I love Aero so much, I have a tattoo on my forearm that says 'Ma Kin'.
Probably the dumbest thing I have ever done.
There are 2 different Aerosmiths. First, there was the Aero I cut my musical teeth on. They had attitude. Crunchy riffs, Tyler's slick tongue in cheek lyrics. Those guys put out really good, home grown rock for many many years. A hard living bunch, and it showed in their cuts.
I Wanna Know Why
Make It
Movin' Out
Milk Cow Blues
Combination
One Way Street
SOS (Too Bad)
Seasons of Wither
No More No More
Oh, man, I could go on all day.
Then along come MTV and effectively castrated Aerosmith:
Cryin
Don't Wanna Miss A thing
Livin' On The Edge
Dude Looks A Lady
Rag Doll
Love In An Elevator
Amazing
Phht. That's not my Aerosmith. That's corporate Aerosmith. Unless you're a big enough fan to buy their albums, all you'll hear is this top 40 pap.
However, those songs are from albums that have gone a combined 19x Platinum. You know why? Because artists release singles that are formulaic and bland. Marketing a product that has the best possiblitiy to appeal to the broadest masses.
But, 19x Platinum is successful, not matter how you look at it.
Being an Aerosmith fan, I can tell you, those later albums also have some really good, mean and nasty Aerosmith. Stuff that's gritty and edgy.
I've seen Aerosmith 11 times. I haven't been in probably 10-15 years, though.
I think the thing that offends me most isn't the top 40 stuff. (although I have to admit, 'Jaded' is a great song)
It's the fact that Steven Tyler has turned into a cartoon of, well, himself.
I still love these cats, always will.