06-12-2009, 01:53
from rolling stone
![[Image: 29648697-29648702-slarge.jpg]](http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/7/9/6/8/29648697-29648702-slarge.jpg)
In the new issue of Rolling Stone, we go inside the rift that threatens to tear Aerosmith apart, as Steven Tyler has openly stated he wants to take two years off to work on âBrand Tyler,â leaving the remaining members of the band to ponder recruiting a new lead singer for their upcoming 40th anniversary. In Aerosmith in Turmoil: Behind the Story, Rolling Stone interviews Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford and longtime A&R rep John Kalodner to get their take on the state of Aerosmith, the hunt for a new singer and whether Tylerâs sobriety is to blame.
The roots of the bandâs fallout stem back to when Tyler fell off the stage during a concert in Sturgis, South Dakota, this past summer, but Whitford tells Rolling Stone âthereâs been a serious lack of commitment on [Tyler's] part for a while. Weâve been trying to make an album for a few years and heâs been the guy that suddenly one day he just doesnât show and the next thing we know he doesnât want to work, he doesnât like the producer, whatever.â
The band has also been divided regarding the sound of their next album. While Tyler prefers the more radio-friendly pop hits, Perry is in favor of a sound closer to â70s Aerosmith. Perry admits that heâs ânot a big fanâ of the bandâs last album of original music, Just Push Play, and Kramer tells RS that the tracks the band had been working on with producer Brendan OâBrien âwere probably closer to old school Aerosmith stuff like Toys or Rocks.â
Perry, Kramer and Whitford all tell Rolling Stone that they havenât had any direct communication with Tyler â the last time Perry called Tyler personally, the singer hung up on him â and instead rely on talking to Tylerâs management to relay messages to the frontman. Whitford and Kramer are both concerned that Tyler, who has a history of drug problems, might have relapsed. âHis behavior suggests to me that heâs⦠he doesnât act like a sober person,â Whitford says.
As for recruiting a new singer, âanything is possible at this point,â Perry says. âWe are still trying to figure it out. Steven has made it pretty clear; he wants to go off and do what he wants to do. But the band isnât going to wait around. Aerosmith is too good a band to sit around and twiddle their thumbs.â Adds Kramer: âWe have a 40th anniversary coming up and we all would like to celebrate that with our fans out on the road and everybody deserves to take part in that, and thatâs what weâve been talking about. Thereâs really no way to replace Steven but like I said, Joe and Brad and Tom and I plan to, we want to continue to tour.â
In the new issue of Rolling Stone, we go inside the rift that threatens to tear Aerosmith apart, as Steven Tyler has openly stated he wants to take two years off to work on âBrand Tyler,â leaving the remaining members of the band to ponder recruiting a new lead singer for their upcoming 40th anniversary. In Aerosmith in Turmoil: Behind the Story, Rolling Stone interviews Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford and longtime A&R rep John Kalodner to get their take on the state of Aerosmith, the hunt for a new singer and whether Tylerâs sobriety is to blame.
The roots of the bandâs fallout stem back to when Tyler fell off the stage during a concert in Sturgis, South Dakota, this past summer, but Whitford tells Rolling Stone âthereâs been a serious lack of commitment on [Tyler's] part for a while. Weâve been trying to make an album for a few years and heâs been the guy that suddenly one day he just doesnât show and the next thing we know he doesnât want to work, he doesnât like the producer, whatever.â
The band has also been divided regarding the sound of their next album. While Tyler prefers the more radio-friendly pop hits, Perry is in favor of a sound closer to â70s Aerosmith. Perry admits that heâs ânot a big fanâ of the bandâs last album of original music, Just Push Play, and Kramer tells RS that the tracks the band had been working on with producer Brendan OâBrien âwere probably closer to old school Aerosmith stuff like Toys or Rocks.â
Perry, Kramer and Whitford all tell Rolling Stone that they havenât had any direct communication with Tyler â the last time Perry called Tyler personally, the singer hung up on him â and instead rely on talking to Tylerâs management to relay messages to the frontman. Whitford and Kramer are both concerned that Tyler, who has a history of drug problems, might have relapsed. âHis behavior suggests to me that heâs⦠he doesnât act like a sober person,â Whitford says.
As for recruiting a new singer, âanything is possible at this point,â Perry says. âWe are still trying to figure it out. Steven has made it pretty clear; he wants to go off and do what he wants to do. But the band isnât going to wait around. Aerosmith is too good a band to sit around and twiddle their thumbs.â Adds Kramer: âWe have a 40th anniversary coming up and we all would like to celebrate that with our fans out on the road and everybody deserves to take part in that, and thatâs what weâve been talking about. Thereâs really no way to replace Steven but like I said, Joe and Brad and Tom and I plan to, we want to continue to tour.â