There are few rock and roll front men who are more recognized around the world that Steven Tyler. The expressive singer and entertainer, whose fronted and served as the focal point for mega-popular Boston based hard rock band Aerosmith since 1971, has donned a distinctive look and sound since the band’s inception. Sporting a sometimes androgynous look with draping scarves, nail polish, makeup and his trademark long, flowing hair, Tyler is a hybrid of Mick Jagger’s tenacity and the late Janis Joplin’s bawdiness but make no mistake, he’s his own creature and truly unlike anyone else in the game.
After several years of unparalleled successes, breakups, comebacks and milestones, there’s not a whole lot Tyler and Aerosmith haven’t achieved. Scores of platinum-selling records and record-breaking attendance numbers for their years of arena tours have made the band one of the best-selling and most popular American bands in recorded history. Tyler’s attempted some acting roles, he’s written an autobiography and he’s even served as a judge for reality musical contest show American Idol.
But there’s one thing that, surprisingly, Tyler has never taken a stab at: releasing a solo album. While other band members have dipped their toes in the sometimes taboo pool of stepping outside the confines of a popular group (most notably, guitarist Joe Perry who has participated in several solo projects), the always effervescent and jovial Tyler has never stepped outside the longtime quintet to try his hand at going it alone. Until now.
For his first try at a solo record, Steven, now 68, had decided to go the Country music route. We’re All Somebody From Somewhere (Dot Records), was released last month to generally favorable reviews. Supported by up and coming Country/Rock band Loving Mary (who also serve as backing band for Tyler’s limited run of solo concert dates), the album is a mixture of contemporary Country radio fare, melodic pop and catchy tunes. But the underlying factor, Tyler’s incredibly distinctive and unmistakable emotive, raspy voice, is the air of familiarity that is sure to please the staunchest Aerosmith fan out there.
To promote the launch of his first solo outing and the tour he’s planned to support the record, Tyler recently sat down for a lengthy conference call-type interview session with journalists from a variety of nationwide publications; I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in this thoroughly enjoyable chat.
Never one to be at a loss for words or for an engaging manner in which to frame his words, Tyler admittedly did most of the gabbing during the call. Simple questions were answered with lengthy, sometimes hilarious answers all direct and unfiltered straight from Tyler’s mouth.
Tyler successfully juggled a variety of topics and questions with the greatest of ease: everything from music to fashion to success and did so eloquently and passionately. Interested by the premise of his first solo tour taking on the format of a “Storytellers” forum where he’ll have the flexibility and the freedom to talk more between songs and deliver stories and anecdotes pertaining to each selection, I asked Tyler what longtime Aerosmith fans might get out of seeing him in an intimate setting that they might not get from seeing the full band at a massive arena.
“You know, people go see Aerosmith, and they pay a lot of money, and they want to hear the hits….” he mentioned before wandering off into a fantasy and describing how cool it would be to get to see Paul McCartney live and having the opportunity to hear him offer up some added info about each of his songs and giving some insight into how they were written before launching into them.
Tyler promises to feature plenty of Aerosmith songs interspersed with selections from his solo album when he takes the stage for each of his solo appearances.
Regardless of the set list, the genres covered or the venue in which he does his thing, Steven Tyler will undoubtedly put on a hell of a show and add in his own spice and sauciness to make it truly memorable.
Steven Tyler’s “…Out On A Limb” solo tour comes Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater (1111 N McMullen Booth Rd.) on Monday, August 29. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $204, $154, $104, and $84 in advance and can be purchased by phone (727-791-7400) or online here. VIP ticket options are also available.
