U.F.O.

Scorpions

Scorpions are a heavy metal band from Hanover, Germany, perhaps best known for their 1980s rock anthem “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and their singles “Wind of Change”, “No One Like You”, “Still Loving You”. The band has sold over 75 million albums worldwide.[1]

History
Formation and early history (1965-1973)
Rudolf Schenker, the band’s rhythm guitarist, launched the band in 1965. At first, the band had beat influences and Schenker himself did the vocals. Things began to come together in 1969 when Schenker’s younger brother Michael and vocalist Klaus Meine joined the band. In 1972, the group recorded and released their debut album Lonesome Crow, with Lothar Heimberg on bass and Wolfgang Dziony on drums. During the Lonesome Crow tour, Scorpions opened for upcoming British band UFO. At the end of the tour, the members of UFO offered guitarist Michael Schenker the lead guitar job; an offer which he soon accepted. Uli Roth, a friend of the Schenker brothers, was then called in temporarily to finish off the tour.

The departure of Michael Schenker led to the break up of the Scorpions. In 1973, Uli Roth, who had helped the Scorpions complete the Lonesome Crow tour, was offered the role as lead guitarist, but turned the band down, preferring instead to remain in the band Dawn Road.

Rudolf eventually decided that he wanted to work with Roth, but did not want to resurrect the last Scorpions lineup. He attended some of Dawn Road’s rehearsals and ultimately decided to join the band, which consisted of Roth, Francis Buchholz (bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards) and Jurgen Rosenthal (drums). Roth and Buchholz persuaded Rudolf Schenker to invite Klaus Meine to join, which he soon did. While there were more members of Dawn Road than Scorpions in the band, they decided to use the Scorpions name because it was well-known in the German hard rock scene and an album had been released under that name.

Rise to popularity (1974-1978)
In 1974 the new line-up of Scorpions released Fly to the Rainbow. The album proved to be more successful than Lonesome Crow and songs such as “Speedy’s Coming” and the title track began to establish the band’s sound. Achim Kirschning decided to leave after the recordings. Soon after, Jürgen Rosenthal had to leave as he was being drafted into the army, joined German progressive rock band called Eloy in 1976 and recorded three albums with them. He was replaced by a Belgian drummer, Rudy Lenners.

In 1975 the band hit their stride with the release of In Trance, which marked the beginning of Scorpions’ long collaboration with German producer Dieter Dierks. The album was a huge step forward for Scorpions and firmly established their hard rock formula, while at the same time garnering a substantial fan base, both at home and abroad. Cuts such as “Dark Lady”, “Robot Man” and the title track are still considered classics by fans today.

In 1976, Scorpions released Virgin Killer. The album’s cover was designed by their record company RCA, Hamburg office, and featured a nude prepubescent girl covered by broken glass. That brought the band considerable criticism and was ultimately pulled or replaced in several countries. In spite of the controversy - even lead singer Klaus Meine expressed shock - the album garnered significant praise from critics and fans alike. The following year, Rudy Lenners resigned due to health reasons and was replaced by Herman Rarebell.

For the follow-up Taken by Force, RCA Records, the band’s label, made a determined effort to promote the album in stores and on the radio. The album’s single, “Steamrock Fever”, was added to some of RCA’s radio promotional records. RCA also supervised the album cover design avoiding any controversy by including introduction-type photographs that included the names of each member under individual photos. Roth was not happy with the commercial direction the band was taking. Although he performed on the band’s Japan tour, he departed to form his own band, Electric Sun prior to the release of the resultant double live album Tokyo Tapes. Tokyo Tapes was released in the US and Europe six months after its Japanese release. By that time in mid 1978, after auditioning around 140 guitarists, Scorpions recruited new guitarist Matthias Jabs.

Commercial success (1979-1990)
Following the addition of Jabs, Scorpions left RCA for Mercury Records to record their next album. Just weeks after being evicted from UFO for his alcohol abuse, Michael Schenker also returned to the group for a short period during the recordings of the album, giving the band three guitarists (though Schenker’s contributions to the final release was limited to only three songs). The result was Lovedrive, an album which some critics consider to be the pinnacle of their career[2]. Containing such fan favorites as “Loving You Sunday Morning”, “Holiday” and the instrumental “Coast to Coast”, the “Scorpions formula” of hard rock songs mixed in with melodic ballads was firmly cemented. The album’s provocative artwork was named “Best album sleeve of 1979″ by Playboy magazine but was ultimately changed for American release. Lovedrive peaked at #55 on the US charts proving that Scorpions were gathering an international following. After the completion and release of the album, the band decided to retain Michael in the band, thus forcing Matthias Jabs to leave. But after a few weeks of the tour, Michael, still coping with alcoholism, kept missing a few gigs (at one point collapsing on stage) and Matthias Jabs was brought back to fill in for him on those occasions when he couldn’t perform. In April 1979, during their tour in France, Matthias Jabs was brought in permanently to replace Michael Schenker.

In 1980, the band released Animal Magnetism, again with a provocative cover showing a girl kneeling in front of a man. While Animal Magnetism contained classics such as “The Zoo” and “Make It Real”, it was a critical disappointment when compared with Lovedrive. Soon after the album’s release, Meine began experiencing throat problems. He required surgery on his vocal cords and there were doubts as to whether he would ever sing again.

While Meine made a full recovery, the band began working on their next album, Blackout in 1982. Don Dokken was brought in to provide guide and backing vocals so that Meine could let his vocal cords completely heal. [2] Meine eventually healed completely and was able to finish the album. Blackout was released in 1982 and quickly became the band’s best selling to date, eventually going platinum. Meine’s voice showed no signs of weakness and critical response to the album was good. Blackout spawned three hit singles: “Dynamite,” “Blackout” and “No One Like You”.

It was not until 1984 and the release of Love at First Sting that the band finally cemented their status as rock superstars. Propelled by the single “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, Love at First Sting went up the charts and went double platinum in the USA a few months after its release. However, Scorpions did manage to stir up controversy once again with their provocative album cover. This time it was a boy kissing a girl and at the same time planting a tattoo on her naked thigh. Some shops refused to sell the album, mimicking a gag from the satire movie This Is Spinal Tap that came out the same year. MTV gave the album’s videos “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, “Bad Boys Running Wild”, “Big City Nights”, and the power ballad “Still Loving You” significant airtime, greatly contributing to the album’s success. The channel even supplied Scorpions with the nickname “The Ambassadors of Rock”.

The band toured extensively behind Love at First Sting and decided to record and release their second live album, World Wide Live in 1985. Recorded over a year-long world tour and released at the height of their popularity, the album was another success for the band, peaking at #17 on the charts.

After their extensive world tours, the band finally returned to the studio to record Savage Amusement. Released in 1988, four years after their previous studio album, Savage Amusement represented a more polished pop sound similar to the style Def Leppard had found success with. The album sold well, but was considered somewhat of a critical disappointment. British heavy rock magazine Kerrang! did award the album 5 K’s out of 5 though.

The Scorpions’ logo
On the Savage Amusement tour in 1988, Scorpions became only the second Western group to play in the Soviet Union (the first being Uriah Heep in December 1987), with a performance in Leningrad. The following year the band returned to perform at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. As a result, Scorpions developed a strong Russian fan base and still return regularly to perform throughout the area.

Wishing to distance themselves from the Savage Amusement style, the band separated from their long-time producer and “Sixth Scorpion,” Dieter Dierks, replacing him with Keith Olsen when they returned to the studio in 1990. Crazy World was released that same year and displayed a less polished sound. The album was a hit, propelled in large part by the massive success of the ballad “Wind of Change”. The song muses on the socio-political changes that were occurring in Eastern Europe and in other parts of the world at the end of the Cold War. On July 21, 1990 they joined many other guests for Roger Waters’ massive performance of The Wall in Berlin. Scorpions performed both versions of “In the Flesh” from The Wall. After the Crazy World tour Francis Buchholz, the band’s long-serving bassist, left the group.

Later days (1993-present)
In 1993 Scorpions released Face the Heat. Bass playing was handled by Ralph Rieckermann. For the recording process, Scorpions brought in producer Bruce Fairbairn. The album’s sound was more metallic than melodic and divided the band’s fan base somewhat. Many “headbangers” responded positively to the album while many long time fans were put off. Neither the hard-rock single “Alien Nation” nor the ballad “Under The Same Sun” came close to matching the success of “Wind of Change”. Face the Heat was a moderate success.

In 1995, a new live album, Live Bites, was produced. The disc documented live performances from their Savage Amusement Tour in 1988, all the way through the Face the Heat Tour in 1994. While the album had a much cleaner sound in comparison to their best-selling live album, World Wide Live, it was not as successful.

Prior to recording their 13th studio album, 1996’s Pure Instinct, drummer Herman Rarebell left the band to set up a recording label. Curt Cress took charge of the drumsticks for the album before Kentucky-born James Kottak took over permanently. Many feel Pure Instinct is a response to the complaints levied against Face the Heat. The album had many ballads. Still, the album’s singles “Wild Child” and the soothing ballad “You and I” both enjoyed moderate success.

1999 saw the release of Eye II Eye and a significant change in the band’s style, mixing in elements of pop and techno. While the album was slickly produced, fans were unsure what to make of the band, responding negatively to almost everything from pop-soul backup singers to the electronic drums present on several songs. The video to the album’s first European single, “To Be No. 1″, featured a Monica Lewinsky look-alike which did little to improve its popularity.

The following year, Scorpions had a fairly successful collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic that resulted in a 10-song album named Moment of Glory. The album went a long way towards rebuilding the band’s reputation after the harsh criticism of Eye II Eye. Still, critics accused them of following on the coattails of Metallica’s similar collaboration (S&M) with the San Francisco Symphony which had been released the previous year. However, the orchestra had first approached Scorpions with the idea back in 1995.

Scorpions in 2007
In 2001, Scorpions released Acoustica, a live unplugged album featuring acoustic reworkings of the band’s biggest hits, plus new tracks. While appreciated by fans, the lack of a new studio album was frustrating to some, and Acoustica did little to return the band to the spotlight.

In 2004, the band released Unbreakable, an album that was hailed by critics as a long awaited return to form. The album was the heaviest the band had released since Face the Heat, and fans responded well to tracks such as “New Generation”, “Love ‘em or Leave ‘em” and “Deep and Dark”. Whether a result of poor promotion by the band’s label or the long time between studio releases, Unbreakable received little airplay and did not chart. Scorpions toured extensively behind the album, and played as special guests with Judas Priest during the 2005 British tour.

In early 2006, Scorpions released the DVD 1 Night in Vienna that included 14 live tracks and a complete rockumentary. In LA, the band spent about 4 months in the studio with producers James Michael and Desmond Child working on their new concept album titled Humanity - Hour I, which was released in the second half of May 2007 [4]. A “Humanity World Tour” has already started. Tour dates are available on the band’s official site the-scorpions.com.

In 2007, the band saw 2 of their signature tracks featured in the popular video game series, “Guitar Hero.” “No One Like You” was featured on the “Rocks the 80’s” version of the game while “Rock You Like A Hurricane” was released on “Guitar Hero 3:Legends of Rock.”

On May 14 2007, Scorpions released Humanity - Hour I in Europe. Humanity - Hour I became available in the U.S. on August 28, 2007 on New Door Records, entering the Billboard charts at number #63.
In a September 2007 podcast interview, Meine said the new album wasn’t so much a “concept album” as it was a collection of songs with a common theme. “We didn’t want to make another record with songs about boys chasing girls. I mean, come on, give me a break,” Meine said.

When asked if the band plans to release a Humanity - Hour II, Meine replied:
“ That is what everybody is asking. There might be. Who knows? Right now we are at the beginning of the world tour. It is exciting to play the new songs and they go very well with the classics. It is exciting that there is a whole new audience out there. There are many longtime fans but there are a lot of young kids. We just played in London and in Paris and there were young kids rocking out to songs that were written way before they were born. It is amazing. I don’t want to think about Hour II right now because Hour I is so exciting. It is very inspiring to see how much the audience enjoys this new music.

Band members
Current members of the Scorpions
Klaus Meine - lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion (1970-1981, 1981-present)
Matthias Jabs - lead & rhythm guitars, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, slide guitar, fatbody jazz guitar, talk box, voice box (1978-1979, 1979-present)
Rudolf Schenker - rhythm & lead guitars, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, sitar, ebo, backing vocals (1965-present) rhythm & lead guitars, lead vocals (1965-1970, 1970-present)
Pawe? M?ciwoda - bass (2003-present)
James Kottak - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1996-present)
[edit]Former members
Francis Buchholz - bass (1973-1983, 1984-1992, 1994)
Herman Rarebell - drums, percussion (1977-1983, 1984-1995)
Ralph Rieckermann - bass (1993-2000, 2000-2003)
Lothar Heimberg - bass (1965-1973)
Wolfgang Dziony - drums, percussion (1965-1973)
Joe Wyman - drums, percussion (1973)
Ulrich Roth - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Polar Nights”, “Fly to the Rainbow”, “Dark Lady” (1973-1978)
Michael Schenker - lead & rhythm guitars (1970-1973,1979)
Rudy Lenners - drums, percussion (1975-1977)
Jürgen Rosenthal - drums, percussion (1973-1975)
Ken Taylor - bass (2000)
Curt Cress - drums, percussion (1996)
Jimmy Bain - bass (1983-1984)
Neil Murray - bass (1983-1984)
Bobby Rondinelli - drums, percussion (1983-1984)
Barry Sparks - bass (2003)
Ingo Powitzer - bass (2003)
Don Dokken - lead vocals, backing vocals (1981)

Discography
Albums
Lonesome Crow (1972)
Fly to the Rainbow (1974)
In Trance (1975)
Virgin Killer (1976)
Taken by Force (1977)
Tokyo Tapes (1978, live)
Lovedrive (1979)
Animal Magnetism (1980)
Blackout (1982)
Love at First Sting (1984)
World Wide Live (1985, live)
Savage Amusement (1988)
Crazy World (1990)
Face the Heat (1993)
Live Bites (1995, live)
Pure Instinct (1996)
Eye II Eye (1999)
Moment of Glory (with the Berlin Philarmoniker, 2000)
Acoustica (acoustic, 2001)
Unbreakable (2004)
Humanity: Hour I (2007)

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a Los Angeles newspaper, Metallica’s original line-up consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, and bassist Ron McGovney. McGovney and Mustaine were later kicked out of the band, and guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Cliff Burton replaced them. The ejection of Mustaine has subsequently resulted in a feud between him and Metallica. In 1986, Metallica’s tour bus skidded out of control, and Burton was crushed under the bus and was killed. Jason Newsted replaced him, although he left the band in 2001 and was replaced by Robert Trujillo in 2003.
Metallica’s early releases included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the “big four” of the thrash metal genre. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community, and some critics say the 1986 release Master of Puppets is one of the most influential and “heavy” thrash metal albums. The band rose to fame with its 1991 self-titled album Metallica, which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200. Some critics and fans believed the band changed its musical direction to appeal to the mainstream audience.
With the release of Load in 1996, Metallica distanced itself from earlier releases in what has been described as “an almost alternative [rock] approach”, and the band faced accusations of “selling out”. Metallica filed a lawsuit in 2000 against Napster for sharing the band’s copyrighted material for free without the members’ consent. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite reaching number one on the Billboard 200, the release of St. Anger in 2003 disappointed some critics and fans with the exclusion of guitar solos, and the “steel-sounding” snare drum. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording process of St. Anger.
Metallica has released eight studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, nine videos, and is working on a ninth studio album. The band has become one of the most commercially successful and influential musical acts. With over 90 million records sold worldwide, including 57 million in the United States, the band has won seven Grammy Awards, and has had four albums peak at number one on the Billboard 200. The band’s 1991 album Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies, which makes it the 25th highest selling album in the United States.

History
Early days (1981–1983)
Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California, in early 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich placed an advertisement in a Los Angeles newspaper—The Recycler—which read “Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with, Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden.”[1] Guitarist James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of Leather Charm answered the advertisement. Although he had not formed a band, Ulrich asked Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel if he could record a song for the label’s upcoming compilation Metal Massacre. Slagel accepted, and Ulrich recruited Hetfield to sing and play rhythm guitar.

Ulrich talked to his friend Ron Quintana, who was brainstorming names for a fanzine. Quintana had proposed the names Metal Mania and Metallica. Convincing him to use Metal Mania, Ulrich used Metallica for the name of his band. A second advertisement was placed in The Recycler for a position as lead guitarist. Dave Mustaine answered and after seeing his expensive guitar equipment, Ulrich and Hetfield recruited him. In early 1982, Metallica recorded its first original song “Hit the Lights” for the Metal Massacre I compilation. Hetfield played bass on the song and Lloyd Grant was credited with a guitar solo.[1] Released on June 14, 1982, early pressings of Metal Massacre I listed the band incorrectly as “Mettallica”. Although angered by the error, Metallica managed to create enough “buzz” with the song and the band played its first live show on March 14, 1982, at Radio City in Anaheim, California with newly recruited bassist Ron McGovney.

An early Metallica business card (circa 1982). The name of the band’s Power Metal demo originated from this card.
Metallica recorded its first demo titled Power Metal, a name inspired by Quintana’s early business cards in early 1982. In the Fall of 1982, Ulrich and Hetfield attended a show at the nightclub Whisky a Go Go, which featured bassist Cliff Burton in a band called Trauma. The two were “blown away” by Burton’s use of a wah-wah pedal and asked him to join Metallica. Hetfield and Mustaine wanted McGovney out as they thought that he “didn’t contribute anything, he just followed.”[3] Although Burton initially declined the offer, by the end of the year he accepted on the condition the band move to San Francisco. Metallica’s first live performance with Burton was at the nightclub The Stone in March 1983, and the first recording to feature Burton was the 1983 Megaforce demo.

Metallica was ready to record its debut album, but when Metal Blade was unable to cover the additional cost, the band began looking for other options. Concert promoter Johnny “Z” Zazula, who had heard the 1982 No Life ‘Till Leather demo, offered to broker a record deal with Metallica and New York City-based record labels. After receiving no interest from various record labels, Zazula borrowed the money to cover the record’s recording budget and signed Metallica to his own label, Megaforce Records.[4] Band members decided to kick Mustaine out of the band due to drug and alcohol abuse, and violent behavior.[5] Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett flew in to replace Mustaine the same afternoon. Metallica’s first show with Hammett was on April 16, 1983, at the nightclub The Showplace in Dover, New Jersey.

Mustaine has shown a disliking to Hammett, which he has expressed in interviews. He said Hammett “stole my job, but at least I got to bang his girlfriend before he took my job — how do I taste, Kirk.”[6] Mustaine is “pissed off” because he believes Hammett became popular by playing the guitar leads that Mustaine wrote.[7] In a 1985 interview with Metal Forces, Mustaine slammed Hammett saying, “it’s real funny how Kirk Hammett ripped off every lead break I’d played on that No Life ‘Til Leather tape and got voted No. 1 guitarist in your magazine.”[8] On Megadeth’s 1985 debut album Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!, Mustaine included the song “Mechanix”, which Metallica renamed as “The Four Horsemen” on Kill ‘Em All. Mustaine said he did this to “straighten Metallica up”, as Metallica referred to Mustaine as a drunk and said he could not play guitar.

Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning (1983–1984)
In 1983, Metallica traveled to Rochester, New York to record its first album, Metal Up Your Ass, with production duties handled by Paul Curcio. Due to conflicts with the band’s record label and distributors’ refusal to release an album with that name, it was renamed Kill ‘Em All. Released on Megaforce Records in the U.S. and Music for Nations in Europe, the album peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 120,[9] and although the album was not an initial financial success, it earned Metallica a growing fan base in the underground metal scene. The band embarked on the Kill ‘Em All For One tour with Raven to support the release.[10] In February 1984, Metallica supported Venom on the Seven Dates of Hell tour, where they performed in front of 7,000 people at the Aardschok Festival in Zwolle, Holland.

Metallica recorded its second studio album, Ride the Lightning, at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. Released in August 1984, the album peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200.[9] A European printing press mistakenly printed green covers for the album, which are now considered collectors’ items. Other songs on the album include “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Creeping Death”, and the instrumental “The Call of Ktulu”. Mustaine was credited for “Ride the Lightning” and “The Call of Ktulu”.

Master of Puppets (1984–1986)
Elektra Records A&R director Michael Alago, and co-founder of Q-Prime Management Cliff Burnstein, attended a September 1984 Metallica concert. Impressed with what they saw, they signed Metallica to Elektra Records and made the band a client of Q-Prime Management.[12] Metallica’s burgeoning success was such that the band’s British label Music for Nations issued a limited edition Creeping Death EP, which sold 40,000 copies as an import in the U.S. Two of the three songs on the record (cover versions of Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?”, and Blitzkrieg’s “Blitzkrieg”) appeared on the 1989 Elektra reissue of Kill ‘Em All.[13] Metallica embarked on its first major European tour with Tank to an average crowd of 1,300. Returning to the U.S. marked a tour co-headlining with W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint supporting. Metallica played its largest show at the Monsters of Rock festival on August 17, 1985, with Bon Jovi and Ratt at Donington Park in England, playing in front of 70,000 people. A show in Oakland, California, at the Day on the Green festival saw the band play in front of a crowd of 60,000.

Metallica’s third studio album, Master of Puppets was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios and was released in March 1986. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200, and spent 72 weeks on the chart.[14] The album was the band’s first to be certified gold on November 4, 1986, and was certified six times platinum in 2003.[15] Some critics, including Steve Huey of All Music Guide, consider the album to be the “greatest heavy metal album of all time”, and earned Metallica the title of the “pioneers of thrash metal”.[16] Following the release of the album, Metallica supported Ozzy Osbourne for a U.S. tour.[12] Hetfield broke his wrist skateboarding down a hill and continued the tour performing vocals, with guitar technician John Marshall playing rhythm guitar.

Death of Cliff Burton (1986–1987)
On September 27, 1986, during the European leg of Metallica’s Damage Inc. tour, members drew cards to see which bunk of the tour bus they would sleep in. Burton won and chose to sleep in Hammett’s bunk. Around dawn near Dörarp, Sweden, the bus driver lost control and skidded, which caused the bus to flip several times. Ulrich, Hammett, and Hetfield sustained no serious injuries; however, bassist Burton was pinned under the bus and was killed. Hetfield recalls, “I saw the bus lying right on him. I saw his legs sticking out. I freaked. The bus driver, I recall, was trying to yank the blanket out from under him to use for other people. I just went, ‘Don’t fucking do that!’ I already wanted to kill the guy.”[17] Burton’s death left Metallica’s future in doubt. The three remaining members decided that Burton would want them to carry on, and with the Burton family’s blessings, the band sought a replacement.

Roughly 40 people tried out for auditions including Hammett’s childhood friend Les Claypool of Primus, Troy Gregory of Prong, and Jason Newsted, formerly of Flotsam and Jetsam. Newsted learned Metallica’s entire setlist, and after the audition Metallica invited him to Tommy’s Joint in San Francisco. Hetfield, Ulrich, and Hammett decided that Newsted was the one to replace Burton, and Newsted’s first live performance with Metallica was at the Country Club in Reseda, California. The members took it on themselves to “initiate” Newsted by tricking him into eating a ball of wasabi.

In March 1987, Hetfield broke his wrist a second time skateboarding. Guitar technician Miller returned playing rhythm guitar, but the injury forced the band to cancel a Saturday Night Live appearance. Metallica finished its tour in the early months of 1987, and in August 1987 an all-covers EP titled The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited was released. The EP was recorded in an effort to utilize the band’s newly constructed recording studio, test out the talents of Newsted, and to relieve grief and stress following the death of Burton. A video titled Cliff ‘Em All was released in 1987 commemorating Burton’s three years in Metallica. Footage included bass solos, home videos, and pictures.
…And Justice for All (1988–1990)
…And Justice for All, the group’s first studio album since Burton’s death, was released in 1988. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200, the band’s first album to enter the top 10. The album was certified platinum nine weeks after its release. Newsted’s bass was purposely turned down on the album as a part of the continuous “hazing” he received, and his musical ideas were ignored.[21] There were complaints with the production; namely, Steve Huey of All Music Guide noted Ulrich’s drums were clicking more than thudding, and the guitars “buzz thinly”. The Damaged Justice tour followed to promote the album.

In 1989, Metallica received its first Grammy Award nomination for …And Justice for All, in the new Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrument category. Metallica was the favorite to win; however, the award was given to Jethro Tull for the album Crest of a Knave. The result generated controversy among fans and the press, as Metallica was standing off-stage waiting to receive the award after performing the song “One”. Jethro Tull had been advised by their manager not to attend the ceremony as he was expecting Metallica to win. The award was named in Entertainment Weekly’s “Grammy’s 10 Biggest Upsets”. Three years later, Ulrich referred to the award when accepting a Grammy for “Enter Sandman” stating “We gotta thank Jethro Tull for not putting out an album this year.”

Following the release of …And Justice for All, Metallica released its debut music video for the song “One”. The band performed the song in an abandoned warehouse, and footage was remixed with the film, Johnny Got His Gun. Rather than organize an ongoing licensing deal, Metallica purchased the rights to the film. The remixed video was submitted to MTV, with the alternate performance-only version held back in the event that MTV banned the remix version. MTV accepted the remix version, and the video was viewers’ first exposure to Metallica. It was voted number 38 in 1999 when MTV aired its “Top 100 Videos of All Time” countdown, and was featured in the network’s 25th Anniversary edition of ADD Video, which showcased the most popular videos on MTV in the last 25 years.

Metallica (1990–1993)
In October 1990, Metallica entered One on One studio in North Hollywood to record its next album. Bob Rock, who had worked with the bands The Cult, Bon Jovi, and Mötley Crüe, was hired as producer. Metallica (also known as “The Black Album”) was remixed three times, cost $1 million, and ended three marriages. Although the release was stalled until 1991, Metallica peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 with shipments exceeding 650,000 units in its first week. The album was responsible for bringing Metallica to the attention of the mainstream and has been certified 15 times platinum in the U.S., which makes it the 25th highest-selling album in the country. The making of Metallica and the following tour was documented in A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica. Dubbed the Wherever We May Roam Tour, it lasted 14 months and included dates in the U.S., Japan, and England.

On August 8, 1992, during the financially successful co-headlining GNR-Metallica Stadium Tour with Guns N’ Roses, Hetfield suffered severe second and third degree burns to his arms, face, hands, and legs. There was confusion with the new pyrotechnics setup, which resulted with Hetfield walking into a 12-foot flame during “Fade to Black”. Newsted recalls Hetfield’s skin was “bubbling like on The Toxic Avenger”.[32] Guitar technician John Marshall replaced Hetfield for the remainder of the tour as Hetfield was unable to play guitar, although was able to sing. The band’s first box set was released in November 1993 called Live Shit: Binge & Purge. The collection contained three live CDs, three home videos, and a book filled with riders and letters.

Load, ReLoad, and Garage Inc. (1994–1999)

The cover of Load was created using a mixture of semen and bovine blood mixed between sheets of plexiglass. It marked a change in image and music for the band.

After almost three years of touring to support Metallica, including a headlining performance at Woodstock ‘94, Metallica returned to the studio to write and record its sixth studio album. The band took a break in the summer of 1995 and played three outdoor shows which included headlining Donington Park in the U.K., supported by Slayer, Skid Row, Slash’s Snakepit, Therapy?, and Corrosion of Conformity. The short tour was titled Escape From The Studio ‘95. The band spent roughly one year writing and recording new songs, resulting in the release of Load in 1996, which entered the Billboard 200 and ARIA Charts at number one, marking the band’s second number one. The cover of Load was created by Andres Serrano, and was called Blood and Semen III. Serrano pressed a mixture of his own semen and bovine blood between sheets of plexiglass, but not all fans were happy with the cover. The release marked a change in musical direction for the band as some critics and fans accused Metallica of “going alternative”, and “selling out”. The band members received haircuts, and headlined the alternative rock festival Lollapalooza, which lead to further accusations.

During early production of the album, the band had produced enough material for a double album. It was decided that half of the songs were to be released, and the band would continue to work on the remaining songs and release them the following year. This resulted in the follow-up album, ReLoad. The cover was created by Serrano, this time using a mixture of blood and urine.[33] ReLoad peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Top Canadian Album chart. Hetfield noted in the 2004 documentary film Some Kind of Monster that the songs on these albums were initially thought by the band to be of average quality, and were “polished and reworked” until judged to be releasable.[21] To promote ReLoad, Metallica performed on NBC’s Saturday Night Live in December 1997, performing “Fuel” and “The Memory Remains” with Marianne Faithfull.

In 1998, Metallica compiled a double album of cover songs titled Garage Inc.. The first disc contained newly recorded covers by bands such as Killing Joke, The Misfits, Thin Lizzy, Mercyful Fate, and Black Sabbath. The second disc featured the original The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited, which had become a scarce collectors’ item. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number two.

On April 21 and April 22, 1999, Metallica recorded two performances with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen. Kamen, who had previously worked with producer Rock on “Nothing Else Matters”, approached the band in 1991 with the idea of pairing Metallica’s music with a symphony orchestra. Kamen and his staff of over 100 composed additional orchestral material for Metallica songs. Metallica wrote two new Kamen-scored songs for the event, “No Leaf Clover” and “- Human”. The audio recording and concert footage were released in 1999 as the album and concert film S&M. It entered the Billboard 200 at number two, and the Australian ARIA charts and Top Internet Albums chart at number one.

Napster controversy (2000–2001)
In 2000, Metallica discovered a demo of its song “I Disappear”, which was supposed to be released in combination with the Mission: Impossible II soundtrack, was receiving radio airplay. Tracing the source of the leak, the band found the file on the Napster peer-to-peer file-sharing network, and also found that the band’s entire catalogue was freely available.[38] Legal action was initiated against Napster with Metallica filing a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, alleging that Napster violated three areas of the law: copyright infringement, unlawful use of digital audio interface device, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Ulrich led the case against Napster
Though the lawsuit named three universities for copyright infringement, the University of Southern California, Yale University, and Indiana University, no individuals were named. Yale and Indiana complied and blocked the service from its campuses, and Metallica withdrew the universities’ inclusion in the lawsuit. Southern California, however, had a meeting with students to figure out what was going to happen with Napster. School administrators wanted it banned as it used 40% of the bandwidth, which was not for educational purposes.

Metallica hired online consulting firm NetPD to monitor the Napster service for a weekend. A list of 335,435 Napster users who were believed to be sharing Metallica’s music was compiled, and the 60,000 page document was delivered to Napster’s office as Metallica requested the users be banned from the service. The users were banned, and rap artist Dr. Dre joined the lawsuit against Napster, which resulted in an additional 230,142 Napster users banned.

Ulrich provided a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding copyright infringement on July 11, 2000. Federal Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ordered the site place a filter on the program in 72 hours or be shutdown. A settlement was reached between Metallica and Napster when German media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG BMG showed interest to purchase the rights to Napster for $94 million. Under the terms of settlement, Napster agreed to block users who shared music by artists who do not want their music shared. However, on June 3, 2002 Napster filed for Chapter 11 protection under U.S. bankruptcy laws. On September 3, 2002, an American bankruptcy judge blocked the sale to Bertelsmann and forced Napster to liquidate its assets according to Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy laws.

At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, Ulrich appeared in a skit with host Marlon Wayans that blasted the idea of using Napster to share music. Marlon played a college student sitting in his dorm room listening to Metallica’s “I Disappear”. Ulrich walked in and asked for an explanation. On receiving Wayans’ excuse that using Napster was just “sharing”, Lars retorted that Marlon’s idea of sharing was “borrowing things that were not yours without asking.” He called in the Metallica road crew, who proceeded to confiscate all of Wayans’ belongings, leaving him almost nude in an empty room. Napster creator Shawn Fanning responded later in the ceremony by presenting an award wearing a Metallica shirt, saying, “I borrowed this shirt from a friend. Maybe, if I like it, I’ll buy one of my own. In 2007, Metallica was named #17 on Blender magazine’s list of “biggest wusses in rock” for its “anti-Napster crusade”.

Newsted’s departure and St. Anger (2001–2005)
As plans were being made to enter the recording studio, Newsted left the band on January 17, 2001. His statement revealed his departure was based on “private and personal reasons, and the physical damage I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love. During a Playboy interview with Metallica, Newsted revealed intentions he wanted to release an album with his side project Echobrain. Hetfield was against the idea and said, “When someone does a side project, it takes away from the strength of Metallica” and a side project is “like cheating on your wife in a way”. Newsted countered his statement by saying Hetfield recorded vocals for a song in the South Park movie, and appears on two Corrosion of Conformity albums. Hetfield replied, “My name isn’t on those records. And I’m not out trying to sell them”, and pondered questions such as, “Where would it end? Does he start touring with it? Does he sell shirts? Is it his band?”

Robert Trujillo was announced as Metallica’s bassist on February 25, 2003
In April 2001, filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began following Metallica to document the recording process of the next studio album. Over two years, more than 1,000 hours of footage was recorded. On July 19, 2001, before preparations to enter the recording studio, Hetfield entered rehab due to “alcoholism and other addictions”. All recording plans were put on hiatus and the band’s future was in doubt.[51] However, when Hetfield returned on December 4, 2001, the band returned to the recording studio and Hetfield was required to work four hours a day, noon to 4 PM, and spend the rest of his time with his family. The footage recorded by Berlinger and Sinofsky was compiled into the documentary, Some Kind of Monster, which premiered at the Sundance film festival. In the documentary, Newsted described his former bandmates’ decision to hire a therapist to help solve their problems as “really fucking lame and weak”.

Metallica held auditions for Newsted’s permanent replacement in early 2003, after St Anger’s completion. Bassists that auditioned included Pepper Keenan, Jeordie White, Scott Reeder, Eric Avery, Danny Lohner, and Chris Wyse. Following three months of auditions, Robert Trujillo, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne’s band, was chosen as the new bassist. As Metallica moved on, Newsted joined Canadian thrash metal band Voivod in 2002, and was Trujillo’s replacement in Osbourne’s band during the 2003 Ozzfest tour, which included Voivod as part of the touring bill.

In June 2003, Metallica’s eighth studio album, St. Anger, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album drew criticism from fans and critics, although some praised the aggression of the album. Ulrich’s “steely” sounding snare drum, and the absence of guitar solos received particular criticism. Kevin Forest Moreau of Shakingthrough.net commented that “the guitars stumble in a monotone of mid-level, processed rattle; the drums don’t propel as much as struggle to disguise an all-too-turgid pace; and the rage is both unfocused and leavened with too much narcissistic navel-gazing”,[53] and Brent DiCrescenzo of Pitchfork Media described it as “an utter mess”. However, Blender magazine called it the “grimiest and grimmest of the band’s Bob Rock productions”, and New York Magazine called it “utterly raw and rocking”. The title track, “St. Anger”, won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2004, and was used as the official theme song for WWE’s SummerSlam 2003.

Before the band’s set at the 2004 Download Festival in England, Ulrich was rushed to hospital with a mysterious illness, and was unable to perform. Hetfield searched for volunteers at the last minute to replace Ulrich. Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, and Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison volunteered. Lombardo performed the songs “Battery” and “The Four Horsemen”, Ulrich’s drum technician Flemming Larsen performed “Fade To Black”, with Jordison performing the remainder of the set.[56] Having toured for two years in support of St. Anger on the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003 and the Madly in Anger with the World tour, Metallica took a break from performing and spent most of 2005 with friends and family. However, for two shows on November 13, 2005, and November 15, 2005, Metallica opened for The Rolling Stones at the AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Ninth studio album (2006–present)
Main article: Metallica’s ninth studio album

Hammett performing live in 2007
In 2006, Metallica announced on its official website that after 15 years, long-time producer Bob Rock was stepping down and would not be producing Metallica’s next studio album. Metallica chose to work with producer Rick Rubin, who has produced albums for bands including Danzig, Slayer, System of a Down, and Slipknot.[58] Metallica debuted an untitled song named “The New Song” on June 6,[59] and another song nicknamed “The Other New Song” on August 12.[60] However, in a June 2007 interview with Greece’s Rock Hard Magazine, Trujillo said that the songs “won’t make it [on the album], at least not in that form.

In December 2006, Metallica released a DVD containing all the music videos from 1989 to 2004. The DVD, titled The Videos 1989-2004, sold 28,000 copies in its first week, and entered the Billboard Top Videos chart at number three. Metallica recorded a cover of Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold” for a tribute album titled We All Love Ennio Morricone, released in February 2007. The cover received a Grammy nomination at the 50th Grammy Awards for the category “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”. A recording of “The Ecstasy of Gold” has been played as the introduction for every Metallica performance since the 1980s. However, this new version features the band itself performing the piece, giving a new guitar-based interpretation to the music. On February 9, 2007, Metallica confirmed that pre-production on the ninth studio album had been completed, and recording began on March 12, 2007.[65] Set for release in February 2008, Metallica and Rubin “polished” vocal mixes throughout December 2007.

Metallica embarked on a European tour titled Sick of the Studio ‘07, which included 11 shows. In July, the band attended Live Earth in London, performing the songs “Sad But True”, “Nothing Else Matters”, and “Enter Sandman”. BBC, who were broadcasting the event from the UK, received 413 complaints after they missed the beginning of “Sad But True”, and cut off before “Enter Sandman” to a pre-recorded Crowded House performance from the Sydney, Australia show.[67][68] The band performed at Wembley Stadium the following day, as part of its Sick of the Studio ‘07, with support from Mastodon, Machine Head and HIM.
Style and lyrical themes

Music samples:
“Damage Inc.” (1986)

“Damage Inc.” (Master of Puppets), demonstrating Metallica’s fast tempo, and aggressive musicianship featured in early releases
Problems listening to the file? See media help.
“Sad But True” (1991)

“Sad But True” (Metallica) Robert Palmer of Rolling Stone believed the band abandoned fast tempos to expand its music and expressive range in 1991

Influenced by Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, early Metallica releases contained fast tempos, harmonized leads, and nine-minute instrumentals. Steve Huey of All Music Guide said that Ride the Lightning featured “extended, progressive epics; tight, concise groove-rockers”. Huey felt Metallica expanded its compositional technique and range of expression to take on a more aggressive approach in following releases, and lyrics dealt with more personal and socially conscious issues. Lyrical themes explored on Master of Puppets included religious and military leaders, rage, insanity, monsters, and drugs.

In 1991, with new producer Bob Rock, Huey felt Metallica simplified and streamlined its music for a more commercial approach to appeal to the mainstream audience. The band abandoned its aggressive, fast tempos to expand its music and expressive range, said Robert Palmer of Rolling Stone. The change in direction proved commercially successful as Metallica was the band’s first album to peak at number one on the Billboard 200. Metallica noticed changes to the rock scene created by grunge band Nirvana in the 1990s. In what has been described as “an almost alternative [rock]” approach, the band focused on non-metal influences and changed musical direction. Moving away from lyrical themes dealing with drugs and monsters, Metallica’s new lyrical approach focused on anger, loss, and retribution. Some fans and critics were not pleased with this change, which included haircuts, the cover of Load, and headlining the alternative rock concert Lollapalooza. David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the move as “goodbye to the moldy stricture and dead-end Puritanism of no-frills thrash” and called Load the heaviest record of 1996.[35] With the release of ReLoad in 1997, the band focused on blues, rock, and country influences as exemplified in the song “The Unforgiven II”, incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.

St. Anger marked the biggest musical change of the band’s career. Bored of guitar solos, Ulrich chose to omit them from the album, leaving a “raw and unpolished sound”.[52] The band used drop C tuning, and Ulrich’s snare drum received particular criticism. New York Magazine’s Ethan Brown noted it “reverberates with a thwong”, Lyrics on the album dealt with Hetfield’s stint in rehab, including references to the devil, anti-drug themes, claustrophobia, impending doom, and religion’s hypocrisy.[75][76] The band’s ninth studio album will return to E tuning at the advice of producer Rick Rubin, contain guitar solos, and have Middle Eastern influences.

Legacy and influence
Metallica has become one of the most influential heavy metal bands, and is credited as one of the “big four” of thrash metal, along with Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. The band has sold more than 90 million records worldwide, including 57 million in the United States, which makes Metallica the most commercially successful thrash metal band. The writers of The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll felt Metallica gave heavy metal “a much-needed charge”. Stephen Thomas Erlewine and Greg Prato of All Music Guide said Metallica, “expanded the limits of thrash, using speed and volume not for their own sake, but to enhance their intricately structured compositions”, calling the band “easily the best, most influential heavy metal band of the ’80s, responsible for bringing the music back to Earth.

Jonathan Davis of Korn respects Metallica as his favorite band and comments, “I love that they’ve done things their own way and they’ve persevered over the years and they’re still relevant to this day. I think they’re one of the greatest bands ever.”[83] Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin said Metallica has been the biggest influence on the band stating, “they really changed my life when I was 16 years old - I’d never heard anything that heavy.”[84] Vocalist and guitarist Robb Flynn of Machine Head said that when creating the band’s 2007 album, The Blackening, “What we mean is an album that has the power, influence and epic grandeur of that album [Master of Puppets] – and the staying power - a timeless record like that”.[85] Trivium guitarists Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy said that when they heard Metallica they wanted to start playing guitar.[86][87] M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold stated touring with Metallica was the band’s career highlight, and said “Selling tons of records and playing huge shows will never compare to meeting your idols [Metallica]. God Forbid guitarists Doc and Dallas Coyle grew up with Metallica as an inspiration, and the band’s bassist John Outcalt admires Burton as a “rocker”. Ill Niño drummer Dave Chavarri finds early Metallica releases as “heavy, raw, rebellious. It said, ‘fuck you’”,[90] and Adema drummer Kris Kohls says the band is influenced by Metallica.

Metallica guest starring in The Simpsons episode “The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer”
Kerrang! released a tribute album with the April 8, 2006, edition of the magazine, titled Master of Puppets: Remastered, which celebrated the 20-year anniversary of Master of Puppets. The album featured cover versions of Metallica songs by the bands Machine Head, Bullet for My Valentine, Chimaira, Mastodon, Mendeed, and Trivium, all who are influenced by Metallica. Over 15 Metallica tribute albums have been released. On September 10, 2006, Metallica guest starred on The Simpsons’ eighteenth season premier “The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer”,[92] and Hammett’s and Hetfield’s voices were used in three episodes of the animated television series Metalocalypse.

Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica released a tribute album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, which featured eight Metallica songs recorded with cellos. A parody band named Beatallica plays music using a combination of The Beatles and Metallica songs. Beatallica faced legal troubles when the Sony Corporation, who own The Beatles’ catalogue, ordered a cease-and-desist claiming “substantial and irreparable injury”—ordering the group to pay damages. A fan of Beatallica, Ulrich asked Metallica lawyer Peter Paterno to help settle the legal case.

Metallica was ranked by MTV as the third “Greatest Heavy Metal Band in History”,[83] was listed fifth on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”,[95] and was number one on VH1’s “20 Greatest Metal Bands” list.[96] Master of Puppets was ranked number 167 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Great Albums of all time”, and Metallica was number 252.[97] Master of Puppets was named in Q Magazine’s “50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time”,[98] ranked number one on IGN’s “Top 25 Metal Albums”,[99] and number one on the Metal-rules.com “Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums” list.[100] The song “Enter Sandman” was ranked number 399 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

On March 7, 1999, Metallica was inducted into the San Francisco Walk of Fame. The mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, proclaimed the day “Official Metallica Day”.[37] Metallica was awarded the MTV Icon award in 2003, and a concert was held paying tribute to the band with artists performing Metallica songs. Performances included Sum 41 with a medley of “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Enter Sandman”, and “Master of Puppets”. Staind covered “Nothing Else Matters”, Avril Lavigne played “Fuel”, rap artist Snoop Dogg performed “Sad But True”, Korn played “One”, and Limp Bizkit performed a rendition of “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”.

Awards
Main article: List of Metallica awards
Metallica has won seven Grammy Awards:[55]
1990: Best Metal Performance – “One”
1991: Best Metal Performance – “Stone Cold Crazy”
1992: Best Metal Performance With Vocal – Metallica
1999: Best Metal Performance – “Better Than You”
2000: Best Hard Rock Performance – “Whiskey in the Jar”
2001: Best Rock Instrumental Performance - “The Call of Ktulu” with Michael Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony
2004: Best Metal Performance – “St. Anger”
MTV Video Music Awards:
1992: Best Metal Video – “Enter Sandman”
1996: Best Metal Video – “Until it Sleeps”
American Music Awards:
1996: Favorite Artist: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock: Metallica – Load
1996: Favorite Metal/Hard Rock Song – “Until it Sleeps”
Billboard Music Awards:
1997: Billboard Rock and Roll Artist of the Year – Metallica (RIAA Diamond Award)
1999: Catalogue Artist of the Year – Metallica
1999: Catalogue Album of the Year – Metallica
Kerrang! awards:
2003: Hall of Fame – Metallica
Band members

Main article: Metallica band members
James Hetfield – rhythm guitar, lead vocals (1981–present)
Kirk Hammett – lead guitar, backing vocals (1983–present)
Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals (2003–present)
Lars Ulrich – drums, percussion (1981–present)
Former members
Jason Newsted – bass, backing vocals (1986–2001)
Cliff Burton – bass, backing vocals (1982–1986)
Dave Mustaine – lead guitar, backing vocals (1982–1983)
Ron McGovney – bass (1982)
Discography

Main article: Metallica discography
Studio albums
1983: Kill ‘Em All
1984: Ride the Lightning
1986: Master of Puppets
1988: …And Justice for All
1991: Metallica
1996: Load
1997: ReLoad
2003: St. Anger
2008: Untitled ninth studio album

Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band who formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969. The band was originally led by bassist, songwriter and singer Phil Lynott. They are best known for their songs “Whiskey in the Jar”, “Jailbreak”, “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Bad Reputation”, all major international hits still played regularly on hard rock and classic rock radio stations.

Critic for allmusic.com John Dugan has written that “As the band’s creative force, Lynott was a more insightful and intelligent writer than many of his ilk, preferring slice-of-life working-class dramas of love and hate influenced by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, and virtually all of the Irish literary tradition.”[1] Van Morrison was a major influence as revealed in an interview with Phil Lynott in the movie Thin Lizzy the Rocker: A Portrait of Phillip Lynott. American groups Little Feat and Bob Seger also influenced Lizzy.[2] Their music covered much territory (including hints of country and traditional folk music), but is generally classified as traditional hard rock or heavy metal.

Though others had earlier used similar techniques, Thin Lizzy is widely recognised as one of the first hard rock bands to employ double lead guitar harmony (the twin guitar clash) - a technique pioneered by Wishbone Ash in the UK, whilst independently in the USA by Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band. This style was later refined and popularised by bands of the emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden especially. The latter group in particular has praised Thin Lizzy extensively and even covered the song “Massacre” from Lizzy’s popular Live and Dangerous album. Examples of this dual guitar harmony technique include “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Cowboy Song” from Jailbreak. Brian Robertson’s unconventional use of the wah-pedal as an extension of the instrument during soloing rather than as a purely rhythmic effect, as described in the Total Accuracy video “Still in Love with the Blues” (featuring Brian Robertson & Stuart Bull), is a distinctive and influential sound.

Lynott is one of the few black men to achieve significant success in hard rock. As well as being a multiracial band, members were drawn from both sides of the Irish border and from both Catholic and Protestant communities.[4][5]
Thin Lizzy was ranked #51 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

History
With Phil Lynott (1969-1983)
The group was founded in late 1969 in Dublin, Ireland, by Lynott, guitarist Eric Bell, electric organist Eric Wrixon and drummer Brian Downey. Wrixon was gone by early 1970, and tiring of the limited possibilities in Dublin, the group relocated to London in 1971.

Signing a contract with Decca Records, Thin Lizzy’s first hit came in 1973, with “Whiskey in the Jar”, a version of a traditional Irish song.

However, the group initially had problems matching the success of “Whiskey…”, and after a disastrous gig, where a drunken Bell walked offstage, leaving Lynott and Downey alone onstage, Bell left the group by mutual consent. His immediate replacement was Lynott’s former Skid Row band mate and guitarist Gary Moore who stayed long enough to record a number of tracks including the single ‘Little Darlin’ and ‘Still In Love With You’ (which he co wrote but wasn’t credited, although towards the end of his life, after Lizzy’s breakup, Lynott was always the first to confirm that ‘Still In Love With You’ was “Gary’s Song”) and securing a new record deal with Phonogram Records. After this Lynott and Downey regrouped, recruiting Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson as guitarists to make what was arguably the classic (and most successful commercially) Thin Lizzy lineup.
Fighting (1975) was their first album success, however the following album, Jailbreak, was a smash hit thanks to the singles “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back in Town”, their most successful and remembered songs.

Robertson quit the group in 1978, and was replaced by Gary Moore, then a succession of guitarists (including Midge Ure at one stage), though the group was sometimes reduced to the core trio of Lynott, Gorham and Downey.

Thin Lizzy live in Oslo, Norway in 1977
During the late 1970s and early 80s, Thin Lizzy played to a rabid fanbase but was unable to break into mainstream markets. Unlike most established rock musicians, Lynott was a vocal supporter of early punk rock; this endeared him to some punk musicians and fans, but many more punks rejected Thin Lizzy as a useless relic.

Their live shows at this time were no-nonsense, no special effects affairs relying purely on the music and Lynott’s rapport with the fans. Encores would feature Lynott seemingly ignoring repeated requests from the crowd for “The Rocker”. Eventually, he would say “This is what I want to play… a song called The Rocker” and the band would launch into the crowd favourite. Their critically acclaimed live album Live and Dangerous has been called one of the best examples in the genre of concert recordings, having been voted the best live rock album of all time by readers of Classic Rock (magazine), as reported by the BBC.

One notable highlight for the band in their latter days was headlining the first ever Slane Castle concert in 1981 - and like all Irish dates, the final encore was a crowd pleasing “Whiskey In the Jar”. The supporting lineup that day included Kirsty McColl, Hazel O’Connor and U2.

After a farewell tour in 1983, Lynott dissolved Thin Lizzy and focused on his solo career. Lynott continued his solo career, which he had begun while still with the group with the album Solo in Soho, yielding hits in “Dear Miss Lonely Hearts”, “King’s Call” (featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar), and “Yellow Pearl” (used in the early 80s as the theme tune for the BBC programme Top of the Pops). He also recorded a rock’n'roll medley single in 1983, “We Are The Boys (Who Make All The Noise)” with Roy Wood, Chas Hodges and John Coghlan.

Post-breakup
Breakup and various reunion projects (1985-1996)
In 1985, Gary Moore and Phil Lynott rekindled their friendship and working relationship. Shortly afterwards they released a single together called “Out in the Fields”. With Brian Downey present on drums (he had become a frequent drummer on Moore’s solo albums), this single put the early 1974 lineup of Thin Lizzy back together. However, the single was released as “Gary Moore and Phil Lynott”, not Thin Lizzy. The song, composed by Gary, was lifted from his solo album Run for Cover featuring various contributions from Phil.

Lynott died in January 1986 from heart failure - a result of years of drug abuse. In the Summer of that year, the band reformed for Self Aid. Bob Geldof and Gary Moore both handled most lead vocals, though all of the band did for Whisky in the Jar. This lineup featured Bob Daisley on bass in Lynott’s absence, but otherwise featured Thin Lizzy’s last lineup - Gorham, Downey and Wharton.

After this, the band members did not work together until the recording of the single “Dedication” in 1991, when a rough demo of Lynott’s was worked into a finished song to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his death. Modern recording techniques were used to replace the guitar and drum tracks with new work by Brian Downey and Scott Gorham. The song also featured on a greatest hits compilation album, Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy. This is the only post-Lynott studio track to have been published by the band - several previously unheard live tracks have been published though.

Following this, numerous small reunion projects began to appear. In 1993, a lineup featuring Robertson and Downey performed with Bobby Tench on lead vocals, Doish Nagle on guitar and Dough Brookie on bass. They toured Ireland briefly as “An Evening With The Thin Lizzy Band”. Another version of Thin Lizzy touring as “A Tribute to Phil Lynott” formed shortly after, in 1994, retaining Downey but also containing Sykes (now also performing lead vocals), Gorham, Wharton and with bass parts played by Marco Mendoza.

Another compilation album called Wild One: The Very Best Of Thin Lizzy was released in 1996. It was supposed to include a new version of the title track, based on master tapes mixing original Lynott performances with new music. However the master tapes disappeared (presumed stolen), and the project was cancelled. The album appeared as a 2 CD set in Japan, with lots of rare/unreleased live recordings and B-sides. Because of this last minute ditching of the new version of “Wild One”, the song did not appear on the album at all despite being in the name and having lyrics from it quoted on the back of the album cover.
[edit]Reformation (1996-present)

In 1996 latter-day guitarist of Thin Lizzy, John Sykes decided to try and re-assemble Thin Lizzy, presenting the band as a tribute to Phil Lynott’s life and work. He decided to take on the role of lead vocals himself in the absence of Lynott, and persuaded Brian Downey and Scott Gorham to return to the fold. To complete the lineup, Marco Mendoza (who played with Sykes in Blue Murder from 1991-1993) filled Lynott’s shoes playing bass. Darren Wharton, who had been the band’s only official keyboardist, also joined. Lizzy itself had only had a keyboardist as an official member from 1980-1984, but it added to the new Thin Lizzy’s credibility nontheless.

In 1997, Tommy Aldridge filled in on drums when Brian Downey was unable to. He became a full fledged member when Downey left shortly, feeling the group was “too disorganised”. This lineup remained stable through to 2000, when the group recorded a live album, One Night Only. The band went on hiatus from 2000 until 2004, with Sykes releasing two solo albums in the gap in between (he would release one more in 2005).

Once again in 2004, Thin Lizzy returned. This time, Sykes and Gorham brought in Randy Gregg on bass (formerly of Angel) and Michael Lee on drums (Robert Plant, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cult). This lineup proved temporary however, with Mendoza returning in 2005, and Aldridge returning in 2007. There are however, no plans for a new album though the band continues to tour. At the London Hammersmith Apollo concert of 13 December 2007 the lineup was Sykes, Gorham, Aldridge and Francesco DiCosmo on bass, as confirmed on ThinLizzyLive.com, the ‘official’ website of the touring band.
[edit]Origin of the band name

The origin of the band name was described by Brian Downey in an interview in the 2007 DVD Live and Dangerous: The band’s lead guitarist Eric Bell, who was a fan of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, bought a copy of Beano comic[7] after seeing Eric Clapton depicted reading a copy of its sister publication The Beano on the cover of the 1966 album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. Bell suggested Tin Lizzie, the name of a robot character from the comic. Lynott liked the idea, but added an “h” and made the “ie” into “y”, which became Thin Lizzy.

One Night in Dublin: A Tribute to Phil Lynott
In 2005, Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy guitarist 1974, 1977, 1978-1979) and his band (Jonathan Noyce from Jethro Tull and fellow former-Lizzy member Brian Downey) performed a tribute concert to Phil Lynott in Dublin called “The Boy is Back in Town”. It featured a guest performance by Scott Gorham, and others from former Thin Lizzy guitarists Brian Robertson and Eric Bell.[8].

Thin Lizzy band members
Present Lineup
Lead Vocals: John Sykes (1994, 1996-present)
Guitar: John Sykes (1982-1984, 1994, 1996-present)
Guitar: Scott Gorham (1974-1984, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996-present)
Bass: Marco Mendoza (1994, 1996-2001, 2005-present)
Drums: Tommy Aldridge (1997-2001, 2007-present)

Former members
Original Lynott-era members of the band
Phil Lynott - lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar (1969-1984)
Brian Downey - drums (1969-1984, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996-1998)
Eric Wrixon - keyboards (1969-1970)
Eric Bell - guitars (1969-1973, 1983)
Scott Gorham - guitars (1974-1984, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996-present)
Gary Moore - guitars (1974, 1977, 1978-1979, 1983, 1986)
Brian Robertson - guitars (1974-1978, 1983)
Snowy White - guitars (1980-1982)
Darren Wharton - keyboards (1980-1984, 1986, 1994, 1996-2001)
John Sykes - guitars (1983)

Post-Lynott reunion band members
Bob Geldof - lead vocals (1986)
Bob Daisley - bass (1986)
Bobby Tench - lead vocals (1993)
Doish Nagle - guitars (1993)
Dough Brookie - bass (1993)
Randy Gregg - bass (2004-2005)
Michael Lee - drums (2004-2006)
[edit]Temporary touring members
Andy Gee - guitars (1974)
John Du Cann - guitars (1974)
Mark Nauseef - drums (1978)
Midge Ure - guitars (1979)
Dave Flett - guitars (1979)

Discography
Studio albums
Thin Lizzy (1971)
Shades of a Blue Orphanage (1972)
Vagabonds of the Western World (1973)
Nightlife (1974)
Fighting (1975)
Jailbreak (1976)
Johnny the Fox (1976)
Bad Reputation (1977)
Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979)
Chinatown (1980)
Renegade (1981)
Thunder and Lightning (1983)
Live albums
Live and Dangerous (1978)
Life (1983)
BBC Radio One Live in Concert (1994)
The Peel Sessions (1994)
Boys Are Back in Town: Live in Australia (1999)
One Night Only (2000)
Live videography
Live and Dangerous (2007)
Compilations
The Beginning, Vol 12 (Decca, 1974 - Germany)
Remembering (Decca, 08/76)
Rocker (1971-1974) (London, 1977 - USA)
The Continuing Saga of the Ageing Orphans (Decca, 09/79)
Profile (Decca, 1979 - Germany)
The Japanese Compilation Album (Vertigo, 25/02/80 - Japan)
The Adventures of Thin Lizzy (Vertigo, 27/03/81)
Lizzy Killers (Vertigo, 1981)
Whiskey in the Jar (Decca, 1981 - Germany)
Rockers (Decca, 12/81)
Thin Lizzy - Der Weisse Serie (Decca, 1982 - Germany)
Whiskey in the Jar (Karussell, 1983 - Germany)
The Boys Are Back in Town (Pickwick, 11/83)
The Collection (Castle, 11/85)
Whiskey in the Jar (Pickwick, 04/86)
Soldier Of Fortune (Telstar, 11/87)
Lizzy Lives (Grand Slamm, 03/89 - USA)
Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy (Vertigo, 04/02/91)
Wild One: The Very Best Of Thin Lizzy (04/01/96)
Whiskey in the Jar (Karussell, Spektrum, Universal, 1996, 1998, 2000)
Master Series (Deram, 1998 - Germany)
The Boys Are Back in Town (Vertigo, 06/12/00 - Sweden)
Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels (Mercury, 07/12/01 - 4CD Box Set)
Thin Lizzy Greatest Hits (Universal, 07/06/04)
The Definitive Collection (Thin Lizzy) (Island Mercury, 20/06/06)

Aerosmith

Aerosmith is a prominent American hard rock band, sometimes referred to as “The Bad Boys from Boston” and “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”. Their unique style, rooted in blues-based hard rock, has also come to incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, glam, and R&B, which has inspired legions of rock artists that came after them. They are the bestselling American hard rock band of all time, having sold 150 million albums worldwide, including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group.[7] The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, nine #1 Mainstream Rock hits, four Grammy awards, and ten Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano, and formed Aerosmith. By 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, and the band began developing a following in Boston. They were signed to Columbia Records in 1972 and released a string of multi-platinum albums, beginning with their 1973 eponymous debut album. In 1975, the band broke into the mainstream with the album Toys in the Attic, and their 1976 follow-up Rocks cemented their status as hard rock superstars. By the end of the 1970s, they were among the most popular hard rock bands in the world and developed a loyal following of fans, often referred to as the “Blue Army”. However, drug addiction and internal conflict took its toll on the band, which resulted in the departures of Perry and Whitford, in 1979 and 1981 respectively. They were replaced by Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay. The band did not fare well between 1980 and 1984, releasing a lone album, Rock in a Hard Place, which was a critical and commercial flop. Although Perry and Whitford returned in 1984 and the band signed a new deal with Geffen Records, it wasn’t until the band sobered up and released 1987’s Permanent Vacation that they regained the level of popularity they had experienced in the 1970s. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and won numerous awards for music from the multi-platinum albums Pump (1989), Get a Grip (1993), and Nine Lives (1997). After 38 years of performing, Aerosmith continues to maintain a high level of popularity and success and continues to tour and record music to this day.

History

Formation
The formation of Aerosmith began in the late 1960s in Sunapee, New Hampshire. Steven Tyler was a drummer/vocalist originally from Yonkers, New York who had been in a series of relatively unsuccessful bands in the mid-late 1960s such as the Vic Tallarico Orchestra, the Strangeurs/Chain Reaction, The Chain, Fox Chase, and William Proud. In 1969, while vacationing in Sunapee, New Hampshire, Tyler met Joe Perry, who was at the time playing in a band called the Jam Band with bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer David “Pudge” Scott, while Perry was washing dishes at the Anchorage in Sunapee Harbor, New Hampshire. This meeting would eventually lead to the formation of Aerosmith.

Hamilton and Perry moved to Boston, Massachusetts in September 1970. There they met Joey Kramer, a drummer from Yonkers, New York who had also known Steven Tyler, with whom he had always hoped to perform in a band. Kramer, a Berklee College of Music student, decided to quit school to join the band. In October 1970, they met up once again with Steven Tyler, who was originally a drummer and backup singer, but adamantly refused to play drums in this band, insisting he would only be in the band if he could be the frontman and lead vocalist. The band agreed and thus Aerosmith was born. The band added Ray Tabano, a childhood friend of Tyler, as rhythm guitarist and began playing local shows. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, who also attended the Berklee School of Music and was formerly of the band Earth Inc. Other than a period from July 1979 to April 1984, the line-up of Tyler, Perry, Hamilton, Kramer, and Whitford has stayed the same.

1970s
After forming the band and finalizing the lineup in 1971, the band started to garner some local success doing live shows. Originally booked through The Ed Malhoit Agency of Claremont NH, Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records in 1972 and issued their debut album, Aerosmith, in 1973. The album was straightforward rock and roll with well-defined blues influences, laying the groundwork for Aerosmith’s signature blues-rock sound. Although the highest charting single from the album was “Dream On” at #59, several tracks (such as “Mama Kin” and “Walkin’ the Dog”) would become staples of the band’s live shows and receive airplay on rock radio. The album reached gold status initially, but eventually went on to sell two million copies and was certified double platinum after the band reached mainstream success over a decade later. After constant touring, the band released their second album Get Your Wings in 1974, the first of a string of multi-platinum albums produced by Jack Douglas.
This album included the rock radio hits “Same Old Song and Dance” and “Train Kept A-Rollin’”, a cover done previously by The Yardbirds. The album also contained several fan favorites including “Lord of the Thighs”, “Seasons of Wither”, and “S.O.S. (Too Bad)”, darker songs which have become staples in the band’s live shows. To date, Get Your Wings has sold three million copies.
It was 1975’s Toys in the Attic, however, that established Aerosmith as international stars competing with the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Originally derided as Rolling Stones knockoffs, Toys in the Attic showed that Aerosmith was a talented band in their own right. Toys in the Attic was an immediate success, starting with the single “Sweet Emotion”, which became the band’s first Top 40 hit. This was followed by a successful re-release of “Dream On” which hit #6, becoming their best charting single of the 1970s. The 2nd single from the album, “Walk This Way”, reached the Top 10 in early 1977.

“Toys in the Attic” and “Big Ten Inch Record” (a song originally recorded by Bull Moose Jackson) were also rock radio staples. As a result of this success, both of the band’s previous albums re-charted. Toys in the Attic has gone on to become the band’s bestselling studio album in the States, with certified U.S. sales of eight million copies. The band toured in support of Toys in the Attic, where they started to get more recognition. Also around this time, the band established their home base as “The Wherehouse” in Waltham, Massachusetts, where they would record and rehearse music, as well as conduct business.

Aerosmith’s next album was 1976’s Rocks, which “captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking”.[8] It went platinum swiftly and featured two FM hits, “Last Child” and “Back in the Saddle”, as well as the ballad “Home Tonight”. Rocks has sold four million copies to date. Both Toys in the Attic and Rocks are highly regarded, especially in the hard rock genre, and appear on such lists as Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums, and are cited by members of Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Mötley Crüe as having large influences on their music.[9][10] Soon after Rocks was released, the band continued to tour heavily, this time headlining their own shows and playing to several large stadiums and rock festivals.

The next album, 1977’s Draw the Line, was not as successful or as critically acclaimed as their two previous efforts, although the title track proved to be a minor hit (and is still a live staple), and “Kings and Queens” also experienced some success. The album went on to sell 2 million copies. While continuing to tour and record into the late 1970s, Aerosmith acted in the movie version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Their cover of the Beatles hit “Come Together” was included in the album’s soundtrack and would be the band’s last Top 40 hit for nearly 10 years. The live release Live! Bootleg, originally released as a double album, was put out in 1978 and captured the band’s rawness[11] during the heyday of the Draw the Line tour; however, as the 1970s came to a close, the band’s popularity waned and drug abuse and the fast-paced life of touring and recording began affecting their output. Lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry became known as “The Toxic Twins” due to their notorious abuse of drugs on and off the stage. Just after the recording of their sixth studio album, 1979’s Night in the Ruts, Joe Perry left the band, citing differences with Steven Tyler, and formed The Joe Perry Project. Perry was replaced first by longtime band friend and songwriter Richie Supa and then by guitarist Jimmy Crespo (formerly of the band Flame). Night in the Ruts quickly fell off the charts, its only single being the cover of The Shangri-Las’ “Remember (Walking in the Sand)”, which topped out at #67.

1980s
Aerosmith released its mammoth-selling Greatest Hits album in 1980 and in 1981 the band suffered another loss with the departure of Brad Whitford. After recording guitar parts for the song “Lightning Strikes”, Whitford was replaced by Rick Dufay and the band recorded their seventh album Rock in a Hard Place in 1982. The album was considered a commercial failure, only going gold, and failing to produce a major hit single. On the tour for Rock in a Hard Place, Tyler collapsed onstage during a performance in 1982.

On Valentine’s Day 1984, Perry and Whitford saw Aerosmith perform. They were officially re-inducted into the ranks of Aerosmith once more in April of that year. Steven Tyler recalls, “You should have felt the buzz the moment all five of us got together in the same room for the first time again. We all started laughin’—it was like the five years had never passed. We knew we’d made the right move.”

Aerosmith embarked on a reunion tour entitled “Back in the Saddle” in 1984, which produced the live album Classics Live II. While concerts on the tour were well-attended, it was plagued with several incidents, mostly attributed to drug abuse by band members. Their problems still not behind them, the group was signed to Geffen Records and began working on a comeback.
Despite the band signing on to a new record company, Columbia continued to reap the benefits of Aerosmith’s comeback, releasing the live companion albums Classics Live I and II and the collection Gems throughout the 1980s.

1985 saw the release of Done with Mirrors, their first studio album with Geffen and their first album since the much-publicized reunion. While the album did receive some positive reviews, it only went gold and failed to produce a hit single, or generate much buzz outside the immediate confines of rock radio. The album’s most notable track, “Let the Music Do the Talking,” was in fact a cover of a song originally recorded by The Joe Perry Project and released on that band’s album of the same name. Nevertheless, the band became a popular concert attraction once again, touring in support of Done With Mirrors, well into 1986. In 1986, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry appeared on Run D.M.C.’s cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way”, a track blending rock and roll and hip hop that not only cemented rap into the mainstream of American popular music, but also began Aerosmith’s true comeback. The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its associated video helped introduce Aerosmith to a new generation.

Still standing in the way, however, were the drug problems of the band members. In 1986, lead singer Steven Tyler completed a successful drug rehabilitation program, at the discretion of the band and manager Tim Collins, knowing that the band’s future would not be bright if Tyler did not get treated. The rest of the band members completed drug rehab programs over the course of the next couple years. According to the band’s tell-all autobiography, Collins pledged he could make the band the biggest band in the world by 1990 if they all completed drug rehab. Their next album was make-it-or-break-it due to the commercial disappointment of Done With Mirrors, and as the band members became clean, they worked hard to make their next album a success.

Permanent Vacation was released in August of 1987. Permanent Vacation was a major hit for the band, becoming their bestselling album in over a decade (selling 5 million copies in the U.S.), and having all three singles (”Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”, “Rag Doll”, and “Angel”) reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. The group went on a subsequent tour with labelmates Guns N’ Roses (who have cited Aerosmith as a major influence), which was intense at times due to Aerosmith’s new struggle to stay clean amidst GN’Rs well-publicized, rampant drug use.

Their next album was received even better. Pump, released in October 1989, featured three Top Ten singles: “Janie’s Got a Gun”, “What It Takes”, and “Love in an Elevator”, as well as “The Other Side”, re-establishing Aerosmith as a serious musical force.[12] Pump was a critical and commercial success, eventually selling 7 million copies, achieving four-star ratings by major music magazines, and earning the band their first Grammy win ever in the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category, for “Janie’s Got a Gun”. The recording process for Pump was documented in the video the The Making of Pump, which has since been re-released as a DVD. The music videos for the singles on the album were featured on the release Things That Go Pump in the Night, which quickly went platinum.

1990s
Aerosmith appear in a “Wayne’s World” sketch on Saturday Night Live in 1990
The band finished up the Pump tour in 1990. On February 21, 1990, the band appeared in a “Wayne’s World” sketch on Saturday Night Live, debating the fall of communism and the Soviet Union, and performed their recent hits “Janie’s Got a Gun” and “Monkey On My Back”. On September 18, 1990, the band’s performance on MTV’s Unplugged aired. That same year, the band was also inducted to the Hollywood Rock Walk.[13] In 1991, the band appeared on The Simpsons episode “Flaming Moe’s” and released a box set titled Pandora’s Box. In 1992, Tyler and Perry appeared live as guests of Guns N’ Roses during their 1992 world-wide pay-per-view in Paris performing a medley of “Mama Kin” (which GN’R covered in 1986) and “Train Kept-A Rollin”.
The band took a brief break and began recording their follow-up to Pump in 1992. Despite significant shifts in mainstream music at the beginning of the 1990s, the band’s 1993 follow-up to Pump, Get a Grip, was just as successful commercially, becoming their first album to debut at #1 and racking up sales of 7 million copies in a two-and-a-half-year timespan. The first singles were the hard rocking “Livin’ on the Edge” and “Eat the Rich”. Though many critics were unimpressed by the focus on the subsequent interchangeable power-ballads in promoting the album, all three (”Cryin’”, “Crazy” and “Amazing”) proved to be huge successes on radio and MTV. The music videos featured then up-and-coming actress Alicia Silverstone; her provocative performances earned her the title of “the Aerosmith chick” for the first half of the decade. Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv Tyler was also featured in the “Crazy” video. Get a Grip would go on to sell more than 7 million copies in the U.S. alone with over 20 million copies worldwide. The band won two Grammy Awards for songs from this album in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category: for “Livin’ on the Edge” in 1994 and “Crazy” in 1995.

During the making of Get a Grip, the management and record company brought in a variety of professional songwriting collaborators to come in and help make nearly all the songs on the album have a more commercial appeal, a trend which would continue until the early 2000s. However, this led to constant accusations of selling out that would continue throughout the 90s. In addition to Aerosmith’s grueling 18 month world tour in support of Get a Grip, the band also did a number of things to help promote themselves and their album and appeal to youth culture, including the appearance of the band in the movie Wayne’s World 2 where they performed two songs, the appearance of the band and their music in the arcade game and video game Revolution X, performing at Woodstock ‘94, using their song “Deuces Are Wild” in The Beavis & Butt-Head Experience, and opening their own club, The Mama Kin Music Hall, in Boston, MA in 1994.

1994 also saw the release of the band’s compilation for Geffen Records, entitled Big Ones featuring all of their biggest hits from Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip, as well as three new songs, “Deuces Are Wild”, “Blind Man”, and “Walk on Water”, all of which experienced great success on the rock charts.

Aerosmith signed to Columbia Records again in the mid-1990s, but they still had to complete two contractual albums for Geffen before recording for the new label…this was later achieved by the label releasing numerous compilations. The band took time off with their families before working on their next album, Nine Lives, which was plagued with personnel problems, including the firing of manager Tim Collins, who according to band members nearly caused the band to break up. The producer of the album was also changed from Glen Ballard to Kevin Shirley. Nine Lives was released in March of 1997. Reviews were generally mixed, and Nine Lives initially fell down the charts, although it had a long chart life and sold double platinum in the United States alone, fueled by the singles, “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)”, the ballad “Hole in My Soul”, and the crossover-pop smash “Pink” (which won the band their fourth Grammy Award in 1999 in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category). It was followed by the 2+ year-long Nine Lives Tour, which was plagued by problems including lead singer Steven Tyler injuring his leg at a concert, and Joey Kramer suffering second degree burns when his car caught fire at a gas station. However, the band also released their only #1 single to date: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”, the love theme from the 1998 film Armageddon, in which Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv starred. The song stayed on top of the charts for four weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award. The song helped open Aerosmith up to a new generation and forever solidifed the band’s song as a slow-dance staple. 1998 also saw the release of the double-live album, A Little South of Sanity, which was culled from performances on the Get a Grip and Nine Lives tours. The album went platinum shortly after its release. The band continued with their seemingly-neverending world tours promoting Nine Lives and the “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” single well into 1999.

In 1999, they were featured in the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World (and later in 2001 at Euro Disney in the Walt Disney Studios Park) ride, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, providing the soundtrack and theme of the ride. On September 9, 1999, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry reunited with Run-D.M.C. and were also joined by Kid Rock for a collaborative live performance of “Walk This Way” at the MTV Video Music Awards, a precursor to the Girls of Summer Tour. The band celebrated the new millennium with a brief tour of Japan in 2000, and also contributed the song “Angel’s Eye” to the film Charlie’s Angels.

2000s
The band entered their next decade by performing at the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXV, in January 2001, along with pop stars ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly. All of the stars collaborated with Aerosmith at the end for a performance of the group’s legendary song “Walk This Way”.

In March of 2001, the band released their 13th studio album Just Push Play. The album quickly went platinum, fueled by the Top 10 single “Jaded” and the appearance of the title track in Dodge commercials. They were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon after their album was released, in late March of 2001, after having been nominated in 2000 without getting in. Aerosmith is the only band to be inducted to the Hall of Fame with a hit song on the radio (”Jaded”). Later that year, the band performed as part of the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert in Washington D.C. for 9/11 victims and their families. The band flew back to Indianapolis for a show the same night, as part of their Just Push Play Tour.
The band started 2002 by ending the Just Push Play tour, and simultaneously recording segments for their Behind the Music special on VH1, which not only chronicled the band’s history but also the band’s current activities and touring. The special was one of the only Behind the Musics to run two hours in length. In July 2002, Aerosmith released the 2-disc career-spanning compilation O, Yeah! The Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, which featured the new single “Girls of Summer”, and embarked on the Girls of Summer Tour with Kid Rock and Run-D.M.C. opening. That same year, the band were inducted as MTV Icons, the 2nd act overall to receive the honor.

In 2003, Aerosmith co-headlined with Kiss on the Rocksimus Maximus Tour, in preparation for release of their blues album.

Brad Whitford, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith performing at the NFL Kickoff in Washington, DC on September 4, 2003
Their long-promised[14] blues album Honkin’ on Bobo was released in 2004. The album was a return to roots for the band, including recording the album in live sessions, working with former producer Jack Douglas, and laying down their blues-rock grit. It was followed by a live DVD, You Gotta Move in December 2004, culled from the first performance on the Honkin’ on Bobo Tour. “Dream On” was also featured in an advertising campaign for Buick in 2004, targeting that marque’s audience which is now composed largely of people who were teenagers when the song first charted.

2005 saw Steven Tyler appear in the film Be Cool. Joe Perry released his self-titled solo album that same year. At the 2006 Grammy Awards, he was nominated for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance” for the track “Mercy”, but lost to Les Paul. In October 2005, Aerosmith released a CD/DVD Rockin’ the Joint. The band hit the road for the Rockin’ the Joint Tour on October 30 with Lenny Kravitz for a fall/winter tour hitting arenas in the largest U.S. markets. The band planned to tour with Cheap Trick in the spring, hitting secondary markets in the U.S. Rumors of a tour started when Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander joined the band onstage for “Come Together” during a concert in Tampa, Florida a week before the announcement. Almost all of this leg of the tour was canceled, however, due to “an illness of a member of the band”. On March 22, 2006, it was publicly announced that lead singer Steven Tyler needed throat surgery, and the remaining dates on the tour were subsequently canceled.

Aerosmith commenced recording a new album on Armed Forces Day 2006.[15] Tyler and Perry performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra for their annual July 4 concert on the Esplanade in 2006, a milestone as it was the first major event or performance since Steven Tyler’s throat surgery. Around this time, the band also announced that they would embark on the Route of All Evil Tour with Mötley Crüe in late 2006.

On August 24, 2006 it was announced that Tom Hamilton was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. In order to make a full recovery, he sat out much of the Route of All Evil Tour until he was well again. Former Joe Perry Project bassist David Hull substituted for Hamilton until his return.

On September 5, 2006, Aerosmith kicked off the Route of All Evil Tour with Mötley Crüe in Columbus, Ohio. The co-headlining tour took both bands to amphitheaters across North America through November 24. After that, a select few arena dates were added, some of which were with Mötley Crüe. Tom Hamilton returned to the band officially on December 1. The tour ended December 17.

On October 17, 2006, the compilation album Devil’s Got a New Disguise - The Very Best of Aerosmith was released. The album contained previously released hits with the addition of 2 new songs, “Devil’s Got a New Disguise” and “Sedona Sunrise”, which were older outtakes re-recorded for the album. “Devil’s Got a New Disguise” peaked at #15 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album was intended to fulfill Aerosmith’s contract with Sony and tide fans over until the band’s new studio album is released.

Steven Tyler greets military servicemen aboard the USS Nimitz on May 30, 2007, prior to an Aerosmith concert in Dubai.
In early 2007, the band announced their 2007 World Tour, their first tour that included dates outside North America or Japan in nearly a decade. The band performed at London’s Hard Rock Cafe in February of 2007 to promote their European tour which included a night in Hyde Park as part of the Hyde Park Calling festival sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe. In the spring, the band toured Latin America to sold-out stadium crowds. In the summer, the band toured Europe, performing at several major rock festivals and visiting some countries they had never played before. Additionally, the band played Asian countries such as the United Arab Emirates and India for the first time ever. The band also played a few select dates in California and Canada in late July. In September, the band performed eight dates in major markets in Northeastern North America. These shows were opened by Joan Jett. The band also played a private gig in Hawaii. A public show in Hawaii was canceled due to logistical reasons, a move which spurred a class action lawsuit against the band. On November 1, the band began work on the final studio album of their current contract with Sony. It is believed that the album will be a mix of re-recorded tracks left off previous albums as well as brand new material. In an interview, guitarist Joe Perry revealed that in addition to creating a new album, the band was working closely with the makers of the Guitar Hero series for development of Guitar Hero IV which will be dedicated solely to the music of Aerosmith.

Band members
Current members
Steven Tyler - lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica, percussion (1970 – present)
Joe Perry - guitar, vocals (1970 – 1979; 1984 – present)
Brad Whitford - guitar (1971 – 1981; 1984 – present)
Tom Hamilton - bass, additional guitar (1970 – present)
Joey Kramer - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1970 – present)
Former members
Ray Tabano - rhythm guitar (1970-1971)
Jimmy Crespo - lead guitar (1979-1984)
Rick Dufay - rhythm guitar (1981-1984)

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