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BangShift Tune-Up: “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith (1988)


BangShift Tune-Up: “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith (1988)

So what does a very dilapidated 1964 IH Metro van left languishing in the woods of western Massachusetts have to do with today’s BangShift Tune-Up? That van is the very first tour van that Aerosmith used, ever. Remember, Aerosmith has been around since 1970 and back then, this would’ve just been a used delivery vehicle…a perfect analogy for a Ford Econoline or a Dodge Sprinter that a band would use today. It was found by the guys from the television show American Pickers, who shelled out $25,000 for the Metro after guitarist Joe Perry and former guitarist Ray Tabano verified that it was, indeed, the real thing. What’ll happen to the Metro? Maybe it’ll end up in the hands of a competent restoration shop that will get it back to running order. Maybe Jay Leno will score it for his collection. Who knows?

But after seeing this bit of fun cross my desk, I had to go digging for a song I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid. Here’s a confession: I’m not the world’s biggest Aerosmith fan. Not even close. But one song really stands out, and for two reasons. One is the drumming…Joey Kramer’s 1-2-1-2 pattern might be the first thing I ever played, using two pots and two wooden spoons (one of which was used on my backside when my grandmother saw this in action) and the other was the music video. I’m not posting the actual video, mainly because all the ones I can find are ripped straight from VH-1 and I don’t want to hear from their lawyers, and because they are a bit 1980’s raunchy. But at the end of the video, Stephen Tyler hops into a Cobra on a set of wheels I’ve only seen on mini-truck build Mazda B-trucks and cruises off as he waives at every housewife down the block.

Cool car, killer drumming…yeah, no wonder I like this song a lot. Enjoy!


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