The Aerosmith saga is taking yet another ugly turn. Even though front man Steven Tyler finally did the right thing and got himself into rehab for substance abuse, it looks like the rest of Aerosmith doesn’t want to wait around for him to get better and return to the band. Maybe ther were miffed by Steven’s pre-rehab rantings about taking a two-year hiatus to work on “Brand Tyler.” Rolling Stone reported that Joe Perry and the rest of the guys have been approaching other singers, including Lenny Kravitz and former Bad Company front man Paul Rodgers about replacing Tyler. This prompted Tyler to call his new manager from rehab, who issued a scathing letter threatening legal action if Aerosmith records or tours without him. The gloves are off!
Steven Tyler’s new manager has sent a letter to Aerosmith’s management threatening legal action if the band makes good on their promise to tour with a new singer, Billboard reports. In the letter, manager Skip Miller asserts that Tyler is synonymous with Aerosmith: “Can you imagine the manager of the Rolling Stones calling for the replacement of Mick Jagger?” Miller writes. “Steven is Aerosmith, along with the others. He’s the guy the public knows. He’s the singer.”
As Rolling Stone previously reported, prior to entering rehab for an addiction to prescription pain medicine, Tyler vowed to stay in Aerosmith, saying in a statement, “I wish to set the record straight and say that I have read reports of a rumored two-year hiatus and want to be clear that this is completely false and I will enthusiastically be writing, recording and performing with Aerosmith as soon as things are handled.” Miller’s letter reiterated Tyler’s sentiment, noting, “Steven Tyler does not want lawsuits. We do not want to go in that direction. The direction we want is Aerosmith, with Steven Tyler, touring in Europe, touring Latin America, releasing a new album… This is the direction it’s all intended to go,” Billboard reports.
Tyler has made a few unexpected public appearances while in rehab, first singing at a local pub’s karaoke night and then surprising Home Depot shoppers with an impromptu performance over the hardware store’s loudspeaker system. His bandmates, meanwhile, are rumored to have asked vocalists like Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz (who declined) and Paul Rodgers to fill in for Tyler on the road while the frontman works on “Brand Tyler.”
Miller has asked for a February 9th meeting to discuss the future of Aerosmith with all five members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band and asserted that their public singer search constitutes “acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members.”
Look. Aerosmith was a great band once upon a time. They wrote some timeless songs, and they made a crapload of money. I’d rather see the band break up than hire someone like Billy Idol to come in and sing “Dream On.” Are you kidding me? I say, let Steven Tyler get his head together, and if they all still feel like playing together, great. If not, then kiss Aerosmith good night and move on. Not to feed Tyler’s ego or anything, but he’s absolutely right. Aerosmith isn’t Aerosmith without him- just like Queen wasn’t Queen without Freddie Mercury.
Steven Tyler in New York on November 9, 2009, and in Vegas on July 24, 2009. Credit: WENN.
He looks like the illegitimate daughter Joan Rivers put up for adoption.
Aerosmith is nothing without Steven Tyler. I truly hope he isn’t going to be replaced. They would really suck if that happened.
“Brand Tyler”?? Did this marketing endeavor include acquiring the Golden Girls wardrobe?
Aerosmith has broken up before. Maybe if they were to stop writing the same song over and over, I’d start to care.
Kelly! LOL!
I wouldn’t mind seeing the boys from Aerosmith have a go with Lenny or Billy. But do it under a different name. Think of how fantab the song lineup would be.
They’re just not Aerosmith without Steven Tyler. If Perry is antsy (or in need of another pool or something) let him do another solo album in the meantime. They’re a packaged deal. No Tyler, no Aerosmith.
I think it would be easier for Steven Tyler to replace the band, then to have the band replace him. So if i was steven i would be like ok bye, we will we see who has the last laugh. Steven Tyler IS aerosmith!! C’mon now!
Well, Journey went on without Steven Perry and I think Chicago went on without Peter Cetera, and of course, Van Halen did okay without David Lee Roth. None of them were that successful though, although I did like Sammy Hagar. So, meh.
Can’t Aerosmith be like Survivor? Have a vote-off to kick him out? He’s got one massive ego in addition to whatever he’s being treated for.
hm, makes me wonder who owns the aerosmith name and their song catalog. must not be tyler exclusively or the letter would be more like “try it and i’ll sue your pants off”. regardless, agree – theyve had an amazing run – either wait for tyler or just call it a day. there is no aerosmith without his crazy ass and distinctive voice.
It’ll never work. Either keep Tyler or break up the band, period. Billy Idol? Please.
I am an old friend of the band’s. Don’t ask. Here’s the deal. Aerosmith’s members can’t survive financially without performing or writing new material. You see MAAAANNNNY years ago, they sold part of their publishing (allegedly, they sold it to a dj in Boston to get played on the radio, because at one time, they could’t get played). So, the Joe Perry-led faction of Aerosmith wants to write and tour. And, cutting Steven Tyler out of the picture hits Steven right in the pocketbook. Each one of the band members supports a number of family members and homes. You can’t imagine the expenses. That’s why Perry went back into the studio and on the road. His family’s lifestyle is bonkers expensive. I can’t blame the band, and I think Lenny Kravitz is a great frontman.
@Sumodo I guess living within their means is out of the question? (rock star celebs and all)
With so many of the 70s rockers, their money flew up their noses. Mansions, jets, entourages all cost ya. 80s rockers had huge stage shows that had to be underwritten by corporate overlords (think Budweiser) and their take home pay was reduced because of the corporate cut. Then, there were also the coke habits, mansions, jets and entourages. Then, as now, rock frontmen were the marquee stars who often got commercials and made movies (think Jon Bon Jovi), but the rest of the band members don’t get that kind of money, even contractually with the band. The sidemen have to be smart. Nowadays, all these older guys have to live off the publishing, unless they can still tour. Some of these dudes are old (think Rolling Stones) but they have money for their retirements. Other bands HAVE to tour and play smaller venues and SeaWorld because key players don’t own their own publishing. For example, Cheap Trick. Their guitar player, Rick Nielson, owns the publishing. Robin Zander, their frontman, needs dough. I just saw Foreigner and they sound and look great. Why the tour now? Expenses. And, the end of the record companies means the end of the gravytrain.
Good gravy…Steven looks like a wadded-up dishtowel now. Talk about a candidate for an anti-drinking poster.
He’ll sue? -what a jerkoff.
Like Sumodo says, the other guys have to eat too. Steve screwed up, no fault of anyone else’s -and everyone else shouldn’t have to pay (or wait to get paid) because of it.
Consequences and responsibility (for one’s own actions), he ought to just man-up, rehab his wretched ass, recover and see what happens -but let the band play on.
@Sumodo Thanks, that adds some needed perspective. And likely explains why bands like Styx and Cheap Trick (and Foreigner, etc.) still tour when their heyday was years ago.
I thought the publishing issue for Aerosmith was for their early stuff. The first round of hits from the 1970’s.
Steven Tyler has stated numerous times that he hates to sing those songs knowing that the band does not own the rights to them.
But I thought it was some shady early manager/agent type that got the boys in the band to sign those rights away.
But when they regrouped in the late 1980’s, they owned all the publishing from that time forward to now. (Of the songs they wrote)
But it is insane how much money they can generate in touring.
Look at The Eagles.
Henley and Frey hated each other for 20 years till they got desperate for the cash. And that group has made an obscene amount of cash in the last decade.
Now if only Journey could figure out how to behave and tour together, they too could make that obscene amount of money by just touring.
Oh,man! I’d go see Journey in a heartbeat! I wish they would tour!
Here’s my “educated” guess of what’s going on with the band’s relationship here. Steven still has a MAJOR addiction problems to overcome and his life is falling to pieces all around him. The rest of the guys are playing the tough love game and trying to hit him where it hurts…in his ego! Until Steven loses just about everything (his job, his health, his family, his money…) and get’s ride of all the “yes men/ friends/ leaches” in his life, chances are, he’s not going to be able to stay clean.
Oh great, Paul Rodgers is being considered. Now he can screw up another band like he messed up Queen. What a little egotistical, napoleon complexed prick,
Hautie knows. A tip of the hat! Yes, yes, all true. That is Aerosmith’s story and a dj was involved with the manager. Today, with ticket prices at ridiculous prices, some bands can make bank. But, lower down on the scale, there are sidemen from the arena rock days who own food franchises, hawk memorabilia, give music lessons and shop at your local supermarket. Where I lived in Florida there were many, and when my son was a little boy, he’d meet these fellas from my past life as an FM radio “album rock” disc jockey. I told him they were royalty.
Take it from a former professional musician: Hang on to your publishing or at least as much of it as you can. When you hit paydirt, the party is all yours. (well, after you pay your manager…)
“addiction to prescription pain medicine” – yea, sure.
Aerosmith without Steven Tyler is like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger. No effing way.
“addiction to prescription pain medicine”? Yes, he is (was) hooked on OxyContin (synthetic heroin that is pain medication and that should only be given to cancer patients or burn victims) Steven got them to help him deal with the “pain” of a few foot surgery. Except, now he likes to crush them up and snort them up his nose. Very, very dangerous stuff! It’s been known to cause people to break into song at their local Home Depot. I think the boys are just trying to reel him in before he kills himself. They all barely escaped their first go around with drugs back in the 70’s and now sadly Steven is dealing with a similar drug problem, but with a much younger body/ liver. Good luck Steven.
Point blank and period Aerosmith is not Aerosmith with out Steven Tyler. Yeah the guy is going through something right now and he needs time off. and i understand the band needs to make money being they have lives to, but can you honestly see yourself going to an Aerosmith concert or buying their CD if he isnt on it??? I cant Steven Tyler is Aerosmith thats the first thing that that pops up in your mind when you even think of the group…