There is no more quintessential "Boston" rock band than Aerosmith. Since their formation some 45 years ago(!) they've proudly stood for everything Beantown, and even have an official city historical plaque in front of their old living/rehearsal space.
But goddamn -- it's cold up there right now! And as of this writing, the city is likely to break its record for most snowfall in a season due to blizzards happening with more frequency than Steven Tyler's stints in rehab. That's why drummer Joey Kramer is more than happy to spend the winter of 2014-15 in his current home (and warmer climate) of Texas.
"It's wonderful to live here in Austin," says Kramer, whose wife is originally from Cypress in North Houston. "I lived in New England for 40 years, and the winters were brutal. And they're getting slammed again. I'm glad to be out of the cold!
"We talked about moving to Texas, and I didn't want to go to Houston or Dallas," he adds. "I just love the people and vibe about Austin."
Houstonian or Dallasite Aerosmith fans shouldn't take that preference personally. And members of their dedicated "Blue Army" (so named for their preference for denim) will have the chance to see the premiere of the full-length concert film Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 at more than 300 movie theaters across the country for one day only, February 26 (aka today). The 19-song set list, filmed at the massive festival last year, covers the band's career timeline. But did Kramer, Tyler, and bandmates Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, and Brad Whitford alter their stage norm for historical posterity?
"I don't think about we went about our show any differently, though it would have been easy to let it happen," Kramer offers. "You're in front of 100,000 people and have cameras pointed in your face.
"But the best thing for us to be doing onstage is to be relaxed," he adds. "As long as we are and the audience is with us, you're in for a hell of a ride. I just worried about [the cameras] when my arms started flailing!"
Aerosmith is also one of the few classic-rock bands still touring with an intact classic lineup (Whitford was an early, but not original member). And while there have been some periods in their history where that hasn't been the case, Kramer likens this quintet to...food.
Story continues on the next page.
