Aerosmith Reconcile to Announce “Cocked, Locked” Tour of Europe
After months of squabbles and talk of a split between Steven Tyler and the band he’s fronted for four decades, Aerosmith have reconciled and announced a “Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock” summer tour of Europe with a cheeky online video. Winking at the group’s very public troubles, guitarist Joe Perry says, “You know what, the rumors are true … I think.” Tyler replies, “I just auditioned and I got the gig. We’re coming your way and rocking your world. Look out baby, ’cause here we go again!”
Aerosmith in photos: four decades of rockin’ the joint.
As Rolling Stone reported just three weeks ago, Tyler’s attorney threatened legal action against his Aerosmith bandmates if they embarked on a tour with another singer — a real possibility, according to statements from the band indicating they were unwilling to wait for Tyler to rejoin them for more gigs. The band agreed to meet on February 9th to discuss the future of the and, and judging by the high spirits in their tour-announcement video, the group realized they rock harder together than apart. (Brad Whitford is missing from the video, but the Aerosmith site lists him among the members jetting to Europe.)
After an injury-plagued summer tour in 2009 that prematurely ended when Tyler fell off the stage during an August performance in South Dakota, the band hit the rocks again when he told the press he wanted to spend two years working on his own projects. Unwilling to wait, Perry said the band would recruit a new singer. However, upon signing with new management and entering rehab in December to deal with a prescription pill addiction, Tyler said in a statement, “I wish to set the record straight and say that I have read reports of a rumored two-year hiatus and want to be clear that this is completely false and I will enthusiastically be writing, recording and performing with Aerosmith as soon as things are handled.”
Backstage with Aerosmith: photos from their hometown show.
While Aerosmith were testing out singers like Billy Idol and Paul Rodgers (but not Lenny Kravitz), Tyler was entertaining Home Depot shoppers and karaoke singers with a pair of impromptu performances. But it seems the band’s tumultuous six months have come to an end, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group will retake the stage on June 10th with a performance at Sweden’s Rock Festival.
“Back by popular demand with more spit and fire than ever before, we’re coming across the pond and parting the waters as we go,” Tyler says in a statement on the band’s Aero Smith One site. Adds drummer Joey Kramer, “Aerosmith is back! Bigger, better and stronger than ever! So look out Europe, cuz we’re comin’ to get cha.” And Perry concludes, “Enough BS — we’re coming and everything is going to be set at 11.”
Aerosmith
June 10 – Sweden @ Rock Festival
June 13 – UK @ Download Festival
June 15 – London, UK @ London 02 Arena
June 18 – Bucharest, Romania
June 20 – Athens, Greece @ Olympic Stadium
June 23 – Holland @ Nijmegen Goeffert Park
June 25 – Belgium @ Graspop Festival
June 27 – Barcelona, Spain @ St Jordi Arena
June 29 – Paris, France @ Bercy Arena
July 1 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Prague 02 Arena
July 3 – Venice, Italy @ Venice Festival
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• Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Enters Rehab, Vows to Stay in Band