Maintenance workers at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre found an interesting surprise in a freight elevator during the Christmas holiday season. While working on removing a protective panel called a bumper from the well-used elevator that transports goods and equipment within the facility, they uncovered a pristine autograph belonging to Steven Tyler, the lead singer of the renowned rock band Aerosmith.
Aerosmith, known for hits like “Love in an Elevator” and “Sweet Emotion,” had performed at least two shows at the Halifax rink, with their last show dating back to Dec. 28, 1993, at the venue then known as the Halifax Metro Centre, where tickets were sold for $32.50.
Adria Young, a spokesperson for Events East, the Crown corporation managing the Scotiabank Centre and Halifax Convention Centre, expressed amusement at being star-struck by an autograph, considering it a valuable piece of rock history within their facility. Aerosmith, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has sold over 150 million albums worldwide.
The discovery of Steven Tyler’s autograph was shared internally through email, and some staff members even took photos with the signature. According to Young, performers and bands had been using this particular freight elevator since the late 1980s to move from the loading bay to the arena, leading to a tradition of leaving their signatures on the walls over time.
Apart from Steven Tyler, staff members recall other notable signatures on the wall, including those of Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose and Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. Although signatures from artists like Neil Young, Billy Idol, and Alice Cooper might have been present, the wall became cluttered with signatures from various staff members over time, necessitating a paint-over in the late 1990s, with only Steven Tyler’s signature being preserved.
Young mentioned that it had been nearly two decades since the Tyler signature was last seen, making its recent discovery a surprise to many in the building. She emphasized the autograph’s significance as a memento of Scotiabank Centre’s rich history as a hub for sports and entertainment in the Atlantic region for almost half a century, hinting at the possibility of uncovering more hidden treasures from past artists, athletes, and figures within the facility.
Despite public interest, access to view the autograph in person is restricted as maintenance work has been completed, and the autograph is now shielded by the protective panel. Additionally, the article references a historical incident related to counterfeit Aerosmith band T-shirts being sold during the 1993 concert, with counterfeiters facing legal consequences for violating copyright laws.