VIDEO: Steven Tyler tells Joe Perry he's not quitting Aerosmith

Tyler and Perry together again...but for how long?
Tyler and Perry together again...but for how long? (Image credit: Scott D. Smith/Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Steven Tyler surprised Joe Perry on stage last night (10 November) to tell him - and a NYC concert audience - that he was not leaving Aerosmith.

"I just want New York to know, I am not leaving Aerosmith," Tyler told the crowd at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza.

Then, turning to Joe Perry, who was appearing with his band The Joe Perry Project, Tyler said, "Joe Perry, you are a man of many colors. But I, motherfucker, am the rainbow!" (Check out the video below.)

And with that, the band broke into the Aerosmith classic Walk This Way. Joe Perry Project singer Hagen graciously stepped back for Tyler to handle lead vocals, although he soon joined in on the choruses and call-and-response parts.

It was only two days ago that MusicRadar reported on what seemed like a definite split in the Aerosmith camp, with Joe Perry saying, "Steven quit as far as I can tell" and that the band would "probably find somebody else that will sing."

The tale of this veteran group keeps getting weirder. If they could just put half of their recent drama into the lyrics of a new record...now, there's a thought!

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.