Steven Tyler’s first country video is so smoking hot, he burned his eyebrows off making it. The Aerosmith frontman told People the “ Love Is Your Name ” video, which was released Friday, “was worth it.”
“During the chorus, we had a big bonfire going. I burnt my eyebrows off, but it was worth it. We went through [the sequence] and the wind blew. The jacket I wore had little fur pieces on it and I could smell the burn on it. It blew the flames right at me!”
Steven Tyler said the video represents a trip through his own life — from the cabin where he grew up, through different phases of his life, and his journey to country music. There’s even a glimpse of a childhood pet that was close to Tyler’s heart.
“Growing up, I lived in a cabin by the lake and I had a pet raccoon. I told that to [director] Trey Fanjoy, so she put it in the video.”
Tyler was so thrilled with the video he describes as beautiful, believable, and “very gypsy-chic” that he “literally cried” after seeing it.
“Take me out of it, take all my ego out of it, if you just watch the video, two things will happen: One, you’ll hear a really great song because it just is. And number two, you’re going to see a lot of love, and you’re going to see a lot of believability, and you’re going to see a lot of beautiful shots. It’s fun to watch. It’s very gypsy-chic!”
Steven Tyler first announced his country crossover last fall. He had been in talks with Big Machine Record Label President Scott Borchetta for a while, and the deal was finalized in April, as reported by Rolling Stone Country . Big Machine is behind some of the hottest names in country music, including Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flats, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry, and country-turned-pop star Taylor Swift. Scott Borchetta also served as mentor on the last season of American Idol and signed winner Nick Fradiani .
The 67-year-old rocker may seem like an unlikely match for Nashville, but he said he has a country side that goes back to his childhood.
“I grew up with the Everly Brothers. There’s a piece of me that just loves country so much. And I’m not sure what kind of country that is, but it’s got the fifth harmony, and anyone who knows who the Everly Brothers is — it’s those kinds of melodies that are just so, so good.”
Aerosmith fans will be happy to hear the new solo album will still have a bit of Steven Tyler’s signature edgy sound. Songwriter Cary Barlowe told Rolling Stone Country the new music isn’t “traditional, old-school country” because “[e]verything he sings is going to sound a little like Aerosmith.”
Steven Tyler is currently on tour with Aerosmith and will hit the studio the finish his solo album once he returns to Nashville. There is no official release date yet, but it is expected to be out by winter.
What do you think of Steven Tyler’s first country single?
[Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Miller Lite]