American rock group Aerosmith was founded in Boston in 1970. Brad Whitford plays drums, Joe Perry plays lead guitar, Tom Hamilton plays bass, Joey Kramer plays drums, and Steven Tyler plays lead vocals, harmonica, and piano (rhythm guitar). Their loud rocking blues-based sound, which also incorporates pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and rhythm and blues, has influenced numerous other rock musicians. They are also referred to as “America’s Best Rock and Roll Band” and “the Bad Boys from Boston.” The “Toxic Twins” are the principal songwriting duo of Tyler and Perry.
With over 150 million records sold worldwide, including over 85 million in the US, Aerosmith is the most successful American hard rock band of all time. They hold the record for the most total certifications by an American group and are tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American group with 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum albums. Twenty-one US Hot 100 Top 40 songs, nine Mainstream Rock hits that reached number one, four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards are among their accomplishments.
They were ranked 57 and 30, respectively, on Rolling Stone’s and VH1’s lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. The band won the MusiCares Person of the Year award in 2020, and Tyler and Perry were elected into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
