Agosta, a Shopwell supermarket manager turned Strangeurs manager, prom- ised the promoter a sellout if he put the Strangeurs on the bill. Within a few days of the posters going up around town, the follow- ing the band had cultivated came through, and the concert sold out. The group salted the front rows with some girls they knew and told them to start screaming when the Strangeurs began playing-it     would be the first time Tyler would involve his fans in his bands step up to the next level. The band had been instructed not to play any Byrds songs-so, of course, Steven took the stage and opened with “Eight Miles High.” And the girls started screaming, but the shills had been joined by hundreds of other screaming girls. Although they were supposed to do only two songs, Tyler and crew did six numbers because the kids kept yelling for more. Jim McGuinn and David Crosby were so impressed, they hired the Strangeurs to open for them in Asbury Park the next night. Another lesson learned: Break- ing the rules is sometimes okay, especially when executed well. When the result is positive, forgiveness is often granted. Even with such early successes, Tyler would return to Sunapee for the summer, each year with a greater following, creating a bigger ruckus. Kids packed the now-infamous bring-your-own-bottle dance club, the Barn, to watch Tyler. His on-stage persona was derivative of his natural personality traits-constant energy, quirky coolness, and all around “notice me” attitude. He signaled early on that he would set the tone and personality of any band he would eventually lead. Tyler attended a performance by another local group, the Jam Band, and saw Joe Perry create magic with his guitar on stage. He sensed that if they got together they could find their place in rock- and-roll history. Fast-forward to 1970. Tyler, without a band, and Perry, looking to build his dream team, joined forces and created a union that would go on to span four decades. Fresh out of high school, Tom Hamilton would play bass, and Ray Tabano would play guitar. After the band moved to Boston, Joey Kramer was recruited to play drums, and Brad Whitford replaced Tabano on guitar.     Do-It-Yourself Marketing   It wasnt long before Aerosmiths members became grassroots mar- keters, personally promoting and selling their shows, renting local

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