The Rolling Stones vs. Aerosmith: Degrees of Sleaze

One day, back before I was old enough to drive myself to the store, I was at Sound Warehouse with my mom, and, after browsing around and deliberating for a good long while, I had settled on Aerosmith's "What It Takes" 45 as my purchase for the day. I knew my parents weren't Aerosmith fans, but I also assumed they didn't really have an opinion on them either way and figured I was flying under the radar. Besides, the song was a ballad; should have been no problem. Mom asked what I had come up with, I showed her the single and to my shock and dismay was rebuffed.

She said, "No, I don't want to buy that for you."

All I could get out was, "But why?!"

"Because they're sleazy."

"But the Rolling Stones are sleazy! You like them!"

The stunning reply: "They're a different kind of sleazy."

I didn't know how to answer that. But over the years I heard stories and began to realize that, yes, the Stones were a different kind of sleazy. They were very likely much sleazier than Aerosmith could ever aspire to be, a point that my mom now admits.

My parents were just old enough to not have any respect for a group like Aerosmith in the 70s; after all, they graduated from high school in the year of the Stones' Aftermath and the Beatles' Revolver, so who could blame them?

A few years ago, I came across that 45 at a Half Price Books and I bought it. It now sits unplayed in a big box of 45s, but it sits there in my possession nonetheless.

Sleaze be damned!