fb-pixelLA Philharmonic leader a big fan of Aerosmith - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
Names

LA Philharmonic leader a big fan of Aerosmith

Aerosmith’s new CD, “Music From Another Dimension!,” hasn’t sold particularly well, but we do know one person who bought it: Gustavo Dudamel, the celebrated music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Los Angeles Times asked 17 conductors, ages 26 to 71, about what they listen to when they’re not twirling the baton, and the 31-year-old Dudamel (inset) confessed to a mad music crush on Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer. “I’ve downloaded everything I can by them,” he told the paper, “and I’m amazed at their character and vocal sounds.” (The bad boys from Boston are currently on a break from touring.) Another local who gets some love from the classical crowd is James Taylor. Thomas Wilkins, music director of the Omaha Symphony and principal guest conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, told the Times he’s “a huge James Taylor fan. . . . I know the lyrics of everything he’s recorded.” Who doesn’t? And then there’s Riccardo Muti, music director of the Chicago Symphony, who loves the Platters. “Even now my grandson loves to listen to the Platters, especially ‘Only You,’ ” he told the paper. Herb Reed, who was the last surviving member of the five original Platters, died last year. He lived in Arlington.