Aero Force One
July 22, 2011
It was a busy week at the studio. First up William Hames, the famed photographer and journalist from Japan, came to town to interview Joe and Steven. His informal sit down interview in the control room of Pandora’s Box will be seen and heard across Japan in the up coming months in conjunction with the band’s first visit to the land of the rising sun since 2004 in November. He also took pictures for several Japanese publications including one of the best rock magazines ever “Burnn.” Steven and Joe will adorn the cover of an upcoming edition.
Steven and Joe pose for William Hames
The band are excited to be performing in Japan again as it’s one of their favorite places to play and visit. They have been quite concerned about the people of Japan and of course their fans there. They will get to see first hand the damage and resurrection of this great country. Waku Waku Suru Japan!
The guys also took part in a charity campaign for “Camp Felix.” Camp Felix is an exciting and fun-filled overnight summer camp experience for children in need. Penny Marshall is spearheading this campaign and the guys can be seen in the video along with numerous other celebrities singing “Walk this Way” with different lyrics. Steven re-did his vocals moments before the video was shot. Be on the lookout for it soon. The spot was shot by Michael Coleman (with Jack Douglas’ and the band’s direction) Michael was an intern for Jack when the guys were recording “Honkin’ on Bobo” back in 2003 at the Boneyard and he took a lot of the great photos and video you have seen from that time. He is now working for Lucas films. It has been great watching “The Kid” climb the ladder of success.
You want me to do what?
The Master of the Big Bottom!
Krame dog lays it down
After shooting the video, the guys had a photo shoot with “The Goddess of the Lens,” Melissa Mahoney. This was the band’s first photo shoot in some time. Melissa has to be in my top 3 favorite people to shoot the band. She shares her keen artistic eye with her husband Casey Patrick Tebo who is also the band’s video director. My favorite shows directed by Casey have been the Beacon Theatre show and last years Fenway Park show which I am almost positive will see the light of day sometime soon.
With the temps hovering in the mid 90’s to low 100’s outside, the band stay cool in the cozy confines of Pandora’s Box each day with Jack Douglas laying down tracks for their next release. As you know the band hasn’t had a studio album since “Bobo” in 2004 and an original release since 2001 with Just Push Play. Jack reminds me of Doc Brown from Back to the Future. He seems crazy as a loon but also as sane as a mental health counselor. He does bring an old school vibe with him but that doesn’t mean that this record is going to be the second coming of “Rocks.” Toys and Rocks to me may never be duplicated and they also stand as the benchmark to reach as iconic A-Smith albums but as Joe has stated in several interviews in the past few years that he feels that Aerosmith still hasn’t made their best album. The age old question from most people is, Will it sound like Rocks? C’mon folks, I think that is an unfair question, but what I will say is that this will sound like vintage Aerosmith. Think “Bobo” with killer original riffs. Joey’s playing with the precision of an “Omega Speedmaster Professional” and gets as funky as Clyde Stubblefield on his best days. Go ahead and say “yeah that’s what he gets paid to say” but I am telling you this stuff is going to blow you guys away, for shizzle.
Steven, Joe and Jack get busy. Photo: John B.
Nuff said! Photo: John B.
Joey flying the SOX flag! Photo: John B.
Joe Perry guitar case. Photo: John B.
Next week I will take you behind the scenes with the guys that keep the Aerosmith engine running in the studio.
See you on the road!
John B.
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