Aerosmith Tell Their Set List Secrets
During their Vegas residency, band members break down how they play a killer set
1. Train Kept A-Rollin’ 1974
This blues standard (popularized by the Yardbirds) was one of the first songs Aerosmith learned. “To play it now and see audiences react the same way they did back then,” Steven Tyler says, “it’s a euphoric recall.”
2. Dude (Looks Like a Lady) 1987
Tyler wrote these lyrics about an androgynous man after spending time with Vince Neil. “A lot of people know it from Mrs. Doubtfire,” says guitarist Brad Whitford. “It’s a crowd favorite.”
3. Sweet Emotion 1975
For years, Aerosmith saved their breakthrough hit for the end of the show. Lately, they’ve been trying it earlier. “In Vegas, we can only play for an hour and a half,” says Tyler, “so we have to make sure we fit in all our hits.”
4. Hangman Jury 1987
Tyler and Joe Perry play this raw blues stomper while seated on chairs deep within the crowd. “It’s like they’re jamming on a front porch,” says bassist Tom Hamilton.
5. Stop Messin’ Around 2004
This Fleetwood Mac cover gives Perry a chance to sing lead. “Joe sings his ass off,” says Tyler. “It’s a tip of the hat to the band that made me want to join Aerosmith: Fleetwood Mac.”
6. Cryin’ 1993
The video for this massive hit featured an unknown Alicia Silverstone. “This isn’t one of my favorites,” says Hamilton. “I wouldn’t mind giving it a rest.”
7. Livin’ on the Edge 1993
Tyler wrote this song after witnessing the 1992 L.A. riots. “Those lyrics will be appropriate from now until the end of eternity,” says Hamilton.
8. Toys in the Attic 1975
The main set wraps up with one of the fastest songs in their catalog. “It gets the crowd pumped up before we walk off,” says Whitford.
9. Dream On 1973
They’ve played this power ballad more than 1,500 times and can’t imagine a show without it. “It damn near wrote itself,” says Tyler. “I think it’s lasted as long as it has because the message stands the test of time. Oh, and because of that scream . . .”
10. Chip Away the Stone 1978
In between their biggest hits, Aerosmith break out this obscure Seventies singalong. “It’s kind of a ‘Brown Sugar’-like song,” says Hamilton. Adds Tyler, “It got a lot of airplay during the days of AOR: albumoriented rock.”
11. Walk This Way 1975
“There’s so much history with that song,” says Whitford. “It was just enormous, and it’s the perfect closer.” Aerosmith return to the MGM Grand on September 21st, and play there through December.