Could Aerosmith follow in the footsteps of Journey, Van Halen, and Styx to become the latest American rock band to lose its lead singer? Last Wednesday, Tyler gave an interview to Classic Rock magazine, saying he was pulling out of the group’s upcoming South American tour, deciding to focus on solo projects instead. On Friday, the group’s guitarist, Joe Perry, told the Las Vegas Sun that Tyler had quit returning his phone calls. If Tyler does in fact leave (to develop “Brand Tyler,” as he put it to Classic Rock), the band is said to be considering whether to carry on with a new lead vocalist. It’s a risky move, since Tyler’s voice is certainly one of a kind. But then again, so is Steve Perry’s, and Journey managed to find an uncanny soundalike on YouTube. But which entity is likely to have the more viable post-split career? For the Aerosmith fans out there, would you be more likely to remain a bigger fan of the band (assuming a new singer had the necessary chops), or would you join Team Tyler instead? Or should we all hold out hope that they’ll reconcile? It’s clear that their off-stage strife hasn’t ruined their live shows…yet.
Nov 8
2009
02:43 PM ET
Steven Tyler leaving Aerosmith? Who'd be better off?
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Aerosmith without Steven Tyler is like a PB&J Sandwich without bread.
It just doesn’t work. It really seems a little late in the game for Steven to leave the band now. I am dumbfounded, to say the least.
I agree that Aerosmith doesn’t work without Tyler, but they shouldn’t force them to work together. Joe Perry should start a new project with awesome people of his caliber, like STP and GnR did with Velvet Revolver.
Now this is an interesting concept I might be able to like.
Ditto
I think they’d both slowly die out… Aerosmith is coming close to its end as it is, and I’m a huge fan… It’s way too late in the game to try anything new.
Or peanut butter. Or jelly.
This won’t happen. Who’d want to hear Aerosmith with a different singer after 35 years?
After all the stuff Joe Perry has been saying about Tyler in the press I’m not surprised. I like early Aerosmith (back when they could really rock) so it doesn’t make much difference to me if he leaves or stays. Perhaps Tyler might try another stint in rehab before he falls off a stage and really hurts himself.
Nobody is going to listen to Aerosmith with a new lead singer. Also Steven Tyler isn’t going to get far solo either. It’s just over. Aerosmith will always be but the band is done. It is sad.
Karla,
Thanks for saying exactly what I wanted to say! Neither are interesting to me if they aren’t together.
Eek. I hope this doesn’t happen. Aerosmith without Steven Tyler wouldn’t be Aerosmith to me. And Steven Tyler solo would be…well, I don’t know what that would be. If they do split, I guess I would just base it on the quality of the music. But I hope it doesn’t come to that.
I haven’t liked anything they’ve done for 20 years anyways. They should retire the Aerosmith name and do their own projects. There will never be another Aerosmith.
steven tyler’s still alive?
Really. Keith Richards walked up to Steven Tyler and said, “Man, you look rough.” I love the guy but I did not think largemouth bass could survive out of the water.
Aerosmith has not been musically relevant for over 20 years so who cares.
Thank you!
No, they’re not the Jonas Brothers or Carrie Underwood so they’re probably not relevant to you ‘drewatco’ and ‘Richard’, but any of the bands you like would probably not exist if not for Aerosmith. So show some respect, #*@!
Show some respect for this band. They have brought the best music to our ears for many years!!!!
oh you must be thirteen years old isn’t it past your bedtime?
No! No! No!
Steven Tyler leaving would suck, but they would move on. For some reason, the name that pops up the most for a replacement for the time being is Adam Lambert. hahaha. call me crazy, but i could see it.
What, you didn’t like Danny Gokey’s “Dream On”?
LOL Jill. That was funny. Ryan you suck!
Who else is sick of people thinking adam lambert is the answer to any musical problem?
THANK YOU! However, his crazy fans will attack you… get ready.
I agree Brad. Why would Adam Lambert give up his current career to resurrect an old rock band?
@Ryan, Hey I am a Glambert, leave Adam out of his topic PLEASE!!!!! NO MORE!!! REALLY!! This is about Steven Tyler and Aerosmith. If they want Adam they will announce it so don’t go making any stupid assumptions here OK?
No Aerosmith without Tyler OR Perry. No Journey without Perry no matter how many replacement singers they find. No Van Halen without Diamond Dave( or Eddie), but for some reason, life goes on for Styx, lol.
Trying to find another lead singer for Aerosmith would be an excersize in futility. It would like the Stones trying to replace Mick Jagger.
And the new lead singer for Journey makes them sound like a Journey cover band rather than the “real” Journey.
I’ve not truly listened to Aerosmith since I was in high school, and their 1998 single for the movie ARMAGEDDON put me off them for good. They were great in the ’70s and their mid-’80s comeback, but they’ve made enough money. Let it go if they can’t get along.
This may have been news 20 years ago
These other bands try hard to make it work without their original singers and they do o.k. No Steven Tyler? no way…life goes on, but it sure isn’t the same. Aerosmith, don’t do it, you are the last of the bands who have kept it together. Love you guys!
Ummm…Rolling Stones, anyone?
Ummm… I don’t remember the Stones ever having replaced their lead singer.