It’s been more than a decade since they put out an album I even LIKED, and it’s been 20 years since their career hit what I think was its pinnacle with “Pump.â€
Yet I continue to keep an eye on Aerosmith and be somewhat entertained and amused.
Here’s a band that’s wandered out on the road every two or three years, continuing to act half their age and entertaining an audience that includes those the age of their peers, children and grandchildren.
They’ve beat the odds in a number of improbable ways. But it sure seems like they’re facing their longest ones now.
Singer Steven Tyler apparently is leaving the band for a solo career. The band apparently will continue on with a new singer.
Things have been strange and strained in the Aerosmith camp since Tyler tumbled from a stage in August and broke his shoulder, forcing the end of the band’s tour.
As much as I like Tyler’s work – even when it’s not great, I still listen – I’ve got to wonder what his first solo album might sound like. And what does guitar player Joe Perry – Tyler’s longtime musical partner – mean when he says a replacement singer will “move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch”?
Aerosmith has done a lot of things, including convince me acts past age 40 can still put out relevant music. Maybe they’ll prove something else this time around.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Steven Tyler can be replaced, but it wouldn’t be Aerosmith anymore. Several years ago when Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham took time off from Fleetwood Mac, the band replaced them for a tour with Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason. I went to one of the shows. The magic was not there. Can you imagine the Beatles without Paul, REO without Kevin and Bruce?
November 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I’m sure you saw this, Tim, but Tyler joined Perry on stage last night at a solo gig and told the crowd that he was NOT leaving Aerosmith. That “the break-up - it just ain’t true.” So who knows what’s going on at this point.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
If Tyler does go on a permanent vacation, there’s simply no replacing him in the band. Maybe Joe can resurrect the Joe Perry Project if Tyler takes his leave.Then again, maybe it is time to pull the pin. The last few albums have started sounded similar to each other.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Hey JB…it’s not REO Speedwagon without Gary Richrath…that’s just my opinion and as far as Aerosmith is concerned it’s almost creepy how old Tyler looks and he’s still up there shaking like he is…Bruce Springsteen is 60 and he’s still playing 3 hour plus shows…He’s aging gracefully…
November 12th, 2009 at 8:41 am
If I’m not mistaken Joe Perry had a solo career for awhile in the late 70s/early 80s? He at least put out an album…I think. Now he’s back in the fold.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Yes, Joe Perry recorded three solo or Joe Perry Project albums in the 1980s, and had two more albums in the 90s.
*
From The Associated Press, on the Tyler-Perry stage reunion:
*
NEW YORK (AP) — Aerosmith’s guitarist Joe Perry says the future of the band is still uncertain.
*
Perry said Wednesday that he thinks front man Steven Tyler wants to take some time off from the band — even though the two appeared together on a New York stage.
*
“As it stands, Steven wants to take a couple years off and do some of whatever he wants to do and the rest of the band wants to keep working,” Perry said in a telephone interview.
*
“The band is a really well-oiled machine and we’re going to work one way or another and I don’t know what form that’s going to take,” he added.
*
Tyler’s publicist, Kim Estlund, said the 61-year-old rock star was not going to issue a statement on Perry’s recent comments.
*