The Mix
28 | Rolling Stone | September 2019
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ACHALECCAThe Mix
During their Vegas
residency, band members
break down how they
play a killer set
By ANDY GREENE
- Train Kept A-Rollin’
1974
This blues standard
(popularized by the Yardbirds)
was one of the first songs
Aerosmith learned. “To play it
now and see audiences react
the same way they did back
then,” Steven Tyler says, “it’s a
euphoric recall.” - Dude (Looks Like
a Lady) 1987
Tyler wrote these lyrics about
an androgynous man after
spending time with Vince Neil.
“A lot of people know it from
Mrs. Doubtfire,” says guitarist
Brad Whitford. “It’s a crowd
favorite.” - Sweet Emotion 1975
For years, Aerosmith saved their
breakthrough hit for the end of
the show. Lately, they’ve been
trying it earlier. “In Vegas, we
can only play for an hour and a
half,” says Tyler, “so we have to
make sure we fit in all our hits.”- Hangman Jury 1987
Tyler and Joe Perry play this raw
blues stomper while seated on
chairs deep within the crowd.
“It’s like they’re jamming on a
front porch,” says bassist Tom
Hamilton. - Stop Messin’ Around
2004
This Fleetwood Mac cover
gives Perry a chance to sing
lead. “Joe sings his ass off,” says
Tyler. “It’s a tip of the hat to the
band that made me want to join
Aerosmith: Fleetwood Mac.” - Cryin’ 1993
The video for this massive hit
featured an unknown Alicia
Silverstone. “This isn’t one of
my favorites,” says Hamilton. “I
wouldn’t mind giving it a rest.”- Livin’ on the Edge 1993
Tyler wrote this song after
witnessing the 1992 L.A.
riots. “Those lyrics will be
appropriate from now until the
end of eternity,” says Hamilton. - Toys in the Attic 1975
The main set wraps up with
one of the fastest songs in their
catalog. “It gets the crowd
pumped up before we walk off,”
says Whitford. - Dream On 1973
They’ve played this power
ballad more than 1,500 times
and can’t imagine a show
without it. “It damn near wrote
itself,” says Tyler. “I think it’s
lasted as long as it has because
the message stands the test of
time. Oh, and because of that
scream.. .”- Chip Away the Stone
1978
In between their biggest hits,
Aerosmith break out this
obscure Seventies singalong.
“It’s kind of a ‘Brown Sugar’-like
song,” says Hamilton. Adds
Tyler, “It got a lot of airplay
during the days of AOR: album-
oriented rock.” - Walk This Way 1975
“There’s so much history with
that song,” says Whitford. “It
was just enormous, and it’s the
perfect closer.”
Aerosmith return to the MGM
Grand on September 21st, and
play there through December.David Lee RothTHE ROTH SHOW
The Van Halen singer
is like an insane
late-night talk-radio
DJ, telling stories and
philosophizing on
everything from the
relationship between
drumming and boxing
to how the buttless
pants he wore in 1983
launched Shakira’s
career. He delivers
each weirdly intimate
ramble with the same
over-the-top energy
that made him Eight-
ies metal’s greatest
frontman.Robert PlantDIGGING DEEP
In each episode of
his fascinating show,
Plant zeros in on one
song from his career.
Example: “Achilles
Last Stand,” where he
breaks down how a
serious car-accident
injury led him to write
a track he admits is
“magnificent... so
intense.” “It’s not
self-indulgent,” Plant
said of his show.
“It’s basically hugely
indulgent.”Aimee Mann
and Ted LeoTHE ART OF
PROCESS
The two thoughtful
indie songwriters
(who also perform
together as the Both)
host talks on the
artistic process with
an eclectic group,
from rapper Jean Grae
to political speech-
writer Eli Attie. Each
episode offers a deep
look into the passions
and anxieties that fuel
creativity.PICKS
ARTIST
PODCASTS
Legends share wild
tales, song secrets
in new showsON THE ROAD
Aerosmith
in 2018
9108567432111Aerosmith
Tell Their
Set List
Secrets