Steven Tyler

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Steven Tyler, born Steven Tallarico, is the singer of the American rock band Aerosmith. He was born in New York in 1948 and grew up in the Bronx and Yonkers. His father was a classical pianist and music teacher. At seventeen he saw the Rolling Stones, and everyone said that with his big lips he looked like Mick Jagger. In 1964 he started his first band. In 1969 in New Hampshire he saw the guitarist Joe Perry and the bass player Tom Hamilton play. Around 1970 they started a band together, with Tyler as singer. With the drummer Joey Kramer and later the guitarist Brad Whitford they moved to Boston and it became Aerosmith.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1970s Aerosmith became big with hard rock on albums such as Toys in the Attic and Rocks, and with singles such as Dream On, Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way. Tyler had written Dream On before the band even existed. He has a large vocal range and is known for his high, piercing screams. On stage he is an acrobat in colourful clothes, with scarves tied to his microphone stand. He also plays harmonica and keyboards.

Influence

At the end of the 1970s Tyler became addicted and the band declined. After rehab in 1986, he and Perry joined in on Run-DMC's new version of Walk This Way. That record brought rock and hip hop together and put Aerosmith back on the map. Successful albums such as Permanent Vacation, Pump and Get a Grip followed. In 2001 Tyler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Aerosmith.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2016We’re All Somebody From Somewhere

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• Mixtape 6: Fear of a Black Planet^NL Reader
• Mixtape 7: The 1980s^NL Reader