Aerosmith's first album in more than eight years will feature Julian Lennon, Johnny Depp and country singer Carrie Underwood. Music From Another Dimension, due in November, also includes a cover of the Temptations' 1975 single Shakey Ground.
"We can be the best Aerosmith cover band out there, [but] I was getting tired of it," said guitarist Joe Perry in an interview with Rolling Stone. Although Aerosmith have scarcely stopped touring since 2004's Honkin' on Bobo, the lack of new material had begun to cause friction within the band. "Everyone wants to hear the same Dream Ons and Walk This Ways, but that's not what I had in mind," Perry said. "I'm really glad to have this record."
Aerosmith's internal crisis was well-publicised: amid reports of arguments and estrangement, particularly between Perry and frontman Steven Tyler, the band held auditions for a new singer in early 2010. But even as Tyler signed on as a judge on American Idol, the rockers were able to mend their fences. No matter his TV commitments, Perry said, Tyler was tireless in the recording studio. "I never felt for a minute he was lagging … He did his whole thing [on Idol] and then showed up at eight at night and was in the studio until two in the morning."
Tyler was reportedly paid $20m for his two seasons on American Idol. But the series wasn't his "cup of tea", he said this week. Although he "made a tonne of money", it was mostly "something to do while the [Aerosmith] storm blew by".
Now, Aerosmith are back together, releasing their 15th studio album. Music From Another Dimension was recorded with producer Jack Douglas, with whom they worked on their feted 70s records as well as Honkin' on Bobo. It also includes material written by Diane Warren, who penned one of Aerosmith's biggest modern hits, 1998's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. As for their guests, everyone seems to have just popped into the band's studio in Los Angeles. Lennon, who sings on the "Beatlesesque" Love Three Times a Day, is "such a sweet fucking guy," Tyler said. "And he's John's first son, with that voice and sense of humour – gimme a break!" Depp, who also appears on Patti Smith's new LP, offers backing vocals on Freedom Fighter, a "politically conscious" tune that may allegedly be relegated to the B-sides. The album is due on 6 November.
