ABC/ESPN Will Rock With Aerosmith
America’s most successful rock band of all time – Aerosmith -- is collaborating with ESPN/ABC on its coverage of NASCAR for 2007.
While full details of the Aerosmith alliance with ESPN/ABC will be revealed later, the band is recording a special live version of its immortal “Back In The Saddle” that will be an integral part of the network’s NASCAR telecasts in 2007. The taping will take place Saturday, Nov. 4 at the band’s concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Other than being an astronaut, there are two things I can think of that can give you the same rush as sitting on a rocket: driving down the straightaway at Talladega at 200 miles an hour, and being the lead singer in Aerosmith,” said Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
The members of Aerosmith – Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer -- are all NASCAR enthusiasts, and their relationship with the sport was highlighted in 1999 when driver Kenny Wallace drove the Aerosmith-sponsored #55 Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Phoenix International Raceway.
ESPN and ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including the entire 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” on ABC. In addition, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
”The magnitude of having the legendary American rock and roll band Aerosmith involved in our NASCAR coverage speaks volumes,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “The sheer energy and stage personality that they bring to the screen will greatly enhance our telecasts and their enthusiasm for this project will serve our viewers throughout 2007.”
Richard Sturm, MGM MIRAGE president of sports & entertainment added, "Over the past 10 years MGM MIRAGE has had a prosperous partnership with both ESPN and Aerosmith. Saturday night's filming inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena will not only be exciting for the fans in attendance but for the television viewers as well."
About Aerosmith:
For more than 30 years, Aerosmith has defined American Rock and Roll. Just a brief overview of the band’s remarkable career is truly mind-boggling: over 100 million albums sold, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, countless awards (4 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and 12 MTV Awards), and a diehard “Blue Army” fan-base numbering in the millions worldwide. The members of Aerosmith remain creatively vital, and are the platinum standard for artistic and commercial success in the music business. Through it all they have defeated the odds, silenced their critics and have undeniably withstood the test of time.
About NASCAR on ESPN/ABC:
ESPN and ABC will have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” championship on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series all season. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN was honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.
America’s most successful rock band of all time – Aerosmith -- is collaborating with ESPN/ABC on its coverage of NASCAR for 2007.
While full details of the Aerosmith alliance with ESPN/ABC will be revealed later, the band is recording a special live version of its immortal “Back In The Saddle” that will be an integral part of the network’s NASCAR telecasts in 2007. The taping will take place Saturday, Nov. 4 at the band’s concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Other than being an astronaut, there are two things I can think of that can give you the same rush as sitting on a rocket: driving down the straightaway at Talladega at 200 miles an hour, and being the lead singer in Aerosmith,” said Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
The members of Aerosmith – Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer -- are all NASCAR enthusiasts, and their relationship with the sport was highlighted in 1999 when driver Kenny Wallace drove the Aerosmith-sponsored #55 Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Phoenix International Raceway.
ESPN and ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including the entire 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” on ABC. In addition, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
”The magnitude of having the legendary American rock and roll band Aerosmith involved in our NASCAR coverage speaks volumes,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “The sheer energy and stage personality that they bring to the screen will greatly enhance our telecasts and their enthusiasm for this project will serve our viewers throughout 2007.”
Richard Sturm, MGM MIRAGE president of sports & entertainment added, "Over the past 10 years MGM MIRAGE has had a prosperous partnership with both ESPN and Aerosmith. Saturday night's filming inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena will not only be exciting for the fans in attendance but for the television viewers as well."
About Aerosmith:
For more than 30 years, Aerosmith has defined American Rock and Roll. Just a brief overview of the band’s remarkable career is truly mind-boggling: over 100 million albums sold, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, countless awards (4 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and 12 MTV Awards), and a diehard “Blue Army” fan-base numbering in the millions worldwide. The members of Aerosmith remain creatively vital, and are the platinum standard for artistic and commercial success in the music business. Through it all they have defeated the odds, silenced their critics and have undeniably withstood the test of time.
About NASCAR on ESPN/ABC:
ESPN and ABC will have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” championship on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series all season. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN was honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.