News From The Road

Just as the guys are starting to hit on all cylinders we head into a break for a week. But never fail, Aerosmith will assault the midwest on May 4th in the great college town of Ames I-wah.

The guys filmed the Orlando show for an upcoming A&E special. The show is being directed by Mark Hafeli. Mark's recent credits include Paul McCartney's Drivin' USA special.

Mark will also be putting together a video for "Baby Please Don't Go" with the band's longtime collaborator Keith Garde. Keith directed in my mind the best Aerosmith video for "Eat the Rich."

The guys really let loose in Atlanta. The night before the show, Tom and Steven went to see the English phenoms "The Darkness." In case you don't know this band is really hot right now. The lead singer Justin Hawkins sings like he' been lassoed by the ballz. He changes his outfits more than a Bette Midler- Elton John tour. The guy really ripped off Steven in the wardrobe department but the Demon of Screamin' didn't seem to care. He hung out with the guys backstage with the master of the big bottom--Tom Hamilton, zany Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick.

Joe got serious and visited CNN headquarters and got interviewed by Brooke Anderson. The piece ran on Headline news.

The guys then played Philly for like the 60th time. In Philly you can always expect a visit by John Kalodner. He was raised there and usually comes to see the band in the city of brotherly love. JDK is a big reason why the guys are still around today. He signed them to Geffen records in the mid 80's and really went to bat for them. He even moved over to Sony with them for the Nine Lives CD in 1997. Even though he isn't currently working with the guys he is still part of the family and a great friend.

Steven and Joe spent an hour with David Dye. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio show called "World Cafe." This guy really knows his music. It was refreshing hearing an interview where the host doesn't bring up Drugs, Lips or Liv. It's all about the music and they even did 2 acoustic tunes. Joe played guitar and sung "Back Back Train" and then Steven sang "Hangman Jury." It was great hearing those tunes in that setting. Look for the show to be out in the first or second week in May.

The band had been following the Boston Bruins as they were crushing the Montreal Canadians in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But as fate and the ghost of Rocket Richard would have it; they lost 4 straight games to bow out of the race. I had the great misfortune to watch the game on TV in Montreal as the Habs took care of the Bruins in Boston.

Several of the Canadian's, Joe Juneau, Patrice Brisbois and Michael Ryder to name a few came to see the show the following day. Joe Juneau is an old friend of the guys having played with the Bruins in the 90's. He also helped give the band a star on Tower Records Walk of Fame. Sadly Tower Records is no more and has been replaced by a 7-11 or something. You can still see the star next to the slurpee machine however.

Steven filmed a commercial for a Sony Digital Camera in Montreal. It should be out soon. Espo, cameras for everybody!

Joe spent most of his day off shopping and visited Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts with his sister Anne.

The guys have been hanging in Toronto a lot while in Canada. It's a great city as is Montreal. In Hamilton, Tom did a very funny interview with Y108. He seemed right at home.

Next stop Green Bay!
See you on the road!
John B.