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Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith present during the 2008 American Music Awards. (Getty Images file)
Aerosmith is looking for a replacement for lead singer Steven Tyler — whether it’s a permanent job or not remains to be seen.
Guitarist Joe Perry told the Toronto Sun (link via antimusic.com) that Tyler, whose fall off the stage in Sturgis, N.D. in August ended the band’s tour abruptly, hasn’t come right out and said what his status is in the band.
From what I’ve heard, he hasn’t left the band,” Perry told the Sun. “As far as I’m concerned, he hasn’t left the band. He’s never said he was going to leave the band. It’s just that he wanted to go off and do some of his own things. He just never told anybody in the band about it. … He has to have leg surgery and foot surgery and it’s basically going to take him out of the picture for about a year, year and a half.”
But Perry and the rest of the guys in Aerosmith — bassist Tom Hamilton, guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer — still want to go out on the road. So there’s a spot to fill.
“The four of us are just making our plans,” Perry said. “We’re gonna find somebody to get in there and fill that spot. Just like when Tom was sick — we got David Hull to come in and play bass. When Brad was sick, we got somebody else to come in and play for him. That’s basically how I look at it; we need another singer to fill in.”
Perry said there won’t be auditions — the band has an idea of who they want, and they’ll likely sit down to talk to those candidates, just to see if they can get along.
He said the band will still be called Aerosmith, even without Tyler.
“I think it would be appropriate to call it Aerosmith,” Perry said. “We’ll play Aerosmith songs. Maybe we’ll do five shows, maybe we’ll do 20 shows, I don’t know. And hopefully sometime Steven will come back.”
In the interview, Perry gave no indication that the band doesn’t want Tyler to return. In fact, both sides agree that bringing Tyler back into the fold is a desirable outcome.
“It would be great if Steven would come back and be the same guy he was 10, 12 years ago,” Perry said. “The rest of us are. And we really want to get back to rocking and doing what Aerosmith does best. I think we owe our fans who have stuck by us for 40 years.”
We, the fans, all would love for Steven to return and give us a few more years of that Aerosmith energy! Nobody wants Steven to be hurt,and in pain. Most important is that Steven get well and heal up. All five of you have given us so much in the past 40 years, it seems greedy to want more! Steven cannot be replaced, but maybe he can be substituted until he fully recovers from his surgery.
Get well Steven..Rock on Joe, Brad, Tom and Joey!!!!!
I did not know they were brothers!!! (read the caption under the photo)
Steven Perry? Really guys. Get it straight. Your online proofreader has been asleep at the wheel for far too long. The Palm Beach Post (online) is an embarrassment!
No steven = No Aerosmith, nobody will go to the concerts
Thank you Amy!!! I have read spelling errors and mistakes constantly on the PBP both in print and online and wonder who the hell does their proofreading?
On the subject though…. Steven Tyler is Aerosmith’s sound. It didnt work with all the Steve Perry – Journey wanna-be’s, Van Halens tragic attempt with Gary Cherone and it wont work with Aerosmith.
Two schools of thought….Methusela would be a logical choice from an appearance standpoint but Wayne Newton would be more fitting for the sappy, smarmy Holiday Inn lounge act Aerosmith has been for the last twenty years.
Finally, an opportunity to see Aerosmith fronted by Mick Jagger for a while. A dream come true!
They could go the karaoke route ala Journey and find the best soundalike they can. This does sound like the Journey situation: inimitable frontman sidelined by leg surgery, possibly for a year; remaining bandmembers want to tour and openly start considering replacing frontman.
Or they could go the CBS “Rock Star” route as INXS and Tommy Lee’s not so super allstar grop did. That would make for fun TV.
with out steven theres no aerosmith the bad will suck with out his voice backing them STEVEN TYLER IS AEROSMITH
there is no aerosmith without steve tylor, no one could replace that fantastic powerful voice of his, i wouldnt go and seee them on tour without steve
Wayne Newton would be a great choice or maybe Barry Manilow.
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