Tyler quits Aerosmith

Yax

Yax

Ancient Mariner
STEVEN TYLER has quit AEROSMITH, according to the band's guitarist JOE PERRY.
It comes just months after the singer spoke out publicly to dismiss reports the band was on the verge of splitting following a year of cancelled tour dates, injuries and accidents.
In August (09), Tyler broke his shoulder after falling off stage while performing in South Dakota, and the group was forced to scrap the remainder of its summer tour.
Perry admitted that following the accident he and Tyler didn't speak for more than a month, prompting rumours the band's future was in jeopardy.
And it seems fans' fears were justified - guitarist Perry has revealed his pal has left the rock group after its performance as part of the Formula One racing season's final weekend in Abu Dhabi last weekend (01Nov09).
He tells the Las Vegas Sun, "Steven quit as far as I can tell. I don't know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."
Perry claims the discord in the band is down to Tyler's lack of communication, including his failure to return phone calls: "He's notorious for that. That's one thing I've learned to live with. I try to overlook it. I like to pick my battles.
"Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat. I don't want him cancelling any more gigs. We really wanted to do these last four. We just kind of didn't want to call him out or anything and get him anymore p**sed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie. So we did the gigs and, like I said, I got off the plane and saw this online. That's how I know about it... He has had no contact with me or the other band members."
But Perry is determined to continue with Aerosmith, even if Tyler refuses to return.
He adds, "Right now I'm adjusting to how we're going to go on. Aerosmith is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to - at least I am - trying to figure out what direction the band should take.
"As far as replacing Steve, it's not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste. I really don't know what path it's going to take at this point, but we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."
www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/tyler-quits-aerosmith_1121617
 
Last night I read a report where Joe basically says he doesn't know the situation with Tyler.

I say good riddance!  This may earn me a kick on an Aerosmith board, but I've followed this band as long as any and have a sense of history and their place in it. 

Tyler has been stagnating the band.  They've done nothing remarkable in the last decade and a half.  Nine Lives (1997) was still a good album, but by Tyler's insistance suffered from too many ballads.  He moved the band from their hard rock roots so much that a fan born in the 1990s is not likely to know their history.  Joe's solo guitar work has had more balls than virtually anything the band did in the 2000s. 

There are three different explanation that account for Tyler's behaviour:
a) He is greedy.  The current contract with Sony is not in the band's favour and they've still one album left to make.  Tyler's idea was to polish off outtakes left in the dust bins since like the late 80s, even though the CD would knowingly flop.  Then the band could concentrate, according to Tyler, on a real CD which would be released independently of a major label.  The rest (or most) of the band wanted a full effort on the next CD.  Last time a CD with all new material was made was in 2001.  Currently, I believe, the band has four tracks recorded. 
b) Tyler's youth was spent chasing and doing drugs, not chasing and doing women.  There is a great amount of regret on his part.  He is trying to make up for it, hence all the ballads in their CDs to attract a younger female audience.  (Hint: younger emphatically means under 18).  He is troubled.
c) He is going through a late mid-life crisis and the relatively recent divorce, and his new woman, are not helping the matters at all.

By the way, Yax, your link does not work.
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EDIT: Here is a link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov/09/aerosmith-guitarist-steven-tyler

Also according to their drummer, Kramer, the band has not broken up.  He says that Joe Perry has been misquoted and that Tyler is very much still part of the band.  Take that for what it's worth.  The band has has so much drama this whole decade.  Source.
 
I'm just a casual listener really, and actually left during their performance at Sweden Rock (not that I didn't like them, I think there was a situation with my cell or something and I didn't like them very much then).

So I'm not very in on the loop here, so I'm just gonna go with what you think. It is however clear that Tyler has distanced himself from the band so something is surely going on.
 
I like the argument to continue because the musicians feel they work so well together. Frankly, they'll definitely have a chance of less success, but (if we want to believe Perry) playing together is important.
 
Genghis Khan said:
b) Tyler's youth was spent chasing and doing drugs, not chasing and doing women.  There is a great amount of regret on his part.  He is trying to make up for it, hence all the ballads in their CDs to attract a younger female audience.  (Hint: younger emphatically means under 18).  He is troubled.
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There's a bit more to Tyler and women than just that, though you've got the general idea. Read the band's autobiography ("Walk This Way", I highly recommend it) for more.

HOWEVER: Aerosmith hasn't released any original songs in years. Judging Tyler's behavior now by songs from back then isn't right. Plus, two things:
1. Record labels are also known to put pressure on bands to make hits. Tyler isn't 100% to blame for the ballads. For instance, "Angel" (from Permanent Vacation, 1987) was a huge hit - that was written by Desmond Child and forced on the band by the label. Even Tyler is reported to have hated it.
2. Aerosmith has always done ballads. Listen to their catalog. Take out the ones forced by the label, and there's really not that much change.


Having said all that...
I love Aerosmith, and I'm sad they're breaking up. I say "breaking up" even if Perry won't, because Tyler can't be replaced. Aerosmith = Tyler/Perry. Remove one and you get crap. (Go listen to the "Night In The Ruts" album to hear what happened without Perry.)
 
Some of the songs off 'Night in the Ruts' is Perry's material.  He just left mid-way through recording.  However, 'Rock in a Hard Place' is purely without any Perry.  SMX, I understand what you mean when you say that Aerosmith has always done ballads.  My point was that ballads have been a priority, and an over-emphasis ever since 'Get a Grip' was such a success, even though that album does not have that many ballads.  I agree, the pressure does come from the labels, it always does, but the band is also responsible for it.  Perhaps needing song doctors to boost their career in 1987 is now haunting them.  Regardless, Steven Tyler has the ball in his court.  Tonight Joey Kramer will make a radio announcement on Tyler, though I wonder how much he actually knows, as Tyler no longer speaks with the bandmates.  Tyler went as far as traveling separately, and not communicating with them during their last three shows in Hawaii, San Francisco and Dubai.  All Tyler needs to do is make a statement, one way or the other, and right now he is silent, which is unusual for him.  Personally, I've resolved any disappointment in having no future new material from the band since about 2005 when problems and rumours first started flying.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
because Tyler can't be replaced. Aerosmith = Tyler/Perry. Remove one and you get crap. (Go listen to the "Night In The Ruts" album to hear what happened without Perry.)
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That is exactly what they said about Bruce being replaced by Blaze, Rob Halford by Ripper (I love the Ripper era) and Ozzy when he was dismissed.
 
Many Aerosmith fans, even casual ones, look at Tyler with mindless worship.  So I agree with SMX, in part at least.  Without Tyler, the band will be a flop commercially, even though the music might be better.  Another problem is that the current label, Sony, will not count any work without Tyler as "Aerosmith" so the band will be contractually obligated to have Tyler.  Can anyone smell a lenghty lawsuit or lawsuits?  :D
 
Genghis Khan said:
Most Aerosmith fans, even casual ones, look at Tyler with mindless worship.  So I agree with SMX, in part at least.  Without Tyler, the band will be a flop commercially, even though the music might be better.
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Much like Priest fans with Halford and Iron Maiden with Bruce. With Ripper Priest achieved less commercial success (although they were growing less popular even prior to Rob leaving) but I still think Jugulator is excellent (minus the lyrics) and Demolition has some gems.

And, Ripper did excellent live.
 
Only time will tell Yax.  I'm projecting, but who knows for sure, right?  Anyway, until we hear from Tyler this is speculation.  Still, I have no doubt that the band cannot just pick up where they left off and get all five of them into studio while pretending there is no bad blood. 
 
Genghis Khan said:
Only time will tell Yax.  I'm projecting, but who knows for sure, right?  Anyway, until we hear from Tyler this is speculation.  Still, I have no doubt that the band cannot just pick up where they left off and get all five of them into studio while pretending there is no bad blood. 
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Indeed. However, if they do split up, the replacement has some big shoes to fill.

It can be pulled off though. Just look at Ripper. He did get respect for his live performances and many, but far from all fans likes Jugulator and Demolition.
 
Yax said:
SinisterMinisterX said:
because Tyler can't be replaced. Aerosmith = Tyler/Perry. Remove one and you get crap. (Go listen to the "Night In The Ruts" album to hear what happened without Perry.)
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That is exactly what they said about Bruce being replaced by Blaze, Rob Halford by Ripper (I love the Ripper era) and Ozzy when he was dismissed.
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Major difference: Bruce didn't found Maiden, and wasn't the band's driving force for most of its life.
And you loving the Ripper era is a minority opinion, and you know that.
Genghis Khan said:
Some of the songs off 'Night in the Ruts' is Perry's material.  He just left mid-way through recording.  However, 'Rock in a Hard Place' is purely without any Perry.
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Yes, you're right. I was thinking of Rock In A Hard Place and got my album titles confused. :bigsmile:
 
I feel like Tyler leaving isn't quitting, its defecting. I know defecting would be better suited if he quit to join another band, but wherever his mind is off to, thats defecting in my book. After 40 years, they should retire as a band, on good terms.
 
The problem of the Ripper-era was for me not the singer but the music, though later I started to appreciate Jugulator more, even when I first thought it was a Machine Head rip-off.

And the music (commercial & sweet) is the main reason why I don't bother much about a vocalist change in Aerosmith, unless that music will change.
 
I really don't see how Aerosmith could maintain their popularity or their artistic quality ("quality" here meant in the objective sense) without Tyler. Tyler may be the ugliest being on God's earth, but he is the icon that has always been more than just the face of the band. Also, there is a difference between Bruce quitting Maiden after ten years and Tyler quitting Aerosmith after forty. At this stage, this is the end of Aerosmith.

However, I have trouble believing it. Tyler has been known to squirt out some of the most dumbest things said in rock history, and he couldn't even remember himself later on.

But even so... where's the disaster? This is the first I've heard of the band in five years anyway, so they were dead to me to begin with.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
And you loving the Ripper era is a minority opinion, and you know that.
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Indeed. I already made that clear. Look, what I'm saying is that the wide fanbase most probably will not approve of a new singer but some might do, just like with Ripper and Blaze. The X Factor and Virtual X! were huge commercial flops yet they are fully embraced here at maidenfans.com

But yes, there is that problem with Tyler being the main driving force in the band. In that case, compare it to Ritchie Blackmore leaving Purple or Chris DeGarmo leaving Queensryche (they did make a pretty decent sequel to Mindcrime, while it was nothing compared to the original it's still okay). Most fans doesn't approve but the band is still capable of moving on.
 
Forostar said:
And the music (commercial & sweet) is the main reason why I don't bother much about a vocalist change in Aerosmith, unless that music will change.
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The stuff you hear on the radio is like that, but not all of their material follows this formula.

Perun said:
However, I have trouble believing it. Tyler has been known to squirt out some of the most dumbest things said in rock history, and he couldn't even remember himself later on.
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From what I've read this is really a spat between Tyler and Perry, passive-agressive punches back and forth.  Nothing new in a fundamental sense, but it is more serious now than ever, as feeling have been hurt and egos have been bruised.  :)

Perun said:
But even so... where's the disaster? This is the first I've heard of the band in five years anyway, so they were dead to me to begin with.
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My thoughts exactly.  As I said I can live with not hearing new material.

Yax said:
Look, what I'm saying is that the wide fanbase most probably will not approve of a new singer but some might do, just like with Ripper and Blaze.
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The die-hards will give it a listen, at least once.  Those that give Joe Perry's side projects a listen will do likewise.  I'll give it a listen and then decide if it is worth purchasing.  However, I just can't see the band moving on as 'Aerosmith' without Tyler.
 
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