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Aerosmith: Fact is Stranger Than Fricton

2009-11-10T07:23:26Z

Pardon me if I seem a little groggy. I'm nursing a figurative hangover from ingesting a barrage of breathless blogging about what the future of Aerosmith may or may not be in the wake of some recent comments from lead vocalist Steven Tyler. Even some otherwise credible news organizations have joined in the binge.

Surprisingly little of what is being reported about the latest episode in the rock soap opera starring Steven Tyler and his estranged band mates (his "brothers" as guitarist Joe Perry likes to call them) is based on anything other than conjecture about unverified assumptions.

Let's take, for example, how Perry is being identified as the source of the revelation that Tyler has quit the band. What Perry actually said was that all he knows is what he's read online, which is where he says he and his "brothers" learned of Tyler's wish (far from being an actual plan of action, and one he has expressed several times in the past) as conveyed in a recent interview: "I don't know what I'm doing yet, but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler - working on the brand of myself - Brand Tyler."

Significantly, the source of that quote, Classic Rock magazine, has responded to the ensuing flapdoodle by pointing out that "he in no way indicated that he was leaving the band, and just stated that he wanted to spend some time out to record a solo album and promote his forthcoming autobiography."

Let's pause to interject a couple more actual facts. This is the same Joe Perry who stormed off in 1979, leaving Aerosmith and vowing never to return. He returned. Aerosmith owes their record label one more studio album under their current contract. Do you really think the label would accept an album without Tyler as fulfillment of that requirement?

And then there are those who would have us believe that Aerosmith couldn't possibly go on without Tyler. Really? If you think that's true, I would refer you to the histories of Queen, Yes, AC/DC, Van Halen and Journey, all of whom have managed to soldier on with lead vocalists other than those with whom they started. (I would also refer you to a cogent piece by my About.com colleague and fellow rock scribe, Tim Grierson on this subject.)

Am I saying that Tyler is not leaving Aerosmith? Absolutely not. What I'm saying is that none of us, including Tyler (see the "I don't know what I'm doing yet" quote above) and other members of Aerosmith really know what's going on. All we really know is that Tyler isn't returning phone calls, and that's nothing new.

^{Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images}

Aerosmith: Fact is Stranger Than Fricton originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 07:23:26.

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November New Releases

2009-11-04T13:13:01Z

Live performance DVDs and gift-worthy box sets from the likes of AC/DC, The Doors, Paul McCartney and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers dominate the schedule of upcoming new releases from classic rock artists. Here are new releases in November.

November New Releases originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 13:13:01.

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Down, Not Out

2009-11-04T07:14:15Z

Elton John is recovering from a double whammy, described by his spokesman as "a bad case of flu and a minor case of E. coli." The artist has been forced to postpone concert dates in Europe and the U.S., but hopes to rejoin the Face2Face tour with Billy Joel later this month in California.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is upbeat about his recovery after receiving treatment six weeks ago for a joint problem in his right hand. Out of an abundance of caution, Iommi is keeping his arm in a sling but says he is able to play guitar while he recovers.

Eric Clapton continues his recovery from the gall bladder surgery that knocked him out of performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anniversary concert series last week. As he continues his recovery, Clapton's website proclaims that he remains committed to his 2010 concert schedule.

^{Elton John photo by Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images; Eric Clapton photo by Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images}

Down, Not Out originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 07:14:15.

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Rock Hall Rock

2009-11-01T07:21:37Z

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its 25th anniversary with two nights of concerts (October 29 & 30) at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Featured performers, Rock Hall inductees all, included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2, Crosby Stills & Nash, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Jeff Beck (filling in for an ailing Eric Clapton) and Metallica.

HBO will telecast the concerts on November 29. In the meantime, here are some photo highlights of the Rock Hall 25th anniversary concerts.

^{Bono, Fergie, Mick Jagger photo by Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images}

Rock Hall Rock originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 07:21:37.

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Classic Rock Ghost Stories

2009-10-29T10:00:26Z

What with the mind-altering drugs, devotees of the occult, and all those creative imaginations, classic rock was a great breeding ground for tales that just might be true (at least partially) and thus make for some great ghost stories -- the kind that just beg to be told when you're getting into the Halloween spirit.

Classic Rock Ghost Stories originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:00:26.

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How Do You Do Halloween?

2009-10-28T15:45:57Z

Native American spirits. Ringwraiths. Dark and misty houses. Satan, werewolves, and a witch named Hattie. These are just a few of the dark (sometimes humorously so) themes that seem so appropriate at Halloween. Here's our annual survey of some of the creepiest classic rock songs.

How Do You Do Halloween? originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 15:45:57.

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Stones Sideline Clapton

2009-10-28T12:44:53Z

Gallstones. That's what will keep Eric Clapton from performing as scheduled at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert series on Friday (10/30) at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Clapton is recovering from gall bladder surgery and "is very sorry to disappoint the fans" and the Rock Hall, according to a statement. Jeff Beck will fill in.

Phil Collins May Drum No More
Phil Collins says that short of taping his drum sticks to his hands, "for now it is impossible for me to play drums" following surgery to repair dislocated vertebrae in his neck caused, he says, by his poor drumming posture during the Genesis reunion tour in 2007. Collins has adopted a "stuff happens" attitude and says that while, for now at least, he can't play drums or piano, "I can still sing!"

Another Macca Mini-Tour
Paul McCartney has announced seven European concert dates in December, following a similar number of shows in North America during the summer. McCartney will begin in Hamburg, Germany (where The Beatles first gained significant attention) on December 2 and end up at London's O2 Arena on December 22. The "Good Evening Europe" tour is McCartney's first in five years on that continent.

^{Eric Clapton photo by Tasos Katopodus / Getty Images; Phil Collins photo by Friedmann Vogel / Getty Images}

Stones Sideline Clapton originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 12:44:53.

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Def Leppard Tour Cancelled Due to What?

2009-10-16T18:28:38Z

Today's mystery is what's behind the sudden cancellation of the third leg of Def Leppard's North American tour. A statement from the band cryptically attributes the cancellation to "unforeseen personal matters" (which is about one notch above "just because" as a clear reason.)

An apparent attempt at clarification also falls somewhat short. "[W]e don't take cancelling shows lightly, but unfortunately life's commitments need to be the priority." Life's commitments. Really?

No doubt the details will eventually dribble out, but the perception created by the purposely vague explanation (for lack of a better word) is that the tour is being cancelled because they can.

The third leg of the tour was scheduled to begin October 22. Ticket holders will get refunds, which is a polite way of saying that the cancelled dates won't be rescheduled.

^{Def Leppard's Joe Elliott - photo by Paul Kane / Getty Images}

Def Leppard Tour Cancelled Due to What? originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 18:28:38.

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Dickie Peterson: 1946-2009

2009-10-15T19:15:57Z

The original lead vocalist and bassist for '60s/'70s rockers Blue Cheer, Dickie Peterson, has died of liver cancer at the age of 63.

Most of Peterson's career was spent with Blue Cheer, whose heavy metal rendition of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" propelled them from San Francisco psychedelic rockers to national prominence in 1968.

More about Peterson's life and career from About.com's resident blues guru, Reverend Keith A. Gordon.

Dickie Peterson: 1946-2009 originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 19:15:57.

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Must Be Dylan

2009-10-15T18:48:19Z

The latest album from Santa's newest little helper, Bob Dylan, is out this week. Christmas In The Heart is Dylan's first release of holiday music. Most of it is familiar traditional carol fare, but you aren't likely to confuse the artist's tobacco-stained voice with that of, say, Perry Como.

Nestled amongst the silver bells in the winter wonderland is an original Dylan composition, "Must Be Santa." Check out the live stream and see if it's everything you imagined a Dylan Christmas carol would be.

One thing we can't accuse the artist of is commercializing Christmas for his own gain. He's donating all of his royalties to Feeding America. Now that's the holiday spirit.

^{Album cover image courtesy Columbia Records}

Must Be Dylan originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 18:48:19.

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