Original rhythm guitarist Ray Tabano performed with the band, and went on to design merch for them
On November 6, 1970, Aerosmith performed their very first show at Nipmuc Regional High School in Mendon, Massachusetts—a humble but historic night that marked the official beginning of one of rock’s most legendary bands. At the time, Aerosmith were an unknown local act, still defining their sound and image. The lineup that night consisted of Steven Tyler on vocals, Joe Perry and Ray Tabano on guitars, Tom Hamilton on bass, and Joey Kramer on drums. They had only recently solidified this configuration after Tyler and Perry agreed that Tyler should focus solely on singing rather than drumming and singing simultaneously. The concert at Nipmuc High was more of a local gig than a grand debut, yet it would go down in history as the spark that ignited Aerosmith’s 50-year career.
The band managed to land the gig largely through Joe Perry’s mother, who worked at a nearby school. She had a connection with someone on the staff at Nipmuc Regional High and helped arrange for her son’s fledgling rock group to perform at the school’s auditorium or gymnasium. The event itself was informal, with minimal stage lighting and borrowed sound equipment, but the energy was undeniable. Aerosmith played mostly blues-rock covers along with a few early originals, demonstrating the raw chemistry between Tyler’s charismatic stage presence and Perry’s guitar-driven firepower—a partnership that would soon earn them the nickname “the Toxic Twins.” Though only a few dozen students and locals attended, those present witnessed the first chapter of what would become one of America’s defining rock stories.
At that time, guitarist Ray Tabano was still part of the lineup, serving as rhythm guitarist alongside Joe Perry. Tabano was an early friend of Perry’s from their teenage years in Hopedale, Massachusetts, and his role in the band was foundational. He contributed to shaping Aerosmith’s early sound and helped the group rehearse tirelessly in their shared Boston-area apartment. However, by 1971, the band began tightening their musical focus and seeking a more technically skilled player, leading to Tabano’s replacement by Brad Whitford, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. Whitford’s arrival solidified the “classic” Aerosmith lineup that would go on to record their iconic 1970s albums.
Despite being replaced, Ray Tabano’s story with Aerosmith didn’t end there. Remaining close to his former bandmates, he transitioned into a behind-the-scenes role that proved vital to the band’s early success. Tabano became the founder of the Aerosmith Fan Club, personally handling fan correspondence, designing some of the group’s earliest merchandise, and helping to shape their visual and branding identity. His creative input and organizational work helped establish a direct link between Aerosmith and their growing fanbase during the band’s rise to fame in the mid-1970s.
Looking back, the Nipmuc Regional High School show stands as more than just a first gig—it symbolizes the grassroots beginnings of a group that would go on to conquer stadiums around the world. From a small-town high school auditorium in Massachusetts to global superstardom, Aerosmith’s journey began with a bit of family help, a handful of borrowed amps, and a dream that was already larger than the stage they played on that night.