There was a time when the great arena acts were not thought of as “classic  rock” bands. Forty years after the rock and roll animals first roamed the planet, Aerosmith and Styx were working rock and roll bands creating new music and touring behind new album releases. The first time that I saw Aerosmith at the Nassau Coliseum the band was riding high (no pun intended). We were standing on our folding chairs when Strphen Tyler, Joe Perry and the boys hit the stage with the great “Arrosmith Rocks” cut “Back in the Saddle”. About mid song during a Joe Perry guitar solo someone turned the sound up to ELEVEN and it got LOUD. Out hard rock Herod blew the roof off and amazingly still kick ass to this day. According to Tonnie “The Limo Driver” Mund who attended, Stephen Tyler just played a NASCAR driver’s wedding and Aerosmith may embark on a final farewell tour in the near future.

On a sad note, drummer Butch Trucks of Allman Brothers Band fame committed suicide on the same day Mary Tyler Moore passed. After the Allman Brothers Band called it a day, Mr. Trucks, uncle to Derek Trucks, kept himself busy with various projects and I last saw him with the Allman inspired Les Bres.

RIP Butch Trucks

Rock on

GQ