News From The Road

Well another tour is in the books. The equipment is on a slow boat back from the last show in Honolulu to Beantown. The show was a private gig for Toyota but more on that later.

After the Mansfield show the guys played in Bristow Virginia. This is another place were the band has played quite a lot the last 10 years. The guys couldn’t make it to the Walter Reed Hospital this time around so they arranged for 50 wounded soldiers to come to the show. They met with the guys and girls and posed for pictures before the show.

The Toronto show brought out Liv Tyler and son Milo. They sat on the stage left side of the stage and were serenaded all night by ole Grandpa. Liv handed me a list of songs before the show and asked if there is any way the guys would play them. Of the 7 songs, 6 were in the set including Rats but unfortunately for her Janie didn’t make the cut this night.

Toronto - Photo Credit: Amanda Ayre

Mohegan Sun brought out Aero Turbo fan Billy MacDonald. I think we have counted that Billy has been to about 200 Aerosmith concerts in his life. It’s always a pleasure to see his smiling face and him just being in the venue puts everybody in a better mood.

Atlantic City - what a place! If you have never been to Atlantic City imagine a much smaller version of Las Vegas but with none of the class. The Borgata though is a great place to play and has a great staff of people working there. The venue itself resembled a hotel ballroom, well because it is a Hotel Ballroom. 2800 person capacity makes it one of the smallest places Aerosmith plays. The intimate setting always makes for one of the best shows of any tour. Steven dedicated “Dream On” to Aero Force One member Monica Massaro who was tragically killed in July. Monica would have been to several of these east coast shows and her presence was sorely missed. The band were all quite aware on what happened to her and deeply saddened when they heard the news of Monica’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Massaro family. May she rest in peace.

Borgata - Photo Credit: Amanda Ayre

AC was suppose to be the last stop on the tour but with Chicago being postponed the week before it was rescheduled. Thank God it was because the show rocked. The place was packed and the joint was jumping. I want to dedicate the show to our old pal Chris from Florida. How’s that hat taste now buddy!

Well unfortunately because of travel restrictions the Maui show couldn’t happen but don’t think that it will be off forever. The next time the boys play in Japan I’m sure Maui and Honolulu will be definitely considered in the routing.

Speaking of Japan it looks like the band’s Tour Manager Jimmy Eyers won’t be heading there after all. He is looking to put his sushi training to good use a little closer to home. He is interested in opening Simi Valley Sushi during his off time with Aerosmith. He is heart broken that his Japanese plans have fallen through but looks forward to combining his posh English up-bringing with his formal martial arts and Sushi training to the Simi Valley area for what should be a kick-ass sushi restaurant. His specialty he told me will be steak on a hot rock.

Well it’s no secret the band ended this set of shows in Honolulu playing a private gig for Toyota. What was so cool about it is that Stevie Nicks was also on the bill. Stevie is the female version of Steven Tyler complete with scarves on her mic stand. She is also so cool that you could add some Joe Perry in there for good measure. She was joined onstage by her Fleetwood Mac band mate, Mick Fleetwood. For anyone who has followed Aerosmith know that the band was loosely modeled in the early days after the Peter Green version of Fleetwood Mac. This prompted the guys to put Rattlesnake Shake in the set in honor of the gentle giant. Stop Messin’ was also dedicated to him because it is their version that Joe plays every night.

Employee of Week:

Goes to Brad “Burt” Johnson. Brad is Steven’s monitor man but has also done the front of house mix for the band. It was then that he got the nickname “Burt.” One night early on in his tenure Joe was thanking several crew members for their hard work and dedication when Joe mistakenly thanked Brad as Burt over the PA. No one had the balls to correct Joe so Brad is now Burt. He is our Joe D’Maggio because he has been able to keep his job as Steven’s monitor man for longer than anyone else in recent memory. When I asked him how he could keep Steven so happy when others failed he said, “it’s simple - I just listen to the records.” Way to go Burt!

Brad "Burt" Johnson in Riga Latvia looking for an import version of Rocks. Photo by Magee

See you in the studio!

John B.

BTW: What the hell happened to the Mets? Right now Bill Buckner is in his Wolf’s Lair somewhere in Idaho laughing his ass off.

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!

Photo credit: Melissa Mahoney