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The original lineup included Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitar) and
Tom Hamilton (bass guitar), soon adding Ray Tabano as a second guitarist, then
replacing him with Brad Whitford (formerly of Earth Inc.). Tyler, who was originally
a drummer and singer, became a full-time vocalist when drummer Joey Kramer joined.
After some local success doing live shows, Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records
in 1972 and issued a debut album, Aerosmith that included a minor hit single,
"Dream On". After constant touring, the band released Get Your Wings (1974), which
did quite well on the charts.
It was 1975's Toys in the Attic that established Aerosmith as international stars.
Originally derided as Rolling Stones knockoffs, Toys in the Attic showed that
Aerosmith was a talented band in their own right. Part heavy metal, part glam
rock, and part punk music, Toys in the Attic was an immediate success, starting
with the single "Sweet Emotion", then a successful re-release of "Dream On", and
a new song from the album, "Walk This Way". Both of the band's previous albums
re-charted. Aerosmith's next album, Rocks, went platinum swiftly and featured
two FM hits, "Back in the Saddle" and "Last Child".
The next album, Draw the Line, was not as successful, though the title track
proved to be a minor hit (and is still a live staple). While continuing to tour
and record into the late 1970s, Aerosmith acted in the movie version of Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band, covering the Beatles hit "Come Together." As their popularity
waned and drug abuse began affecting their output, Joe Perry left the band during
the recording of their sixth studio album Night in the Ruts in 1979 and formed
The Joe Perry Project. Perry was replaced first by longtime band friend and songwriter
Richie Supa and then by guitarist Jimmy Crespo (formerly of the band Flame) who
recorded the remainder of the album.
