010.
(Photograph by: Adrian Lam, Times Colonist)

More photos:  (here).

Aero Force One
January 23, 2010

Boston – The legendary J. Geils Band will perform live at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Big Night 11. This event is the organization’s annual winter event with more than 1,000 guests expected to attend. This special evening helps the agency in its continuing effort to serve more children throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

The emcee for the event is Aerosmith’s drummer, Joey Kramer with performances by the J. Geils Band and French Lick. Guests attending Big Night will arrive dressed in costume as their favorite rock star, and will step into a completely transformed Boston Convention and Exhibition Center that will be reminiscent of both a rock star mansion and Boston’s early rock clubs.

The J. Geils Band, one of the best party bands of all time, has reunited for a rare, special performance to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay in an effort to provide more kids with a friend and mentor. Their many hits include Looking for a Love, Whammer Jammer, Give it to Me, Ain’t Nothing But a House Party, Must of Got Lost, Where Did Our Love Go, Love Stinks, Freeze Frame, and of course, Centerfold. Also performing at the event will be local favorite and classic rock cover band, French Lick. Celebrated for their live performances this will be a Boston Rock Party to remember!

The evening also will feature a sumptuous menu prepared by celebrity chefs; Joanne Chang of Flour and Myers and Chang, Seth and Angela Raynor of Nantucket’s The Boarding House, The Pearl, and Corazon Del Mar, Michael Schlow of Boston hot spots Alta Strada, Radius, and Via Matta, and Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger. Each chef will prepare a particular part of the evening’s menu to create one of the New Year’s most eclectic and delicious dinners.

Led by event chair, Joe Ayoub of Robinson Cole, the $1000 per person event is expected to raise more than one million dollars for the non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay agency. Big Night 11 proceeds will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to support its mission of serving children in need of a Big Brother or Big Sister. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s Big Night 11 is Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. For ticket information call (617)956-0228 or visit www.bbbsmb.org

LiveNation.com

Motley Crue – The Dead Of Winter Canadian Tour – with special guests Joe Perry Project and Airbourne
All Ages
Saturday 01/23/10 at 7:00 PM
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Victoria, BC

Get Tickets:  (here).

The Desert Sun, CA
January 21, 2010

Steven Tyler seemed to be celebrating something when he walked his way into the Tilted Kilt pub in Palm Desert Tuesday night.

Whether the Aerosmith frontman was livin’ on the edge or acting like an angel isn’t
really clear.

A Tilted Kilt DJ said he was accompanied by a management team, including a publicist who said the one-time Boston bad boy wasn’t going to sing and no photos would be allowed.

But Mike May, who goes by the name DJ Kermie, took photos of the singer with his cell phone and Tyler sang his 1998 No. 1 hit, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.”

Several Web sites have reported that Tyler checked into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage in mid-December seeking treatment for a dependency on pain killers brought on by injuries from the wear and tear of performing. In a story posted on Topix.com, a Rancho Cucamonga resident reported seeing Tyler at the Betty Ford Center on Dec. 20.

Six weeks before that, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said Tyler hadn’t been in contact with the band and they were seeking a new singer. But they performed a song together on Nov. 10 in New York and Tyler said he wasn’t quitting Aerosmith.
May said Tyler came into the Tilted Kilt during a karaoke competition. He applauded the performers, May said, and was “very gracious and very kind.”

Then two amateur singers told Tyler they were going to perform a version of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” that was going to “totally suck.” Tyler apparently gave them his blessing, but when their prediction proved prophetic, the crowd started booing them off the stage, May said.

The DJ began singing along to try to save his show, he said, when “all of a sudden, near the end of the song, (Tyler) grabbed the mic and started singing. The whole frickin’ bar surrounded him and he just started singing the whole thing.”
May announced Tyler to the stunned crowd and said, “Karaoke will never get better then that.”

But by then, the patrons were texting their friends. Tyler knew the place would be besieged with gawkers in minutes. He picked up his coat and left the bar with his party.

But May said “It was like one of those moments.” He called it “a club DJ’s dream come true.”

Zoiks! Online
By Bob Zerull
January 20, 2010

We all have heroes growing up. For me it was Joe Perry of Aerosmith. He wasn’t the best guitar player, but he was good and more importantly he was cool and mysterious…which is a cliché nowadays, but only a few guys could and can still pull it off and Joe Perry is one of them.

The other day I was over at www.joeperry.com looking at his hot sauces. Being that this guy is my childhood hero I had to try out some of his hot sauce. His Mango Peach hot sauce was being sold in a bundle with “Have Guitar, Will Travel,” the new Joe Perry Project album, so I picked it up. The album came out in October, but I never got a chance to pick it up and listen to it.

When I got the album in the mail I immediately put the album in my computer and listened to it. My computer only gets so loud and has crappy speakers. I listened to the whole album on my laptop and I must admit I was disappointed. As I was listening to the album I was also reading the CD booklet. In the booklet Perry says to turn it up…it sounds great louder. Later that day I went for a drive, I popped “Have Guitar, Will Travel” in and cranked it up. I swear to God it was like listening to an entirely different album.

The first song was “We’ve Got a Long Way to Go” which sounds nothing like an Aerosmith song, it kind of sounds like a mixture of Collective Soul and Cheap Trick. If I had to guess I’d guess it’s the most produced track on the album. The track is tight with an amazing guitar solo at the end. It’s probably the only song catchy enough to get radio play (which is more of an insult to what the radio plays).

Perry takes the lead vocals on the next track “Slingshot.” This was the song that made me start believing in the album again. When I turned the volume up, this song came to life. Perry’s vocal is turned down and almost gets lost within the music, which really adds to the song. What I love the most is that it sounds like a band is playing the song live and they just hit record rather than laying down separate tracks for each instrument. I love everything Aerosmith has ever done, but if I had any complaints it’d be that “Just Push Play” seemed over produced. I still like the album though.

Aerosmith is known for their ballads, in the 70’s their ballads were darker (“Seasons of Wither”). “Do You Wonder” and “Oh Lord (21 Grams)” are definitely in that vein. My personal favorite song on the album is a cover of the old Fleetwood Mac song “Somebody’s Gonna Get (Their Head Kicked in Tonite”). This song was terrible when I first heard it on my laptop, but it’s a lot of fun when it’s blaring through real speakers. The song is so much fun.

Other notable tracks are “Heaven and Hell” which is a busy song. I love the drum work on it. It’s kind of a slow dark song with upbeat drumming which makes it that much more haunting. I love the subject matter as well, you can’t believe in Heaven if you don’t believe in Hell. The instrumental track “Wooden Ships” stands out for me. It reminds me of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” mixed with a Jeff Beck instrumental track. While my opinion may be biased, I think “Have Guitar, Will Travel” is a solid and fun rock record. Is it Aerosmith? No, but it’s definitely going to remain on my MP3/in my CD player for awhile.

iTunesJunkie.com
January 19, 2010

Amazon is offering Aerosmith’s Joe Perry’s “We’ve Got A Long Way To Go” single for free… with no DRM. Note that Amazon’s daily deals disappear within 24 hours, so jump quickly!

Amazon.com

“We’ve Got A Long Way To Go”
by Joe Perry
From the Album Have Guitar, Will Travel

Price: FREE

Original Release Date: October 6, 2009
Format – Music: MP3
Compatible with MP3 Players (including with iPod®), iTunes, Windows Media Player

Download:  (here).

Pollstar.com
January 18, 2010

The fate of one of America’s most popular rock bands has been up in the air since frontman Tyler tumbled off a stage in Sturgis, S.D., last August, resulting in neck and shoulder injuries and causing the band to cancel its world tour.

After Tyler recuperated enough from injuries so that the band could do a few one-offs, the singer told Classic Rock Magazine that he would be working on “Brand Tyler,” leading many, including Perry, to think Tyler had quit the band.”

But Tyler eventually disavowed those words. In a statement released in late December, Tyler said he was in rehab to treat a 10-year addiction to painkillers and eager to rejoin his Aerosmith comrades.

“I love Aerosmith,” Tyler said. “I love performing as the lead singer in Aerosmith. I am grateful for all of the support and love I am receiving and am committed to getting things taken care of.”

At that time, Perry told People the band was getting used to the idea that Tyler wouldn’t be joining the band for up to two years.

Now, in an interview with QMI (Quebec Media Inc.) Agency’s Darryl Sterdan, Perry talked about the possibility of temporarily replacing one of the most famous frontmen in rock.

“But he has to have leg surgery and foot surgery and it’s basically going to take him out of the picture for about a year, year and a half,” Perry said.

“So, in the meantime, the rest of the band wants to play. And I want to play with the other guys in Aerosmith. So the four of us are just making our plans. We’re gonna find somebody to get in there and fill that spot.”

Perry said they’ve talked to a few people about subbing for Tyler and the band will hold auditions after the Joe Perry Project returns from touring Canada with Mötley Crüe.

“The people we’re talking about, as far as auditions go, we’ll probably just sit round and have a couple of drinks and see if we get along,” Perry said, adding, “Because we’re already gonna know that they can sing.”

Perry was clear that any substitute singer would be a short-term solution meant to keep the band fires burning while Tyler recovers from surgery. Perry was also pretty adamant about what they’d call a Tyler-less Aerosmith.

“I think it would be appropriate to call it Aerosmith,” Perry said. “We’ll play Aerosmith songs. Maybe we’ll do five shows, maybe we’ll do 20 shows, I don’t know. And hopefully sometime Steven will come back.”

Link to complete article:  (here).

Gibson.com
January 18, 2010

Aerosmith Les Paul slinger Brad Whitford, metal magician Joe Satriani, Living Colour six-string giant Vernon Reid, blues-rockers Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Doyle Bramhall II as well as Austin legend Eric Johnson and Hendrix disciple Ernie Isley will be among the guitarists playing tribute to Jimi on 2010’s Experience Hendrix Tour.

The annual tour presented by Experience Hendrix LLC begins its fourth edition on March 4 in Santa Barbara, California. The concerts will also feature Billy Cox, Hendrix’s close friend and bassist for the Band of Gypsys and the last incarnation of the Experience, plus drummer Chris Layton of Double Trouble. Pedal steel star Robert Randolph, blues singer Susan Tedeschi, and Los Lobos members David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas will join the tour in certain cities. Line-ups for each concert and ticketing information is available at http://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/schedule.php.

The previous editions of the tour in 2008, which, like the debut run in 2007, was sponsored by the Gibson Company, was also the final series of performances for Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, who was found dead in his Portland, Oregon hotel room five days after the run concluded. Mitchell’s death left Epiphone player Cox and Nashville-based guitarist James “Nick” Nixon as Hendrix’s lone surviving bandmates. Nixon and Cox both played in the Music City-based King Casuals with Jimi in the early ’60s, shortly after Hendrix was discharged from the Army. As Cox recounts, “Jimi told me that after he became famous he would call for me, and he kept his word. When he did call for me he was so famous he could have had any bass player in the world, but he wanted me. He was a good friend.”

The tour’s roots go back to 1995, when a tribute to Hendrix was organized as part of Seattle’s annual Bumbershoot Festival. That was followed by a string of tribute concerts from 1998 to 2006 in various cities across the country and in London before the launch of the formal biennial “Experience Hendrix Tour” in 2007. A DVD with highlights from “Experience Hendrix” concerts in San Diego and Seattle was released in 2008, featuring performances by Cox and Mitchell, guitar hero and top-flight Hendrix interpreter Mato Nanji and his group Indigenous, blues legends Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin, vocalist Paul Rogers, and former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor.

In a recent press release, Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s sister, explains the tour’s raison d’etre thusly: “Everyday, we see how Jimi’s musical legacy continues to transcend generational and cultural boundaries. This tour is our way to give a live concert experience that reflects the genius of his unifying spirit. Part of our mission is to share Jimi’s music with audiences of all ages and these tours continue to play a key role in fulfilling that vision. As my brother Jimi would say, ‘We want our sound to go into the soul of the audience, and see if it can awaken some little thing in their minds.’ ”

Nashua Telegraph, NH
January 18, 2010

Music has always been a forte for Victor Tallarico, 93, of Nashua. His father Giovanni, an Italian immigrant, was an accomplished cellist. That influence served him well as he would later train to be a professional pianist…..

…..He never scored a famous masterpiece like Beethoven, Bach or Liszt. However, it’s safe to say that his best musical composition went into loving his wife and two children, Lynda and Steven. It’s a score that is inaudible but resonates in the heart.

Like father like son, Steven would go on to join the ranks of the music industry. Unlike his grandfather or father, however, Steven would perform a more popular musical genre and be one of the most accomplished musicians of our generation. Steven Tallarico, better known as Steven Tyler, would form Aerosmith, a rock band with a household name that has been a multiplatinum machine since 1970. “My favorite song of his?” Victor responded, ‘Dream On.’ Because it’s not really a rock song,” Tallarico said. “Of course, I’m proud of him. (He’s) number one in the rock field. There is none like him. There will never be. He, as far as I’m concerned, is a genius.”

Complete article:  (here).

UncleJoe.com

Sunday January 17th: Off The Record with Joe Benson will feature the music of Aerosmith and Joe’s brand new conversation with drummer Joey Kramer.

Listen Live – Check Schedule:  (here).

Blabbermouth.net, NY
January 14, 2010

According to Aerosmith’s official fan club, AeroForceOne, reports that Aerosmith is performing at the Show Of Peace Concert in Beijing, China are erroneous, but the band’s guitarist, Joe Perry, will be there taking part in the event.

The first annual Show Of Peace Concert is a globally televised event that will take place April 17 before an expected crowd of 100,000 at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. Also scheduled to appear are Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and the Black Eyed Peas.

The Show Of Peace will mark Earth Day, which is celebrated each year to promote awareness of environmental issues, promoter Rick Garson said. He called it the first-ever global peace and environment concert in China featuring world-famous celebrities and musicians, according to The Straits Times.

“Tickets are free,” he said. “You can’t charge for peace and green. It is going to be for everybody, it’s like China’s gift to the world and the people. What we are going to do is raise money, obviously, from sponsorship, international distribution, merchandising, Internet, ringtones, DVDs, CDs. That’s how we are doing it, it is being self-funded as we speak.”

More info at ShowOfPeace.com

TV By The Numbers
January 14, 2010

This Winter, VH1 Classic is bringing classic music fans an expanded line-up of all-new original series along with the return of the hit favorite, “That Metal Show.” The new slate of programming begins on Friday, January 22nd at 8PM* with “The Music Video Exposed” and continues with “Behind the Music Remastered,” featuring updated versions of some of the series most memorable episodes beginning on Saturday, February 6th at 10PM*, followed by the premiere of the fourth season of “That Metal Show” at 11PM.* VH1 Classic is also announcing today that they have teamed up with Mark Burnett Productions to bring viewers the new original series “Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp,” which is set to premiere during Summer 2010…….

…….“That Metal Show” premieres Saturday, February 6th at 11PM*

Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine are back and ready to rock into the fourth season of VH1 Classic’s hit original series, “That Metal Show” on Saturday, February 6th at 11PM*. Rolling Stone Magazine recognized the show in their “50 Reasons to Watch TV Right Now” and with upcoming guests like Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, it’s no wonder. In its fourth season “That Metal Show” is also proudly bringing back your favorite studio segments, like “Stump The Trunk,” “Whatever Happened To,” and, of course, the weekly battle to settle all metal battles and end all debates, “The Throwdown…….”

Complete article:  (here).

Straight.com, Canada
By Steve Newton
January 13, 2010

Vancouver doesn’t need no stinkin’ Olympics to be one of the greatest cities in the world. At least that’s what Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry told me today.

“It’s probably one of my favourite cities in the world to go to and to play,” said Perry, on the line from his home in Vermont. “I mean we loved it up there, and we still love it up there. And every chance I get, if there’s even six extra hours I can spend there, I do.”

Perry was calling to promote his upcoming gig with Motley Crue at GM Place on January 24. His regular band has been on hiatus since singer Steven Tyler injured himself onstage a few months back, so he’s put together the latest version of the Joe Perry Project, which will join AC/DC-obsessed boogiemeisters Airbourne in opening for the L.A. sleaze-metal kings.

Perry’s love affair with Lotusland started when the group set up shop here to record its comeback album of 1987, Permanent Vacation, which spawned such radio hits as “Rag Doll,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”, and “Angel”. Back then he was pleasantly surprised to find that Vancouver wasn’t a barren wasteland of ice and snow.

“The weather is actually a lot milder up there than you would think—a lot milder than we thought, certainly. And we’ve been everywhere there. I love Granville Island, where they have the shopping and the open market. We rented a boat and went up in the lakes there. And we almost had one of our sons [born] there. I added it up, and we’ve lived there over seven months altogether. I mean it’s like home there.

“And it was funny,” he added. “My road manager was drivin’ me around the last time we were there and I kept tellin’ him ‘Turn here, go left there.’ He said, ‘You know this town better than you know Boston!’ ”

Victoria Times Colonist, Victoria, B.C., Canada

Mötley Crüe is joining forces with opening act Joe Perry of Aerosmith for the upcoming Dead of Winter Canadian Tour, which begins Jan. 23 in Victoria.

Tickets for the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre concert, one of 10 dates in Canada, [went] on sale at 10 a.m. Friday [11/20/09]. They are available for $79.50/$99 in person at the Save-on-Foods Memorial box office (1925 Blanshard St.), by phone at 220-7777, or online at www.selectyourtickets.com.

Boston Herald, MA
January 11, 2010

By Inside Track

“…….That Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer said the other night that ‘it’s only a matter of time’ until frontman Steven Tyler is out of rehab and the band returns to the studio. Joey represented the band at a fund-raiser over the weekend for the Limbs For Life Foundation at the Boston Teachers Union Hall. A one-of-a-kind Gibson Epiphone Guitar autographed by all Aerosmith members raised $5,000…….”

Complete article:  (here).

Merrill Auditorium, ME
January 9, 2010

Guitar Legends of Rock ‘N Blues
7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Johnny Winter Band &
The James Montgomery Blues Band featuring
Brad Whitford, Johnny A, Barry Goudreau, Grace Kelly, & The Uptown Horns
Where: Merrill Auditorium , 20 Myrtle St. Portland
Phone: 842-0800
Cost: $46 $66

For over 30 years, Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock (a la the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd). Count on Johnny to perform a blistering, late night blues-rock set with his band. Rock N’ Roll hall of Fame inductee, guitarist Brad Whitford, will make a rare appearance on the stage. Brad has 1 American Music Award, 2 Billboards, 3 Boston Music, 18 MTV, and 8 People’s choice. The legendary Johnny A will be gracing the stage on guitar. Johnny A is widely regarded as one of America’s finest contemporary guitarists. Gibson Guitar thinks so – their Custom Shop designed a Signature Edition guitar per his specific requests in 2003. Barry Goudreau, former member of the platinum selling band Boston, lends his chops to the lineup. Backing these guitar legends will be The James Montgomery Blues Band. Whether it’s recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. Adding to this entourage of talent is 17 year old Jazz sensation, Grace Kelly, brilliant saxaphonist & vocalist who is hailed by greats like Wynton Marsalis as a genius and the future of Jazz. Rounding out this spectacular lineup are The Uptown Horns, widely hailed as the premier Rock and Roll horns ensemble in the country.

Tickets:  (here).

Boston Globe, MA
January 8, 2010

Back around 2000 when blues guitar legend Johnny Winter began a comeback march, he enlisted singer and harmonica player James Montgomery. The thinking was that if Montgomery could take over the vocals and add stage presence to the show, Winter could focus on getting back his guitar chops weakened by ill health and bouts of self-destructive behavior.

By 2004, Winter was feeling well enough to fully front his band, and Montgomery went back to the myriad projects he handles as a don of the New England blues family.

“He’s still a good friend,’’ Montgomery said of Winter. “But we both have horrendous schedules. So to see him, I have to book shows with him.’’

Which is exactly what Montgomery did, setting a rendezvous for next Friday at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Montgomery is bringing along some friends, namely Brad Whitford, Barry Goudreau, and Johnny A., three premier players by any measure.

The show will be a sprawling revue, sort of like the approach Montgomery took on “From Detroit to the Delta,’’ an album due out in spring and featuring appearances by Winter, Whitford, and many others. The concert in Worcester will also feature the Uptown Horns and singer Ayla Brown joining Montgomery’s band, which has its own hotshot guitarist, George McCann.

Other acquaintances will be rekindled at this unique gathering. Goudreau, for example, hasn’t seen Whitford since a mid-’80s concert tour when Goudreau’s Orion the Hunter opened for Whitford’s Aerosmith. And Johnny A., whose Streets backed Aerosmith in the 1970s, was looking forward to playing with Whitford, whom he has seen but rarely been able to jam with in recent years.

“Among all these musicians, there is a lot of shared history and camaraderie,’’ Montgomery said. “It’s not like a bunch of guys meeting that day. But you’re also going to hear five really different styles of playing.’’

And you’ll be hearing great players stepping outside of their routines.

“You can’t rest on your laurels,’’ Whitford said, having recently been put to the test in an all-star benefit jam led by Warren Haynes. Teaming with his friend Montgomery in this ambitious blues outing, Whitford said he’ll keep an open attitude.

“It’s always fun not knowing exactly what’s going to happen,’’ he said.

Johnny A. has spent the past decade developing an exquisite instrumental combo that dissolves genre lines to allow for a broad guitar “voice.’’

“I plan on staying away from what I normally do,’’ Johnny A. said. “Something like this, where I don’t have to be the leader, but can just play the guitar, allows me to be spontaneous.’’

Though Goudreau has been digging more deeply into his blues roots as a member of Ernie and the Automatics, most associate him with the anthemic arena-rock riffs and solos he crafted with the band Boston in the 1970s.

“I learned guitar playing to old blues records,’’ Goudreau said. “That’s how I learned to solo. In Boston, I got away from that.’’

Among the blues artists Goudreau listened to, especially for slide-guitar technique, was Johnny Winter.

Winter, who turns 65 next month, has all but sworn off rock ’n’ roll since getting back into shape. Though he emerged nationally on the Woodstock stage (a feat recently commemorated with the release of his performance at the historic festival) and counts “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo’’among his hits, Winter today says the closest he gets to a rock tune is “Bony Moronie.’’ After teaming with Muddy Waters in the late 1970s, Winter directed his prowess strictly toward the blues.

Although Whitford, Goudreau, and Johnny A. used “icon,’’ “influence,’’ and “the real deal’’ to describe Winter, the tattooed Texan nearly lost it all to business mismanagement and addictions to prescription pills. The rise, fall, and rise of Johnny Winter will be told in the book “Raisin’ Cain’’ due out in May.

Winter’s shows typically take an expansive look at the blues, covering the R&B of Ray Charles to the Texas twang of Freddie King, plus his own material, such as the slinky “Don’t Take Advantage of Me’’ recently brought back into the set.

With his touring regimen up to nearly 120 gigs per year – and the roadwork stretching globally – Winter has been sating his fans with a string of albums that compile live tracks recorded over the years. But he said a studio album is in the works.

“I want to make a record and have a lot of guests,’’ Winter said.

Judging from the response to Montgomery’s call for a guitar summit featuring Winter, it seems there shouldn’t be too much trouble getting some friends to drop by.

Straight.com, Canada
January 8, 2010

A minute-and-a-half into “We’ve Got a Long Way to Go”, the opening track on Joe Perry’s new solo album, Have Guitar, Will Travel, the rock legend from Boston reminds you just what it was about his playing that hooked you in the first place. He takes off on one of his patented, off-the-rails guitar solos where he’s rockin’ all over the place and heading for a serious six-string wipeout when, at the very last second, he steers all that reckless riffage into something that makes beautiful sense. A minute later, at the “Come on Joe!” urging of covocalist Hagen—a Steven Tyler soundalike whom Perry’s wife Billie discovered on YouTube—he gets even wilder, kicking off another feel-first solo with an air-raid-siren imitation.

While the 59-year-old rocker’s still got it goin’ on in the guitar-slinging department, his famously questionable singing hasn’t improved much, as you can hear when he borrows the mike from Hagen on the next track, the boogie-blues workout “Slingshot”. Then again, once Perry starts tossing around those crazy, outta-control guitar licks, his vocal deficiencies become somewhat forgivable. The least impressive tune on Have Guitar, Will Travel would have to be track 3, the Hagen-sung “Do You Wonder”, which flirts with the overwrought pop balladry of Aerosmith’s unfortunate “Crazy”/”Amazing”/”Cryin’ ” period.

There’s nothing on Have Guitar, Will Travel that will make you forget “Draw the Line”, “Seasons of Wither”, or any of the other deathless numbers Aerosmith churned out in its heyday. But the engrossing, seven-and-a-half-minute “Heaven and Hell”—reminiscent in a weird way of some long-lost Blue Oyster Cult tune—is a Perry-sung standout, and “Wooden Ships”—a heavy instrumental dedicated to the memory of Les Paul—scores brownie points for inventiveness. Overall, though, the songwriting on HG,WT pales in comparison to that on Perry’s self-titled, Grammy-nominated 2005 solo release. Substandard vocals or not, that one’s a keeper.

Mechanics Hall, MA
January 7, 2010

Friday, January 15, 2010

Guitar Legends Of Rock N’ Blues
Five Legends, Two Bands, One Night!

The Johnny Winter Band &
The James Montgomery Blues Band

Featuring Brad Whitford, Johnny A., Barry Goudreau, Ayla Brown, & The Uptown Horns

7:30 p.m.

Presented by ME Productions

For over 30 years, Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Constantly shifting between simple country blues in the vein of Robert Johnson, to all-out electric slide guitar blues-rock, – Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock (a la the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd.) Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, Johnny was the unofficial torch-bearer for the blues, championing and aiding the careers of his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Johnny will put on a blistering, late night blues-rock set with his band.

Rock N Roll hall of Fame inductee, guitarist Brad Whitford, will make a rare appearance on the stage. Brad has 1 American Music Award, 2 Billboards, 3 Boston Music, 18 MTV, and 8 People’s choice Awards under his belt, not to mention his long career with the biggest Rock N Roll band in the country.

The legendary Johnny A. will be gracing the stage on guitar. Johnny A. is widely regarded as one of America’s finest contemporary guitarists. Gibson Guitar thinks so – their Custom Shop designed a Signature Edition guitar per his specific requests which, when it was marketed in 2003, placed him in an exclusive club that included legends like BB King, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Joe Perry, Pat Martino and Les Paul himself.

Backing these guitar legends will be The James Montgomery Blues Band. When you hear James Montgomery play the harmonica, you’re hearing the blues, loud and fast, hot n’dirty. Whether it’s recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned firsthand from the masters – James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells – at the legendary “Chessmate”.

Barry Goudreau, former member of the platinum selling band Boston, lends his chops to the lineup. This guitar virtuoso will heat up the stage and bring back the good old days when he played with one of the biggest rock bands ever to come out of Boston.

Adding to this entourage of talent is 20 year old R&B sensation, Ayla Brown, brilliant vocalist who was an American Idol Semifinalist in 2005.

Tickets:  (here).

Yahoo! Finance
January 6, 2010

At the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Cisco today announced new customers, features and professional service options for the Cisco Eos(TM) social entertainment platform. Travel Channel, All Access Today and The Eleven Seven Music Group/Tenth Street Entertainment join Warner Music Group as customers deploying the fast-growing Cisco Eos platform…….

……The Eleven Seven Music Group/Tenth Street Entertainment is using the Eos platform to super-serve the music management and record group’s artists and their fans by providing exceptional up-to-the-moment online experiences. They will launch sites for Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue/Sixx:A.M.) and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Blondie. These will be followed by other sites from amongst the marketing and content creation companies’ roster which includes Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, JET, Drowning Pool and more. As they build their social network, rock fans will have the opportunity to interact with and receive special content from their favorite artists, as well as be the first to be introduced to new music…….

……..”Our relationship with Cisco and the Cisco Eos platform allow The Eleven Seven Music Group and Tenth Street Entertainment to expand our online presence to offer the best content, interaction and overall experiences for the fans, and allows our artists to operate their Web sites at the most sophisticated levels available to anyone,” stated Allen Kovac, founder and CEO, The Eleven Seven Music Group/Tenth Street Entertainment. “As a marketing and content creation company, this creates a win/win/win for us, our artists and all of their fans who follow them……”

Complete article:  (here).

Capitol Center For The Arts, NH
January 4, 2010

Cancelled – Dream On, An Intimate Evening with Steven Tyler
Sat, January 23, 2010 8:00 PM

This show has been canceled and all tickets will be refunded in full.

Additional Information:

The presenter, Child and Family Services of NH, released the following statement:

Due to Steven Tyler’s serious health issues, the January 23 charity event Dream On: An Intimate Evening with Steven Tyler has been canceled. While the artist, management and Child and Family Services hope to reschedule the event, it is not possible to establish a new date at this time.

All ticket and VIP patrons will be refunded the full amount of their purchase. Refunds will start on Tuesday, January 5. Patrons who purchased tickets through the Capitol Center do not need to take action. If you paid by credit card, your account will be credited; if you paid by cash or check, you will receive a check from the Capitol Center. VIP patrons will be refunded by Child and Family Services.

Should the event be rescheduled, all current patrons will be given the opportunity to renew their purchase and receive the same VIP package and ticket allocations for the same price originally paid.

On Tuesday, December 22, Tyler checked himself into rehab to get help with an addiction to painkillers he took to manage the severe chronic pain that developed from a decade of performance related injuries. In a statement made to Rolling Stone magazine, Tyler said he is taking responsibility for his pain and that he’s “eager to be back on the stage and in the recording studio” with his band-mates.

Tyler’s daughter, actress Liv Tyler, issued a statement saying, “We love him and are so proud that he is getting help to balance his pain management, not just for himself but for his family, friends and fans.”

Tyler’s engagement with Child and Family Services was intended to support the agency’s adolescent substance abuse treatment initiatives. CFS understands that addiction is a serious disease and supports Tyler on his road to recovery. The agency wishes the best to Tyler and his family during this difficult time.

Sponsors:
» Sponsored by Banks Chevrolet
» Presented by Child and Family Services of New Hampshire

Aero Force One
January 2, 2010

You wanna immerse yourself in All Things Aerosmith??!! Duh!…Who Wouldn’t??!! Make sure You, yeah…You!, don’t miss out on a single Aerosmith picture, blog, video, chat, concert announcement, moment, or memory in 2010!

Make sure you get yourself the brand spankin’ new and totally Spectacular Aero Force One All-Access Membership! It’s the Ultimate Aerosmith Membership for the Ultimate Aerosmith Fan!

2010 Aero Force One All-Access Membership Items & Benefits:

• Opportunities to purchase Aerosmith Concert Tickets – including Pre-Sales – when The Band is on Tour!
  
• Official 2010 Aero Force One Membership T-Shirt
  
• Official 2010 Aero Force One Oversized Collectible Membership Pin
  
• Aerosmith Band Member Photo Pack (Set of 2)
  
• Monthly Contests, Prizes, and Giveaways!
  
• 10% Off All items in the AF1 store!

Included Items:

• 2010 AeroForceOne Membership T-Shirt
  
• 2010 Aerosmith Member Vintage Picture Set
  
• 2010 Af1 Membership Card
  
• 2010 Af1 Membership Pin

More:  (here).

Kelowna.com, Canada
December 31, 2009

Coming

Motley Crue » Hard rock icons from California, with Joe Perry Project (fronted by lead guitarist of Aerosmith). GM Place, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., $39-115, 604-280-4444

More:  (here).

JoePerry.com
December 28, 2009

Insane Chicken

A lot of people know Joe Perry for the sizzling hot guitar leads he lays down in the rock band Aerosmith, but one taste of his Rock Your World Mango Peach Tango Hot sauce will give you something else to thnik of him for.

I’m a big fan of combining subtle sweetness with heat. Peaches and mangos, which are key ingredients in Joe Perry’s hot sauce, are ideal for this. I opened Joe Perry’s Mango Peach Tango hot sauce with high hopes. I wasn’t let down, folks.

Beginning with the aroma, I knew I was in for a treat. I held the bottle under my nose and inhaled the delicate combination balance of peaches and mangos, complimented by the distinctive smell of fresh Habanero peppers.

The Habanero is one of my favorite peppers, but due to its potency, it takes a flavor artisan to blend the Habanero with sweet elements in such a way that the tastes compliment one another.

Joe Perry’s Mango Peach Tango Hot Sauce finds the perfect balance. I opened a bottle at my dinner table, which was laid out with corn tortilla shells and all the fixings for fine tacos. Before I dug in, I tasted my newly acquired Mango Peach Tango by itself. The flavor burst I experienced was beyond compare. This is one of the finest sweet hot sauces I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. It took all I had not to grab a spoon and eat it as a side dish.

After savoring the sauce on its own, I made a taco and generously applied my Mango Peach Tango sauce. You might not go so heavy, but I love sweet heat combinations, so I wanted this sauce to be the star of the show.

With its medium thickness and the generous pieces of peach, mango, and Habanero dispersed throughout, there was no doubt this sauce was center stage. Long after I was full, I continued to eat simply to be in the presence of this sauces’s company. Half an hour and seven tacos later, my Mango Peach Tango hot sauce was nearing the halfway-gone point. I only stopped because I wanted to save some for later.

If sweet heat is your thing, you can’t do better than picking up a couple bottles of this exquisite hot sauce. Without a doubt, the sizzle and flash of Perry’s guitar work shows through in this wonderful Rock Your World sauce.

Click (here) to purchase Joe Perry’s Mango Peach Tango Hot Sauce. Even better, click (here) to purchase Joe Perry’s “Have Guitar, Will Travel” and get a free bottle of Mango Tango!

Aero Force One

Check this out…in celebration of Tom Hamilton’s birthday, Yes, it’s Tom’s birthday (12/31 for anyone who doesn’t know), AF1 wants You to send Tom Happy Birthday Wishes! AF1 will compile them and give them All to Tom.

And Oh, Yeah! of course we got a cool prize for one lucky person. Check it out – AF1 will randomly select one person to win a very special item from Tom’s personal archive collection. And if that wasn’t cool enough – he’ll even autograph it for ya! What is it? Well, you’ll have to wait to find out!

Send your Happy Birthday Wishes to CustomerService@aeroforceone.com with the subject line “Happy Birthday Tom.” Happy Birthday Wishes are due in by Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Pretty easy huh? So watcha’ waitin’ for – get those Birthday Wishes in Now!

Official Rules

The Weekender
By Kevin Krieger
December 29, 2009

Guitarist Joe Perry is allowing no rust to gather on his guitar strings during Aerosmith’s unintended hiatus. Rather than kick back and enjoy some time off the road, Perry has been busy in his home studio crafting his fifth solo album, the aptly titled “Have Guitar, Will Travel.”

First up, “”We’ve Got A Long Way To Go” opens the CD with electronic percussion and bouncy synths, only to be flattened with a punk-rock guitar riff in the first verse. For a moment it would appear Perry had gone commercial, but he quickly squashes that thought with a burst of raw six-string energy.

Half of the tracks on “Have Guitar” feature Hagen Grohe, a young German vocalist discovered by Perry’s wife on YouTube. Why Perry would want a singer so close to Steven Tyler’s mold is puzzling, but Hagen has no problems hitting Tyler’s upper register with ease, especially on “Do You Wonder.” The remaining songs feature Perry singing, and with his limited range and a heavy reliance on reverb, the appeal is somewhat like Keith Richards’ vocal contributions to the Rolling Stones — interesting, but don’t quit your day job.

In the plus column, the 10 tracks on the CD vary greatly in style and tempo. “Slingshot” could pass for a blood relative of The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” while the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Somebody’s Gonna Get (Their Head Kicked In Tonight)” is pure old-time rockabilly. Given Perry’s gunslinger attitude, both songs work well and keep the riffs moving along at a brisk pace.

The most interesting track on “Have Guitar” is an instrumental piece called “Wooden Ships.” Dedicated to Les Paul, the song layers a variety of guitar sounds into a fitting tribute to the late legend. Perry certainly has his own style of playing, but, obviously, he owes a debt of gratitude to the man who invented the electric guitar in the first place.

As a musician, Perry’s motto has always been to let the music do the talking, but hopefully Aerosmith won’t crash and burn (again) in a return to bad behavior and subpar albums. In the interim, “Have Guitar, Will Travel” serves up a nice slice of what this rock icon does best.

Rating: W W W W