Aerosmith has played its final gigs. The band announced Friday that they have canceled all remaining concert dates and are officially retired from touring, because singer Steven Tyler‘s “recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.”
“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” the group declared in a social media post that reads like a farewell statement.
The group had already been on what was billed as a final outing — the “Peace Out… Farewell Tour” — when their road trips came to a halt after what turned out to be a final gig in Elmont, NY on Sept. 9, 2023. That fateful farewell show came just three dates into that tour, which was supposed to last through February 2024, before the group postponed — and now, finally, canceled — all the remaining dates.
The group had been active on the live front leading up to the scotched goodbye tour, with a residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, followed by a hometown show at Boston’s Fenway Park last year to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Although the statement does not mention whether there is still hope for Tyler to conquer his problems to a point that would allow for future recordings, the band has already seemed to be long retired from record-making. Their last album, “Music From Another Dimension!,” came out in 2012. Tyler subsequently released a lone solo album in 2016.
The band’s Friday statement in full: “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
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The five-member lineup had remained intact for much of its five-decade-plus history, with exceptions when different members went on hiatus. Most recently, it was announced that drummer Joey Kramer would not be participating on the farewell tour, after some contentious back-and-forth previous exchanges. ‘“While Joey Kramer remains a beloved founding member of Aerosmith,” the announcement of the farewell tour said, “he has regrettably made the decision to sit out the currently scheduled touring dates to focus his full attention on his family and health. Joey’s unmistakable and legendary presence behind the drum kit will be sorely missed.”
When the farewell tour was postponed after three shows last September, at the time a statement from the band said, “Unfortunately, Stevens vocal injury is more serious than initially thought. His doctor has confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx, which requires ongoing care.” No specific replacement dates had been announced, beyond the hope at the time that they would be rescheduled some time in 2024.
From Variety US