AEROSMITH Group tries variety of opening bands

By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
When Aerosmith comes to town, it's rarely the same old song and dance.
Sure the obligatory hits remain the same. If they didn't play "Sweet Emotion" or "Walk This Way" diehard audiences would freak out, but it's the trappings or presentation of the Beantown band that remains in flux.
Lately, that has meant an ever-changing list of notable opening bands, beginning with the unlikely 2003 summer pairing with Kiss, then a year later with Cheap Trick and now with Lenny Kravitz.
"I think this tour makes up for the Kiss tour because Lenny is really good," said Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, calling from his home in Boston. "[That tour] was just something that, I don't know, I think a lot of people saw it as us selling out to an extent. And I didn't particularly see it that way. I think a good show is a good show. Those guys are a good show. They have a real strong core following and their strong core following came and saw us and we were definitely the headliners."
While it may seem as though Kramer has reservations, or even regrets, for teaming up with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and company, the percussionist explains his position, being as politically correct as possible.
"It worked for what it was," Kramer said. "I mean it will never happen again, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I'm not sorry that we did it but I think that this is kind of the opposite end of the spectrum as far as viability goes. In my mind's eye, Lenny's music is much more musical and soulful and -- I don't want to use the word better but -- more to my liking than a Kiss act. I mean I go out and watch Lenny at night. Kiss, I never really did that."
Drummer's perspective
So the question has to be asked: Does Aerosmith now tour with established bands over up-and-coming acts, which possess smaller or perhaps nonexistent fan bases, because otherwise they'd be unable to fill larger arenas or amphitheaters?
"We could play those venues on our own but we're concerned with ticket prices and our fans," Kramer said. "Our No. 1 concern is to give the kids a good show, which is why we always want to have a really good act with us. It would be very easy to go out and find some up-and-coming band and pay them nothing and have everybody out in the lobby buying T-shirts and yawning while they're on. But when you have an act like Lenny, it's a solid two-act show. And the fans are really getting their money's worth."
Part of fans getting their money's worth is Aerosmith turning the clock back on its career and diving headfirst into its diverse catalog. Not only can live versions of obscure album tracks "Seasons of Wither" and "No More No More" be found on the band's recently released CD/DVD "Rockin' the Joint (Live at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas)," but the five-piece band is performing the songs nightly on its current tour, which takes us back to the notion of the band avoiding the same old song and dance.
With more than 100 million albums sold and countless arena tours, what's left for the 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees to accomplish?
"Well, I just love to play," Kramer said. "I love being on stage with my band. That's what does it for me. That's what lights my fire. I think when the time comes to stop, we'll know. I don't see that happening anytime soon. We're a fairly youthful bunch of [expletives]."