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February 2, 2010
No End in Sight For Aerosmith Drama
With each passing day, the future of Aerosmith seems more uncertain. This rollercoaster ride for fans of the Bean Town rockers seems to have started when Steven Tyler took that much-publicized tumble from the stage during the group’s summer tour with ZZ Top.
Surely there had to be a lot going on behind the scenes well before the incident, but the fall seems to have been the turning point which opened the floodgates, and confirmed a lot of speculation regarding the status of the band and the relationship between Tyler and the rest of the group.
There were reports from inside the Aerosmith camp that Tyler’s behavior had taken a turn for the bizarre, and some recent public actions on the part of the iconic frontman seem to confirm the allegations.
Recently Tyler delivered an impromptu performance by singing over the P.A. system of a Home Depot store in Rancho Mirage, CA. He belted out versions of “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” while shoppers roamed the aisles, probably wondering what new classic rock radio station the store’s management had tuned in to.
A week or so prior to his Home Depot debut, Tyler took to the stage at a club called the Tilted Kilt in Palm Desert, and finished up a karaoke rendition of "I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing." The previous two performers had not been well-received by the audience, so Tyler apparently decided to show them how it was done – much to the surprise of the club’s other patrons no doubt!
Tyler is reportedly still in rehab for his pain-killer addiction, but is said to have earned privileges that allow him to take trips away from the facility after 30 days of treatment. Tyler’s management company says that the 61-year-old singer is still in rehab and is set to continue with the 90-day program.
As for the Home Depot performance, the same source says that Tyler just happened to be shopping there, and pointed out that Tyler is a performer 24/7, whether he’s on stage or at Home Depot. Who knows? Maybe the guy was just happy to be through his first 30 days of rehab and decided to share the joy with his fellow shoppers.
Unfortunately, more recent news developments may be putting a bit of a damper on Steven Tyler’s mood. The rest of the group is said to be continuing their efforts to find a replacement singer with names such as Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Rodgers, and Chris Cornell being bandied about.
As a result, it appears the relationship between Tyler and the rest of the group may deteriorate even further in light of news regarding possible legal action. Billboard reported that Tyler’s lawyer has contacted Aerosmith manager Howard Kaufman and advised the group to “…cease and desist from engaging in acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members.”
Tyler reportedly has every intention of returning to his post with Aerosmith and wants to release a new album and tour with the group in Europe and South America as originally planned.
The letter from Tyler’s attorney to Aerosmith’s management also states that, “Contrary to all common sense, you are seeing to bring about the replacement of Steven Tyler. Aerosmith without Steven Tyler is like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger, or U2 without Bono. While this management strategy may get the band on the road a few months sooner, it ultimately could destroy Aerosmith.”
Clearly the rest of the group is anxious to get back to the business of being a band, whether than includes Steven Tyler or not. Tyler’s ability to complete rehab successfully may be the deciding factor regarding the future of the group. It’s hard to imagine his band mates turning him away if he cleans up his act, but this could be his last chance to hold the group together and continue on as Aerosmith.
More recent details can be found in People magazine.
December 23, 2009
Cat’s out of The Bag: Steven Tyler Enters Rehab
The recent suspicions that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been struggling with substance abuse problems seem to be confirmed by a report that says the 61-year-old rock legend has checked himself into a rehabilitation facility due to a dependence on painkillers.
Tyler’s decade-long series of injuries are said to have left him in chronic pain. His doctor reports that Tyler “…has suffered orthopedic injuries and has been in severe chronic pain which will require further surgeries on his knees and feet.”
Making matters that much worse, Tyler tumbled off the stage back in August during the group’s tour with ZZ Top and suffered a serious injury to his shoulder. An incident that is not quite so easy to shake off as it once may have been when he was a younger man.
The reports of Tyler’s recent odd behavior all makes more sense now. Although I do not personally have any experience with addiction, I know it is not something that should be taken lightly and it can cause people to do things they would not normally do. In light of the problems Tyler has reportedly had with chronic pain, it is not difficult to understand how he could end up where he is today.
Numerous others have found themselves caught in the same trap, and I dare say it is one that just about anyone could fall into. Pain sucks, and if you’ve got a pill that makes it go away, or at least more bearable, it makes sense that it might be a pill you have a hard time getting away from. Even conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh had his struggles with this kind of addiction. Tyler’s history of substance abuse probably made him even more susceptible.
Perhaps it was the talk from other members of Aerosmith about finding a replacement for him that prompted Tyler to take action. Maybe it was something he decided with help of his family.
Who knows? The important thing is that he seems to be taking the right steps to get his life back on track. He is quoted as saying he hopes to make a quick recovery and rejoin the band soon. He also added that the talk of a two-year hiatus from Aerosmith is not based on fact and that he “will enthusiastically be writing, recording and performing with Aerosmith as soon as things are handled.”
Sounds to me like the best possible outcome, and although it took him a while to accept his situation and make the decision to enter rehab, I think he deserves a lot of credit for doing the right thing for himself, his family and the fans.
Here’s hoping that Tyler makes a quick and complete recovery and is able to take his rightful place in front of Aerosmith again in the near future.
For more, visit the Los Angeles Times.
June 12, 2009
Eddie Van Halen Counts His Blessings
The one word that might best summarize Eddie Van Halen’s outlook on life these days is ‘thankful.’ In a recent interview with Spinner, the guitar legend emphasizes just how grateful he is to be in a place where everything seems to have finally come together for him.
That may sound strange when we’re talking about a talented musician who truly made it, and has experienced the highs of living the life of an honest-to-God rock star, but like so many others who find themselves in the celebrity spotlight, the tremendous highs are often accompanied by devastating lows, and Eddie Van Halen has not been spared his share.
After enduring battles with cancer and addiction, Van Halen sounds like a man who has finally managed to gain the upper hand in his long battle with the demons that haunted him through the decades. Numerous references to ‘God’ reveal an Eddie Van Halen that sounds more humble than might be expected of someone who is considered by many to be the best rock guitarist of all time.
Even so, Van Halen does not hesitate to take credit where he believes it is due, mentioning three times during the interview that he writes all of the group’s music. He does acknowledge, however, that the group – at least in its current incarnation – is indeed a democracy, and as a result, he does sometimes get outvoted. “I’m not a tyrant, as a lot of people think,” he says. “I just expect other people, if you’re in this band, to work as hard as I do.”
Asked whether he has a different appreciation for where he is at with his life and music these days, he responds by saying: “Yeah, I thank God on my knees that I’m alive and obviously to be sober and to be working with my son. I’m so damn blessed it’s beyond words.”
To read the entire interview, visit Spinner.
June 30, 2008
Steven Tyler Reveals Recent Rehab Involved Addiction
When Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler entered a rehabilitation facility recently, the reason that was released for public consumption was that he was there for physical therapy following foot surgery. As it turns out, his stint in rehab was a little more complicated than that.
Tyler has now admitted that he was an addicted to prescription medication. The 60-year-old rocker apparently became dependent on pain and sleep medication that was prescribed to help him deal with foot surgery.
With a history of drug and alcohol abuse, Tyler apparently recognized that he was headed in the wrong direction and wisely checked himself into rehab. He reportedly said that he “didn’t like the me that was me.”
Tyler’s substance abuse during the 1970’s and 1980’s prompted him to enter rehab during 1986, which led to a successful comeback for the group.
