Aerosmith: Behind The Scenes Of Recording The New Album

Steven and Joe pose for William Hames

It was a busy week at the studio. First up William Hames, the famed photographer and 

journalist from Japan, came to town to interview Joe and Steven. His informal sit down

 interview in the control room of Pandora’s Box will be seen and heard across Japan in 

the up coming months in conjunction with the band’s first visit to the land of the rising 

sun since 2004 in November. He also took pictures for several Japanese publications 

including one of the best rock magazines ever “Burnn.” Steven and Joe will adorn the 

cover of an upcoming edition. 

The band are excited to be performing in Japan again as it’s one of their favorite places

 to play and visit. They have been quite concerned about the people of Japan and of 

course their fans there. They will get to see first hand the damage and resurrection of

 this great country. Waku Waku Suru Japan!

The guys also took part in a charity campaign for “Camp Felix.”  Camp Felix is an 

exciting and fun-filled overnight summer camp experience for children in need. 

Penny Marshall is spearheading this campaign and the guys can be seen in the 

video along with numerous other celebrities singing “Walk this Way” with different 

lyrics. Steven re-did his vocals moments before the video was shot. Be on the lookout

 for it soon. The spot was shot by Michael Coleman  (with Jack Douglas’ and the 

band’s direction) Michael was an intern for Jack when the guys were recording

 “Honkin’ on Bobo” back in 2003 at the Boneyard and he took a lot of the great

 photos and video you have seen from that time. He is now working for Lucas

 films. It has been great watching “The Kid” climb the ladder of success.

You want me to do what?

The Master of the Big Bottom!

Krame dog lays it down

After shooting the video, the guys had a photo shoot with “The Goddess of the Lens,”

 Melissa Mahoney. This was the band’s first photo shoot in some time. Melissa has to 

be in my top 3 favorite people to shoot the band. She shares her keen artistic eye with

 her husband Casey Patrick Tebo who is also the band’s video director. My favorite 

shows directed by Casey have been the Beacon Theatre show and last years Fenway

 Park show which I am almost positive will see the light of day sometime soon. 
With the temps hovering in the mid 90’s to low 100’s outside, the band stay cool in the 

cozy confines of Pandora’s Box each day with Jack Douglas laying down tracks for 

their next release. As you know the band hasn’t had a studio album since “Bobo” in 

2004 and an original release since 2001 with Just Push Play. Jack reminds me of 

Doc Brown from Back to the Future. He seems crazy as a loon but also as sane as a 

mental health counselor. He does bring an old school vibe with him but that doesn’t 

mean that this record is going to be the second coming of “Rocks.” Toys and Rocks

 to me may never be duplicated and they also stand as the benchmark to reach as iconic 

A-Smith albums but as Joe has stated in several interviews in the past few years that he 

feels that Aerosmith still hasn’t made their best album. The age old question from most

 people is, Will it sound like Rocks? C’mon folks, I think that is an unfair question, but

 what I will say is that this will sound like vintage Aerosmith. Think “Bobo” with killer 

original riffs. Joey’s playing with the precision of an “Omega Speedmaster Professional” 

and gets as funky as Clyde Stubblefield on his best days. Go ahead and say “yeah 

that’s what he gets paid to say” but I am telling you this stuff is going to blow you guys

 away, for shizzle. 

Steven, Joe and Jack get busy. Photo: John B.

Nuff said! Photo: John B.

Joey flying the SOX flag! Photo: John B.