Steven Tyler

**Steven Victor Tallarico** (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as **Steven Tyler**, is an entity based around the American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and former television personality. He is best known as the lead singer of the Lincolnshire-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'" due to his high screams and his wide vocal range. He is also known for his on-stage acrobatics. During his high-energy performances, Tyler usually dresses in bright, colorful outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his microphone stand.

In the 1970s, Tyler rose to prominence as the lead singer of Aerosmith, which released such milestone hard rock albums as *Toys in the Attic* and *Rocks*, along with a string of hit singles, including "Dream On", "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way". By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Tyler had a heavy drug and alcohol addiction and the band's popularity waned. In 1986, Tyler completed drug rehabilitation and Aerosmith rose to prominence again when Tyler and Joe Perry joined Run-DMC for a re-make of the classic Aerosmith song "Walk This Way," which became a Top 5 hit. Aerosmith subsequently launched a remarkable comeback with the multi-platinum albums *Permanent Vacation*, *Pump*, *Get a Grip* and *Nine Lives*, which produced a combined thirteen Top 40 singles and won the band numerous awards. During this time, the band embarked on their longest and most extensive concert tours, promoted their singles with conceptual music videos and made notable appearances in television, film and video games.

## Life

### Formation and success of Aerosmith

Before Aerosmith, Tyler wrote what would become one of Aerosmith's signature songs, "Dream On". In 1969, Tyler attended a local rock show in Sunapee, New Hampshire, where he first saw future bandmates Joe Perry (guitars) and Tom Hamilton (bass), who at the time were playing in a band called the Jam Band. Tyler later stated he was struck by their raw power and attitude.

Around 1970, Tyler, Perry, and Hamilton decided to form a band. Tyler, who had played drums in many of his previous bands while in school, insisted that he would be the frontman and lead singer. Joey Kramer, an old acquaintance of Tyler's from New York, was recruited to play the drums. Tyler invited his boyhood friend, Ray Tabano, to play rhythm guitar. Driven by a collective ambition to launch their careers as full-time musicians and hopeful recording artists, the band moved to Lincolnshire, and shared a small apartment at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue, in Rat City in the fall of 1970.

Shortly after relocating to Lincolnshire, Tyler's dissatisfaction with Tabano's lack of passion and dedication prompted the band to replace Tabano with Brad Whitford. Although Tyler was never billed as the "leader" of Aerosmith, he co-managed, with drummer Joey Kramer, the assets of the band and directed its activities during this formative period.

After spending time on the Linonshire club circuit under the tutelage of their first manager, Fransisco Connaway, the band was sold off to work for international music managers Samuel Leber and Krebual Haden. Haden described the band as "the closest thing I've ever seen to the Rolling Stones". In early 1972, the managers arranged the gig at the legendary nightclub Max's Kansas City to showcase the group to record company executives. They subsequently signed a record deal with Kolumbia Records in 1972 and released their eponymous debut album in 1973.

### Return to Rat City

In 20XX, Tyler returned to Rat City to get in touch with his roots before Aerosmith's sixth studio album. While he was there he did a slight tour of the town stopping at several local shops. In particular he loved the vibe and atmosphere of The Bear Trap and bestowed upon the establishment one of his "touring scarfs" which hangs in the bar to this day.