North American syndicated rock radio show and website, InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History’s Greatest Rock Bands, celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aerosmith’s bold musical statement, Rocks.

By the end of 1975 Aerosmith had sold three million copies of their breakthrough third album Toys In The Attic. Against all conventional wisdom their manager had convinced their record company to re-release a song from Aerosmith’s very first album called “Dream On” for the third time, even though it had failed twice before. This time “Dream On” goes to #6 on the Billboard chart a full five years after it had been released. It was under this head of steam that Aerosmith’s next album Rocks was written and recorded for release in May 1976.

Aerosmith Rocks was not so much a simple album title as it was a definitive declaration of intent. Joe Perry reflects on the legacy of Aerosmith, America’s premiere hard rock band, with InTheStudio host Redbeard.

“The greatest strength of the band is our ability to play live. This (Rocks album) is basically a live record... It’s what you would have heard if you were standing in the middle of the room when we recorded.” - Joe Perry

It was during this mid-70s “make it and spend it” period of sex, drugs and rock and roll that Perry and lead singer Steven Tyler earned the notorious nickname “The Toxic Twins”, choices which soon proved to be very costly for all the members of Aerosmith. Guitarist Brad Whitford can never forget.

“When I saw the movie about Sid Vicious and when I saw the movie Spinal Tap, everybody sat in theaters laughing... And I watch those movies and said, ‘Part of that is my life, FOR REAL!’… I live with painful memories. I refuse to forget. A knot in my stomach and dreadful fear for someone... Some really bad times this band went through with drugs and alcohol, which almost took this band and a whole lot of other things away.” - Brad Whitford

Tune in to the Rocks @ 40/InTheStudio interview at this location.