Steven Tyler Officially Going Country, Signs With Big Machine Label Group
Steven Tyler may be best known for his head-banging days as the lead singer of the legendary rock 'n' roll band Aerosmith, but now the singer is about to go solo — and go country.
Tyler has signed to Big Machine Label Group's Dot Records, and is already hard at work on his debut country album.
We've been speculating about it for weeks, and now it's official. According to an announcement from Music Row Magazine, Tyler has signed on the dotted line to release a solo country album with powerhouse record label, Big Machine. While the forthcoming album doesn't have a title or release date just yet, we know it's set to hit shelves sometime in 2015 and will feature songs that Tyler has been working on since relocating to Nashville at the beginning of 2014. The recent deal with Big Machine's Dot Records is one more step in the right direction.
"There was an immediate connection with Scott and Big Machine, and Nashville seems like the perfect segue for a solo projec t… and Dot Records is the right fit," says Tyler of his recently-inked record deal, adding that country music has always been a huge part of his life. "My earliest influences put me somewhere between the Everly Brothers and the Carter Family and this project is all about me paying homage to my country roots. I’ve been working with some f---ing epic Nashville songwriters, getting my feet wet with their style and groove."
Those "epic Nashville songwriters" Tyler is referring to include Brett James — who has written hit songs for everyone from Carrie Underwood to Martina McBride — as well as Cadillac Three's Jaren Johnston, who is also a co-writer on hits like Tim McGraw‘s "Meanwhile Back at Mama’s" and the Keith Urban and Eric Church duet, "Raise ‘Em Up." So yeah, Tyler's in good company.
"I have never met a more passionate human being than Steven," says Big Machine President and CEO Scott Borchetta. "When he goes in, he goes all in, which is the culture of Dot Records and the Big Machine Label Group. I truly cannot wait for the world to hear the phenomenal music that he is creating and I really feel that this chapter of his career will be among his best. He bleeds love and he bleeds music. Pinch me — it’s Steven f---ing Tyler!"
And if Tyler's debut country album proves just half as successful as his work with Aerosmith, it's going to be a smash. The band that some call "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, which include nine No. 1 songs and countless gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications.