News From The Road

I was a little surprised when Steven called last week and wanted to go to the Red Sox home opener. I was even more surprised that he accepted their offer to sing “God Bless America.” The Sox provided ST and his gang with awesome Monster seats. He watched the first half of the game from high above the friendly confines of the old bandbox. The weather was beautiful and sunny just barley kissing 60 degrees. It was a far cry from my last outdoor sporting event back in January when the then unbeaten Patriots smoked the San Diego Chargers to capture the AFC title. The temp that day was hovering around the freezing mark. Same outcome as the home team won again. The only problem with the Monster seats is the lack of out houses and when Mr. Tyler asked our Sox appointed security guard where the closet bathroom was we were taken to the commode under the center field bleachers. It was packed with fans that had been holding in their Bud Lights for a few innings. The Demon being the trooper that he is joined the throngs of Yankee haters who were left with their jaws dropped as he walked in. The thing that still blows my mind is how many people yell out “Hey that’s Mick Jagger! What? C’mon Boston. One guy even screamed “I can’t believe Bon Jovi is taking a piss in our bathroom. Now, I can honestly say I have heard it all. Either that guy was focally challenged or Steven had one of the best disguises ever.  He didn’t seem to mind but forgive him for not shaking hands.

The eyebrows have it!

Steven then proceeded to Canvas Alley to sing “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. As you all know Steven is no stranger to singing at sporting events but admitted he was nervous before stepping onto the sacred grounds of the Fenway outfield, yards away from where Dewey Evans patrolled the 9th position for nearly 20 seasons. Steven belted out the first half of the Irving Berlin classic before turning the mic over to the Fenway faithful who sang the second to last line of the tune so deafening that it sonically rivaled the F-16 Fighting Falcons that flew overhead earlier in the day. He dedicated the song to the Boston fans and the troops in Iraq. After that he watched the rest of the game with his pal and Crimson Hose co-owner John Henry. Steven wanted to talk baseball while Henry wanted to talk drums. The two met in 1995 in Florida when JH owned the Florida Marlins and Aerosmith were in Miami recording Nine Lives.

Steven warms up! Check out his glasses. Photo by: Mike Harnois


Steven at Fenway! Photo by John Bionelli


Photo by: Mike Harnois

The day started out with all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with the Olde Towne team winning it’s 7th World Series title. The Red Sox are the winners of the second most titles in World Series history. The Yankees of course are first and while they are not in danger of giving up that the title of most wins any time soon they are certainly adjusting their rear view mirrors.

The Bruins, Patriots and Celtics were all represented along with the Sox on the field before the game and with a tip of the hat to Bill Buckner who threw out the first pitch. All I have to say is why did they have to have Bill Buckner throw out the first pitch? True the guy made one of the biggest errors in World Series play but his error didn’t lose the Sox the 1986 World Series. If anyone should have thrown out the first pitch it should have been then manager John McNamara for leaving the aging gimpy first basemen in there in the first place but I digress. I can just see old Johnny Mac and Grady Little sipping a Pina Colada together watching the festivities on NESN talking about their regrets.

Joey’s drum tech John “Magee” McGary was part of our entourage albeit 150 pounds lighter than when he first started with the band. Magee was the one who hijacked the World Series trophy for a photo op with ST and yours truly. Magee has his bags packed and will be keeping his chops up setting up the “Traps” for Eric Kretz next month as he embarks on a world tour with the newly reunited “Stone Temple Pilots.” Ironically Magee was with STP when they opened up for Aerosmith a few years back.


He had to give it back! Photo by: Mike Harnois


God Bless America has a nice ring to it.  Magee's borrowed ring.  Photo by: Mike Harnois

That’s all for now folks! A big thank you goes out to Sox brass Larry Cancro and Beth “Motley” Krudys for making it all happen.

See you in the studio!
John B.