In a new interview with Forbes' Steve Baltin, Aerosmith singer, Steven Tyler, talks about Janie's Fund (the foundation he started in partnership with Youth Villages to help underage victims of sexual abuse) and how the hit song "Janie's Got A Gun" helped lead him on this path, his surprise at how long Aerosmith has endured, and why he wants his legacy to graduate from sex, drugs and rock and roll in his early days to philanthropy and giving back in 2022. An excerpt follows:
Steve Baltin: A few years ago at this event (Tyler's annual Grammy viewing party) Alice Cooper said to me, "Your brand is the name that allows you to do good." So what is the importance for you of this legacy and being able to do something like this?
Steven Tyler: "Of course it's the other side of it. I had no idea Aerosmith that the name and the brand and who we were would still be honored and loved. Turn the radio on and I hear Aerosmith, not what I want to hear. I want to hear the Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin and they're playing f**king Aerosmith (laughter). And I'm very, very grateful that the band name has some punch to it still. So rather than sex, drugs and rock and roll, it was good for 10, 15, 20 years, it was true, it was what everybody aspired to be, wanted to be in a twosome, threesome and now it's different. Now I want to bring direct visibility to what we know is going on with the help of scouts, people that are out there watching. I can't because of my face, but I believe them. They know what's going on. They come to Youth Villages, they take them in. They have a program, they have something. It's very important to have something. And yeah, Alice is right. Everything has got it's time. To be a rock star is great and millions, I don't spend it like I used to. There are other things that are more important. Knowing that I have something to do with Janie's Fund and the song actually had more legs than it did back then, it feels so good. My heart feels so much better than it did back then getting a Grammy. F**k the Grammy. This saves a life. Sometimes I look out there and I think, "They're here to see Steven Tyler. And I'll sing 'Dream On' and I'll do that." I add it, 50/50. Fifty percent of my art-loving, saying something about kids no one has been saying. No one's gonna mention Gabriel Fernandez and all those people. I think it's time we talk about it. I would love to sit down on a panel and say, "I don't have all the answers. But what can I do by arming it with that Steven Tyler guy?" I would love to do whatever I can for it and have more eyes see. There are so many things — sex trafficking and opiate problems. Where is the buzz? Can we just get down and talk? It's hard to be a human being. Opium, heroin, it's a fur coat in a f**king snow storm. It's one of the greatest feelings ever, but they don't teach that in school. I believe we should go on a rampage and make sure the teachers actually take a course in psychology."
Read the full interview at Forbes.com.
Tickets for Aerosmith's upcoming "Deuces Are Wild" Las Vegas residency are available here.
Dates:
Friday, June 17, 2022
Monday, June 20, 2022
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Saturday, July 2, 2022
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Friday, July 8, 2022
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Friday, September 23, 2022
Monday, September 26, 2022
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Saturday, November 19, 2022
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Saturday, November 26, 2022
Monday, November 29, 2022
Friday, December 2, 2022
Monday, December 5, 2022
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer has "regrettably made the decision to sit out the band's concerts in 2022 so he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times," according to a statement from the band. Kramer was estranged from Aerosmith in 2019 but returned in 2020.
While the statement notes that "he and the band look forward to his future performances with Aerosmith," (drum tech) John Douglas will be stationed behind the drum kit while Kramer "takes a temporary leave of absence."
