Hard Rock / Blues Rock · 1970s Career
Aerosmith became one of America’s defining hard-rock bands by combining blues-based guitar riffs, swaggering vocals and a streetwise rhythm section that felt rougher than much contemporary arena rock.
Boston beginnings
Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer developed a sound rooted in British blues rock, the Rolling Stones and American R&B, but with a distinctly American hard-rock attitude.
Toys in the Attic and Rocks
“Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way” and the Rocks album established Aerosmith as a major force, balancing riffs, groove and Tyler’s theatrical vocal style.
Why they matter
Aerosmith created a durable American version of blues-based hard rock and became a direct influence on countless 1980s guitar bands.
