Aerosmith Continue to Play it out in the Press

Aerosmith. What the hell? For the past few weeks the members have individually taken to just about every form of communication be it Twitter, blogs, print or TV interviews, except of course speaking to each other on where they stand as an actual band.

Poor Wikipedia will soon place a question mark next to Steven Tyler's name, having bounced him back and forth so many times from the member to non member section. Guitarist Joe Perry has recalled specifically avoiding contact with Tyler so he would simply finish out the remaining dates the band was obligated to play on their recent tour, which itself was a clusterf**k of health issues and accidents. Almost 40 years of rocking the stage together yet no one wants to rock the boat.

Tyler took a nasty fall off the stage during an August gig after completing the Tyler shuffle which left him with a broken shoulder and stitches to the head. That was preceded by a pulled leg muscle resulting in several missed shows. It is to note that Tyler is a recovering addict and the heavy pain medication he is on can trigger a full blown addiction. The band has had little to no contact with him as he convalesces.

The rumor mill began churning out stories when during an interview with British magazine Classic Rock, the flamboyant singer declared he would be focusing on "Brand Tyler," leaving everyone, including his fellow band members to believe a split was on the horizon. Perry read the quote online and turned to his Twitter page assuring fans the band was not breaking up and later suggesting a new lead singer would be found.

Following a mad stream of "no comment," "I don't know," and Tyler "has quit," the media caught up with Perry last week as he embarked on a mini solo tour. There on a New York stage sending everyone mixed signals, Steven Tyler joined the guitar slinger for a performance of "Walk This Way" informing the crowd he wasn't going anywhere. No truer words spoken. He isn't going anywhere. He's staying put; at least for the next two years and wants the band to take a break as well. Eyes to the skies, we turn the page.

The members of Aerosmith have maintained they are a well oiled machine and are eager to record a follow up to their last studio album "Honkin on Bobo" released in 2004. A two year absence from the road is not on their current agenda but anything is possible to fill up the time as Perry pointed out to Rolling Stone. Tyler meanwhile has signed with another management company in hopes of pursuing a solo career as Perry has, and will be working on an autobiography.

More dirt continues to fly however, as Whitford and Kramer both speculate on Tyler's health and decision making process telling People magazine he has "bad influences in his life right now" is "making poor choices" and believe his "behavior is spinning out of control."

"I do what I do," Tyler told Rolling Stone. "The easiest thing in the world is to say ‘he's drunk or stoned.' But what are you gonna do? Has the band done things to me where I've wanted to quit? Positively. But I've stuck in there for the sake of a few sounds we got. I respect the power this band has, in and of itself regardless of who says what."