10 Hard Rock Bands That Completely Changed Their Sound

Aerosmith has such an omnipresence in the classic rock that it almost seems to go unappreciated. The band practically set the template for the hard rock sound of the 80's while still writing some of the most impressive blues rock tunes of the 70's. As the years went along, the band took their sound to new heights with each passing record.

In their early years, the band was criticized for being a Stones ripoff, with much of their material borrowing heavily from the blues tradition and even having a similar singer-guitarist rapport to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. After a few albums though, the band had carved out their own identity with songs that had a certain lowdown swagger to them that kept you moving while you banged your head.

The first drastic change came when the band regrouped after guitarist Joe Perry returned to the band after years on his own. With the help of Desmond Child, Aerosmith were revitalized with an update on their classic sound which fit perfectly in the hair metal scene. Even into the 90's, the band's sound progressed into something far removed from their hard rock beginnings. The change in direction may have been a bit too much for some fans to bear, but there's denying the presence Aerosmith has had in all eras of rock and roll.