Steven Tyler has reportedly relapsed and “voluntarily” checked into rehab, his Aerosmith bandmates revealed.
“As many of you know, our beloved brother Steven has worked on his sobriety for many years,” the band wrote of the singer, 74, in a joint statement on Tuesday.
“After foot surgery to prepare for the stage and the necessity of pain management during the process, he has recently relapsed and voluntarily entered a treatment program to concentrate on his health and recovery,” the announcement went on to read.
The statement concluded by sharing Aerosmith’s plans to cancel the first set of their Las Vegas residency dates in June and July.
The decision will allow Tyler to focus on his “well-being” instead, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford wrote.
“We will continue our 2022 dates starting in September, and we’ll let you know any further updates as soon as we can,” they explained. “We are devastated that we have inconvenienced so many of you, especially our most loyal fans who often travel great distances to experience our shows.”
After thanking their fans for “understanding,” the band members provided refund information.
Fans sent Tyler their support in the comments. “Get well,” one Instagram user wrote, while another advised the songwriter to “stay strong.”
20 Responses
What do you do when you fall off the wagon? You get up and get Back In The Saddle again!
if this guy can’t get his shit together by now i think the ship has sailed
Well, not that I am defending Tyler, but giving an addict pain meds, is akin to giving an alcoholic a six pack, and telling them they can only drink one beer. Or giving a shopaholic a credit card and sending them on their way, you get the point.
The other issue is, pain medications are so widely prescribed by doctors, they have literally become modern day drug dealers. The numbers don’t like, and pain therapeutics, such as Vicodin, aka Oxycodone, are gateway drugs to many addictions.
I have heard, and read, story after story, of people who never used a recreational drug, nor drank, who got addicted to prescribed pain meds, and went on to become full fledged junkies. The doctors are fully aware of how addictive these pharmaceuticals are, and yet, they still hand them out like candy. It makes one wonder if they do so, because they get a monetary compensation from the drug companies? Otherwise, why would they do so knowing how addictive they are?
There was a huge lawsuit, that was just settled with the Sackler family, over their production of Opioids. Here is one article about the litigation: “Sackler Family to Pay $6 Billion to Settle Opioid Lawsuits”: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a39325173/sackler-family-six-billion-settlement-opioid-lawsuit/
Finally, Tyler, through his half century, of being an addict, should have known better and refused the prescription. There are alternative solutions to manage pain, whether it is over the counter remedies, such as Tylenol, or Motrin, or other methods, such as massage therapy or acupuncture.
So, while I feel for him, there is also a part of me, that is side eyeing his foolish decision, but Godspeed, nonetheless.
Dana,
You make all good points. However, an additional point is the general American mindset as it relates to pain and pain management. Too many patients simply don’t want to feel any degree of pain. If you have, in Tyler’s case, foot surgery, there will be a certain amount of post-op pain involved. Expecting to have no pain and asking for powerful drugs is not necessarily the wisest route, yet it’s a route demanded by patients to their doctors all too often. And yes, I realize it’s easy for me to say because I’m not the one experiencing pain. The amount of drug advertising also contributes to this problem because Americans know too much about what drugs are available without necessarily knowing their addictive nature. Finally, doctors need to say “no,” within reason. The objective is to make patients not suffer. The objective is not to make the patients feel no pain.
Ok. End of my soapbox pontification. Speedy recovery to Steven, and let’s get back to the ROCK!
Agreed,
Doctors need to far more cognizant of how addictive these medications can be, and offer alternatives. There are thousands of pharmaceuticals out there, there has to be alternatives to these opioid class of drugs.
Also, let’s just say, on the off chance Mr. Tyler’s pain required something stronger than over the counter medication. He, of all people, could afford to hire a live in nurse, to make sure he got the proper dosage, and nothing more, whether it was dispensed though an IV or orally.
To me, there was no excuses on either side of the equation, both the doctor, and Mr. Tyler, bear responsibility.
DANA,
You always seem to hit the nail on the head , there are some instances where you are in alot of pain after surgery, and you might need something stronger than over the counter medication, but he should have known better ~
Yes, then he should have had a professional nurse, either visit, or stay with him to observe that the correct amount was being taken.
His ship is a luxury yacht & it’s docked waiting for him to come aboard, they’re expecting him.
I didn’t even know Aerosmith was touring, nonetheless a Vegas residency.
I haven’t been hearing much about them or their “greatest hits” tour they’ve been doing for the umpteenth time.
So Tyler has to go to rehab and now there in the front pages of the music news again.
P.R stunt perhaps? I wish the best for Tyler if this story is true. I wish Aerosmith made a good record again.
I love “Night In The Ruts”
Aerosmith is incapable of writing another good record. They now resort to bringing in outside songwriters to create power ballads full of keyboards and orchestration, along with duets with country music artists. Tyler and Perry were at the height of their creativeness when they were both whacked out of their minds (i.e. The Toxic Twins). Aerosmith needs to call it a career before they sink to KI$$ level.
Jeff, I too, love Night in the Ruts. IMO, it’s the last great Aerosmith album.
In my opinion, the last great Aerosmith album was Pump, with 1 exception – “Janie’s Got a Gun,” always hated that song! That’s really the only Aerosmith song I never liked, always skip it!