Aerosmith RETIRE from touring after 54 years as band announce emotional decision due to frontman Steven Tyler’s incurable vocal issues: ‘You’ve made our dreams come true’
Aerosmith have retired from touring after 54 years as they revealed the tough decision was due to frontman Steven Tyler‘s incurable vocal issues.
The 76-year-old singer sustained vocal cord damage during their farewell tour last year as the band released a statement – which was written in all caps – on Friday to reveal the news.
It read: ‘IT WAS 1970 WHEN A SPARK OF INSPIRATION BECAME AEROSMITH. THANKS TO YOU, OUR BLUE ARMY, THAT SPARK CAUGHT FLAME AND HAS BEEN BURNING FOR OVER FIVE DECADES. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE BEGINNING AND ALL OF YOU ARE THE REASON WE MADE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HISTORY.’
The band formed in Boston in 1970 and had been touring for over five decades as they have had dozens of hits in the process leading to four Grammy Awards and a Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2001.
The band – known as ‘the Bad Boys from Boston’ – also broke boundaries intersecting rock and hip-hop with their epic collaboration with Run-DMC for Walk This Way.
Aerosmith have retired from touring after 54 years as they revealed the tough decision was due to frontman Steven Tyler ‘s incurable vocal issues; he is seen in Philadelphia back in September 2023
The 76-year-old singer sustained vocal cord damage during their tour last year as the band released a statement on Friday to reveal the news
The band formed in Boston in 1970 and had been touring for over five decades as they have had dozens of hits in the process leading to a Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2001; the band are seen in 1977
Along with Steven the group consists of Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums), and Brad Whitford (guitar).
The statement continued: ‘IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF OUR LIVES TO HAVE OUR MUSIC BECOME PART OF YOURS. IN EVERY CLUB, ON EVERY MASSIVE TOUR AND AT MOMENTS GRAND AND PRIVATE YOU HAVE GIVEN US A PLACE IN THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIVES.
Last year the iconic rock band had been forced to postpone the tour dates on their farewell tour – called Peace Out: The Farewell Tour – after the frontman had sustained a vocal cord injury.
The Walk This Way hitmakers had not returned since the tour postponement.
The statement to their fans continued: ‘WE’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BLOW YOUR MIND WHEN PERFORMING. AS YOU KNOW, STEVEN’S VOICE IS AN INSTRUMENT LIKE NO OTHER. HE HAS SPENT MONTHS TIRELESSLY WORKING ON GETTING HIS VOICE TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE HIS INJURY. WE’VE SEEN HIM STRUGGLING DESPITE HAVING THE BEST MEDICAL TEAM BY HIS SIDE.
‘SADLY, IT IS CLEAR, THAT A FULL RECOVERY FROM HIS VOCAL INJURY IS NOT POSSIBLE. WE HAVE MADE A HEARTBREAKING AND DIFFICULT, BUT NECESSARY, DECISION – AS A BAND OF BROTHERS- TO RETIRE FROM THE TOURING STAGE.’
They concluded their sincere message to their millions of fans by expressing their gratitude to them and everyone else who helped contributing in making them one of the most iconic acts in Rock ‘n Roll history.
The statement concluded: ‘WE ARE GRATEFUL BEYOND WORDS FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS PUMPED TO GET ON THE ROAD WITH US ONE LAST TIME. GRATEFUL TO OUR EXPERT CREW, OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM AND THE THOUSANDS OF TALENTED PEOPLE WHO’VE MADE OUR HISTORIC RUNS POSSIBLE.
Along with Steven (bottom center) the group consists (seen clockwise from Steven) Joey Kramer (drums) of, Tom Hamilton (bass), Brad Whitford (guitar) and Joe Perry (guitar); pictured in 1974
Last year the iconic rock band had been forced to postpone the tour dates on their farewell tour after the frontman had sustained a vocal cord injury; Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry are seen in Philadelphia in September 2023
‘A FINAL THANK YOU TO YOU – THE BEST FANS ON PLANET EARTH. PLAY OUR MUSIC LOUD, NOW AND ALWAYS. DREAM ON. YOU’VE MADE OUR DREAMS COME TRUE.’
In September 2023 Steven released a statement about postponing the tour as he explained where it all went wrong.
At the time he wrote: ‘I’m heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor’s orders not to sing for the next thirty days,’ Tyler began.
‘I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday’s show that led to subsequent bleeding,’ Tyler added, referring to the show in Elmont, New York at UBS Arena.
‘We’ll need to postpone a few dates so that we can come back and give you the performance you deserve,’ he concluded in his statement.
The band had originally announced the farewell tour in May 2023 as it was set to begin in September of that year with 40 North American dates through January 2024.
Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide, including over 85 million records in the United States.
With 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum albums, they hold the record for the most total certifications by an American group and are tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American group.
In September 2023 Steven (pictured at the time) released a statement about postponing the tour as he explained where it all went wrong as at the time he wrote: ‘I’m heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor’s orders not to sing for the next thirty days’
The band had originally announced the farewell tour in May 2023 as it was set to begin in September of that year with 40 North American dates through January 2024; the band are seen in Elmont, New York on September 9, 2023
Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide, including over 85 million records in the United States; the band are seen in Burbank back in June 1974
With 25 gold, 18 platinum, and 12 multi-platinum albums, they hold the record for the most total certifications by an American group and are tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American group; Steven is seen in the Netherlands back in August 1990
Over the years Aerosmith has collected four Grammys including two for songs in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: for Livin’ On The Edge in 1994 and Crazy in 1995.
The band came together in the early 1970s when Perry and Hamilton were in a band called Jam Band where they met up with Tyler, Kramer, guitarist Ray Tabano.
Together they developed a sound which is mostly rooted in blues-based hard rock with influences of pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and rhythm & blues.
The band released their self-titled debut album in 1973 followed by Get Your Wings in 1974 only to break into the mainstream with Toys In The Attic (1975) and Rocks (1976).
The band toured extensively throughout the decade and charted a dozen Hot 100 singles including Sweet Emotion, Dream On, and Walk This Way.
However, their success train was slightly derailed as Perry and Whitford left the band in 1979 and 1981 due to drug addiction and internal conflict.
The band did not have a strong commercial success in the early 80s until Perry and Whitford returned to the band in 1984.
They then returned back to their chart topping form when they collaborated with rap group Run-DMC on the remake to Walk This Way.
The band was cruising into the late 80s but their success train was slightly derailed as Perry and Whitford left the band in 1979 and 1981 due to drug addiction and internal conflict; the band are pictured in Minnesota back in October 1978
In 1998 they achieved their first number-one hit with I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing from Armageddon’s soundtrack; Steven is seen in New York City back in March 1997
Aerosmith performed the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001 along with Britney Spears, boyband NSYNC, and rapper Nelly (pictured) and were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame that year
They went on to win numerous award for their multi-platinum albums Pump (1989), Get a Grip (1993), and Nine Lives (1997).
In 1998 they achieved their first number-one hit with I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing from Armageddon’s soundtrack.
The following year they even their own theme park attraction in 1999 at Disney World in Florida and later in Paris with the launch of the Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ride.
Aerosmith performed the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001 along with Britney Spears, boyband NSYNC, and rapper Nelly and were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame that year.
