Boston is pretty famous for producing some epic rock bands, but in 1970, a loud, rambunctious and flamboyant lead singer named Steven Tyler set out with his friends Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford to make hard rock infused with blues, pop, and R&B. Today, let’s take a deep dive into Aerosmith:

• Steven Tyler’s real name is Steven Tallarico. His first stage name was Steven Tally, adopted during his first band’s incarnation, Chain Reaction. After Chain Reaction split up, he formed Aerosmith and became Steven Tyler. His first choice of stage name was Tyler Britt, but their manager talked him out of it
• Not only is Steven Tyler a talented singer, he is also a great drummer, having played drums for Aerosmith first before leaving and returning as the lead singer
• Tyler and Joe Perry are well known for their drug use in the 70s, having “…snorted all of Peru,” according to a quote from Tyler. The Toxic Twins, as they were known, used to destroy hotel rooms using chainsaws, throw televisions plugged in with extension cords into swimming pools to watch them explode, and buy cases of vintage wine that would be gone in a weekend. Joe Perry says their onstage performances often suffered because of their drug use, which lead to getting clean
• In fact, things got so bad with their drug use that the entire band decided to enter rehab in 1986. When they got out, they began releasing hit records, including the diamond-selling Greatest Hits album
• Tyler’s daughter, Liv, is a popular actress having appeared in such 90s blockbusters as Armageddon. She was born in 1977 to Bebe Buell, a legendary groupie who also had affairs with Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Elvis Costello, and Todd Rundgren. Liv’s mother apparently told her that Rundgren was actually her father. She ended up finding out the truth at age 11
• Tyler says he took that job as a judge on American Idol for two years because he was mad at his fellow bandmates for not watching out for him. He considered his time judging on the show as a chance to get back at the band for not helping to keep him sober
• The next time you’re in Boston, there are a few places to visit to get your fill of Aerosmith’s love of the city, including their memorabilia on display at the Hard Rock Café, and they apparently pay for free admission for all of the general public at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art on Thursdays