Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler on Joe Perry’s Health: ‘It’s Starting to Scare Me a Little Bit’
The members of Aerosmith may be off doing different things of late, but that doesn't mean there's not concern for Joe Perry, who recently collapsed onstage during a Hollywood Vampires show. While statements have been released that Perry is alright and that he'll rejoin the band soon, Perry's Aerosmith bandmate Steven Tyler reveals he's still concerned as he hasn't heard from the guitarist.
"It's starting to scare me a little bit," Tyler told Billboard. "[I'm] really concerned. I know they're putting out nothing but 'he's recovering, he's really good, he fainted, exhaustion.' But I know my brother. He's just about the only other guy that's as passionate about his art as I am. He's always asking me to do three, four shows in a row, and I can't. I'll blow out my voice. I know how to maintain my career, my health, and Joe's passionate. I don't think he knows how to. I think he's out there and someone's overbooking him. They're doing like eight or nine shows in a row, or five in a row. I think they're all a little burnt. I think they may need to look at that. Not young anymore, y'know?"
Initial reports suggested that Perry had suffered cardiac arrest, something that has not been confirmed nor denied. Hollywood Vampires have returned to the stage since the Perry incident, but without the guitarist in tow.
"I don't give a s--t about the band. I want Joe to live," says Tyler. "I'm really concerned and worried right now that I'm not getting any news. I'm a little bummed out and that scares me. I don't know whether it's heat prostration or whether he's been working himself too hard or getting off on wrong things passionately. I don't know what it is, but I know that nobody's talking to me. I can only tell you that Joe's my brother and I love him very much."
Tyler has been promoting his country leaning We're All Somebody From Somewhere album of late, while Perry has been off playing with Hollywood Vampires over the past year. Tom Hamilton has signed on to play dates with Thin Lizzy, while Brad Whitford has revisited his Whitford/St. Holmes project with Derek St. Holmes, touring and promoting their Reunion album.
There has been talk from Tyler about Aerosmith regrouping in 2017 for a farewell tour, but Perry in past interviews has been reluctant to state that the dates will be the band's last.
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