Steven Tyler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steven Tyler | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Stephen Victor Tallarico | |
| Born | March 26, 1948 (age 58) | |
| Origin | Yonkers, New York, U.S.A. | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals Piano |
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| Associated acts |
Aerosmith | |
Stephen Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948 in Yonkers, New York), better known as Steven Tyler, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known for his work in the rock band Aerosmith as their lead singer.
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[edit] Biography and Career
Tyler is of Italian and German descent on his father's side and of Native American (Cherokee) and Russian descent on his mother's.[1] He is renowned for his wide grin and big lips (a trait he shares with fellow rocker Mick Jagger) and for his high energy stage performances, in which he usually dresses in bright colors and crazy outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his mic stand. In the band's early days, he was also known for having a bottle of Jack Daniel's on stage with him, but he has since discontinued.
Tyler and his guitar-playing Aerosmith colleague Joe Perry were often called the Toxic Twins, for their legendary intake of stimulants and Heroin; they have now been clean for more than twenty years. Perry and Tyler met when Perry was working in an ice cream parlour in Sunapee, NH, and they formed a band with bassist Tom Hamilton. The original lineup of Aerosmith showcased a second guitarist, Ray Tabano, who was replaced early into the formation of Aerosmith by guitarist Brad Whitford; drummer Joey Kramer was also added. After spending time on the Boston club circuit, under the tutelage of their first manager, Frank Connelly, they secured New York management in the form of Steve Leber and David Krebs, a record deal and released their self-titled debut album. It was followed up with the classics Get Your Wings, Toys In The Attic and Rocks, which catapulted Aerosmith to international fame and recognition.
Tyler's relationship with his musical "other half" Perry is worthy of note. The two have long been known as the Toxic Twins and their relationship is well documented in many of Aerosmith's video releases as well as in the Aerosmith Behind the Music. Tyler, apparently much more dedicated to the band, seemed to resent Perry's passive attitude and envied Perry's prioritization of the women in his life. The tense dynamic between Tyler, Perry, and their once-friendly girlfriends was apparently a leading factor in the gradual decay and eventual temporary breakup of Aerosmith circa 1980.
In Ted Nugent's book God, Guns, and Rock and Roll, Nugent claimed that Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are good friends of his, and praised them for abandoning drug abuse. He also mentioned that the two, especially Steven, enjoyed shooting high-powered firearms and eating home-cooked meals with him during tour stop-offs in Michigan.
[edit] National Anthem Incident
On 27 May, 2001, at the 85th Indianapolis 500, Steven Tyler sang the national anthem of the USA. He came under criticism when he replaced "home of the brave'" with "home of the Indianapolis 500." He immediately apologized and reaffirmed his patriotism after the incident.
[edit] Personal life
In 1976, he had a passionate love affair with fashion model Bebe Buell, during which he fathered actress Liv Tyler (Buell initially claimed that the father was Todd Rundgren to protect Liv from Steven's then drug addiction). In 1978, he married Cyrinda Foxe, an ex-Warhol model, and the former wife of New York Dolls' lead singer David Johansen, and fathered plus-sized model Mia Tyler. He and Foxe divorced in 1988; in 1997, she published Dream On, a memoir of life with Tyler. Cyrinda Foxe passed away from brain cancer in 2002. In 1988, he married clothing designer Teresa Barrick, with whom he fathered two children: a daughter, Chelsea Anna Tallarico, and a son, Taj Monroe Tallarico;[1] in February 2005, they announced that they were separating due to personal problems. In January 2006 the divorce was official.
[edit] Throat Surgery
On March 22, 2006, the Washington Post reported that Tyler would undergo surgery for an "undisclosed medical condition." A statement from Tyler's publicist read in part, "Despite Aerosmith's desire to keep the tour going as long as possible, [Tyler's] doctors advised him not to continue performing to give his voice time to recover." Aerosmith's remaining North American tour dates in 2006 on the Rockin' the Joint Tour were cancelled as a result.
The surgery, done to correct a popped blood vessel in his throat, was a success. After a few weeks of rest, Steven Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith entered the studio on May 20, 2006 to begin work on their new album. A tour launched later in fall 2006 with Mötley Crüe, titled the Route of All Evil Tour.
[edit] Hepatitis C
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Steve Tyler revealed that he had been suffering from Hepatitis C for an unknown time. He had undergone extensive treatment in the last three years, including 11 months of chemotherapy, which he said "nearly killed me." He went on to add that after the treatment, the disease was now "non-existent" in his blood stream. He calls Hepatitis C, "The Silent Killer." No known cause was provided.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- In 2003, Tyler received an honorary degree from Berklee College of Music, and, in 2005, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Boston
- In 2005, he guested on Santana's song "Just Feel Better"
- Co-owned, along with Aerosmith band member Joe Perry and other partners, Mount Blue, a restaurant in Norwell, Massachusetts - Tyler and Perry sold their interest in Mount Blue in September 2006.
- On July 4, 2006, Tyler, along with Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra for their annual July 4th concert on the Esplanade
- His cousin, Tommy Tallarico, is a prolific composer of video game music
- Tyler has made at least one cameo appearance in the sitcom, Two and a Half Men
- On October 14, 2006 Tyler sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at Game #3 of the National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Had a guest appreance on Lizzie McGuire as Santa.
- He is 8 months and 16 days older than Ozzy Osbourne.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Xtreme Xmas." Douglas Tuber, Tim Maile, Savage Steve Holland, Hilary Duff, Steven Tyler, Chelsea Tallirico [sic], Taj Tallirico [sic]. Lizzie McGuire. Disney Channel. 2002-12-06.
