Joe Rogan Experience #1116 - Steven Tyler

He admits drugs fueled some iconic songs, but also destroyed relationships and nearly killed his career; after getting sober, he learned he could write even better material by locking himself in a room sober and grinding until the song existed.

Tyler describes Aerosmith’s early days living together, getting wrecked, jamming endlessly, and capturing Joe Perry’s riffs on tape—turning late‑night licks and emotional fights into songs like “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way,” and “Pink.”

He recounts being moved to tears in Muscle Shoals recording studios, feeling the presence of Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Bob Marley, and others, arguing that creative spaces accumulate an intangible energy that artists can tap into.

Although fascinated by psychedelics and ayahuasca, he says any intoxication risks reactivating his addictive “switch,” which historically led to losing his band, family, and self‑control; he relies on sponsors and meetings to stay clean.

He details how labels, publishers, and digital platforms keep interest and revenue, citing Smokey Robinson being low‑balled on six‑figure back pay and explaining that most new artists see almost nothing for streams of their work.