Steven Tyler: The Biography

by Laura Jackson

Steven Tyler is one of life's natural born survivors. With an exhaustively vibrant personality, this dynamic lead singer has been one of the most distinctive figures in rock music for more than three decades. Raised in a close, loving family, Tyler survived a tough upbringing in the Bronx. His inherent passion for performing and a talent for playing instruments propelled him into rock music as a teenager. He fronted a succession of local bands before meeting the guys with whom he would form Aerosmith in 1970. Laura Jackson reveals the stories behind Tyler's relationships with band members and the many women in his life, his battle with Hepatitis C, and his drug-fueled meltdown during the late 1970s and early 1980s when he was snorting pure heroin. She also explores his visits to rehab in the 1980s which saved his life. Tyler has lived a roller coaster life of excess—spending over a million dollars on drugs—but is miraculously still performing.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so loving this biograghy! Steven Tyler, well I've always been a fan. Now to hear about his childhood, family and creative nature is awesome. I'm a bit lost when he talks "music" because I'm not that versed on song but still it's a great book!

Not sure why the need to say fuck so much, but i guess it comes from years of hard fast living. ST is obviously gifted and yet this colorful metaphor is his primary word of choice as an adult...

[John Ballin · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, kinda went on and on but I enjoyed the NH stuff.

[Carl Timms · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the depth of a puddle. I suspected I was in for a rough time when the band had got together, found fame and developed drug habits in under 100 pages. The remainder was simply a list of ‘played here, won x award, wrote an album’ on repeat for the next 100 odd pages. I may as well have read his Wikipedia page.

It reads like a fluff piece, full of ‘his gyrating sexiness’ and ‘oh isn’t he a great dad’ and at least 10 times reinforcing how Aerosmith are ‘America’s greatest rock band’ (arguable but not a dead cert) - there’s just nothing backing it up. Anecdotes are told in a couple of sentences and then boom back on the tour bus for another list of venues. There just barely any STORIES.

I get the feeling he had a lot of sign off on this and didn’t want to spend too long on his sordid 70s. Weak and totally missable as a rock biopic as I feel I learned barely anything from this. Avoid.

[Charlotte Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I learned a lot that I didn't know about Steven Tyler. Some of it was surprising, but mostly exactly what I expected.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because I love Steven Tyler. He is very talented and can play 10 instruments. His band is awesome in the past and it still is. I have every cd they have ever made. He did not have an easy childhood, but he always had a desire to play music and they played in tacky bars before they hit it big. He has battled his demons and drugs but is still going strong.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good easy reading - accidentally left my first copy on the plane, thanks to whoever kept it hope you like it and my Kiwi bookmark! - has a few tales that kept you hooked, possibly a bit sensationalist though, having read his autobiography first.

[Janne Paananen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan ok elämänkerta. Hieman suppea. Aerosmithistä on parempiakin.

[Joyce]

I really like this book