Seasons of Wither

Alright, Zoo Freaks, it’s your hippie DJs from The Zoo Crew spinning another classic for your soul! We’re diving into the haunting vibes of Seasons of Wither by Aerosmith, off their 1974 album Get Your Wings. This track is a gem, and we’ve got some juicy trivia to share. Frontman Steven Tyler wrote this power ballad solo, strumming an old acoustic guitar that drummer Joey Kramer fished out of a dumpster. Tyler called it the “Dumpster guitar,” with a warped neck that could barely hold four strings, giving it a unique, eerie sound that shaped the song’s minor key magic. He penned it in a basement in Needham, Massachusetts, lit by incense, fueled by a mix of Tuinals and Seconals, and inspired by the stark winter landscape. Tyler once said in his autobiography, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?, that he’d lie awake at dawn, captivated by the “lonely and melancholy” sound of wind in bare trees, which poured into the song’s mood.

Here’s a wild story: Tyler revealed in interviews that the song also drew from his teenage nights wandering Sunapee, New Hampshire, barely able to see in the dark, feeling both haunted and safe. The lyrics, like “Loose-hearted lady, sleepy was she / Love for the devil brought her to me,” hint at a sinful allure and the fleeting nature of time, which Tyler tied to personal struggles, including a hefty tax bill that had him fuming. Guitarist Joe Perry, usually not a fan of ballads, admitted in a 2007 piece on Something Else! Reviews that Seasons of Wither is his favorite Aerosmith ballad, praising its slow-building intensity. Fans on Songfacts have called it “beautiful” and “underrated,” with one noting former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker named it his all-time favorite song. When Aerosmith kicked off their Peace Out tour in 2023, this was the only Get Your Wings track in their setlist, proving its lasting pull.

Now, let’s rewind to how Aerosmith got their wings. Formed in Boston in 1970, the band came together when Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, part of a group called the Jam Band, met Steven Tyler, a charismatic singer-drummer from Yonkers, New York. Tyler, who’d been gigging in local acts like Chain Reaction, linked up with them in Sunapee, New Hampshire, where he was drumming for fun. They recruited drummer Joey Kramer and guitarist Ray Tabano, later replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971. Inspired by the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, they blended bluesy hard rock with a raw edge, earning the nickname “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” Their self-titled debut in 1973, with hits like Dream On, laid the foundation, but it was Get Your Wings, produced by Jack Douglas, that cemented their sound. The Tyler-Perry songwriting duo, dubbed the “Toxic Twins,” became a force, driving the band to multi-platinum glory.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with the Bad Boys from Boston on their official website, where you’ll find tour updates and merch. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news and throwback posts, like their 2025 shoutout to Get Your Wings’ 51st anniversary. For fan love, check out Aero Force One, their official fan club, packed with exclusive content. On Facebook, groups like Aerosmith Fans bring Freaks together to share stories, rare pics, and concert memories. So, crank up Seasons of Wither, let those fireflies dance, and keep rockin’ with The Zoo Crew!