sellers felt a bit betrayed. eBays angel fans-the early collectors and traders who helped build the company from day one-wanted their role in the early success of the company to be rec- ognized and valued. They not only watched the company go from $7.1 million net income in 1997 to $90.4 million in 2001, they traded on, talked about, and cheered for the company along the way. In this instance, the first-mover advantage belongs not only to the unique company, but to the avid fans who were there from the beginning and have enjoyed the ride to corporate stardom. However, as eBay expands beyond a community of collectors and small traders, some angel fans are beginning to develop a love/hate relationship with the company, similar to the way some music fans feel if their bands create songs designed to be commercially success- ful rather than artistically superior. Often this is labeled selling out. Aerosmith and eBay alike feel the solution to keeping fans happy is showing loyalty toward them; theyve come to learn that faithful fans expect loyalty in return for their zealous support. Just as the band allows fan club members to buy tickets before they go on pub- lic sale and makes great seats available to them, eBay shows its appre- ciation to its angel fans by offering special perks. Most recently, the company began offering its Powersellers-those who sell more than $1,000 per month on the site-group health insurance. Overall, the eBay Army continues its support of the company and its leader wholeheartedly, preaching the eBay gospel and acting as an unofficial sales arm of the company. With every convention and new transaction that occurs, eBay fans continue to add new chapters to their eBay storybooks, just as Aerosmith fans do with the release of each new album or announcement of a new tour. Though the Aero- smith hit "Angel" wouldnt come until 1987, its lyrics and tone could easily be dedicated to the fans who have made the band the superstar that it is today. It is a declaration of needing someone who holds your happiness in his or her hands-the ultimate definition of a fan.       Livin on the Edge and Fallin Off   After years of writing, recording, touring and selling, the band had reached what to most would be the pinnacle of success. In a 1979 article, Rolling Stone had this to say about Aerosmith:   Aerosmith is a dinosaur among bands, the last of a generation of rock n rollers being edged out by more streamlined compe- tition like Boston, Foreigner, and Fleetwood Mac. What keeps Aerosmith rocking is their ability to relate to their loyal, largely male audience. Night after night, the bands success or failure hinges on something thats hard to package; they have to tap into a little of the teenage insanity that lures you to rock n roll in the first place."4   Aerosmith had completed a grueling tour schedule in 1978-selling out 50,000- to 60,000-seat stadium venues and playing with other giants such as Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Santana, and Heart. But the union of the band was worse for its wear. Drug abuse led to fights, infi-