Aerosmith Bailed Out Fans Following Concert Drug Bust On This Day in 1978

With hits like “Dream On” and “Livin’ on the Edge,” Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time. Consisting of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, the Boston rockers have enjoyed more than five decades of immense popularity. Forty-six years ago today (Oct. 3), dozens of Aerosmith concertgoers were swept up in a massive marijuana bust. And the “Sweet Emotion” hitmakers showed their true rock-and-roll colors when they bailed every single one of them out.

Aerosmith Reportedly Took on $4K in Fines

On Oct. 3, 1978, Aerosmith was playing a show in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in support of their Live! Bootleg album. Presumably, everyone was rocking out and enjoying themselves when police showed up to the party.

Cops arrested “dozens of kids” and charged them with marijuana possession, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. Even lead vocalist Steven Tyler’s seamstress didn’t escape the long arm of the law. According to the Aerosmith bio Walk This Way, cops picked her up after she lit a cigarette onstage.

The band finished the show (but not before Steven Tyler went on an onstage rant against the cops, whom he reportedly called “scumbags” and “Gestapo.”)

[RELATED: Aerosmith Guitarist Joe Perry Recalls His Temporary Split from the Band: “We Just Had Too Much, Too Soon”]

After wrapping up at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Aerosmith did something extraordinary. Steven Tyler & Co. offered bail money to every one of their incarcerated fans.

The actual number of fans in lockup differs by source, but at least 28 people took Aerosmith up on their offer. When all was said and done, the band’s tour accountant had forked over about $4,200 in bail and fines.

Joe Perry Thought The Band Was Much Better Than This Album Suggested

Aerosmith has produced some truly groundbreaking records in its 50-plus year history, including Toys in the Attic and Get Your Wings. However, guitarist Joe Perry has some regrets about 1985’s Done With Mirrors.

“I feel that Done with Mirrors lacks a layer of production,” Perry told Guitar World. “There was a level of communication that hadn’t been established yet, and more spice could have been added to it.”

Featured image by Rob Latour/Shutterstock

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