Aerosmith - Park Hayarkon 12.7.94

On July 12, 1994, "Aerosmith" gave its first performance on the "Park Yarkon" stage in Israel.

If you ask the handful of fans who were there, it was one of the 90s' biggest shows in Israel. If you ask the critics, it was probably one of the worst shows. why do you ask?

So let's start with the fact that "Aerosmith" arrived in Israel at the peak of their success, as part of the tour designed to promote the masterpiece album "Get A Grip". It was supposed to be an amazing show, the band was in amazing shape and even if we refer only to the new fans who knew the band from the "Get A Grip" album, the setlist was supposed to contain an endless chain of hits.

However, an unfortunate combination of bad public relations, unsuccessful production and an audience that did not know how to appreciate the treasure that fell into their hands, meant that less than 10,000 people came to this performance (and there were those in the audience who were willing to swear that it was barely 1,000 people). Just imagine the embarrassment of the band members who at that time were at the height of their success going on stage in front of a large park with a handful of people in the audience. Indeed, there were those in the audience who after the show said that they saw singer Steven Tyler muttering to guitarist Joe Perry something like "what a lousy crowd".

But it didn't end there, those who came to the show when the gates opened had to wait in heavy heat for about three hours until the show started, why? Because the opening act that was planned to warm up the band just didn't show.

And despite everything, those who were in the audience got to see the band at its peak with an amazing set that included 21 songs, in an intimate show that no one dreamed of receiving.

The show opened with the sounds of "Eat the Rich" - the second single released from the masterpiece album "Get a Grip", when the band is behind a black and white striped curtain, the curtain falls and the band explodes on stage. The setlist continues with one of the surprises of the evening "Mama Kin" from the band's debut album released in 1973. Next came all the hits you could imagine: "Amazing", "Cryin", "Janie's Got a Gun", "Love in an Elevator", " Sweet Emotion", "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", and as an encore, we got "Crazy", "Livin' on the Edge" and of course "Walk This Way". In addition, the band performed covers for "Led Zeppelin", "Fleetwood Mac" and James Brown, while in between we got a drum solo by Joey Kramer.

There is no doubt, despite the bad tone and the small audience, the band professionally gave their all and we can say that the only song that was missing from the setlist was the legendary "Dream On".

The complete setlist:

1. Eat the Rich

2. Mama Kin

3. Fever

4. Draw the Line

5. Amazing

6. Rag Doll

7. Cryin'

8. Shut Up and Dance

9. Drum Solo

10. Stop Messin' Around (Fleetwood Mac cover)

11. Walk On Down

12. Janie's Got a Gun

13. Love in an Elevator

14. Sweet Emotion

15. Dazed and Confused (Led Zeppelin cover)

16. The Peter Gunn Theme (Henry Mancini cover)

17. Dude (Looks Like a Lady) Encore:

18. Crazy

19. Livin' on the Edge

20. Mother Popcorn (James Brown cover)

21. Walk This Way

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