Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has spoken about the years of anger he directed towards his bandmates, and their management, for sending him to rehab in 1988.
He recently spoke with Haute Living where he reflected on his battle with drugs in the 80s.
Tyler said, “Aerosmith made it from 1972 to 1979 not necessarily stoned, but beautiful – then we all became very f–ked up. There were no such things as rehabs – there were mental institutions. I went away in 1984 and 1986, and I didn’t really get it. The early 80s were terrible, and drugs took us down. I was the first one to get treatment
There was a moment in 1988 where management and the band pulled an intervention on me. They thought, ‘Get the lead singer sober and all our problems would be over.
So, I got sober, and you know it took me many years to get over the anger of them sending me to rehab while they went on vacation. But today, because of that moment, I am grateful and owe a thanks to them for my sobriety.”
Tyler adds, “I met my ex-wife Theresa, and I had two more beautiful children. The band hired a new company, Geffen Records, and a great A&R man named John Kalodner. We all had a manager that helped us fight that battle together.
You may never have done cocaine or heroin, but you hear it, and you go, ‘Woah, you were a heroin addict?’ And I would say, ‘Yeah, but that’s nothing compared to when a band writes their own songs and plays them and hears them back in a recording studio on these speakers that are bigger than life.
Then, you are on the radio – there’s no drug stronger than music. My sobriety cost me nothing less than everything.”
additional source: Classic Rock via loudersound.com
7 Responses
Looks like he’s come full circle. Good for him to escape the trap of anger. So confusing when we’re in our twenties let alone having to battle ones inner demons while becoming a world class rock n’ roll star.
Glad to see him and the band come out from the other side….some have not been so lucky. Draw the Line is my favorite Aerosmith release.
“Wig”, my favorite Aerosmith album is “Draw the Line”, too! That song was the first rock song that really got me into hard rock music. My friend and I went to a local record shop to buy some 45s….he bought “Draw the Line”, I bought “Disco Duck”. And when I heard his 45, it just “got” me…..but I still love “Disco Duck”, too, just differently…… :o)
I really like Draw The Line as well, just wish the sound and the production was better. Anyway, here’s my top 10 favorite Aerosmith albums.
10) Done With Mirrors
9) Pump
8) Permanent Vacation
7) Draw The Line
6) Night In The Ruts
5) Aerosmith
4) Live! Bootleg
3) Rocks
2) Toys In The Attic
1) Get Your Wings
“Rocks’ is my favorite album of theirs, with “Seasons of Wither” from “Get Your Wings” my favorite song.
Rattle,
You bring back memories. Rick Dees parody song also reminds me of the 45’s I used to get by this guy Dickie Goodman. He would do these reporter like interviews by insertion of snippets of popular songs of 70s.
Goodman’s Mr Jaws was great !
Disco Duck was worse than disco itself