Sweet emotion: Aerosmith comes home with free concert.

PositionLIVING

COLUMN: POP CULTURE NOTEBOOK

It was a rock 'n' roll homecoming of the highest rock 'n' roll order when The Bad Boys of Boston returned to their old neighborhood Monday to give a free show at the very spot that made and shaped five struggling musicians to become rock juggernauts.

Aerosmith's 45-minute, nine-song set was killer. Opening with "Walking the Dog" and continuing with such Aerosmith classics as "Mama Kin" "Back in the Saddle" "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way," the set was heavy with the hard rock and with no saccharine pop. And the tens of thousands stretched out on Commonwealth Avenue didn't leave disappointed.

From the moment that Aerosmith, its entourage and media types took to the streets of Boston in a police escorted cavalcade of duck boats, you could feel the electricity in the frigid air. Starting from the TD Garden at Causeway Street and ending up at the band's old stomping grounds at 1325 Commonwealth Ave., giddy gawkers and would-be photo-bugs waited on every street corner to get a glimpse of their rock `n' roll hero.

1325 Commonwealth Ave. is now a historic landmark - as well as sacred ground - with a commemorative plaque place in front of it that reads, "The five original members of the rock band Aerosmith ... lived on the second story of this building in the early 1970s. It was here `The Bad Boys of Boston' began their remarkable career."

In addition, the members of Aerosmith put their handprints in cement that will be placed in the sidewalk in front of the building.

At one point of the concert, Steven Tyler, who was in fine voice throughout, pointed at some co-eds in his old flat and asked them what they were doing in his living room.

"To be living the dream in Aerosmith for all these years is beyond humbling. But to return to where the dream was dreamt, is the dream come true full-circle!" Tyler said. "To be honored at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue, to shut down the street, invite all our friends, receive a plaque from the Mayor of Boston and put our hands in cement ... just think it could have been our feet! It's the end and the beginning of a life long dream...dream on!"

"Almost by luck and circumstance the band started here," Joe Perry added," but I would have to say in hindsight, after spending time in countless other cities around the world from Abu Dhabi to London, England, I still would have picked Boston to be the cradle of this band. It's still my home!"

Aerosmith played two tracks from its new album, "Music From Another Dimension!" ("Lover A Lot" and "Oh Yeah") and ended the blistering set with the locomotive rush of "Train Kept A Rollin."

New England Patriots Tom Brady and Jerod Mayo, Patriots owner Jonathan Kraftand and the Patriots...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT