Aerosmith Retires from Touring Due to Steven Tyler’s Vocal Injury

Aerosmith has announced their retirement from touring. This decision follows lead vocalist Steven Tyler’s ongoing vocal cord issues, which have persisted despite extensive medical efforts, according to Deadline. The band, known for their dynamic live performances and a string of hits spanning five decades, shared the news through their official social media channels.

“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing,” the band noted. “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. Despite having the best medical team by his side, he’s been struggling. Sadly, it is clear that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We’ve made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage.”

Tyler’s vocal issues first became evident in September of the previous year, prompting the band to abruptly postpone their Peace Out farewell concert tour. Initially hopeful about returning to the stage, the group rescheduled their performances for September 2024. However, as Tyler’s medical team continued to manage his injured larynx and vocal cords, it became increasingly apparent that complete rehabilitation was unachievable.

The severity of Tyler’s condition was highlighted by his physician’s previous statement, which disclosed that, “in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, [Tyler] fractured his larynx, which requires ongoing care. He is receiving the best medical treatment available to ensure his recovery is swift, but given the nature of a fracture, he is being told patience is essential.”

Aerosmith’s rise to fame began in the early 1970s when they emerged from Boston’s music scene. The band’s core lineup—Tyler, guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton, and drummer Joey Kramer—has stayed mostly intact throughout their illustrious career, aside from a few temporary departures and returns.

Over their five-decade reign, Aerosmith has released an impressive catalog of 15 studio albums, with all but three achieving platinum status. Their 1980 greatest hits compilation sold an astounding 12 million copies in the United States alone, underscoring their long-term popularity.

The band has faced both triumphs and challenges throughout their career. After a creative and commercial downturn from 1979 to 1985, they mounted a significant comeback that cemented their rock royalty status. A crucial moment in their resurgence was their collaboration with Run-D.M.C. on a reimagined version of “Walk This Way,” which revitalized their career and bridged the gap between rock and hip-hop.

Aerosmith continued their comeback with the release of “Permanent Vacation” in 1987, followed by the multi-platinum “Pump” in 1989, which produced three top 10 hits. The band achieved new levels of commercial success with their only two chart-topping albums, “Get a Grip” (1993) and “Nine Lives” (1997). Their pinnacle on the singles chart came in 1998 with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” a power ballad written by Diane Warren for the film “Armageddon,” which held the number-one spot for four consecutive weeks.

In their farewell message, the band expressed deep gratitude to their loyal fan base: “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. 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.”

Source: Deadline