Aero Force One
February 1, 2010

Here’s another one from the early days. For the Walk This Way Book it was broken up and intermingled with other people’s memories of this story. Thought you might like to see it the way I originally wrote it.

It must have been the winter of ’71-’72. It seems most of my most profound early memories of the band happened during the winter.

One day Brad and I decided to go down to Wurlitzer’s, Boston’s main music store, and do some errands. I was always ready to go there. Since I was about 12 or 13 the place was like Disneyland to me. There were always new guitars, amps, accessories and tons of other stuff to check out. Not only that, but a lot of times when I didn’t have any money, there was a great guy there named Billy Murray who would throw me free strings and stuff.

We hadn’t had a gig in at least a month and things were getting tight. Not only that, but we had no place to rehearse. Rent was due on the apartment and the phone refused to ring.

We were hanging around the counter when a friend of ours walked up. His name was Scott Baerenwald and he played for a band called Reddy Teddy, one of the local contenders. He asked us what was up and we told him that we didn’t have a place to work. He told us that his brother was the assistant manager at a place called the Fenway Theater, which was basically right down the street. It sounded far fetched, but Brad and I decided to call the other guys and head over there.

“Just ask for Swine” he said.

“Swine?” I wanted to make sure I had that right. No sense in calling somebody a pig because you didn’t hear their name right.

We all converged at the Fenway a little while later. It’s just a small place, about 1500 seats but it had a big stage and a balcony and everything told us it was the kind of place we wanted to play in.

We wandered in the front door and somehow found our way into a little wood paneled office and face to face with two of the toughest looking people I had ever seen.

Steve Baerenwald, A.K.A. “Swine,” stood about 6’5.” His long red hair was tied straight back. His narrow piercing eyes were only the beginning of a vibe that said he’d seen his share of mud and blood. He was decked out in the classic post hippie denims that all the bikers wore. He introduced us to his boss, John O’Toole. John had the look of a longshoreman. The no-shit face behind his big, bushy mustache gave him a nasty look that made Swine seem like the ice cream man. He had short hair and wore straighter clothes than his partner and he just looked plain mean.

“So I hear you’re looking for a place to practice.”

“Yeah.”

“Well it’s fifty a day plus fifty for the engineer to run the sound system.”

We just stood there watching another opportunity blow away like a fart in the breeze. He may as well as asked us each to cut off a left nut and throw it on the desk. Actually, that would have been easier because at least we each had one of those. He didn’t have to wait for a reply. Our sad stunned faces had “No deal” written all over them.

After letting the value of the favor he was about to do us sink in, he said: “Well I’ll tell you what. I don’t have anybody in here this weekend. You can set up for the next three days and if I like you maybe we can work something out.”

Bam! Just like that we had our first taste of the warm, flip side of John’s personality. He was putting us back into business and right from that moment a second stage booster kicked in. In the space of two hours we went from having no prospects to playing in the kind of place we had dreamed about. It was only rehearsing but so what. The stage even had a lighting system!

After thanking both of them we left to get the gear. As we walked out we noticed this ratty lookin’ little guy sitting in the corner.

“Oh that’s just Prew” said John.

“Who?”

“Prew.”

“Prew?”

“Yeah, Prew!!”

Prew smiled, his single front tooth catching the light. I was never quite sure what Prew’s job was and didn’t really want to know. I don’t remember him saying anything as we filed out.

The Fenway was on a tight budget to say the least. As far as we could see, nothing was happening there outside of John, Swine and Prew hanging out in their den. There wasn’t even any heat. We set the gear up on the stage but had to keep the big curtain closed to keep in what warmth there was. I seem to remember it being about 50 degrees in there. The only heat came from the amps and a lot of jumping around.

Every day before we left 1325 we’d pile on the layers. Then we’d all pile into Steven’s black Volkswagen, two in the front, and three in the back with guitar cases on our laps.

“Man, there’s too many of us for this little thing. We’re gonna blow the fuckin’ engine. Can’t you guys take the train?”

Somehow we all wound up cramming into that little car. I remember trying the train once or twice but after waiting at the trolley stop in the freezing wind chill of the Boston winter while watching the car disappear down Comm Ave, I decided it was worth whatever it took to get in that back seat.

We were getting a really good set of original material together and the rehearsals at the Fenway Theater allowed us to polish it to the point where we were ready to play it for whoever would listen. We’d get there early and go all day. Every once and a while Steven or somebody would disappear and then come back wide-eyed talking about John taking out his big buck knife and shoveling premium blow up their nose. It wasn’t long before we were all sneaking up there.

“You guys are pretty f@#kin’ good,” he said one day. “Listen. Cactus is playin’ here this weekend. Why don’t you come, I’ll give ya free tickets.”

I don’t quite remember what stage of their career Cactus was in but nonetheless, they were a big band and the tickets were free so we decided to go. We packed all the gear down under the stage, ready to share our new found turf with one of the name acts of the day.

The night of the show came and snow was predicted. I remember it was really coming down when we got to the theater that night. I brought some pot and a couple of hits of speed. We marched up to the balcony and took possession of the first row. I leaned back, put my feet up on the rail and fired up the first joint. We hung out for a while and then started to notice that time was going by and nothing was happening. Not only that, but there were only about 60 or 70 people there. I was just getting off on the speed when Prew ran up and said: “Hey you guys, John wants to see you in his office right now!!”

We jumped up and ran down to see what was happening.

“Bad news, the f@#kin’ band can’t get here cause of the weather so they canceled. You guys are going to have to play.”

Their bad news was our good news. We told John we were ready to do it. He whipped out his big buck knife and we knew what was coming next. One by one he told us to lay down on the couch with our heads hanging over the edge as he packed all 10 gaping nostrils with a gigantic hit of cocaine from his private stash.

We were more than ready, now, to hump the gear up the tiny staircase to the stage. Before long we were ready to play. The lights went up, the curtain opened and we were off. We laid into “Movin’ Out,” Mama Kin,” “One Way Street,” and everything else we knew, original or not. There may have only been 60 or 70 people there but they were rockin’. They loved everything we played and showed no sign that they were disappointed that the band they had bought tickets for didn’t show up. I remember how it felt to feed on all that positive energy and how it helped us to sense it and squeeze every bit of energy out of our music. It was a whole new experience but it felt like we had done it many times before.

John was knocked out.

“I wish Frank could have heard “that” he bellowed.

“Who?”

“Ya know, Frank Connelly, the guy I told you about.”

He had mentioned Frank Connelly before, each time with a look of admiration.

“Who is he anyway?” Somebody asked.

“Who is HE!!?? Are you shittin’ me? He’s the guy who put the f@#kin’ Beatles on at Boston Garden! He owns the friggin’ Carousel Theater!” The Carousel was a place just outside of town where all the bands played when they came through: Hendrix, Zeppelin, etc.

After that night it was obvious to everybody that John was going to try to get Frank to come hear us. “He’s never managed anybody before. If he manages you…”

One day we were on the stage rehearsing, hacking away at the arrangements when suddenly the curtain opened and the stage lights came on. John appeared in the aisle downstage and told us to play some of our songs. We had an idea of what was happening but, because of the lights, couldn’t see who was out there in the seats. We played for about half an hour, just enough time to go through some of our best stuff, and then stopped with nothing coming back but eerie silence. We put the mics, guitars and sticks down and made our way up to John’s den. He sat there at his desk with nothing on it but some papers. He told us to read them. They were management contracts! Our mouths fell open as we read the last pages (it guaranteed each of us some tremendously large amounts of income for the first couple of years). It said that if we didn’t make some horrendously large amounts of money in the first couple of years we were free and clear. Somehow we knew we’d be able to pay the rent from now on. And no more stealing meat at Star Market.

Out came the Buck knife.

-TH

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

Aero Force One Forum
January 25, 2010

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

More photos:  (here).

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.

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

Oakland Tribune, CA
December 31, 2009

Today’s Birthdays:

TV producer George Schlatter (80), actor Sir Anthony Hopkins (72), actor Tim Considine (69), actress Sarah Miles (68), rock musician Andy Summers (67), actor Ben Kingsley (66), rock musician Peter Quaife of the Kinks (66), producer-director Taylor Hackford (65), fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg (63), actor Tim Matheson (62), pop singer Burton Cummings of the Guess Who (62), singer Donna Summer (61), rock musician Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith (58)…….

Aero Force One
December 29, 2009

I know, I know! “What’s goin’ on with the band?” “What the hell are you guys up to?” Well it all boils down to Steven wanting to go solo for a while and the other four of us wanting to continue. I’m not getting into what and what not’s been in the press lately. I’d like a day off from all that if you don’t FREAKIN’ mind.

Some weeks ago we finished four shows that were still left on the plate for this year. As we’re getting close to the end of the year I found myself replaying my mental videos of those gigs.

The first one was in San Francisco. It was basically a huge party put on by one of our most massive companies. They may be a corporate monolith but when they decide to reward their employees with a party the lid is basically off the budget. They rented an island off of San Francisco and turned it into soiree central. The place was set up like a permanent venue even though it was only going to be used for this one night. What the hell? We have a history of wretched excess. Why not play for a big corporation enjoying theirs? Considering that it was a party for their employees I guess it’s kind of cool.

A little while before the show we went over to a tent to do a meet and greet with some of the revelers. On the way back I thought I heard someone say that Roger Daltry was playing nearby on another stage that was set up for the party. We headed in that direction and found ourselves in his trailer where he and his band-mates were getting ready for their show. We had met before in Japan a few years back so, even though we hadn’t had time to become close friends there was still a happy re-union atmosphere. We spent a few minutes catching up. Simon Townshend was there. I asked when they would be coming to Boston and then gave him some advice about where to find some cool duds if they want to go out and spend a few quid.

I had a new tech named Mike who usually works for Joe Walsh when the Eagles tour. He had some unexpected time off and came to work for me on our remaining gigs. We had some time for a sound check earlier in the afternoon and everything was tight. We don’t always do sound checks because the sound can vary so much when the venue fills up with people. Some of us almost consider them bad luck but this time it was productive as I got to simplify my set-up a bit.

Steven was off on his own somewhere so we didn’t see him until show-time. As everyone already knows there had been some difficult vibe issues but once we got up on to the stage waiting to go on, I felt us morphing into show mode. It was exhilarating to sense the everyday crap melting away and being replaced by that feeling of diving off a cliff as one, knowing how good that water was going to feel.

We hadn’t played in a while and when that happens a really good show usually pops out – especially if the crowd is really into it which they were. The party atmosphere was thick and juicy so we just fed on it. There were even a few tender moments between us guys in the band. The audience sees some of it but a lot happens just between us.

The next day we saddled up and went to Hawaii. We had a show to make up on Maui and another one over in Honolulu. I love the long flights. I get my stack of magazines and books and space out for a few hours. I’d do that every day but it’s a little harder to get away with it.

Honolulu Airport. Photo by: John Bionelli

So, a little while later we’re at the hotel sucking in that island atmosphere. My body doesn’t even bother getting jet lag anymore. Have you ever heard the sound track from “South Pacific”? My parents used to play it all the time when I was a little kid. There’s a song on it called “Bali Hai” which was my favorite. I could hear its mysterious melody emerging out of my memory as I stood outside gaping at the volcanic mountains reaching up to the massive orange clouds as the sun went down. I wonder if Robert Plant was thinking about that song when he wrote the vocal to “Immigrant Song.” Check it out sometime.

We had a few days off before the first gig which was great for me because I was still recovering from my throat thing back in July. Crap, I wasn’t really planning on bringing that up but I guess I did. Here’s the quick version. I went in for a routine check in the end of June and the doctor discovered a spot he didn’t like. I could tell something might be wrong when he paused with his scope and didn’t say anything for a few seconds. He sent me for a scan which confirmed what he was thinking and then there I was in the process once again. Only this time he sent me to a guy who got it out without a lot of the collateral damage I might have had to deal with. It went well but it put me in a healing process that was still not completely finished when it was time to do these last four gigs. The hell with it. Time to rock.

Photo By: Amanda Ayre

So a few days later we were on our way to Honolulu to play the arena we played the last time we were there decades ago. We jumped into some puddle jumpers and buzzed over there. I spent the time remembering the first time we were there. We definitely thought we were hot shit to be playing in Hawaii back then. It was probably the tour when we promoted Get Your Wings. Back then the world was a little less threatening so we were met on the tarmac by hula girls dancing to our new album which was blasting out of a pair of big speakers over by the luggage truck. As we each got to the bottom of the stairs we got a lei and a kiss. Different world. The only way to get felt up at the airport now is when you’re going through security.

So here we were back in Honolulu wondering if we were at the end of everything. Things have been tough lately. I’m not coming from just my side here. The uncertainty is cruel to all sides in this case. It definitely wasn’t cruel on stage that night though. We buzz-sawed through the set without mercy. It was such a relief to be somewhere where difficult stuff could be forgotten for a while. If there’s one thing that we all share, it’s the idea that when we’re up there the show is all that matters. The discord just doesn’t fit. There’s no place for it.

Photo by: Amanda Ayre

The end of the night came too fast and there we were in our separate little airplanes headed back to Maui in the middle of the night. I was with Brad and a couple of our tour management guys. The excitement of being onstage was still with us. We talked about our impressions of the gig at the top of our lungs because the engines on our funky little plane were so loud. Pretty soon voices gave way to the roar and everybody sat back into their own fatigue and reflection. Feelings of exhilaration and regret banged together in my head as I stared at the darkened shape of the mountains below us.

We had a couple of days off before the Maui gig. One day a few of us went out sailing on an authentic Polynesian sailing canoe. It’s a bit ironic that it’s called a canoe because it’s so big. There were at least six of us and there was still room. The thing was based on ancient designs but for some reason it had a really modern shape to it. One of the guys with us was native Hawaiian and did a really good job of telling us all these stories that have been passed down for centuries. It blew my mind that hundreds of years ago a whole flotilla of these would set sail for Tahiti which is at least a couple of thousand miles away. They had people who knew how to navigate by the stars with no technology whatsoever except the mysterious knowledge they had learned from their ancestors. Somehow they’d hit the bulls-eye.

We stopped to do some swimming and one of the guys disappeared for a few minutes. Suddenly he pops out of the water with an octopus. I’m thinking, “whoa, when’s Spider Man going to show up?”. The thing was totally evil looking and cute at the same time. It was so small you could hold in your two hands. When it was out of the water it lost its shape and turned into a dark green blob. It tried to show us how badass it was by spewing brown ink all over the place. At least I think it was ink. After a couple of minutes our guide decided to get it back in the water before it got too stressed out. We headed back to the shore and as we got close I wondered how the guys were going to land the boat without us all getting thrown onto the beach in the huge waves but they did it.

I swear the second we were back on land I started thinking about the gig. I’m not great at awkward stuff. I tend to worry about it which is something I need to get over. Mostly I was looking forward to it. We were doing it as a make-up show. We were supposed to do it a year ago but some logistical stuff went wrong and we had to cancel it so some lawyers decided to sue us. That’s never happened before. We never cancel gigs unless we absolutely can’t play. I think people on the islands were really frustrated because not as many bands play there as they do on the mainland so when a show goes down its even more of a disappointment. It was a big disappointment for us too because, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a cool feeling that people so far from where we’re from want to hear us play.

I know this is a weird place to pause but I’ll have to finish this little thing later. I hope everybody has an awesome New Year. Make those resolutions! Put ‘em in your head and let them grow. They’ll happen someday!

More later,
TH

Aero Force One
December 24, 2009

Wish Tom Happy Birthday – You Could Get the Gift!

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!

Happy Birthday Tom!

Official Rules

Aero Force One
October 9, 2009

Thanks once again to everyone that contributed to the Tom Hamilton live chat. Tom had lots of fun answering many of your questions! Here’s the transcript for those of you that may have missed it:

 

TH: Hi everybody! Welcome to the chat. I’m sure there’s going to be some interesting questions…I can handle interesting. Just be gentle. Nah…don’t be gentle. Well, maybe…

Robin_B: Hi Tom, What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during this down time? Boy that didn’t sound right?? LOL
TH: I’ve been woodshedding. That’s a musician term for practicing a lot. I’ve been doing a lot of that and recording riffs and working on my studio chops.

TomGirl: testing….testing…..
TH: 1.2.3.

mojo: Are the band members speaking to one another,so much has be said on various different web pages about band turmoil and friction. Will Aerosmith remain part of
TH: I guess we have been avoiding each other a little. We’re getting ready to do a few stray gigs out west and way out east…so we’ll probably break the ice and start talking about getting the record going. I hope everybody isn’t getting sick of me saying that…but things will start moving in the next few months.

CLeM: i am ready to chat
TH: I am ready to rock!

KevinW: It says "The Farm" is your favourite Aero song , on Wikipedia. I have a hard time believing that. Is it true?
TH: That was kind of an old answer. I’d like to take this moment to reset my favorite Aerosmith song setting. I’ll get back to you…but I still do like that song a lot.

TomGirl: What is your daily car, and what is your favorite care that you own?
TH: I have a 1974 Dino Ferrari. At least I think I do. It’s been in pieces for 10 years. When it’s done it’s gonna be a knockout!

KevinW: Is it true that you will be dressed as Katy " I Kissed A Girl " Perry at an upcoming Banned In Boston?
TH: I already did it but I wasnt dressed as katy Perry. I was dressed as the Queen of England singing "I Touched Michelle." Everybody know what that is?

raven: First of all I enjoy you checking in at AF1. Do you have any hidden talents and is there an outfit that you reget wearing?
TH: Read the last answer.

mrs-nikki-sixx: Okay, I heard on our local radio station that we shouldn’t expect another Aerosmith tour until atleast 2010. Is this a fact, or is the radio station lying to us? Hah.
TH: Sounds about right.

aerosmithrocks: Do you guys have any songs finished for the new album?
TH: My answer would be we have a ton of songs that are really close. But you never know what’s going to happen until we get the process going again. Songs that you thought were done could be thrown into the back seat as new ones pop up.

Jaded2662: What inspires you to write songs?
TH: I’ve been to a lot of shows in the last year. I always leave feeling really inspired. Gets me working the next day.

aerosmith0406: is this thing on?
TH: Whoa! Not so loud.

ltlmrm: Are you planning on writing a book about your Aerosmith experiences?
TH: I crave reading. Hopefully by the time I consider writing one people will still be reading them. I do think about it…

raven: angelsoft or charmen?
TH: Sand…I don’t want to miss anything.

aerosmith0406: am i able to talk to aerosmith’s bassist? the most amazing bassist in the world!?
TH: Hey, tell that to the Grammy Committee.

Robin_B: Can’t wait to see you again. I was lucky enough to see you in St. Louis and you were fantastic as usual. Are you looking forward to getting back on the road again?
TH: It hasn’t been that long but I still miss it. I know we still owe some shows to a lot of people out there.

warlez: are there any places that you guys do not like having to play? I’ve heard stuff like Phoenix and Philadelphia
TH: Where the hell did you hear that?

Bone_to_Bone: Just wondering…..when your playing live how many watts are you pushing through those Hartke cabs?
TH: I’m using Ampegs at the moment but I forgot how many watts exactly. I quit counting after a zillion. I seriously don’t know…I just know it’s a lot.

AeroSmith0406: is this working?
TH: God, I hope so.

BoneyardBoy: Greetings from the Netherlands!
TH: Thanks and greetings from the States. We had a blast playing in Rotterdam the summer before last.

CLeM: whats up with all the sounds
TH: Do you hear voices?

Robin_B: You haven’t answered the big question. How have you been feeling??? And don’t say with your hands LOL You have had a lot of support and love around you.
TH: I’m feeling great. I’m feeling the support. Thanks!

aerosmithAARON: Have you heard joe perry’s new album? if so what do you think?
TH: Haven’t heard the whole record yet. I’m looking forward to getting my copy. I admire how he willed it into existence. That’s Joe.

KevinW: who are some of your favorite bassists?
TH: I saw Les Claypool at the House of Blues a few months ago. I was blown away. It was a lot more musical than I expected.

love-me-jaded: in my math classroom, we can bring in pictures to hang up on the wall, and natually, i did a aero-collage, starring Tom of course, anyway whats the weirdest thing a fan ever did for you, like a shrine or something
TH: I love the irony. I was horrible in math.

Bone_to_Bone: Who is your favorite opening band that you have toured with?
TH: I hate to go so far into the past. But I’d have to say AC/DC.

WSG55: Tom, is any of the new material finished?
TH: Man, you guys are like my mom with homework.

Robin_B: wish there was a way to get all you guys in one room and just let you all duke it out until everything is smooth again.
TH: We’ve tried that…it only works once in a while.

pthfndr2976: Looking forward to the upcoming Honolulu concert. Any chance the gang will have time to enjoy the sun & surf?
TH: Yeah…we’re pysched. We’re not coming all that way without hanging on the beach.

Luis_Galarraga: Hi, I’m Luis Galarraga from Venezuela, I’m fan since 1988, I want to know if you would come to our country, many fans are waiting for you in Southamerica, I keep mi ticket for the gig since february 2008
TH: I really wish I had an answer for you. Even though we’ve never played in Venezuela before I know it would be a great experience. We know we have fans there…and we DO think of you guys.

crash_78: Do you have any side-projects in mind since your obscenies adventure ended?
TH: I like to think of Obscenies as being in a state of light hibernation, ready to pounce and dominate the market as soon as I can convince people to buy them.

KevinW: apparently you don’t like playing in places that start with Ph
TH: That’s not true. Just last week I was thinking about playing in Phicago.

CLeM: i feel really left out have you seen any of my questions yet
TH: No, I’ve been avoiding them.

TH: By the way ("CLeM")…you forgot the question mark

TH: oops…I forgot to add a "."

trickymicky: I’m right into garage and psychedelic bands from the 60’s, as well as you guys of course, do you like that type of music and if so do you have any favourites??
TH: Of course…I grew up on that. How about the Byrds or Moby Grape?

ExcitedElaine: Tom, I"ll give you $20.00 in AF1 gift cards if you answer one of my questions. j/k
TH: Are you kidding me? Seriously? Oh my God…I’m freaking out. I’ll do anything…anything at all!

EmGHAVanWinner: Am I connected?
TH: That’s a question for your therapist.

mclovin: What advice could you give someone who is facing a life changing moment?
TH: Just know that what ever changes you go through, even bad ones, you will get something good from it.

NYaerofan: Are you collecting unemployment? lol
TH: I don’t need it. I get a nickel for every dumb question I answer.

TH: Ok everybody…I’ll answer a couple more questions before I gotta go.

FIREDRAGON: youre from Colorado howd you get on the east coast in the early years?
TH: My father, may he rest in peace, was in the Air Force and got transferred a lot. It got me used to moving around.

BoneyardBoy: You mean in 1997 Rotterdam Ahoy? I was there!!! lol The Summer before last should be Biddinghuizen, right?
TH: Oh yeah…how’d I get that wrong?

trickymicky: How about you guys coming Down Under and perform after the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne? This year it was The Who and last year KISS.
TH: These are the kind of ideas that make me want to do this forever. Thanks everybody…I’ll see ya next time!

 

Aero Force One
October 7, 2009

“Listen Up AF1 – This is YOUR Chance to Chat LIVE with THE Tom Hamilton (yeah – That Tom Hamilton) of Aerosmith in this AF1 Exclusive, Absolutely Live OnLine Chat. If there’s anything that you wanna know from Tom – what it’s like to be a Rock ‘N Roll demi-god, the meaning of life, how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, etc. then this is the time (actually, Wednesday, October 7th at 7pm ET is the time) and AeroForceOne.com is the place to connect with Tom and to ask your questions.

Through the wizardry of computer hocus pocus your questions will then be magically zapped to Tom and if you’re among the lucky TH will answer your question Live during the chat! So – Tune In, (All Access Members) Log-In, and Rock Out with TH on October 7th at 7pm ET Right Here at AF1!

Note: You Gotta Be an AF1 All Access Member to check out the Chat. Not signed up yet???!!! (Well, nobody’s perfect.) That’s an easy fix! Click (here) to sign-up for an All Access Membership today so you can check out the chat with tom on 10.07.09!

There will be a specific chat page on AF1 that you’ll be directed to in order to participate in the chat. You’l lhave to login to AF1 with your All Access Membership in order to see the page. Stay tuned!”