Aero Force One

Aero Force One is the name of the fan club for American hard rock band Aerosmith.

Background

The origins of the fan club were rooted in the mid 1970s, when the band first broke through with their album "Toys in the Attic". The band became a popular act with a loyal following of fans, often referred to as the "Blue Army". [cite book |title= |last=Davis |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors=Aerosmith |year=1997 |publisher=Avon |location=New York |isbn=0-380-79531-0 |pages=239] Former Aerosmith guitarist and band friend Ray Tabano got the idea of printing simple t-shirts with the classic Aerosmith "wings" logo. 100 of these t-shirts were printed and sold out within a matter of minutes at an Aerosmith concert. [cite book |title=Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith |last=Davis |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors=Aerosmith |year=1997 |publisher=Avon |location=New York |isbn=0-380-79531-0 |pages=246] As a result, the band decided to form an official fan club with member dues. Its main source of revenue was t-shirt sales, and Ray Tabano would also write up newsletters and send them to members. The fan club was run by Tabano out of the band's headquarters, the Wherehouse, in Waltham, Massachusetts. [cite book |title=Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith |last=Davis |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors=Aerosmith |year=1997 |publisher=Avon |location=New York |isbn=0-380-79531-0 |pages=343]

As the band's popularity grew and things within the band began to change, Tabano was fired by band managers Steve Leber and David Krebs with little severance. [cite book |title=Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith |last=Davis |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors=Aerosmith |year=1997 |publisher=Avon |location=New York |isbn=0-380-79531-0 |pages=343] When the band resurrected in the mid-late 1980s and band management changed, the fan club adopted a more professional look and its headquarters was moved out to San Francisco.

Sometime in the late 1990s, the fan club moved back to Boston and has since been operated by a variety of outside agencies. The fan club is currently operated by Paid Membership Services.

Functions

Aero Force One is a significant part of Aerosmith. The associated website, AeroForceOne.com, is the primary source of news, information, and media relating to the band, and is the most frequently updated of the band's three official websites. The fan club is also the point-of-purchase for official Aerosmith merchandise. The band's merchandise collection, which offers new items all the time, includes everything from t-shirts and sweatshirts, to coffee mugs and hats, to doormats and blankets. The fan club also offers premium concert ticket seating and a variety of special packages to members, based on seniority and price levels members are willing to pay.

Annual membership dues are divided into three price levels: free, $29.99, and $59.99. The free price level only grants members access to the website's message boards and members-only online news updates. The $29.99 package also grants access to these features, as well as a membership card & pin, t-shirt, welcome letter, and access to premium tickets and 10% off merchandise. The $59.99 package includes all of the above items, as well as a DVD, a membership patch, and a $15 coupon for merchandise.

ee also

*Blue Army

External links

* [http://www.aeroforceone.com Aero Force One - Aerosmith's offical fan club]

References