1968 Conqueror of American Rock - Chapter 139



Only Noblemtl

139. LA Metal (5)

Aerosmith.

If there was Led Zeppelin in the UK in the 1970s, there was Aerosmith in the US. They debuted late compared to the time of their formation. However, just as they were at their peak, vocalist Steven Tyler’s promiscuous lifestyle led the band into a dark period.

They’ve been active again since the mid-80s after a long dark tunnel, but if I bring them to Sunset Strip before their debut, wouldn’t they be able to write history with us without a slump?

Maybe the band name now is······.

“We started out in a small town in Spinner, New Hampshire. We started out as The Strangers, then we changed it to Reaction, and now we’re moving to Boston and we’ve finally settled on Aerosmith, haha. I don’t think we’ll change it anymore. We all like it.”

“If it’s Boston, you’ve come from quite far away.”

“My father’s friend runs a company that sells and installs soundproofing and absorbing materials. I thought it would be helpful for me as a poor musician, so I decided to learn the job. The pay wasn’t bad. Then, I heard that there was a studio being built at Bethel Farm, so I volunteered right away. Plus, I heard that the Woodstock Motel would be the lodging during the construction period, so I happily ran over. There was a place like a Woodstock memorial at the motel, and when I looked at the videos and photos, I thought back to last year and my heart raced.”

Then Mr. Jack Tyver came towards us.

“Haha. Joe, you’re having a blast today. That motel was taken over by James’ company. It was originally called the Tiber Motel when I ran it. The Woodstock Memorial was also built by James.”

“Wow, really?”

“You shouldn’t be that surprised. Why would James come here? He took over this farm and is building a studio like this, haha.”

Joe Perry couldn’t close his mouth.

“You said you were a guitarist? We’ll meet at the motel after work. I’ll be staying there tonight, too.”

“Oh, I love it! Haha!”

* * *

Annie and Angela have become friends with the White Light members and are staying at their place today. Fortunately, Joe Perry and I will have a heart-to-heart talk today.

We were close in age and had similar personalities, so we quickly became friends. I had no doubts about Joe Perry. I know his life well. The reason Aerosmith was able to overcome a long period of darkness and rise to its second heyday was because Joe Perry was firmly at the center.

He stayed by his friend’s side even when Steven’s life was ruined and the other members left for a while, and eventually the members who had left came back and were still active until before I fell into the past.

It may seem strange that I’m running around like crazy these days, gathering my people, but it was a time when there weren’t many people like this in the rock music scene. I had to bring these people to my side as soon as possible.

I had dinner with him and we each had a beer together and went to the practice room in the barn.

“I’m really jealous. You made a grand debut at Woodstock, toured the US, and even own a big farm. It just makes our band look even more shabby.”

“Joe, our band didn’t just suddenly get together at Woodstock and debut.”

I sat in a chair and played background music on my acoustic guitar while telling Joe Perry about our beginnings and the journey that led us to where we are today.

“If you play the guitar arpeggios while speaking like that, it creates a much more atmospheric atmosphere.”

“I learned this from a man named Makani when I went on a tour to Hawaii. He is a descendant of native Hawaiians. He tells stories like this with his guitar.”

I gave the guitar to Joe Perry.

He also told his story with his guitar. I took a sip of beer and listened to his life story.

“I met Steven and we formed a band. We arranged and performed songs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. But we changed the name to Aerosmith and decided to become an American rock band representing America. From now on, we will write our own songs.”

He told me about the band he was in, and played the Em chord, alternating seventh and sixth chords.

This is it!

This is the intro to Aerosmith’s debut song and representative song, Dream On.

He continued playing the arpeggios and humming the melody.

“This is a song I’m working on right now. Steven made it on piano and I’m arranging it for guitar.”

“It’s so good! This song will definitely be a hit.”

“I like the intro too, haha.”

He stopped playing, took a sip of his beer, and continued talking.

“But no one knows about it. I sent out demo tapes here and there, but I didn’t get any response.”

This song would go through further rearrangements and would receive attention until three years later when it was released as a single.

“Joe, our company isn’t that big yet, but we can release your album.”

I told Joe Perry about the club I was building on the Sunset Strip and the Clean Zone campaign I was doing with the Kings, so I thought we needed some like-minded people to join us and continue the Woodstock spirit.

“Really? If we could just release an album, our members would unanimously agree, no matter what you ask!”

I sipped the beer bottle.

visor-

With Aerosmith joining us, our lineup will now be roughly complete.

* * *

From the next day on, I worked with Joe Perry on soundproofing the studio during the day and jammed guitar in the barn in the evening. We were able to learn from each other’s strengths through jamming.

In the midst of the current British rock trend, his guitar solos had a strong American sentiment. It was bluesy and hard. It was heavy despite the country elements. It had a pleasant earthy smell. It felt like driving a convertible on an open road in the middle of the western desert.

“James, I thought you were only good at technical playing, but you can do everything. Besides, I prefer Gibson Les Paul, but your Black Beauty sounds really clear and solid. This amp and the booster effect unit are both great, and it’s obvious how much effort you’ve put into getting to where you are.”

“When you come to LA, there will be upgraded amps and effects waiting for you. We have amazing engineers. You will record your single album with that equipment.”

Slowly, slowly.

Hehehehe.

There was the sound of horse hooves outside. The chattering voices were clearly Annie and Angela.

– Smart.

“Come in.”

“Hehehe, hi, James.”

The two opened the door, stuck their heads out, and came inside. While mingling with the members of the troupe, Annie even dyed Angela in hippie style. But this was a neighborhood where such attire was quite appropriate.

“Hello. This is Joe Perry, who I met while working on a studio project and became friends with.”

“Hi, I’m Annie Kim and this is my friend Angela. She’s also a member of our group. If she’s James’ friend, then we’re friends too.”

Annie and Angela instantly became friends with the serious-minded Joe Perry, thanks to their friendly nature.

Joe jumped up from his seat. He would never have guessed that while we were sweating and working on the construction, one of the two girls who had been riding horses all day long in the distance was Annie.

I just didn’t say anything because I wanted to get to know him quietly.

“Oh… nice to meet you. I’m Joe Perry. This is really amazing. I never dreamed that I would meet the musicians I saw at Woodstock last year in person here.”

“Really? Haha. I was there picking up trash too, we might have met.”

“It was really hot and humid. But I couldn’t just go home after listening to your song, haha.”

I told him Joe Perry’s band was coming to LA too.

“Great! Let’s join forces and defeat those demons!”

“Oh, the devils Annie is talking about are from the club across from us called ‘The Devils’. The manager there is kind of a no-good guy.”

Annie grumbled and told Joe, using slightly harsh language, about their recent misdeeds.

“What’s unfortunate is that there are more people like that among rock musicians than you might think. Our team was also shaken when Steven received an offer to perform at a similar club, but I opposed it. That’s why we’re here at this construction site, haha.”

Well done, Joe Perry. You’re a stalwart of Aerosmith.

“Annie, there’s this song this guy made. It’s really great. Do you want to sing it? Joe, I think you should raise the key by about five keys.”

“The lyrics aren’t finished yet. The highlight is the part where they keep shouting “Dream on” in the chorus.”

Joe Perry hummed the lyrics first and gave a guide vocal. When Annie said she had a rough idea of ​​the flow of the song, Joe went up five keys, grabbed the chords, and started arpeggios.

Annie just started humming a melody that fit the code in some unknown alien language.

As the song gradually rose to its peak and reached the chorus,

– Dream on, dream on.

Annie began to build the dark mood with lyrics sung by Joe Perry.

And as I started to scratch the chords on my electric guitar with the volume turned down,

– Dream on! Dream on!

Annie screamed an octave higher in the original chorus. Her husky high notes in this rock ballad always gave me goosebumps.

I closed my eyes and dreamed, improvising a guitar solo. I imagined someone who didn’t have much time left and was pouring out everything they had until the very end. A solo in a way I didn’t usually do began to flow out of my hands.

Thank you, Joe Perry.

Clap clap clap clap.

“This song is fantastic! It will definitely be a hit! You all are amazing!”

When the song ended, Angela stood up and applauded so much that her palms hurt.

“Wow······ It’s really amazing to hear Annie sing in person. She can sing this loudly without a microphone······.”

Joe Perry stuck his tongue out at Annie’s voice and noted on the piece of paper where the lyrics should be highlighted.

We played guitar, sang, and talked about music until late that night. It was a pleasant night with the chirping of insects outside.

* * *

The studio’s soundproofing work has been completed.

Joe Perry returned to Boston, consulted the band members, and decided to get back to them.

Annie and Angela dropped me off at the New York airport and went to Wisconsin, where they said they would go to Holy Hill Cathedral to meet the priest, nuns, and brothers, and then return to LA.

As soon as I landed at LAX, I stopped by Kevin’s office first.

“Brother, I’m out!”

“James, something exciting is going on, hehe.”

“Michael was there too.”

“Yes, it’s right next block away now, so I come here whenever I’m bored.”

Rather, it turned out well.

I told Michael and Kevin what the Woodstock business had to offer.

“Well, Lang isn’t a bad guy, but he’s just a bit too much of a gangster. He’s the type of guy who’d make a big buck and then have fun for a few years, so his partners would be really pissed. But he made that suggestion to James, haha. Now you know a real person.”

“After hearing the story of how I helped with the Pilton Festival, he went to the farm to prepare for a second one, on a much smaller scale, at the site of the first Woodstock.”

“So that’s where you heard the news of the farm being taken over.”

“yes.”

“So, does that mean James will now be joining the Woodstock Four in place of Lang?”

“No, I should have asked Kevin first, but I declined on the spot.”

“Haha, as expected from my little brother. You did well.”

Michael looked back and forth between us with a look of surprise on his face.

“Michael, our CW is still small but growing at a frightening rate. And we have the most meaningful venue at the festival. We may not be able to do it on a grand scale like last year, but I think we can do it on our own. We can start small and grow.”

Kevin explained to Michael.

“What my brother said is right, but I refused because I had a slightly different thought.”

Two people looked at me.

“Four people came together with one purpose. But if one person has a different purpose, we need to understand each other and persuade each other. But without going through that process, the three of them called me when the other one was out and badmouthed him. I can never maintain a good relationship with people like that. It’s the same with a band. I thought it was more important to become one. Even if we fight, we should talk to each other in front of each other, not behind each other’s backs.”

“Wow······ Kevin, James is a full-fledged adult now, hahaha!”

sure.

I also realized this while living my second life.