Rocks Tour

Lore & Background

The energy of this period stemmed directly from the band's decision to record 'Rocks' in a rehearsal space called the Wherehouse in suburban Massachusetts. Producer Jack Douglas noted that they used stage monitors to blow sound right back at them, encouraging Joe Perry and others to stretch out with solo ideas inspired by artists like John Coltrane. The resulting music was intentionally over-loaded with distortion; Douglas admitted that when he first brought the mix to the record company, they panicked due to the sheer volume. This sonic aggression translated directly to the stage, where the band lived up to their reputation for ferocious live shows. Guitarist Joe Perry later recalled that despite indulging in considerable drug use during this time, it was still working for them creatively, fueling a sound that felt as live and chaotic as possible.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of this era is defined by the band's transition from a regional act to a national powerhouse shipping platinum records. While living the rock-and-roll lifestyle to the hilt, they managed to craft what many consider one of their career highlights. Joe Perry wrote the iconic riff for 'Back in the Saddle' on a six-string bass while high on heroin, describing how the riff floated right through him. The band's dynamic was complex; Perry noted that singing lead was difficult as it encroached on Steven Tyler's territory, requiring a semi-duet approach to gain support from his bandmates. Tom Hamilton contributed 'Sick as a Dog' with Byrds-inspired arpeggios, while the group developed tracks like 'Rats in the Cellar', which reflected the chaos of their lives where sanity was scurrying south. The album's success, reaching quadruple platinum status, validated their decision to rock out on every tune, proving their unapologetic stance as a brash, rude, sexual, hard-core rock band.

Reader's Guide

For fans experiencing this era, the setlist likely featured the three charting singles from 'Rocks', including the Top 40 hits 'Back in the Saddle' and 'Last Child'. The performance style was characterized by a live-in-the-studio feel, mirroring how they recorded the album at the Wherehouse. Listeners should pay attention to the instrumental interplay, such as Tom Hamilton playing rhythm guitar on 'Sick as a Dog' while Joe Perry switched between bass and guitar in real-time during one take. The tour showcased the band's ability to turn simple licks into monster tracks, with songs like 'Back in the Saddle' evolving from basic ideas into full-blown anthems featuring sound effects like whips and clinking spurs created with bells and tambourines strapped to Tyler's boots. This period marked a peak where the band's creative output was undiminished by their hedonistic lifestyle, resulting in a raw, powerful live experience.

Did You Know?

• Producer Jack Douglas admitted that when he first brought the 'Rocks' mix to Columbia, they panicked because everything was totally over-loaded with distortion.
• The whip sound on 'Back in the Saddle' was created by whirling a thirty-foot cord in front of six Neumann mikes and adding a cap gun for the crack; a real bullwhip attempt left band members cut and hurt without progress.
• Joe Perry wrote the riff for 'Back in the Saddle' on a Fender Precision Bass, describing it as falling outside the normal formula of a rock song.
• Tom Hamilton played rhythm guitar on 'Sick as a Dog' while Joe Perry played bass for the first half and then switched to guitar, all recorded live in one take at the studio.
• 'Rats in the Cellar' evolved from Fleetwood Mac's 'Rattlesnake Shake', a staple of the band's early setlists.