 When Aerosmith said "Let the music do the talking," they
weren't just paying lip service. Their message reached generations, and inspired
many, especially five girls who figured out that rock n' roll isn't just a man's
game. It's about the music, and in Ladysmith's case, it's about having fun
keeping the music alive.
Back in the day, Aerosmith was the band that all the cool high school kids in
the smoking area listened to. The band's music also reached all the way to the
admittedly not-so hip areas of two Texas elementary band halls where Lone Star
natives Robin Beacham and Leslie Carol were honing their chops on drums and
clarinet respectively. Jennifer Paro began her musical interests in Oklahoma on
the flute. Meanwhile, in San Francisco Amy Tung was tinkling away at the piano
keys while Max was pounding away at the drums in Los Angeles .
Through radio, concert halls, the fledgling MTV network and
blaring out through the speakers of a bus en route to a marching band
competition, the sound that would change their life crept in. "I heard Aerosmith
for the first time while surrounded by band-mates trying to play cards without a
table on the bumpy moving bus," remembers Leslie. Max and Amy Tung got wind of
the band via their popular MTV video. "I just couldn't believe how big Steven
Tyler's mouth was and how hot his scarves looked!" Amy reminisces. For Jennifer
Paro, the introduction to Aerosmith was more personal. "My friend won two
tickets and backstage passes by calling into a local radio station. The guys in
the band were very nice and took time to say hello to everyone."
Marching band instruments disappeared as the girls honed their chops on a set of
new, permanent instruments. Echoing the career footsteps of Steven Tyler and Joe
Perry (who formed Aerosmith while working in an ice cream parlor), Robin and
Leslie formed the nucleus of their first band while working in a Pizza Hut in
Houston. Fast forward to Los Angeles, where years later, all of our heroines
relocated in pursuit of their musical dreams. The five girls hook up under their
common love for classic rock, and decide to pay homage to the most durable and
best selling American hard rock band of all time, Aerosmith. Robin points out,
"Everyone joined this band because they love Aerosmith's music and thought it
would be a blast to play it for Aerosmith fans." " I jumped at the chance to be
Steven Tyler's alter ego! I mean, he's a wonderful peacock!" chimes Leslie.
Their motto became "they're the dudes, we're the ladies!" so it only seemed
natural the band should call itself Ladysmith. Leslie and Robin transformed into
the girl non-Toxic Twin duo of Eve Tyler and Flo Perry. "Joe and Steven are the
dynamic duo of testosterone-driven rock," says Flo, "but Eve and I are the
Laverne and Shirley of the tribute band scene." Max adopted the moniker Zoey
Kramer, Jennifer became Brat Whitford, and Amy Tung adopted the persona of Tung
Hamilton.
Collectively, the seasoned musicians that make up Ladysmith have played globally
from Japan to New Jersey to Germany. They've entertained our armed forces,
played huge corporate events, and performed in clubs to concert stages. They've
opened for such diverse luminaries as Smash Mouth, Devo, the Beach Boys, Frankie
Goes to Hollywood, Paul Rodgers, Kings X, Night Ranger, the Village People, Eric
Johnson, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Animotion, Jody Watley, and Stroke 9.
After only a handful of shows, Ladysmith found themselves the subject of a
British documentary on the girl tribute band phenomenon. The band was also
lensed for a Canadian documentary funded by McMaster University and for an
upcoming book on female rock musicians. Flo and the band are now the "poster
girls" for Girls Rock! guitar picks regularly featured in Guitar World magazine.
|
