Song of the Day 8/4: Aerosmith, “Dream On”

Some of the rock bands that formed in the ’60s are still performing live – some are on their third or fourth farewell tour. But bands formed in the ’70s and beyond don’t seem to have the same luck. Aerosmith, formed in Boston in 1970, just called it quits on the cusp of their planned farewell tour, which was set to start in Philadelphia in September. Lead singer Steven Tyler, now 76, has not been able to recover from the fractured larynx he suffered in a concert last year.

The cartilage of the larynx is tough and flexible. It usually takes a strong blunt force trauma, like an auto accident, to fracture it. But the cartilage loses elasticity with age, and Tyler’s powerful voice finally caused his to crack. Such fractures can be repaired, but not to the point where he could scream his way through a set.

“Dream On” was the band’s first charting single when it was first released in 1973, but it stalled at No. 59. It made it to No. 6 when it was re-released in 1976, after “Sweet Emotion” made the Top 40 and their third LP, “Toys in the Attic,” broke them to a wider audience. It’s one of their signature songs because it puts Tyler’s vocal exertions in the spotlight. He wrote it in his teens several years before the band formed.

If you had to pick someone who could sing loud enough to fracture his larynx, Tyler would be a good bet to do it – he’s not known as the “Demon of Screamin'” for nothing. Someone compiled what they claim is his top 10 screeches, but I refuse to think this is a definitive list. He sang like this in hundreds of concerts for more than 50 years. He’s earned his retirement.