What's in Store for Aerosmith, Steven Tyler?
Feb. 9, 2010 — -- The battle between Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler and the band's management could soon end up in a very un-rock and roll place: Court.
People close to the iconic band are scheduled to meet today to discuss its future, which may or may not include Aerosmith's star frontman, currently in rehab for painkiller addiction. But according to Tyler's attorney Skip Miller, should the band cut his client loose and replace him with another singer, there will be hell to pay.
In January, Miller wrote a letter to Aerosmith manager Howard Kaufman, requesting that Aerosmith's management "immediately cease and desist from engaging in acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members."
Miller was referring to recent comments made by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry that the band is looking for a new frontman.
"The word's been out there for a while," Perry told Canada's QMI news agency in January. "Hopefully, we'll have found a new singer by the summer, and Aerosmith will be able to go back out on the road."
Miller told Billboard.com that on behalf of Tyler, he scheduled a Feb. 9 meeting of Aerosmith's "shareholders" to figure out what's next for the band. Issues include: Recording a new album and touring Europe and South America in 2010.
And while Miller's four-page letter states that "we reserve all of our legal rights and remedies in this matter, including, without limitation, pursuing legal action for damages and other appropriate relief," he told Billboard.com that he and Tyler see court as a last resort.
"Steven Tyler does not want lawsuits," said Miller. "We do not want to go in that direction. The direction we want is Aerosmith, with Steven Tyler, touring in Europe, touring Latin America, releasing a new album ... This is the direction it's all intended to go. It's just amazing to me current management would be taking any other position."
Miller and Kaufman did not immediately return ABCNews.com's calls for comment Monday. However, representatives for both men stated they were traveling; Miller's office said he was en route to Monday's meeting.
The sit-down is the latest in a months-long drama between Tyler and Aerosmith. In November 2009, after Tyler told a British magazine that he was preparing to focus on a solo career, Perry turned their 40-year-old friendship into a public feud. The guitarist took to Twitter to vent his feelings regarding Tyler's impending absence and insisting the band keep on rocking.
"Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with. You just can't take 40 years of experience and throw it in the bin!" Perry tweeted Monday. "Band is playing hotter than ever and our songs need to be played live! Don't despair; Aerosmith not splitting up. Promise that's the last you'll hear from me on the subject till we gear up again."
But days after that, on Nov. 10, Tyler and Perry performed the musical equivalent of hugging it out, reuniting on a New York City stage and announcing that Tyler was sticking with the group, contrary to what Perry previously reported.
Joe Perry could keep it in the family. Steven Tyler's 32-year-old daughter Liv may not bear lips as big as her father's, or a voice as distinctive, or any special singing skills of which to speak, but she does share his last name. (Also -- squint hard and they kind of, sort of look alike.) A young Liv shot to stardom after starring in the music video for Aerosmith's 1993 song "Crazy" alongside Alicia Silverstone. All that plus the whole DNA thing seems enough of a reason to pass her the mic.
Who can forget Silverstone gyrating in that sexy school girl outfit in the ultimate Aerosmith video trilogy: "Cryin'," "Crazy," and "Amazing"? "What you did to me took my breath away," indeed. Forget singing. If she sticks to that routine on stage, the band will sell out stadiums well into the next decade.
He flexed his once mighty vocal muscles at the memorial service for his late King of Pop brother, Michael Jackson. He seems hungry for more time in the spotlight. Why not take that show on the road with Aerosmith?
Michael has a fantastic pop star voice. No, it's not Tyler's gritty growl, but it's got a charm all its own. And he does have an affinity for getting caught mid-sex act in public parks. So, crooning "Love in an Elevator" doesn't seem so farfetched.
Radiohead's uber-serious frontman could maybe benefit from lightening up. Or, perhaps, he'd take Aerosmith in a completely different direction. We see a mashup of "OK Computer" and "Get a Grip" on the iTunes horizon.
Yeezy's got style and attitude Tyler could appreciate, plus he's always trying to do something different. Following up "808s & Heartbreak" with an Aerosmith album could be the move of the century.
If only to see Mr. Las Vegas himself snap his fingers and shimmy to "Walk This Way" on the stage of the Tropicana. That would be the stuff of legend.
