Steven Tyler: The Screaming Dreamer of Rock ‘n’ Roll

These photos were taken at the 25th Anniversary of Farm Aid, where Tyler made a surprise appearance while Willie was playing onstage.

Steven Tyler: The Screaming Dreamer of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Imagine a kid in the Bronx, skinny and wild-eyed, banging on pots and pans while the radio blares big band jazz. That’s where it all started for Steven Tyler—a spark of rhythm and chaos that would ignite a career as one of rock’s most electrifying frontmen. For Tyler, music wasn’t just a pastime; it was a lifeline, a way to escape, to connect, and to scream his way into the world. Here’s the story of how a drummer’s son became the Demon of Screamin’, leading Aerosmith to the top and leaving a legacy drenched in sweat, soul, and a little scandal.

The Spark That Started It All

Steven Tyler’s journey into music began with a simple truth: it was in his blood. Born Steven Victor Tallarico on March 26, 1948, in the Bronx, New York, he grew up with a father, Victor Tallarico, who was a classically trained musician and a drummer in big bands. The house was alive with sound—jazz standards, classical piano, and the beat of drums echoing through the walls. But it wasn’t just heritage that drove him; it was rebellion. As a teenager, Tyler found himself drawn to the raw energy of rock ‘n’ roll—The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds lit a fire in him. He’d later say that hearing those bands made him want to “jump out of my skin and into theirs.” Music became his way to break free from the ordinary, to channel his restless energy into something bigger. By his late teens, he was hooked—playing drums, singing in local bands, and dreaming of a stage where he could let it all loose.

The Life Before the Limelight

Steven’s early years were a whirlwind of movement and music. Raised in a working-class Italian-American family, he split time between the Bronx and Yonkers before the Tallaricos moved to New Hampshire and later settled in Sunapee, a small resort town. School wasn’t his forte—he was expelled from Roosevelt High School for drug use, a hint of the wild streak that would define him. But music? That was his education. He taught himself harmonica, pounded drums in local acts like The Strangeurs, and soaked up every note he could. Summers in Sunapee introduced him to Joe Perry, a lanky guitarist working at a local joint called The Anchorage. Their meeting wasn’t love at first sight—Tyler was jealous of Perry’s band—but it planted a seed. By the late ‘60s, Tyler was bouncing between New York and Boston, fronting bands like Chain Reaction and William Proud, chasing a sound that matched the howl in his head.

Then came 1970. Tyler, now 22, teamed up with Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton in Boston. They added guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer, and Aerosmith was born. The name came from Kramer’s high school doodles, but the sound? That was all Tyler—gritty, soulful, and unapologetic. They scraped by in a ratty apartment on Commonwealth Avenue, writing songs and playing dives, fueled by dreams and cheap beer. It was raw, it was real, and it was about to explode.

The Career That Defined a Genre

Aerosmith’s rise wasn’t instant, but it was relentless. Signed to Columbia Records in 1972 after a gig at Max’s Kansas City, their self-titled debut dropped in ’73. It was a slow burn—critics shrugged, but “Dream On,” Tyler’s soaring ballad, hinted at what was coming. By 1975, Toys in the Attic made them stars. Tyler’s larger-than-life persona—scarves dangling, lips pouting, voice shredding—turned Aerosmith into America’s answer to the Stones. Hits like “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way” cemented their reign, but the late ‘70s brought chaos. Drugs and infighting nearly sank them—Tyler and Perry earned the nickname “The Toxic Twins” for their excesses.

The ‘80s were a rollercoaster. Perry and Whitford quit in ’79 and ’81, respectively, and Aerosmith stumbled with albums like Rock in a Hard Place. But redemption came in 1984 when the original lineup reunited. A chance collaboration with Run-DMC on “Walk This Way” in ’86 blew the doors off, merging rock and rap for a new generation. The ‘90s were pure gold—Pump (1989), Get a Grip (1993), and Nine Lives (1997) racked up hits, Grammys, and sold-out tours. Tyler’s relationships made headlines too: a fling with Bebe Buell produced daughter Liv Tyler (later a star in her own right), and marriages to Cyrinda Foxe and Teresa Barrick kept tabloids buzzing.

Beyond Aerosmith, Tyler guested on tracks with Alice Cooper and Pink, judged American Idol (2011-2012), and popped up in films like Wayne’s World 2. The 2000s saw highs (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2001) and lows (health scares, rehab stints), but Tyler never stopped. A brief solo country detour with We’re All Somebody from Somewhere (2016) showed his versatility, though Aerosmith remained his heart. As of 2025, he’s still touring with the band, defying age and gravity.

  • Bands: Aerosmith, Chain Reaction, The Strangeurs, William Proud
  • Aerosmith Bandmates: Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Brad Whitford (guitar), Joey Kramer (drums)
  • Awards: 4 Grammys (e.g., “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “Livin’ on the Edge”), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2001), MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards

Biggest Songs:

  • “Dream On” – Written by Steven Tyler
  • “Sweet Emotion” – Written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton
  • “Walk This Way” – Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
  • “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” – Written by Diane Warren

The Controversies That Shook the Stage

Tyler’s life hasn’t been without shadows. The ‘70s drug spiral was legendary—cocaine and heroin nearly killed him and the band. A 1980 memoir revelation about dating a 16-year-old (with her parents’ consent) stirred debate decades later when #MeToo resurfaced it; Tyler’s silence left fans divided. His 2009 fall off a stage during a gig sparked rumors of relapse (untrue—he was sober but injured), and tensions with bandmates led to a brief 2010 threat to quit Aerosmith. Even American Idol wasn’t safe—some fans called him a sellout, though others loved his quirky charm. Through it all, Tyler’s shrugged it off with a grin and a screech, proving he’s as unbreakable as his voice.