But during her 16 years at the top of the book charts, Laura has never before stumbled across a life story which reaches out on such a human level as that of Steven Tyler.

She firmly believes that her book on the outrageous Aerosmith frontman will appeal not only to music fans, but to anyone who has ever struggled to beat an addiction.

Tyler epitomises the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle, having blown more than $1 million on a drug habit which almost ended his life, his band and his music career.

But, against all the odds, Tyler came back from his lowest and darkest ebb. His life story is one which Laura feels is both cautionary and inspirational.

She said: "He's a born survivor, having survived against all the odds. He beat heroin, cocaine and alcohol addictions, and more recently hepatitis C.

"Steven came really, really close to becoming another rock casualty. I have never written about someone who has been that low and then come back bigger than ever.

"This book isn't just for music fans, but for young folk. They can read his story and see just how low drugs can take you, but that you can come back from it."

Laura, who writes all her books from her home in Elgin, charts his life starting from his childhood days growing up in the tough Bronx area of New York.

She goes on to set out his meteoric rise to fame in the 1970s with Aerosmith, and how the band was torn apart by drug addictions at the height of its success.

Tyler was hooked on class A drugs, and would even go out and trawl the streets himself in search of his next hit. At one time, he was even robbed at gunpoint.

Aerosmith went from performing at sell-out concerts to barely being able to fill a small hall, and by the early 80s it looked as though the band had reached the end of the line.

But, after squandering their huge wealth they had amassed on drugs and alcohol, the band regrouped and went on to be bigger than ever before.

Tyler started working with drugs charity Boston Hope – a project he still visits to meet with drug users and give them hope that they can beat their demons.

Elgin author Laura Jackson believes her latest book on Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, and his battle to beat drugs and booze, will appear to more readers than just rock fans. NS

Laura said: "He has been at the rough end of street level drugs, and folk take notice of someone like Steven Tyler. When he speaks to them, he's not evangelical.

"He is a very vibrant and self-destructive guy, but that recklessness is matched by his will power. He spent just 43 days in detox, and for over 20 years he has stayed clean through willpower.

"He feels it's a tenuous state, that he's never out of the woods. He is afraid that if he ever has a drink, he will be off down town to find a mirror or a needle."

Laura has written 16 celebrity biographies over the years, giving up a career as a legal secretary for her first book on the mysterious death of Brian Jones, a former member of the Rolling Stones.

She discovered a talent for getting close to the rich and famous, and books on stars include Freddie Mercury, Bono, Brian May, Jon Bon Jovi, The Eagles and Kiefer Sutherland followed.

She decided to focus on Tyler for her latest work after watching a top 100 bands countdown on music channel, VH1, and was struck by his on-screen personality.

"The overall thing about him was his life story, because it is an amazing life story. He's the frontman of a band, but in a lot of ways the band fades into the background. He has a big personality, and his personality just leaps out of the page at you.

"His public persona is overtly sexual and he's this larger than life rock star and, in some ways, he could be pigeon holed as that, but, privately, he's quite different. He was very protective of people growing up in the Bronx, and really stood up for people who were being bullied.

"It was a book that I would get up in the morning and really look forward to getting at," said Laura.

l.carter@northern-scot.co.uk

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