Steven Tyler: ‘I Snorted Half Of Peru,’ Aerosmith Frontman Admits To $6 Million Cocaine Habit
Steve Tyler, known to millions as Aerosmith’s colorfully eccentric, gravity-defying frontman, has admitted to hoovering between five to six million dollars worth of cocaine in his time.
Tyler made the startling admission — if only for the amount — in an interview with Australia’s syndicate of 60 Minutes.
Responding to reporter Liz Hayes’ inquiry that the singer’s habit had led to him taking around $20 million dollars worth of cocaine, Tyler corrected his host saying:
“Realistically, 5 or 6. But it doesn’t matter. You also could say I snorted half of Peru, but it doesn’t matter.”
The ex-American Idol judge, who had been sober for over 20 years, relapsed in the late 2000’s with prescription medications, but successfully overcame it with addiction treatment in 2009, News.com reports.
Since then, Tyler, has said his relationship with his fellow band members has healed since he kicked his habit. Addressing his relationship with Aerosmith guitarist, Joe Perry, Tyler said:
“We can still be toxic. We fight toxic and we play toxic.”
In fact, the pair are known as the “toxic twins” and reportedly fell out over the singer’s appearances on Idol. However, their friendship is now said to be back on track since Tyler left the talent show.
Aerosmith, who formed in Boston, have been delighting audiences since 1970 and hold the record for the best-selling American rock band of all time with album sales of more than 150 million, according to TNT magazine.
The frontman, who has recently been fighting a battle of a different kind, is campaigning for more regulation and protection from privacy infringements by paparazzi.
Tyler’s proposal of “The Steven Tyler Act”, also known as Hawaii Senate Bill 465, would ideally give celebrities the ability to sue photographers if they film in private areas.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the bill is asking for a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”
The new bill is currently being endorsed by two-thirds of the Hawaiian Senate and will soon be presented for voting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Watch a preview of Tyler’s 60 Minutes interview below. The program airs on Australia’s Channel 9 this Sunday, February 24.