Steven Tyler Teases Aerosmith 2017 Farewell Tour, Forgives Joe Perry For Country Music Diss

Steven Tyler says Aerosmith may be hitting the road for the last time next year. The 68-year-old rock singer, who is set to release his first-ever country music album, told Rolling Stone that he’ll hit the road with his iconic band next year, but it could be the end of the road as far as touring goes.

“I’m doing 30 [solo] shows from May until August,” Tyler told the magazine. “And then in 2017 we go out with Aerosmith. We’re probably doing a farewell tour. Look, there’s two bands that still have the original members, us and the Stones. I’m grateful for that. Whether we do a farewell tour or go into the studio and do another record, I’m just excited about it.”

The last time Steven Tyler and Aerosmith performed together was last September in Moscow, before Tyler stepped back to put the final touches on his country album. Guitarist Joe Perry publicly mocked Tyler’s country crossover, telling USA Today he wasn’t impressed by Steven’s single “Red, White and You.”

“Hey, if I didn’t know him when I heard the song I’d go, ‘It’s okay, next.’… Steven is in Nashville doing whatever he’s doing. He’s got a f*****g rhinestone cowboy hat going ‘Yippee ki yay.’ I don’t know what else to say about that.”

Steven Tyler initially cried “jealousy,” but now he tells Rolling Stone said he just can’t stay mad at his longtime Toxic Twin bandmate.

“I’ve read what Joe has said. But then I really, really, couldn’t be here doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for Joe Perry. It’s a strange catch-22, but if you slow down enough you get to see it…I wouldn’t be anywhere without those guys, so I’m as grateful as I can be.”

Steven Tyler and Aerosmith have been together since 1970. The band has played more than 2,000 shows over 45 years, so their farewell has been a long time coming. And Tyler isn’t the only band member who has teased a farewell tour. Last fall, guitarist Brad Whitford told Eddie Trunk’s podcast the band was mulling over how they could wrap up their long touring career before it’s too late.

“We are actually talking about … putting together a sort of wind-down tour which we would call the ‘Farewell Tour. I guess it’s just because of our age. You know, something’s gonna happen. It’s just inevitable that somebody’s not gonna be able to do it anymore. So it would be very nice to take a nice long bow and say thank you and… put it to bed kind of gracefully.”

While Aerosmith may put their touring days behind them with one final trek, Steven Tyler is just getting started in his spinoff genre. In an earlier interview with Rolling Stone, Tyler said he has always been inspired by country artists like Johnny Horton, the Everly Brothers, Duane Eddy, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Steven revealed that the music of country artist Dan Hicks actually helped inspire the iconic 1975 Aerosmith song “Big Ten Inch Record.” Tyler even described his band’s ’90s hit “Cryin'” as a country-style tune, adding, “we just Aerosmith’d it.”

Tyler also revealed that he was ready for a change from his rock star days. Still, it sounds like Aerosmith fans will get to hear Steven Tyler sing the band’s classic songs live in concert, at least one more time. After that, all bets are off, because Steven says he would never cross his Aerosmith classics with a country concert.

“‘Walk This Way’ with banjo is ridiculous,” Tyler said.

Take a look at the video below to see Steven Tyler and Aerosmith performing the classic song “Dream On” live.

[Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images]