Aerosmith Looking To Replace Steven Tyler

There will be someone not named Steven Tyler singing “Walk This Way,” “Dream On” and the rest of the Aerosmith classics when the band gets back together to perform. Temporarily.

The Steven Tyler saga about whether or not the legendary vocalist is, or is not leaving the band has reached somewhat of a turning point with the news that Aerosmith are to begin auditioning singers to temporarily replace Tyler, who checked into rehab in late December.

Guitarist Joe Perry told the Toronto Sun that Tyler entered rehab to overcome his addiction to painkillers and wants to rejoin the band.

“We’re already getting the word out there. The word’s been out there for a while. After my Motley Crue tour, we’ll start having some auditions, making some phone calls. Hopefully, we’ll have found a new singer by the summer, and Aerosmith will be able to go back out on the road” Perry told torontosun.com.

Tyler reportedly quit the group last year and since then hasn’t made it clear to his band mates whether he is going rejoin the band. Perry said Tyler is scheduled to undergo a number of surgeries and won’t be able to perform for a year, and the band wants to continue performing, with a temporary singer.

He said auditions will begin Feb. 10.

Perry added:

“From what I’ve heard, he hasn’t left the band. As far as I’m concerned, he hasn’t left the band. He’s never said he was going to leave the band. It’s just that he wanted to go off and do some of his own things. He just never told anybody in the band about it. And so far, he hasn’t talked to anybody in the band. But his manager has told our manager that he wants to take some time off. And then lately he’s been saying he wants to come back.

So it’s kind of hard to get a straight answer about what’s going on.”

No kidding.

There are two big questions that follow this news: a) just who is going to ‘temporarily’ replace Tyler and b) does anyone care to see Aerosmith without Tyler?

Okay, let’s add a third: c) what if the temporary singer works out nicely, then Tyler decides he’s ready to return, but now there’s big drama because Perry thinks Tyler should just move on.

Or something like that.

But first things first. Who is the temp rock singer going to be? A big name, or a nobody the band scoops up and turns into a star? Is Arnel Pineda available to sing Aerosmith songs when he’s not touring with Journey?

Perry said he has a short list of singers, but would not name names.

For what it’s worth it seems as if Perry wants to hold onto to the old, rock n’ roll magic he has built over the years with Tyler for as long as possible.

“I’m ready to write with him, to play on stage with him anytime he’s physically ready and wants to do it. But it’s really up to him. His doctor says he’s gotta have surgery on his legs and his feet and he’s gonna be out of the picture for a year.

In that time, he should be able to come around. And the last things he said to the press were that he wanted to work with the band and sing with the band, so we’ll see.”

The whole thing remains very uncertain, which make this quite a compelling story to follow. Will Steven Tyler ever re-join Aersomith? Will the temporary singer win over die-hard fans? Tune in next week!

Who would you like to see temporarily replace Steven Tyler in Aerosmith?