Tyler pulled out of a planned South American tour at the end of 2009
and seemed intent on pursuing solo projects, including his autobiography
Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?. Tyler told Classic Rock magazine,
"I don't know what I'm doing yet, but it's definitely going to be
something Steven Tyler: working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler."[165] Meanwhile, guitarist Joe Perry toured the United States at the end of 2009, and Japan and the UK early in 2010.[165]
In November 2009, Joe Perry stated that Tyler had not been in contact
with the band and could be on the verge of quitting Aerosmith.[166] Perry stated that the rest of the group was "looking for a new singer to work with."[167] It was reported that singer Lenny Kravitz had been approached for Steven Tyler's position, which he then declined.[168]
However, despite the rumors of him leaving the band, Tyler joined the
Joe Perry Project onstage on November 10, 2009 at the Fillmore New York
at Irving Plaza, and Tyler and Perry performed the Aerosmith single "Walk This Way" together. According to sources at the event, Tyler assured the crowd that he was "not quitting Aerosmith".[169][170]
On December 22, People
magazine reported that Tyler had entered a rehabilitation facility to
manage his addiction to painkillers, brought on by injuries to his
knees, legs, and feet, that resulted from years of performing. In his
statement, Tyler said he is grateful for the support he is receiving, is
committed to getting things taken care of, and is eager to get back on
stage and in the recording studio with his bandmates.[171]
On January 20, 2010, Perry confirmed the band were about to audition for a new singer to replace Tyler.[172]
Perry said Tyler's surgery to his legs would "take him out of the
picture" for up to a year and a half, and in the meantime, the rest of
the band wanted to continue performing. Perry also said that the band
would be willing to continue working with Tyler in the future if the
singer wanted to.[173]
In response, Tyler's attorney sent the band and its manager a "cease
and desist" letter and threatened further legal action against both if
the band did not discontinue this effort to replace Tyler.[174]
On February 15, 2010, it was announced that Aerosmith were to headline Download Festival at Donington Park,
England in June 2010. Tyler was confirmed as the frontman for the show
by festival promoter Andy Copping. It was announced that the band would
precede the June 13 date with an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 10 in Sölvesborg. During the Donington show, Perry celebrated Tyler's position as frontman, dubbing him "the best lead singer on the planet".[175] On February 24, the band announced the first batch of dates for their upcoming Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour.
The tour saw the band play seven dates in South and Central America in
May, followed by eleven dates in Europe, in June and early July. The
band performed in Colombia, Peru and Greece for the first time in their
career on this tour.[176]
The band performed 24 concerts in North America in late July, August,
and September. Many of the concerts were in locations the band canceled
on in 2009. As part of the tour, the band played Fenway Park in Boston with fellow Bostonians the J. Geils Band.[177]
Problems on the band's Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour arose
in August 2010, including Tyler accidentally hitting Joe Perry in the
head with his microphone stand at a show in Wantagh, New York[178] and Perry bumping into Tyler at the Toronto show, which caused Tyler to tumble off the stage.[179][180]
Perry suffered a minor head injury at the Wantagh show and Tyler was
helped back up by fans and Perry at the Toronto show, and both shows
went on. Around the same time as these incidents, tension flared again
between Perry and Tyler due to Tyler's plans to become a talent judge on
American Idol.
Perry criticized Tyler for not consulting the rest of the band, saying
that he "found out on the internet, like the rest of the world" and that
nobody else in the band knew anything about it.[181]
On August 18, it was reported that Tyler officially signed on with the show.[182]
When asked about this in October, Perry declared he understood Tyler's
reasons and wished him luck, but stated that he would seek different
projects – "I'm tired of waiting around, so I'm not passing up anything
right now".[183]
While announcing the Cocked, Locked, and Ready to Rock Tour in 2009,
Tyler and Perry said that the next item on the agenda was a new
Aerosmith album, the group's first since 2004's Honkin' on Bobo. The group did some recording with producer Brendan O'Brien in 2008 but halted because of Tyler's health problems.[184] Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald in September 2010 that Tyler believes he has the time and energy to continue fronting the band while also being a judge on American Idol.[185]
Hamilton explained, "Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the
way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record.
He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully
that's the way it will come out."[185] On November 5, 2010, Brad Whitford said the recording sessions will probably be in Los Angeles, where American Idol is headquartered, and a world tour would follow.[186]
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