Aero Force Grounded

Steven Tyler (with headband) introduces new Aerosmith frontman Moe Szyzlak during a performance of "Walk This Way."

Steven Tyler has announced that he is quitting Aerosmith. The Bad Boys from Boston were the first headlining band I ever saw, at the "New Jersey Summer Jam" concert at Giants Stadium on August 16, 1988. They played with Deep Purple and some band from California called Guns 'N Roses opening up. That's also the show where GNR shot the video for "Paradise City."

Back to Aerosmith. In memory of this great American rock'n'roll band, here is a list of my ten favorite Aero-songs. Five from the '70s "soused period" and five from their (relatively) clean and sober '80s-early '90s comeback. Nothing from the Armageddon soundtrack!

"Original Recipe" Aerosmith (with all original herbs and substances)

1. "Mama Kin" from Aerosmith
   
2. "Same Old Song and Dance" from Get Your Wings
   
3. "Sweet Emotion" from Toys in the Attic
   
4. "Nobody's Fault" from Rocks
   
5. "No Surprize" from Right In the Nuts Night In the Ruts
   

"Extra Crispy" Aerosmith (but for the most part no longer on drugs!)

1. "Darkness" from srorriM htiw enoD (Done With Mirrors)
   
2. "Hangman Jury" from Permanent Vacation
   
3. "Don't Get Mad, Get Even" from Pump
   
4. "Voodoo Medicine Man" from Pump
   
5. "Eat the Rich" from Get a Grip
   

My last Aerosmith memory was riding the Rock and Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios, with the following lyrics (from "F.I.N.E.") blasting from the speakers in the car

"Whip crackin' floozy goin' out of control,
she got a new kind of jelly in her jell-ay roll,
I got the right key, baby but the wrong key-hole…."

Right in the middle of the Happiest Place on Earth. Ya gotta love Steven Tyler, master of the subtle double entendre…perhaps his first "Brand Tyler" solo disc will be called "Flying Bag O'Hammers."

Image taken from Wikipedia and originally from the Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe's". All Simpsons images © FOX/Gracie Films 1991 and used completely without permission.