Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...

is an American

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...

band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in October 1970, the group originally included vocalist

Steven Tyler Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. ...

, lead guitarist Joe Perry, rhythm guitarist Ray Tabano, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer

Joey Kramer Joseph Michael Kramer (born June 21, 1950) is an American musician best known as the drummer of the hard rock band Aerosmith, which was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Life and career Kramer was born in the Bronx, New ...

, although Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford early the following year. 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. After contributing to ''

Night in the Ruts ''Night in the Ruts'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 1, 1979 by Columbia Records. Guitarist Joe Perry left the band midway through the album's recording. The album was initially produced at the ...

'' as a session guitarist,

Jimmy Crespo Jimmy Crespo (born July 5, 1954) is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. He co-wrote "Rock in a Hard Place" with Steven Tyler, and has performed or recorded with Rod Stewart, Billy Squier, Meat Loaf ...

was invited to replace Perry in Aerosmith in October 1979. Whitford also left Aerosmith in 1981 to work on a solo project with former Ted Nugent singer

Derek St. Holmes Derek St. Holmes (born February 24, 1953) is an American rock musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's early solo career. After splitting from Nugent in 1978, St. Holmes worked with various artists, mo ...

. He was replaced by Rick Dufay, before both Perry and Whitford returned to the band in the spring of 1984. 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. Similarly, keyboardist Scott Cushnie performed on 1975's '' Toys in the Attic'' and remained for the album's touring cycle. Mark Radice briefly took on the role of touring keyboardist in early 1978, followed by frequent collaborator

Richard Supa Richard "Richie" Supa (born Richard Goodman) is an American songwriter and guitarist best known for his work with Aerosmith, The Rascals and Richie Sambora. Supa released several albums under his own name, including ''Supa's Jamboree'' (1971, ...

in 1980, Bobby Mayo between 1982 and 1983, and Clayton Bruce Ost in 1987. Thom Gimbel joined as Aerosmith's first long-term keyboardist in 1989, remaining with the band until 1995. He was replaced by

Russ Irwin Russ Irwin is an American singer-songwriter, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist from New York City. He has worked with multiple artists including Aerosmith, Sting (musician), Sting, Bryan Adams, Meat Loaf, Foreigner (band), Foreigner, C ...

beginning with the Nine Lives Tour in 1997, who toured with the band until he was replaced by

Buck Johnson Alphonso "Buck" Johnson Jr. (born January 3, 1964) is a retired American professional basketball player. Johnson, a 6'7" small forward, played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and Washington Bul ...

in 2014. The 2012–2013 Global Warming Tour featured saxophonist

Mindi Abair Mindi Abair (born May 23, 1969) is an American saxophonist, vocalist, author, and National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization that puts on the Grammy Awards show. Her solo career has produced ten N ...

, percussionist Jesse Sky Kramer (Joey's son) and backing vocalist Melanie Taylor.

Official members

Current members

Former members

Other contributors

Session musicians

Touring musicians

Live substitutes

Timeline

Lineups

Bibliography

References