An Aerosmith without Steven Tyler?

Months after speaking out publicly to dismiss rumors and reports that the band was on the verge of splitting up, several sources are reporting that Steven Tyler has quit Aerosmith.

The band’s guitarist, Joe Perry divulged that in August 2009 Tyler broke his shoulder after falling off stage while performing in South Dakota and after the band was forced to cancel the remainder of their summer tour, Tyler did not speak to Perry for over a month, which is what originally prompted the rumors that the band was on the verge of breaking up. After their November 1st performance in Abu Dhabi, which was part of the Formula One racing season, Perry revealed that Steven Tyler has in fact quit Aerosmith.

He told 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 plance 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.”

But Perry, and presumably the rest of the band, will not let Steven Tyler’s departure from the band stop them or Aerosmith’s future, saying:

“Right now I’m adjusting to ow 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.”

Move Aerosmith and the vibe up a notch? Is Joe Perry insinuating that they can find someone who will sing in place in Steven Tyler and be better? I don’t think the fans are going to let that happen. Like he said, after 40 years of playing together, it worked that long for a reason and Steven Tyler’s image will always be a part of what Aerosmith was and will be.

My own music source told me that there is an Aerosmith tribute band out there whose singer can sing pretty much exactly like Steven Tyler. Perhaps Aerosmith will go the way of Journey and Queen.

[Image via INF Daily]