Back in the Saddle Tour

The Back in the Saddle Tour was a comeback concert tour by American rock group Aerosmith, which had been relatively inactive for several years. The tour began on June 22, 1984, in Concord, New Hampshire and ended on January 18, 1985, in Columbus, Ohio.

Back In The Saddle Tour
Tour by Aerosmith
Start dateJune 22, 1984
End dateJanuary 18, 1985
Legs2
No. of shows65
Aerosmith concert chronology

Background

Formed in 1970, Aerosmith was on hard times by the early 1980s. Vocalist Steven Tyler had been drinking heavily, and his voice had suffered. Lead guitarist Joe Perry was addicted to heroin. The relationship between the two most prominent members of the band had deteriorated to "hostility".[1] Discussing his relationship with Perry, Tyler said "I hated his guts. I said 'I never want to fucking play on the same stage with you again'."[2]

Joe Perry quit the band in 1979 and embarked on solo career with The Joe Perry Project. Guitarist Brad Whitford also quit to work with Derek St. Holmes and later joined Perry's band.[1] Most of Aerosmith's ventures without Perry and Whitford were unsuccessful. Many fans believed that this was the end of Aerosmith.[3]

Reunion

In 1983, the original band members "started drifting back together".[1] Perry had kicked his heroin habit, and although Tyler was still drinking, he was in somewhat better control of himself.[1] Tyler had concluded that "Time heals all wounds. Joe is nothing without me, and I'm nothing without him."[2] They faced problems, however, as the "group had no current album or record deal."[4] To jump start their career, the band decided on a tour of the United States, considering as many as 70 performances.[2] In its final form, the tour consisted of 58 performances.

Tour

Doubts were expressed as to whether Aerosmith could make a comeback. "Cynics may suggest that the reunion dubbed the Back in the Saddle Tour is all the band has going for it. Aerosmith hasn't had a new album in two years."[5]

The tour consisted of two legs with a three-month break at the midpoint. The tour "got a roar of approval from loyal fans",[1] and it was described as "a rousing success".[2] The band's tour income was "estimated as high as $3 million".[2]

Setlist
  1. "Rats In The Cellar"
  2. "Back In The Saddle"
  3. "Bone To Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy)"
  4. "Big Ten Inch Record"
  5. "Movin' Out"
  6. "Last Child"
  7. "Let The Music Do The Talking" (On 12/31, Aerosmith performed the Joe Perry Project version)
  8. "Red House" "(The Jimi Hendrix Experience Cover)"
  9. "Dream On"
  10. "Sweet Emotion"
  11. "Same Old Song And Dance"

Encore:

  1. "Walk This Way"
  2. "Train Kept A-Rollin'"

Record contract

The success of the tour "piqued the interest" of Geffen Records[4] and "resulted in a new deal with Geffen."[6]

Legacy

The tour was "deemed a success".[4] It did "what it was meant to do. Fans welcomed them back with open arms."[3] The tour "proved to be exactly what Aerosmith needed, launching the reunion on just the right note of organized mayhem."[2]

Six of the eight tracks on the album Classics Live II were recorded at the Orpheum Theater in the band's home town of Boston on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1984 in the final weeks of the Back In The Saddle Tour. This album has been called "far more worthy than its nondescript packaging suggested".[2]

The band's successful career has continued for over 25 years after this comeback tour.

Tour dates
Date City Country Venue
First leg
June 22, 1984ConcordUnited StatesCapitol Theater
June 23, 1984
June 27, 1984WeedsportCayuga County Fair Speedway
June 28, 1984Saratoga SpringsSaratoga Performing Arts Center
June 30, 1984RochesterRochester Community War Memorial
July 2, 1984ColumbiaMerriweather Post Pavilion
July 3, 1984HarrisburgCity Island
July 5, 1984MiddletownOrange County Fair Speedway
July 6, 1984NorfolkNorfolk Scope
July 8, 1984ErieErie Civic Center
July 9, 1984VaughanCanadaKingswood Music Theatre
July 11, 1984ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theater
July 12, 1984RosemontRosemont Horizon
July 13, 1984SpringfieldPrairie Capital Convention Center
July 14, 1984CharlevoixCastle Farms
July 15, 1984RichfieldRichfield Coliseum
July 17, 1984
July 18, 1984DaytonHara Arena
July 21, 1984St. PaulNavy Island
July 23, 1984ToledoToledo Sports Arena
July 24, 1984DubqueFive Flags Center
July 27, 1984MinneapolisVenue Unknown
July 29, 1984St. LouisSt. Louis Arena
July 30, 1984Kansas CityStarlight Theater
August 1, 1984ChattanoogaUTC Arena
August 4, 1984WorcesterThe Centrum
August 5, 1984
August 8, 1984PhiladelphiaThe Spectrum
August 10, 1984PortlandCumberland County Civic Center
August 11, 1984MontrealCanadaMontreal Forum
August 13, 1984 Halifax Halifax Metro Center
August 14, 1984Bangor, MaineUnited StatesBangor Auditorium
August 20, 1984Phoenix, ArizonaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
August 22, 1984San DiegoGolden Hall
August 25, 1984Los AngelesGreek Theatre
August 26, 1984
August 28, 1984San BernardinoOrange Pavilion
August 29, 1984 Bakersfield Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
August 31, 1984OaklandOakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Second leg
December 3, 1984Las CrucesUnited StatesAggie Memorial Stadium
December 7, 1984AlbuquerqueTingley Coliseum
December 8, 1984El PasoEl Paso County Coliseum
December 10, 1984Corpus ChristiMemorial Coliseum
December 11, 1984 San Antonio HemisFair Arena
December 12, 1984HoustonThe Summit
December 13, 1984DallasReunion Arena
December 18, 1984Ft. LauderdaleSunrise Musical Theater
December 20, 1984OrlandoOrange County Convention Center
December 21, 1984St. PetersburgBayfront Center
December 23, 1984OrlandoOrange County Convention Center
December 26, 1984Glen FallsGlens Falls Civic Center
December 27, 1984ProvidenceProvidence Civic Center
December 29, 1984New HavenNew Haven Coliseum
December 30, 1984BostonOrpheum Theater
December 31, 1984
January 2, 1985BinghamtonBroome County Veterans Memorial Arena
January 3, 1985HersheyHersheypark Arena
January 4, 1985BethlehemStabler Arena
January 6, 1985SpringfieldSpringfield Civic Center
January 7, 1985BaltimoreBaltimore Civic Center
January 11, 1985MerrillvilleStar Plaza Theatre
January 12, 1985DetroitJoe Louis Arena
January 13, 1985MuskegonL. C. Walker Arena
January 14, 1985
January 15, 1985LexingtonRupp Arena
January 17, 1985CarbondaleSIU Arena
January 18, 1985ColumbusBattelle Hall

References
  1. Welles, Robin (January 5, 1986). "World of Music". Oxnard Press-Courier. Oxnard, California. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  2. Huxley, Marti (1995). Aerosmith: the fall and the rise of rock's greatest band. Macmillan. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-0-312-11737-5.
  3. Martin, Dale (May 2, 1993). "Fans haven't forgotten those 'Aerosmith years'". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  4. Wilker, Deborah (April 15, 1988). "AEROSMITH SHOOTING FOR THE TOP ONCE AGAIN". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  5. Sharpe, Bob (January 4, 1985). "THE ORIGINAL AEROSMITH IS BACK, AND IT'S NOT JUST A NOSTALGIA TRIP". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  6. "AEROSMITH BACK IN THE GROOVE, IT'S BEEN NO 'VACATION' FOR THIS ROCK GROUP". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. March 25, 1988. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
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