Steven was born in a little town, perhaps you've heard of it, called New York. Ok, fine really in Yonkers, a subarb of New York. His mother was Blanche, his Father, Victor I obviously assume he was named after his dad, or maybe it was a REALLY bizzare coincedence. Anyways, he had a sister, Linda and they were both raised in the Bronx, well Steven actually spent the first four years of his life living in Harlem, but who cares? Even though Steven was REALLY raised in New York, he often tells how he was raised under his father's piano which means a) they put him in some sort of cage under there, and wouldn't let him out, or the more popular answer b) he was involved in music through his parents, and other reletives at a very young age. In fact, his aunt had him up on stage at the family's resort to sing to the guests (aww.. he must have looked SO cute!). Speaking of above mentioned resort, he often says that he spent some of the happiest days of his life there, he and his cousin, Augie, would hunt small birds (which is EVIL if you ask me), fish in the stream, and just play in the hayloft there. In fact, his first time drunk was there too. He and his cousin Augie drank a bottle of cider, and he felt sick and horrible afterwards.
His childhood in New York doesn't sound so great, he was a hyperactive little kid, and got called "nigger lips" at his school PS 81. In grade four he was thrown out of school for chasing a girl with a broken bottle, and was placed at Hoffman school, which he describes as being full of other brats and retarted kids. He then moved and started going to PS 32 for grade 6. He got thrown out of Roosevelt High school later in life and joined Quintano's Professional Childrens school, which had a very leinant skip/lateness policy and no grades(marks), allowing Steven to only show up a few days a week.
His first pet was a raccoon that he had caught himself called Bandit, who was sold when he got too big. At this point, he was still getting called nigger lips, and getting beat up on top of that. He would go home crying because of the bullies. To make him feel better his mother once told him that his bigger lips were just better to kiss the girls with. How right she was..
Steven started to grow his hair in the earlt 60's, even before the Beatles were popular. For this he got a lot of grief, from teachers and principals at his school, he however refused to cut it. This is the time when he joined his first band/club. To get in he had to streak across some street, and steal stuff. Of course, he got arrested for shoplifting, but I'm sure he didn't get in trouble, he was a minor you see. In this first band Steven wasn't the lead singer, he was the drummer, and would be the drummer in the next few bands after that. His next band, The Strangers, who eventually changed it to The Steangeurs, got pretty good, and were popular at various small clubs in the area, and even were the opening act for the Byrds and The Beach Boys once. In fact, they even put out a record. It was under the name of Chain Reaction, as The Strangeurs was already taken
Steven's first time was with an older lady, a hooker, who did not only Steven, but a few of his friends too. It was a disguisting experience for him, and he washed himself off in the sink afterwards.
Steven was getting drunk at a very young age, he used to put liquor in his orange juice, to be better able to face the bullies, so it's not surprising that he soon got into drugs as well. In fact, he also did some small time dealing, to make money to buy drugs with. He and his friend, Ray Tabano (who was a member of Aerosmith for awhile) eventually got caught, there was a nark in his class, who befriended Steven, and then turned him in. Steven got off with a misdemeanor and a years probation, the only lasting effect that had was that when he was old enough to be drafted, his record kept him out of Vietnam. A blessing in disguise I say.
Steven first saw Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton playing with the Jam Band at the barn. He thought that they basically sucked, put also saw that they had looseness and balls unlike any other band he'd been in before. He knew then that he had to form a band with these guys...
Aerosmith wasn'created right then though, Steven was already in a band, called William Proud. He soon realized that it was going nowehere, and hitchhiked back up to Sunapee to join up with Joe and Tom. Also in the band at that point was Ray Tabano, Steven's long time friend and bandmate. Soon they all moved down to Boston together, in September of 1970, and moved into 1325 Commenwealth Ave. At this point, Joey joins the band, and brings with him the name "Aerosmith" It wasn't too long after this that they decided Ray had to go. It was hard for Steven to fire him, since they had such a long term friendship, but in the end, Ray left, and in comes Brad. Aerosmith was complete.
They started out playing High Schools, and a few clubs, and were just the average poor rock band. Then they got a management contract from Frank Conally and things started looking up. Frank had nicknames for all the guys, Stevens was L.M. for Loudmouth. Frank had them playing in bars, which pissed Steven off as he had been playing clubs for the past 8 years, but also got them signed by Columbia Records in the summer of 1972.
Their first record was Aerosmith and it came out, with little advertising in January 1973. The album didn't do very well, and Columbia was thinking of dropping them off the label, but they did some heavy duty touring to make their name known, and Get Your Wings came out in March 1974. The album did well, and Aerosmith was well on the road to sucess.
The third album, Toy in The Attic made them stars. It was released in April 1975 and by this time they were also acting like stars, Drugs, alcohol, and girls were are around them. They were touring, of course, and Dream On was #6 on billboard. It was their first top ten single. Rocks was released in May 1976 to great reviews, but Aerosmith's drug problems were already getting the better of them. One of Stevens pet peeves was Turkey Loaf. He hated it. There would be fits at the end of shows if turkey loaf had been served rather than turkey on the bone.
It was in 1976 that Steven was with Bebe Buell, and she became pregnant with Liv. Bebe left after she saw Steven having a seizure, and Liv didn't know Steven was her real father until the late 80's.
Draw the line was made in a nunnery in Armonk New York, by this time the whole band were totally fucked-up with drugs. Draw the Line came out in 1978, went to #11 on Billboard, then just died.
It was at this point that Steven got together with Cyrinda Foxe. She was a friend of Elyssa Perry, and Joe. Steven and Cyrinda dated for awhile, fell in love and she got pregnant in the spring of 1978 with Mia. In Semptember 1978 they were married, and Mia was born on December 22, 1978. Eventually they got divorced, in 1987, she kept Mia. (Cyrinda has recently published a book called Dream On; Living on the Edge with Steven Tyler and Aerosmith , I have read it and personally think it's jealous rantings. There are some interesting things in it, some things which are no doupt true, but I don't suggest reading it unless you can deal with her bashing Steven, and all of Aerosmith throughout it)
It was durring this period that Steven had his motorcycle accident, and was put in hospital for a long time. While he was in it was easy to get drugs (to numb the pain etc) but Steven was also hurting due to the fact he had lose his band. It was 1980, and Aerosmith was still totally druggie, but not for much longer...
Steven, Joey, and Tom joined up with Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay to make Rock in a Hard Place. Released in 1982 the album went to #32. In 1984 Aerosmith got back together with Joe and Brad for a "reunion tour" from which sprang Done With Mirrors. It didn't do as well as their previous efforts, but it showed that they still had some fans out there..
Steven was convinced to go into rehabilitation, and finally got clean (as did the other members of Aerosmith). In 1986 they released a rap version of Walk This Way with Run DMC, and then Permanent Vacation in 1987, which reached #11 in Billboard.
It was durring this period that Steven got married to Teresa. Teresa has a twin sister named Lisa (rhyming names. How cute.) and together they make Stevens stage clothes, as did Cyrinda Foxe before them. Steven and Teresa created Chelsea Anna and Taj Monroe. Steven and Teresa were married in the 80's, after having known each other for a long time- Steven was with Teresa before he and Cyrinda broke up.
Next out came Permanent Vacation, and Pump. I probably could look up the chart things, but I don't really care. They both went to the top of the charts, sold many many albums, and had tours attached to them. The band was finally, and totally sober, and doing great. Steven daughter, Liv, was carving out a modeling/acting carrer depending on the time you're looking at it (she was 12 when she found out Steven was her dad. She noticed they had the same legs, and asked Bebe if Steven was her real father) By know I'm sure you all know who Liv is (Inventing the Abbots, Heavy, Empire Records.. not to mention the Aerosmith video with Alicia Silverstone) and if you don't, please remove your head from your ass *g*
In 1992 Aerosmith released Get A Grip, and emabarked on yet ANOTHER world tour. They opened a nightclub in Boston called "Mama Kin's" (they are also investors in the House of Blues chain) which I am sure is very nice, I have never been to the Holy City of Boston myself, so I wouldn't know. If you're there, check it out. Of the top of my head I believe it's on Lansdowne (sp?) St.
In 1996, August of, Aerosmith fired their long time manager, who spread vicous lies about dear ol' Stevie, and was a basic pain in ze ass for awhile. But we all know by now, that none of it was true. So.. onwards and upwards..
In 1997 they realesed Nine Lives, very fitting name, which entered the charts at #1. They all went on tour again, Michael Blessing to you if you saw them (little inside joke, please ignore) Steven is currently married with his four aforementioned childeren (in order of age) Liv (Bebe Buell) Mia (Cyrinda Foxe-Tyler) Chelsea Anna, and Taj Monroe (Teresa Tyler). He is looking Fab-u-lous, for his age, or for a 20 year old movie star, and I am very sure that 25 years from now he'll still be rocking with Aerosmith.
