List of Aerosmith members
Aerosmith is an American hard rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in October 1970, the group originally included vocalist Steven Tyler, lead guitarist Joe Perry, rhythm guitarist Ray Tabano, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer, although Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford early the following year.[1] The band's lineup has remained constant for much of its tenure, save for a five-year period between 1979 and 1984. First, Perry left the band after a show on July 28, 1979, when a confrontation between his then-wife Elyssa and Hamilton's wife Terry led to an argument between the guitarist and Tyler, resulting in the former's departure.[2] After contributing to Night in the Ruts as a session guitarist, Jimmy Crespo was invited to replace Perry in Aerosmith in October 1979.[3] Whitford also left Aerosmith in 1981 to work on a solo project with former Ted Nugent singer Derek St. Holmes.[4] He was replaced by Rick Dufay, before both Perry and Whitford returned to the band in the spring of 1984.[5]
In addition to the band's regular five-piece lineup, Aerosmith has added several touring musicians since its inception. David Woodford performed saxophone on the band's 1973 self-titled album, and was added to its touring lineup for the subsequent promotional tour.[6] Similarly, keyboardist Scott Cushnie performed on 1975's Toys in the Attic and remained for the album's touring cycle.[7][8] Mark Radice briefly took on the role of touring keyboardist in early 1978,[9] followed by frequent collaborator Richard Supa in 1980, Bobby Mayo between 1982 and 1983,[10][11] and Clayton Bruce Ost in 1987.[12] Thom Gimbel joined as Aerosmith's first long-term keyboardist in 1989, remaining with the band until 1995.[13] He was replaced by Russ Irwin beginning with the Nine Lives Tour in 1997,[14] who toured with the band until he was replaced by Buck Johnson in 2014.[15] The 2012–2013 Global Warming Tour featured saxophonist Mindi Abair,[16] percussionist Jesse Sky Kramer (Joey's son) and backing vocalist Melanie Taylor.[17]
Official members
Current members
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steven Tyler | 1970–present |
|
all Aerosmith releases | |
Tom Hamilton | bass | |||
Joey Kramer |
| |||
Joe Perry |
|
|
all Aerosmith releases except Rock in a Hard Place (1982) | |
Brad Whitford |
|
rhythm and lead guitar | all Aerosmith releases – one track session contribution on Rock in a Hard Place (1982) |
Former members
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ray Tabano | 1970–1971 | rhythm and lead guitar | none | |
Jimmy Crespo | 1979–1984 |
|
| |
Rick Dufay | 1981–1984 | rhythm and lead guitar |
|
Other contributors
Session musicians
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Hunter | 1973–1974 | lead guitar | Get Your Wings (1974)[18] | |
Dick Wagner | 1973–1974 (died 2014) | |||
Michael Brecker | 1973–1974 (died 2007) | tenor saxophone | ||
Randy Brecker | 1973–1974 | trumpet | ||
Jon Pearson | trombone | |||
Stan Bronstein |
|
saxophones |
| |
Jay Messina | 1975 | bass marimba | Toys in the Attic (1975)[20] | |
Mike Mainieri | conductor | |||
Uncredited | horn section | |||
Paul Prestopino | 1976, 1977 | banjo, acoustic guitar, banjo guitar | Rocks (1976), Draw the Line (1977) | |
Jack Douglas |
|
|
| |
Karen Lawrence | 1977 | backing vocals | Draw the Line (1977)[19] | |
Mary Weiss | 1979 | Night in the Ruts (1979)[24] | ||
George Young | alto saxophone | |||
Louis del Gatto | baritone saxophone | |||
Lou Marini | tenor saxophone | |||
Barry Rogers | 1979 (died 1991) | trombone | ||
Neil Thompson | 1979 | guitar | ||
Paul Harris | 1981–1982 | piano | Rock in a Hard Place (1982)[22] | |
John Turi | saxophone | |||
Reinhard Straub | violin | |||
John Lievano | acoustic guitar | |||
Drew Arnott | 1987 | mellotron | Permanent Vacation (1987)[25] | |
Ian Putz | baritone saxophone | |||
Henry Christian | trumpet | |||
Scott Fairbairn | cello | |||
Mike Fraser | plunger mute | |||
Morgan Rael | steel drums | |||
Jim Vallance | organ | |||
Christine Arnott | backing vocals | |||
Bob Rogers |
|
trombone |
| |
Tom Keenlyside |
|
|
| |
Bruce Fairbairn |
|
| ||
Bob Dowd | 1989 | backing vocals | Pump (1989)[27] | |
Catherine Epps | voice | |||
Randy Raine-Reusch |
| |||
Henry Christian |
| |||
Ian Putz |
|
| ||
John Webster |
|
|
| |
Desmond Child |
|
|
| |
Paul Baron | 1992 | trumpet | Get a Grip (1993)[26] | |
Don Henley | backing vocals | |||
Lenny Kravitz | ||||
Sandy Kanaeholo | log drums | |||
Melvin Liufau | ||||
Wesey Mamea | ||||
Liainaiala Tagaloa | ||||
Mapuhi T. Tekurio | ||||
Aladd Alationa Teofilo | ||||
David Campbell |
|
|
| |
Ramesh Mishra | 1996 | sarangi | Nine Lives (1997)[28] | |
Suzie Katayama |
| |||
Paul Santo |
|
|
| |
Tower of Power | 2000 | horns | Just Push Play (2001)[29] | |
Dan Higgins |
| |||
Chelsea Tyler | backing vocals | |||
Paul Caruso | 2000 (died 2006) | loop programming | ||
Liv Tyler | 2000 | whispering | ||
Tony Perry | scratching | |||
Jim Cox | piano | |||
Johnnie Johnson | 2003 (died 2005) | Honkin' on Bobo (2004)[30] | ||
Tracy Bonham | 2003 | vocals | ||
The Memphis Horns | brass | |||
Julian Lennon | 2011–2012 | backing vocals | Music from Another Dimension! (2012)[23] | |
Sharlotte Gibson | ||||
Laura Jones | ||||
Mia Tyler | ||||
Johnny Depp | ||||
Bruce Witkin | ||||
Warren Huart | ||||
Marti Frederiksen |
| |||
Tom Scott | tenor saxophone | |||
Jessy J | ||||
John Mitchell | baritone saxophone | |||
Bill Reichenbach Jr. | trombone | |||
Gary Grant | trumpet | |||
Larry Hall | ||||
Carrie Underwood | vocals | |||
Dr. Rudy Tanzi | Hammond organ | |||
Jesse Kotansky | violin | |||
Daphne Chen | ||||
Eric Gorfain | ||||
Lauren Chipman | viola | |||
Richard Dodd | cello | |||
Zac Rae |
| |||
Daniel J. Coe | synthesizer | |||
Dan Potruch | percussion |
Touring musicians
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
David Woodford | 1972–1973 | saxophone |
| |
Ray Colcord | 1973–1974 (died 2016) | keyboards | Get Your Wings (1974) – three tracks only[18] | |
Scott Cushnie |
|
|
| |
Mark Radice | 1978 |
|
| |
Richard Supa | 1980 |
|
| |
Bobby Mayo | 1982–1983 (died 2004) |
|
none | |
Clayton Bruce Ost | 1987–1988 | keyboards | ||
Thom Gimbel | 1989–1995 |
|
A Little South of Sanity (1998)[33] | |
Russ Irwin | 1997–2014 |
|
| |
Jesse Sky Kramer |
|
|
[23] | |
Mindi Abair | 2012 | saxophone | none | |
Melanie Taylor | backing vocals | Music from Another Dimension! (2012) – two tracks only[23] | ||
Buck Johnson | 2014–present |
|
Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 (2015)[37] |
Live substitutes
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
David Minehan | 1994 | guitar | Minehan substituted for Whitford, who was grieving a family member's death, on a Japanese tour in 1994.[38] | |
David Hull |
|
bass | Hull substituted for Hamilton at shows in 2006, 2009 and 2013 due to illness and cancer treatment.[39][40][41] | |
Bobby Schneck | 2009 | guitar | Schneck substituted for Whitford, who was recovering from surgery, at shows in June and July 2009.[42] | |
John Douglas |
|
drums | Douglas substituted for Kramer during the band's Las Vegas residency in 2019, while Kramer was injured.[43] |
Timeline
Lineups
Period | Members | Studio releases |
---|---|---|
October 1970 – April 1971 |
|
none |
April 1971 – June 1979 |
|
|
July 1979 – July 1981 |
|
none |
July 1981 – May 1984 |
|
|
May 1984 – present |
|
|
Bibliography
- Bienstock, Richard (September 1, 2011), Aerosmith: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Boston Bad Boys, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, ISBN 978-0760341063, retrieved November 17, 2017
References
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Aerosmith: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Giles, Jeff (July 28, 2015). "The Day Joe Perry Quit Aerosmith". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Bienstock 2011, p. 96
- Prato, Greg. "Brad Whitford: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Christopher, Michael (December 1, 2016). "How Aerosmith Survived the '80s". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Fricke, David (April 27, 2011). "Talk This Way: Rolling Stone's 1994 Interview With Aerosmith's Steven Tyler". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Rockingham, Graham (January 31, 2014). "Professor Piano moves to the Hammer". The Hamilton Spectator. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Bienstock 2011, p. 29
- Bienstock 2011, p. 82
- Bienstock 2011, p. 107
- Newton, Steve (January 20, 2013). "Aerosmith without Joe Perry: remembering Rock in a Hard Place". The Georgia Straight. Vancouver Free Press. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "1987-10-20 – Aerosmith". Aardvark's Aattic. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Joles, Christopher (February 4, 2014). "One on One with Thom Gimbel of Foreigner". Maine Music News. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Pesce, Nicole Lyn (July 22, 2012). "Aerosmith backup singer Russ Irwin records second solo album 'Get Me Home'". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Harvey, Alec (July 8, 2016). "Touring with Aerosmith, new solo CD have Alabama's Buck Johnson living rock-star dream". Alabama NewsCenter. Southern Company. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Wood, James (June 4, 2013). "Interview: Mindi Abair Talks Touring with Aerosmith, Jazz and 'Summer Horns'". Guitar World. NewBay Media. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "05/30/16 Melanie Taylor – Vocalist with Bette Midler, John Mayer, Barry Manilow, Aerosmith". EnterTalk Radio. May 30, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Get Your Wings (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1974. KC 32847.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Draw the Line (liner notes). Aerosmith. CBS Records. 1977. 82147.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Toys in the Attic (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1975. PC 33479.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Rocks" (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1976. PC 34165.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Rock in a Hard Place (liner notes). Aerosmith. CBS Records. 1982. 85931.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Music from Another Dimension! (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 2012. 88725 44281 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Night in the Ruts (liner notes). Aerosmith. CBS Records. 1979. 83680.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Permanent Vacation (liner notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1987. 9 24162-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Get a Grip (liner notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GEFD-24455.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Pump (liner notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1989. 9 24254-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Nine Lives (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1997. COL 485020 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Just Push Play (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 2001. 501535 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Honkin' on Bobo (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 2004. 515447 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Aerosmith (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1973. KC 32005.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Live! Bootleg (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1978. 35564.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - A Little South of Sanity (liner notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1998. GEFD2-25221.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Rockin' the Joint (liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 2005. 82876 72422 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Aerosmith: Joey Kramer And Son To Perform On Upcoming Tour". Blabbermouth.net. October 21, 2005. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith Drummer's Son Fills In For His Father Following Joey Kramer's Health Scare (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. August 19, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- Rocks Donington 2014 (liner notes). Aerosmith. Eagle Vision. 2015. ERDVLP087.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Goodison, Donna L. (August 30, 1999). "Dave's new neighborhood". Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith Bassist To Sit Out 'A Few Gigs' On 'The Route Of All Evil' Tour". Blabbermouth.net. August 24, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith Bassist Forced To Sit Out Shows". Blabbermouth.net. July 14, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith Bassist Forced To Sit Out Remaining Shows On Australian Tour". Blabbermouth.net. April 29, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith's Whitford To Sit Out Part Of Tour; Temporary Replacement Announced". Blabbermouth.net. June 8, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "Aerosmith Drummer Sues Band for Excluding Him Ahead of Grammys". Rolling Stone. January 21, 2020.