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Joe Perry Says Steven Tyler Has Quit Aerosmith

In an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, guitarist Joe Perry says that Steven Tyler has quit Aerosmith, supporting recent rumors that the band has been considering replacing its lead singer.

"Steven quit as far as I can tell," Perry told the Sun, speaking from his home in Boston following the band's recent return from a performance in Abu Dhabi. "I don't know anymore than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."

He added that Tyler does not return his phone calls.

Tyler has suffered illness and injury this year, most notably pulling a leg muscle and, in a separate incident, falling off stage during a concert in South Dakota in August, which resulted in a broken shoulder. Both mishaps forced the band to cancel several summer tour dates.

Joe Perry was vocally frustrated about the situation, taking to the media and his Twitter account.

"I was pretty (upset)," he told the Associated Press in September, "because right before [the accident], he had pulled a muscle in his leg. And we had to take two weeks off and we missed probably seven dates." He added that he hadn't talked to Tyler in over five weeks. "All I know is he's got to get his act together. I mean, he and I haven't written a song together alone in the same room in over 10 years, so there's been some changes in paradigm of what Aerosmith is."

Last year, Tyler checked himself into a rehab facility for drug dependency and what he called the side effects of foot surgery. "I just put the brakes on and checked into detox and just pulled the plug on all of it," he said in an June 2008 interview.

2009 was looking up for the band, with a lengthy world tour scheduled, but Tyler wasn't the only one with health issues: guitarist Brad Whitford suffered a burst blood vessel, and surgery forced him to sit out some of the summer's U.S. dates.

Following the eventful summer, Tyler declared he would not be leaving the band, though Perry suggested the move has been a long time coming. Last week, after the concert in Abu Dhabi, the singer suggested he would be focusing more on a solo career in the future.

"I don't know what I'm doing yet, but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler: working on the brand of myself -- Brand Tyler," he told Classic Rock magazine.

Meanwhile, Perry says he wants to keep Aerosmith alive. "Aerosmith is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to -- at least I am -- trying to figure out what direction the band should take," he told the Sun.

On replacing Tyler, Perry said it's "not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste ... we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."

Perry later admitted the he won't appreciate a Steven Tyler stand-in. "We've talked about getting someone else to sing in the band ... but it can't be Aerosmith; at least not the Aerosmith that we know." Revealing that the band has an album's worth of material they have yet to record, Perry continues, "I don't know ... We've really just kind of got knocked back on our heels, and everybody is just kind of settling back and figuring out what's going on."

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mouse

i can't help thinking that other than going to rehab to get rid of his addiction way back when, steven tyler is the only one who hasn't changed his mindset since the 1990s. that's fine-everybody's different. but maybe his mind just got stuck in the long past. he's the only one who knows and evidently he's not talkin'.

November 14 2009 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Harleystandit

This is one of the things most people don't understand about bands,it's a love hate relationship and it's a shame when one member lets down his fellow members like this. It is not only his friends and people he has known and worked with all his life,but he is also letting down his fans. What i'm concearned about more than anything is he letting his self down? I understand that life on the road and the demands that are put upon musicians do tend to make you grow lonely and weary...it's a hard life that no one understands that has not been through it.I hope Steven does not go back into the heroin scene again with his band mates and friends not around to give him that support. I was impressed to see the behind the scenes of the band BON JOVI..and the pressures of life on the road and how they came to terms with it. Aerosmith ..will always be the band that i love and made me want to be a musician too. That will never change,but if Steven is not able or willing to play...you do have other members that must go on and do what they love best! I only hope you guys can get it worked out,but first you have to communicate..and sounds like Steven for what ever reason is not willing...what a shame...i truly hope you all work it out and if he leaves the band at least stay in touch with each other.
PS...Thanks guys for all the music you have gave us...thanks for inspiring me to play guitar..no matter how bad a day i've had..when i pick up that les paul and flip the switches on that marshall...it all dissappears...great therapy and makes me forget all my troubles.

November 11 2009 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sandy Flynn

"Steven Tyler IS AEROSMITH!!!" Without him, there is NO AEROSMITH!!!!!!

November 11 2009 at 6:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brie

Whoever thinks that it really doesn't matter is just insane, this is like the world is ending right in front of eyes, if ST quits there would be nothing left to really enjoy in life, music wise. Ever since I literally fell in love with AEROSMITH i've listened to them every night just to go to sleep. If ST quit the world would go INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 11 2009 at 4:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Doug in RI

Would you guys please just get a long and get it back together!?! It will NEVER EVER EVER be the same without Mr. Tyler! It might be good, but not the same. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just take the time and space that you all need and pull up your bootstraps and bring us some more! You guys have broke up and made up more times than me and my girl (and I lost count there). I'm speak for all the Aerosmith fans in the world to request that of you simply keep and pull it together! GO to your corners for a while or something. I'm begging. You all are just too GREAT for this kind of thing! Sincerely, Doug

November 11 2009 at 11:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
big fatty

did you not read that joe said it would not be called aerosmith.

November 10 2009 at 11:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jonathon

EXACTLY i feel the same !! lol

November 10 2009 at 9:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jonathon

I agree Aerosmith definitly wont be much without steven steven has the voice of Aerosmith the original 5 are the people i wanna hear. Yes i see were Joe's getting at that they finally started the next tour and they've had several bumps and id be annoied to but it comes with the Band Package i mean seriously Steven's the oldest he's 61!! the others are a tad younger. I hope steven does come out with a solo record but i am hopeing things with him and the other members will be ok in the close future they just need time.

Aerosmith Forever!!

November 10 2009 at 9:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jules

Hey c5dee, I forgot about including Foreigner in the mix of replacement bands. They were great with their new vocalist, and I had 5th row seats in Palm Desert, CA, to see them maybe 4 years ago (OMG time flies). They all performed amazingly with both new and classic material to a sold-out intimate theater venue in the desert. The best highlight was their "replacement" drummer as well...JASON BONHAM, the son of the late Led Zep drummer, John Bonham. He was awesome with Foreigner songs and the band also notably and respectively let him share some tributes musically towards his dad and Led Zep. He introduced LZ's "The Ocean" song just like his dad on record ("We've done four already, but now we're steady, and then they went 1,2,3,4...") and when the song finished, Jason waived his drumsticks towards his dad in Heaven. It was very touching and obviously still quite memorable. It's just a shame that Robert Plant doesn't want to continue LZ even with Jason Bonham behind the drum kit, along with the other original members. Bummer.

November 10 2009 at 9:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeannie

Aerosmith will not be the same w/out Steven Tyler!
& Xavier the new guy for Journey sounds NOTHING like Steve Perry! u need your hearing checked, he is so not even close! Nobody can replace Steve Perry, just like there could never be anyone that could replace Steven Tyler!

November 10 2009 at 9:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply