Walkers this way?

Erin Randolph
October 18, 2001

Aerosmith is a band that may have hit its musical peak before most ISU students were even born. Everyone in the traditional college-age range was wearing diapers when the band released what is arguably its best work.

Aerosmith is considered by some to be an American music icon. It was the rock outfit that taught baby boomers to “dream on” and “walk this way.” The youth of the ’70s and early ’80s played air guitar to Joe Perry’s solos and lip-synched to “Sweet Emotion”.

Aerosmith has inspired many of the rock bands hitting the airwaves today. But unlike other arena legends such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith is still together in its original form, grinding out records and touring incessantly.

And one stop on their latest tour is Ames. What kind of crowd can concert-goers expect? Will it be comprised of mullet-wearing burn-outs or kids requesting “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”? Are the members of Aerosmith still the hip gods of rock they once were, or have they become wash-ups whose guitars are better suited for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than strapped over their shoulders?

“There are some rock players who are too old to appeal to a young crowd,” said David Stuart, who teaches a rock `n’ roll history course at Iowa State. “I don’t think Aerosmith falls into that. Elton John might, but not Aerosmith.”

In March, along with rock legends such as Michael Jackson and Queen, Grammy award-winning Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; around the same time, Aerosmith released its 13th album, “Just Push Play.”

The band was also featured in the Superbowl XXXVI Halftime Show. Although old enough to be their parents, Aerosmith took the stage with youthful MTV darlings such as Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Mary J. Blige and Nelly.

“Aerosmith is a top-notch act,” said Sara Huber, marketing director for the Iowa State Center. “With their career spanning three generations, I think their new music has touched a newer generation.”

“I think they appeal to everyone,” said Squire Boone, student director for the Maintenance Shop. “They’ve been around for so long that their audience is really broad in age.”

Aerosmith may have been able to reach a new age group, but some fans may have already brushed off their days of “living on the edge” and hid them away with their Donnie Wahlberg posters.

Personally, Boone said, “I don’t like the new stuff. I’m particular to the old stuff.

“They were cool back when I was 10, and that kind of rock was in style, but I don’t really care for that kind of music anymore,” said Trisha Rasmussen, junior in mathematics. “Overall, it probably appeals to quite a few people, but quite a few people probably hate them.”

Due to a mix-up with her online ordering status, Megan Olson, junior in dietetics, was left with four extra tickets to sell. After putting an ad in the paper advertising the tickets, she noticed they weren’t going as quickly as expected.

“It seems like where I’m from, they’re more popular than here,” said Olson, whose hometown is near Rockford, Ill. “Every single one of my friends at home loves them, but here in Ames, it’s kind of half and half.”

Many of the concerts brought into the Iowa State Center within the past year have included artists more than 50-years-old, such as Sting, Tina Turner and now Aerosmith. Since Ames is a college town, much of its revenue comes from college students. This leaves some ISU students wondering what crowd the Iowa State Center is trying to cater to.

“I can see getting Billy Joel to come every now and again, but they definitely should take that into consideration, because kids are going to Kansas City and Minneapolis to see shows,” Rasmussen said. “If those artists came here, students wouldn’t have to leave Iowa to see their favorite bands.”

The Iowa State Center tries to appease the college crowd, not only with concerts, but also with the performing arts events, Huber said. The real problem is that Iowa isn’t considered a touring staple like other larger Midwest cities.

“What people need to realize is that Ames is a secondary market on most touring routes,” she said. “Ames has been very fortunate with the tours that do come through here.

“Obviously booking events at the Iowa State Center is not easy, and we do the best we can do to get big acts and lure them in here,” Huber said. “It has been a slow touring season, and with the tragic events we’ve had in the past month, I can see the concert events going even slower.”

In the past, Ames has been a big player in the central Iowa concert scene. And with neighboring cities booking more national acts, the venues in Ames need more support than ever if they are to continue the success they’ve seen in booking big-name acts.

“With rising competition in Des Moines, if we don’t support the acts that do come in here, that could very well dry us up here pretty soon,” Huber said.

The “rising competition” for shows at the Iowa State Center may be coming from the Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Ave. in Des Moines, which is bringing in national acts Incubus and Cake within one week of each other.

Tickets for Cake and Incubus are $25 and $24 respectively. All seating is general admission, so the price is the same no matter when they are purchased.

Ticket prices for Aerosmith range from $30 to 75, with tickets priced according to the location of the seats.

And although the concert is not yet sold out, Huber doesn’t blame ticket prices.

“I don’t think ticket prices have hindered sales at all,” Huber said. “We actually were one of the best states sold on the tour when we went on sale.”

Although Huber said tickets sales have been successful, Rasmussen feels more people would be encouraged to attend the concert if tickets prices weren’t so high.

“The die-hard fans will always go see the concert, regardless of ticket price,” Rasmussen said. “There’s probably a ton of college kids that aren’t huge fans of them, but would go see them if the closer-seated tickets were more affordable.”

With three decades under Aerosmith’s belt and multi-platinum success, fans come to expect overdone theatrics and an elaborate stage show. The band has put on countless tours over the span of its career, and with that comes an increased need for money to keep the show fresh in the eyes of the fans.

“They’re going to charge what they can for the tickets, and the demand for them is obviously there,” Boone said. “I wouldn’t say they’re overly outrageous, because the cost of putting on a show is quite high.”

Olson ended up paying $72 for her tickets located in parquet (lower balcony), but has no qualms about handing over the money.

“It’ll be worth it,” Olson said. “It just depends on what bands you like. For the seats that we got, it was worth it.”

Throughout the years, Aerosmith has reinvented itself. Even though its earliest tunes can now be heard on classic rock stations, “Jaded” was placed in heavy rotation on MTV and Top 40 radio stations.

Multiple generations have been able to embrace both the raw appeal that carried Aerosmith through the ’70s and the ballads that continue to pave its success into the 21st century.

Don’t miss a thing

March 26, 1948: Steven Tyler, lead singer, is born.

June 21, 1950: Joey Kramer, drummer, is born.

September 10, 1950: Joe Perry, lead guitarist, is born.

December 31, 1951: Tom Hamilton, bassist, is born.

February 23, 1952: Brad Whitford, rhythm guitarist, is born.

Sometime in 1970: Aerosmith forms.

1973: Aerosmith releases its self-titled first album, containing

“Dream On.”

1974: “Get Your WIngs” is released.

1975: “Toys In The Attic” is released.

1976: “Rocks” is released. “Dream On” from the band’s debut album is re-released and hits number six on the charts.