Aerosmith + Steven Tyler Done? Guitarist Whitford Speaks

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We’ve been reporting on the limited dates that Aerosmith has booked for this fall, mostly in South America. But who exactly will be singing lead on such classic rock staples as “Dream On,” “Love in an Elevator,” “Walk This Way” and other setlist favorites? If you assume the answer is Steven Tyler, don’t be so sure.

In a recent interview with Metal Rules that’s just surfaced, the band’s guitarist Brad Whitford – who’s busy with the resumption of his occasional side project with singer Derek St. Holmes (formerly of Ted Nugent’s band) – was asked: “With AC/DC going on tour with Axl Rose, does this open the door to Aerosmith reconsidering a short tour without Steven and possible some guest vocalist?

Whitford’s candid and surprising answer: “Absolutely, we have considered it but whether it will happen I don’t know.” Then the kicker: “I think it would be great.”

Interviewer Robert Cavuoto then followed up: “If you had a wish list, who would you like to see fronting the band?” Whitford offered a short list of Myles Kennedy (lead vocalist for Slash’s side project), Rose (though he was kidding… we think) and Sammy Hagar.

On Wednesday (5/18) to his credit, Hagar responded diplomatically on Twitter…

“I really don’t have a comment except I’m flattered, but no one can replace Steven Tyler @IamStevenT!” https://t.co/IFt4KkF7Ya

— Sammy Hagar (@sammyhagar) May 18, 2016

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Aerosmith’s fall tour currently numbers 10 dates. Tyler has his debut country album coming as well as a summer tour with his country band Loving Mary. Joe Perry is in the midst of a tour with the Hollywood Vampires (which includes Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp). Whitford and St. Holmes have recorded an album to be released June 3 and begin a month-long tour with Whitesnake that same day.

Aerosmith has announced these dates:

Sept 16-18 – Del Mar, CA – KAABOO
Sept 29 – Bogota, Columbia – Parque Simon Bolivar
Oct 02 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
Oct 05 – Cordoba, Argentina – Estadio de Cordoba
Oct 08 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio Unico La Plata
Oct 11 – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Anfiteatro Beira Rio
Oct 15 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque
Oct 18 – Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia – Allianz Parque
Oct 21 – Recife, Brazil – Classic Hall
Oct 24 – Lima, Peru – Estadio Nacional
Oct 27 – Mexico City, Mexico – Arena Ciudad de Mexico

We’ll continue to follow this story.