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Interview 33
Tom Hamilton "Aerosmith Still Loves Adventure Of Rock" - March 10 2006
Source: http://forums.aeroforceone.com/viewtopic.php?t=40603
The Express-Times, PA
March 10, 2006
Aerosmith Still Loves Adventure Of Rock
Some artists prefer the comfort of the studio, enveloped in coziness and
creative chi. Others are warriors of the land, nomadic in nature and
slaves to the grind.
For Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, the rock star offers a balance of
both.
"I still look forward to the old adventure part of it -- going out on the road
with your friends. I love hotel rooms and room service. I have my basses
and my laptop with me. If I come up with a riff I like, I can record it and
keep it for later. It's that in between time that you have to make the
effort to take your playing to the next level," he says.
Hamilton and his band mates, known to the world as Aerosmith, recently
hit the road to support their new live album "Rockin' the Joint." It's is a
fitting tribute to the band's longevity and colored career spanning three
decades.
A grueling touring regimen and life on the road, despite its many riches,
also means leaving behind your loved ones.
"I hate those days when I have to say goodbye to my wife and kids. The
road can be very isolating at times," Hamilton says.
By now, most fans know the story of how Aerosmith rose to fame in the
mid-'70s after a string of successful albums and hit singles; of how drug
addiction and tension tore the band apart; and how a chance collaboration
with Run-DMC and the birth of the MTV generation brought the band out
of the dark and back into the light for millions of fans around the world.
What most people don't know is that even with all the fan adulation,
awards, critical praise and respect from peers, and all the musicians
they've inspired, Aerosmith remains humble -- and slightly mystified -- by
its success.
"If I knew what it was, I'd bottle it up we still have that desire to be in a
band. When we broke up (from 1979-84) we got a real taste for the
alternative. When we got back together, we helped each other face our
demons," Hamilton says.
From the raunchy blues boogie of "Big Ten Inch Record," "Mama Kin"
and "Train Kept-a-Rolling" to their more friendly power ballads "Dream
On," "Angel" and "Amazing," Aerosmith's music maintains no boundary
and offers no pretense.
"In the '70s our audience was 90 percent general admission and 90
percent drunk, topless males. It's not like that anymore. Our audience
now is more -- sophisticated I guess is the best way to describe it,"
Hamilton says.
While most bands fade from the public eye after an album or two,
Aerosmith has managed to stay fresh, both musically and visually, for
more than three decades. Don't let the videos or endorsement deals fool
you, the music has always been at the heart of the band's success.
"For a long time, I rejected the idea of it the whole image thing; standing
in front of a mirror and all that. But, it's part of the job. We're still music
fans and we still have that kind of outlook with other people's music,"
Hamilton says.
While fans can expect standard classics like "Walk This Way" and "Sweet
Emotion," to be played at full volume, the Aerosmith plans to mix things
up by tossing in rare cuts and back catalog goodies.
"Our set is very esoteric. Different nights we're going to be playing
different songs from the different eras - 'Kings and Queens' is a blast to
play live. I love those kinds of dynamics in a song; quiet, dreamy parts
and then you're struck over the head with this loud rock. We really try to
milk that kind of dynamic," Hamilton says.
While some classic rock bands continue to tour after what seems like their
second, third or even fourth "reunion," Hamilton assures fans there is no
need to worry; Aerosmith has no intentions of packing up anytime soon.
"There is no way to predict how long the band will keep going. We're not
giving up, so don't you (the fans) give up," Hamilton says.
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