Drumming News :
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, now 75, is lucky to be alive after a terrifying gas station accident nearly claimed his life 27 years ago.
On July 15, 1998, Kramer pulled his Ferrari into a gas station in Scituate, Massachusetts. Within seconds, the car burst into flames. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Kramer later told NorthJersey.com that a faulty fuel line had leaked gasoline under the car. In less than 10 seconds, it ignited — likely through spontaneous combustion.
“I was sitting in my car, I looked down into my wallet to get my credit card, I looked up and the car was engulfed in flames,” Kramer recalled. “My only thought was to get out. The only way I could get out was through the flames.”
The injuries forced Aerosmith to cancel dates on their ironically named “Nine Lives” tour. Though he described his injuries as minor, the ordeal marked a turning point in Kramer’s turbulent relationship with the band.
In the years that followed, Kramer found himself sidelined during major moments — including being blocked from playing with Aerosmith at the Grammys and during their Las Vegas residency, prompting a lawsuit he eventually lost. While he did return to the stage with the band afterward, he was absent from Aerosmith’s final Peace Out tour, citing family and health issues.
Though he survived a literal blaze, the symbolic fire surrounding his time with Aerosmith continues to burn.
