Aerosmith had signed a $30 million contract for four records with

Aerosmith had signed a $30 million contract for four records with Columbia Records / Sony Music in 1991, but had only recorded three of their six contractual albums with Geffen Records at that point ( Done with Mirrors , Permanent Vacation , and Pump ). Between 1991 and 1996, they released two more albums with Geffen ( Get a Grip and Big Ones ), which meant they now had five albums with Geffen under their belt (along with a planned live compilation), which meant they could now begin recording for their new contract with Columbia. The band took time off with their families before working on their next album, Nine Lives , which was plagued with personnel problems, including the firing of manager Tim Collins , who, according to band members, had nearly caused the band to break up. The album’s producer was also changed from Glen Ballard to Kevin Shirley . Nine Lives was released in March 1997. Reviews were mixed, and Nine Lives initially fell down the charts, although it had a long chart life and sold double platinum in the United States alone, fueled by its singles, ” Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees) “, the ballad ” Hole in My Soul “, and the crossover-pop smash ” Pink ” (which won the band their fourth Grammy Award in 1999 in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category). It was followed by the over two-year-long Nine Lives Tour , which was plagued by problems including lead singer Steven Tyler injuring his leg at a concert, and Joey Kramer suffering second degree burns when his car caught fire at a gas station.