AEROSMITH Frontman To Sing National Anthem At Boston's Fenway Park

April 1, 2002

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fenway Park in Boston today, April 1st, as part of the opening-day festivities at the ballpark, where the Red Sox will play host to the Toronto Blue Jays in both teams' season opener. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:05 PM ET.

The Sox have been trying to get Tyler to sing the anthem at Fenway since Steven sang the song at the New England Patriots opening game in 1999, but after hearing his rendition of the Francis Scott Key's epic at the Indy 500 some months later, the then-Sox brass reportedly revoked his invitation. Now that the team has new owners (including John Henry, who happens to be an AEROSMITH fan),the offer to Tyler was once again extended.

Tyler's version of the national anthem at the 2001 Indy 500 angered some veterans' groups after he changed the last line of the song from "the home of the brave" to "the home of the Indianapolis 500." This prompted Vietnam veteran Don Gillingham to tell Associated Press, "It would have been nice had it been about us. It is Memorial Day weekend." A short time later, Tyler released a statement saying he meant no disrespect to veterans, adding, “I'm very proud to be an American, and live in the home of the brave.”

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