Music and Motors: Aerosmith

This week’s Music and Motors looks at America’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band – Aerosmith.

The ‘Bad Boys From Boston’ aren’t the most publicised petrolheads in the music world, despite sponsoring IndyCar and NASCAR entries and having a somewhat car-themed rollercoaster at a Disney theme park.

They definitely do have a penchant for fast cars, though. Frontman Steven Tyler loves his motors so much so that he made the cross-continental trip to Dunsfold in 2013 to appear on Top Gear, just to talk cars and set a lap time – not to promote some film, book, or other tat like most of the show’s guests.

On the show he delved into his car history, revealing just how much of a ‘car guy’ he really is. Tyler spoke about how he loves to drive his Lotus Seven with his son blasting AC/DC tunes. He also did the unthinkable and got Jeremy Clarkson to express an interest in a motorcycle – specifically the 172-mph Confederate Hellcat; a bike that’s not only named after a fighter jet, but goes like one too. Tyler was also the founder of his own motorcycle manufacturer, Dirico Motorcycles.

Back on four wheels, “The Demon of Screamin'” has been snapped in a Panoz Roadster (one for the Midtown Madness players, there) and a Porsche 997 911 Turbo. The man who claims to have ‘snorted half of Peru’ also drove a Porsche during the 1980s as Aerosmith got its act together after years of crippling drug abuse. More recently, 2018 to be exact, he appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Kia.

The most famous of Tyler’s cars has to be his 2012 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically a pocket-sized Lotus that’s had a bum lift and more stimulants than all of the members of Aerosmith combined. Tyler’s was the first open-top Venom GT, with him making the request when putting in his order. It wasn’t to be the only one though, because 11 more were later produced.

The Venom GT is powered by a twin-turbo 7.0-litre LSX V8 engine originally from the General Motors parts bin. The monstrous powerplant puts out an Amazing 1,451 bhp, which, if you could handle the power, helps it get from 0-60 mph in less than 2.4, and onto a verified top speed of 265.6 mph, although the manufacturer claimed that 270 mph was possible.

The singer was definitely happy with the car when he took delivery of it, and good job considering it cost him $1.1 million, but after five years he decided to Draw The Line under his hypercar ownership, offering it up for action to raise funds for his Janie’s Fund charity that helps women who have faced abuse.

Despite the cars star power (and horse power), the its value took a hit when it was auctioned by Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2017. When the hammer dropped it sold for $800,000, all of which went to the charity.

“We raised enough tonight to provide 20,000 days of therapeutic support to abused girls across America,” Tyler said in a statement following the sale. “As a father to three daughters, a son, and now a grandfather, it broke my heart to learn that each year in America alone, 700,000 children are victims of serious abuse or neglect, and 68,000 will be sexually abused. Together through Janie’s Fund, we’re helping girls rebuild their lives and overcome the trauma they experienced.”

Tyler isn’t the only car fan in Aerosmith. Guitarist Brad Whitford raced in the VW Jetta TDI Cup at Road Atlanta in 2009 (below), but he had a less exciting motoring experience in the same year when he hit his head getting out of his Ferrari. The injury turned out so severe that the axeman had to have surgery which resulted in him missing several dates on Aerosmith’s tour that year.

Ferraris and Aerosmith definitely haven’t been a good Combination over the years. As well as Whitford’s mishap, drummer Joey Kramer escaped serious injury in 1998 when his Ferrari F355 burst into flames at a petrol station in the band’s hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. Kramer suffered “minor burns to his hands, arms and one leg” according to reports at the time, and a subsequent investigation revealed that the fire was caused by him leaving the engine running while he filled up. Crazy.

Despite using one of his Nine Lives, Kramer hasn’t been put off Ferrari ownership, owning a 458 Spider among others in the years since the fire. In an interview with Boston.com in 2016, Kramer also opened up about his love of rival brand Lamborghini, in particular the Huracán, which he said was “the greatest thing in the world, like having the car brand new again” every time he drove it after a stint on the road.

“There’s something about the Lambo [Huracán] that’s really exciting and that [feeling] never dies when I get in it,” said Kramer. “It looks, hands down, more aggressive and sexier than any other car I’ve seen.”

“The shape is exciting to look at. On the inside, I love the interior, the detail of it, and the way it handles is incomparable to anything else,” he added. “Although the Gallardo drives good, the Huracán is miles ahead of it. It’s a totally different animal. A much better car that’s better built, better balanced and looks better.”

Unlike The Beatles, the car histories of Aeorsmith’s members aren’t greatly publicised, but from what we do know, they definitely like Livin’ On The Edge when they get behind the wheel.