that it is today. It is a declaration of needing someone who holds your happiness in his or her hands-the ultimate definition of a fan.       Livin on the Edge and Fallin Off   After years of writing, recording, touring and selling, the band had reached what to most would be the pinnacle of success. In a 1979 article, Rolling Stone had this to say about Aerosmith:   Aerosmith is a dinosaur among bands, the last of a generation of rock n rollers being edged out by more streamlined compe- tition like Boston, Foreigner, and Fleetwood Mac. What keeps Aerosmith rocking is their ability to relate to their loyal, largely male audience. Night after night, the bands success or failure hinges on something thats hard to package; they have to tap into a little of the teenage insanity that lures you to rock n roll in the first place."4   Aerosmith had completed a grueling tour schedule in 1978-selling out 50,000- to 60,000-seat stadium venues and playing with other giants such as Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Santana, and Heart. But the union of the band was worse for its wear. Drug abuse led to fights, infi- delity, and physical problems (no matter how good you are, its diffi- cult to perform when youre passed out backstage). Tyler and Perry, known as the Toxic Twins because they would do any drug put in front of them, had an intense love-hate relationship; it was a kindred-spirit, brotherly thing one minute and an ego-trip personality clash the next. For years the band did whatever it took to put on a good show for the fans, but the fighting between Tyler and Perry eventually found its way on stage at the sacrifice of great per- formances. After the release of Night in the Ruts in November 1979, Joe Perry officially left Aerosmith and formed the Joe Perry Project. By mid- December the band was selling out smaller venues and getting rave reviews from the media. About the time the Joe Perry Project had been declared hot, Aerosmith was declared not, and its Nights in the Rut arena tour was cancelled. For a few years, Perry worked on his band, and Whitford even backed him up on occasion. Aerosmith continued, filling the gaps in the band with other talented musicians. But neither the Project nor a e ro s m i th : r e i n v en t i ng a roc k-a nd - ro l l b a nd |     Aerosmith had the power, dazzle, or impact that the five bad boys