Aerosmith Bandmates Express Concern For Steven Tyler

Drummer Joey Kramer says frontman 'needs help.'
By Gil Kaufman

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler
Photo: Jason Merritt/ FilmMagic.com

Another day, another drama. We've already weathered the "are they or aren't they?" breakup rumors about veteran rockers Aerosmith. There was the brief onstage reunion between singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry in New York recently, followed by Perry's comments that the band is still considering moving on with another singer while Tyler pursues his solo career over the next two years.

Now, drummer Joey Kramer has spoken to People magazine about his concerns that Tyler might be suffering from more than just a case of the 40-year itch. "I think that he needs help and that attention needs to be put to his health," Kramer said cryptically, clarifying that he wasn't referring to the physical healing from a broken shoulder Tyler suffered when he fell off the stage during an Aerosmith gig in August.

Kramer confirmed that he thinks there is something else going on with Tyler. "I do," he said. Kramer would not say that he's seen recent drug use by Tyler — who battled a life-threatening drug addiction in the 1970s and '80s before getting sober — but said he's concerned because Tyler has "isolated himself. ... He's got some bad influences in his life right now and he's making poor choices." Tyler checked in to a rehab facility last year to treat an addiction to pain and sleeping medication following foot surgery.

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford was even more forthcoming, telling the magazine, "His behavior is spinning out of control. ... I don't know where he is and what he's doing." Whitford said that he's also "concerned about [Tyler's] well-being and his health." Whitford referred to Tyler's behavior over the past few months as "erratic" and "unpredictable," saying the changes didn't come overnight but have progressively spun further out of control.

The public war of words between the bandmates has threatened to tear apart a group that has weathered 40 years of ups and serious downs, including previous breakups, career nosedives and a triumphant return to form in the late 1980s that once again made them superstars after Perry and Tyler kicked major drug habits. Tyler, who has mostly stayed out of the latest back-and-forth, told Rolling Stone in August that he's working on a memoir and would like to record a solo album. He also denied that he was back on drugs, saying he was "sober as can be" when he fell off the stage in August.

But Whitford said the singer's unpredictable behavior has thrown the band's career into chaos recently, resulting in "loads of cancellations, canceled tours and canceled dates."

A spokesperson for the group could not be reached for comment at press time, but an unnamed rep for Tyler told People that Tyler is "concentrating on his book right now while his shoulder heals."

Despite the blustery talk from Perry about looking for a new lead singer and carrying on without Tyler, Kramer said the idea of plugging in without the group's iconic frontman is daunting. "It's hard for me to imagine getting on stage without Steven," the drummer said. "He needs to take care of his health first and get help in order for there to be a future for an Aerosmith that includes him."

• Aerosmith