Not much was initially known about the rusted, 1964 International Harvester Metro van, buried in the woods, said the property’s owner, identified only as Phil , who told Wolfe and Fritz the vehicle was there when he bought the land. In a recently aired episode of the hit History Channel show “American Pickers,” hosts and antique scavengers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz tracked down, in Chesterfield, the band’s original tour van that the group used to schlep to gigs around New England in the early 1970s. A piece of rock ’n’ roll history involving Boston band Aerosmith has been found on the other side of Massachusetts. Advertisement The previous property owner had a connection to the band, he said, but it was unclear if the van had ever been used by the group. Finding out would require a first-hand witness: Ray Tabano, a founding Aerosmith member and guitarist. In the episode, which aired July 30, Wolfe reached out to a friend, Dan Auerbach, of the Black Keys, who in turn sent along photos of the van to Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry. Tabano, in Stockbridge when the pickers were inspecting the van, said he made his way over after getting a call from Perry and confirmed the van’s authenticity. “I’m afraid to say how long it is, but it’s been like 40 years since we’ve been in this thing,” Tabano told Phil, Wolfe, and Fritz, and even showed them a photo of himself in the vehicle taken back in its heyday. Tabano, who was in the band from 1970 to 1972 before working for the group later on, said the van was like a “rolling hotel” in the future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ early days. “We’d drive from Boston up to New Hampshire for $125,” he said, referring to the pay for the band’s gigs at the time. “Then after the gas, the tolls, and the food and back, we’d all make like $3 apiece.” The van sold for considerably more than that, however, with Wolfe and Fritz picking it up from Phil for $25,000, according to the episode (which also flashed a glimpse of the now iconic photo of a young Charlie Baker rocking out at an Aerosmith show in 1979). Advertisement<doc-sep>A 1964 International Harvester Metro found in Massachusetts by a reality television show is none other than the first touring van used by the legendary rock band Aerosmith. The Boston Globe reported the van was discovered on private property in Chesterfield, across the state from where the band was founded in Boston. The find was documented on the History Channel show "American Pickers." Footage showed the rusted van with “Aerosmith” written on the side being loaded onto a trailer. The man who owned the land, identified in the episode only as Phil, told host Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz that the van was there when he bought the property from another person who had some sort of connection with the band. Wolfe was put in contact with Ray Tabano, a founding member of the band who was replaced but later returned to work for the group. Tabano confirmed the van was used by Aerosmith as it made its way to gigs in New England. “I’m afraid to say how long it is, but it’s been like 40 years since we’ve been in this thing,” Tabano said in the episode. “We’d drive from Boston up to New Hampshire for $125,” he continued, referring to what the band made per show at the time. “Then after the gas, the tolls, and the food and back, we’d all make like $3 apiece.” Wolfe and Fritz bought the van from Phil for $25,000. The show did not give details on what the pair planned to do with it, though one can only hope it’s brought back to life without ruining its former rock glory — and excellent patina. This article, written by Carter Nacke, was originally published on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.<doc-sep>Aerosmith's first tour van has been found abandoned in woods near Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, about 110 miles west of Boston. The 1964 International Harvester Metro van was tracked down by Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, the hosts of American Pickers, a reality television series shown on The History Channel. The van's authenticity was confirmed by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and by Ray Tabano, a founding member of Aerosmith. Tabano was in the band from 1970 to 1972, before being replaced by Brad Whitford. “I’m afraid to say how long it is, but it’s been like 40 years since we’ve been in this thing,” said Tabano on the show. “We’d drive from Boston up to New Hampshire for $125. Then after the gas, the tolls, and the food and back, we’d all make like $3 apiece. "It just reminded me of the humble beginnings and I look at where [the band has] gone today it’s just amazing,” How the van came to be in the woods is unclear, although the property owner claimed he originally purchased the land from "someone with a connection to Aerosmith." Wolfe and Fritz paid $25,000 to buy the van from its current owner, Wolfe referring to the purchase as “a piece of American rock'n'roll history.”<doc-sep>
Aerosmith’s very first tour van has been found abandoned in woods near Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, about 110 miles west of Boston. The 1964 International Harvester Metro van was tracked down by Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, the hosts of American Pickers, a reality television series shown on The History Channel. The band’s name was still painted on the side of the van, which had spent decades rusting in a woodland near Chesterfield, Massachusetts. The episode, titled ‘Roll Like A Rock Star’ first aired on July 30 and is available to watch on demand via History.com. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Wolfe and Fritz were told that the vehicle was already there when the current property owner took possession. The previous owner was reported to have had some connection with Aerosmith, although it isn’t clear what that might be. In order to secure some provenance, Wolfe made contact with his friend Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Auerbach passed pictures of the van to Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who in turn contacted co-founding guitarist Ray Tabano, who was replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971 but remained connected with the band for some years afterward. Tabano lives nearby, so he came to see the van and confirmed it was the real deal – even bringing a photo of himself seated inside. “I’m afraid to say how long it is, but it’s been like 40 years since we’ve been in this thing,” Tabano told Ultimate Classic Rock, describing the van as Aerosmith’s “rolling hotel” in their early days. “We’d drive from Boston up to New Hampshire for $125 [show fee],” he added. “Then after the gas, the tolls, and the food and back, we’d make like $3 apiece. … It just reminded me of the humble beginnings and I look at where [the band has] gone today — it’s just amazing.” Aerosmith will appear on NBC’s Today on Aug. 15, with high expectations that they’ll make an announcement related to their upcoming 50th anniversary. Wolfe and Fritz paid $25,000 for the band’s former vehicle. At the time of writing, what will happen to the van remains unclear. Explore Our Aerosmith Artist Page.