MTV launched on Aug. 1, 1981. “Video Killed the Radio Star” from The Buggles played first, changing how music reached people. The channel turned music videos from throwaway promotions into creative mini-movies that influenced television, fashion, and what was popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The channel announced at the end of 2025 that it was shutting down all of its 24-hour music-only channels worldwide, marking the end of an era that began when artists realized simple lip-sync videos wouldn’t cut it anymore.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” represented the full evolution of the music video as an art. Director John Landis created the 13-and-a-half-minute horror-themed production for $500,000 at a time when most videos cost around $50,000. “For a while there, you couldn’t turn on the television without seeing ‘Thriller,’” Landis told Today.com.
Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” won nine Video Music Awards using stop-motion animation, a painstaking process that required Gabriel to lie under a glass sheet for 16 hours while animators moved objects around his face frame-by-frame.
ZZ Top reinvented itself for the MTV generation with three interconnected videos. “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs” featured a 1933 Ford Coupe called the Eliminator. The clips helped the Eliminator album sell more than all the band’s previous releases combined.
Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaborated on “Walk This Way” in 1986, breaking down barriers between rock and hip-hop in ways that still matter today. Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” won a Moonman trophy at the Video Music Awards and featured wrestler “Captain” Lou Albano as her father.
By the 2000s, MTV began having more success with reality programming such as The Osbournes, 16 and Pregnant, and Jersey Shore. Hit police drama Miami Vice was nicknamed “MTV cops” for imitating the quick-cut, glossy look of music videos during the channel’s peak years.
British rocker Yungblud — who has been praised by the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Steven Tyler and the late Ozzy Osbourne — released his fourth studio album, “Idols,” in June. The album is his third in a row to hit #1 on the U.K. charts.
The 28-year-old said he always knew he would build a career in music — and fought his way through criticism to do it.
Yungblud, who is currently on his Idols World Tour, sat down with “CBS Mornings” recently to talk about his climb to fame, how he overcame a downward spiral, and what it has meant to work with his idols.
“It was the way the music made me feel”
Born Dominic Harrison, Yungblud grew up in Doncaster, England, in a family that owned a chain of guitar shops, and he said he knew he would have a career in music.
“It was the way the music made me feel. When you listen to the Overture of ‘West Side Story,’ it gives me just as many goosebumps as like … ‘Houses of the Holy,’ Led Zeppelin,” he said.
He was drawn to the theatricality of music and trusted his instincts as a performer since his early days performing in school productions.
“When I was on stage, I made people feel something,” he said. “That doesn’t come from a place of cockiness or arrogance, I just knew that I could make people move and I could make people jump and I could make people laugh and I could make people cry.”
At just 15, he moved to London, formed a band and later became known as Yungblud.
“I thought Dominic Harrison was a bit polite,” he said.
His band quickly gained popularity – but not in England at first.
“No one cared in England, but the Netherlands, we’re the biggest rock band in the Netherlands within six months,” he said.
Yungblud soon blew up in the U.K. too, but some doubted his authenticity. The artist, who has ADHD, said his energy has always divided people.
“I think you either love me or you hate me.”
“I was completely out of control”
The higher he climbed on the music charts, the deeper the criticism cut.
“I read every opinion,” Yungblud admitted. “On social media, from a label, from every aspect of my life. I would listen to what everyone had to say. ‘Cause I ultimately— all I’ve ever wanted to be was liked by everyone since school. It really led me into a downward spiral because … I was completely out of control.”
He regained control through boxing. The sport taught him focus and discipline.
“If you waste your energy too quickly, you’re gonna get hit in the face. If you let your anger or your aggression or your emotion get the better of you, you’re gonna get hit in the face. It kinda taught me this, you have to commit to your choices,” he said.
Working with his idols
Aerosmith recently recorded with Yungblud, and Ozzy Osbourne appeared in the 2022 video for his song, “Funeral.”
At Osbourne’s farewell concert in July, Yungblud was invited to perform the Black Sabbath classic, “Changes.”
“In my mind I was like, ‘Oh wow. What an honor.’ Because with that song, I really got to thank my hero,” Yungblud said. “It was like the closest thing I’ve ever seen to magic, like an army roared this chorus because they knew it was the last time.”
Osbourne died less than three weeks later at 76 years old. Prior to his death, he gave Yungblud a cross necklace.
“He says to me, ‘I hope this brings you luck. Don’t compromise. They’ll get it later,’” Yungblud said, relaying Osbourne’s message to him. “I still feel him everywhere, man. It’s crazy. He gave me a gift. He gave me a platform.”
Since I have been in the broadcasting business for a number of years, I sometimes have folks ask me, “Why do radio stations keep playing the same songs over and over?” There are a number of correct answers to this question, but the primary reason is (no surprise here) “money.” At some point, many years ago, when research began driving programming decisions, many program directors sought to play songs that would keep listeners from switching to another station.
Among PD’s (particularly those of the classic rock variety), the message was clear: don’t risk driving a single listener away by playing a song that might not be totally familiar. You’re not going to get a raise for playing more “deep cuts.”
Which brings us to a recent survey published on the Ultimate Classic Rock website listing the top classic rock songs based on radio airplay in 2025 (so far). There were a few surprises. Number one? Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which just edged out Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” for the top spot on the list. However, GNR can take some solace in the fact that “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was ranked at number three.
Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith both had 15 songs in the top 500, but neither band cracked the top 10. Hell, “Black Dog” was Zep’s highest finisher at number 31. Interestingly, though, “Stairway to Heaven” came in at number 168, indicating that some songs can, in fact, be played to the point of listener fatigue.
In the “what the hell?” category: “Carry On Wayward Son” (number 12, thanks to the “South Park” Guitar Hero episode, no doubt, or was it because it was the unofficial anthem and fan favorite for the 15 seasons of Supernatural?), “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (number 13, but it does have a strong base of support among strippers, evidently), “Don’t Stop Believin’” (number 19 – I blame you, Tony Soprano) and “Summer of ‘69” (number 24, a stinker to be sure). In the interest of being remotely positive about Adams and his output, I suppose that “Cuts Like a Knife” isn’t so bad, but guess what? That song didn’t even make the damn list!
Ticket Alert Sue Foley, the lady with the pink paisley Telecaster, has been considered one of the best guitarists in Texas since landing in Austin during the late ‘80s. She has won a bunch of awards and released some acclaimed records, including last year’s One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar, which was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Traditional Blues Album. Tickets are on sale now for her show at the Heights Theater on Friday, November 21.
I’m not a fan of most Christmas music, but I will keep an open mind regarding Tower of Power and the band’s “Holiday and Hits” tour, which will stop at the House of Blues on Tuesday, December 9. If I can hear a funked-up “Jingle Bells” and “What Is Hip?” during the same show, I just might be on board with that sleigh ride. Presales are up now, and the general sale begins on Friday.
Want more live Christmas music? Well, the Pentatonix show at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 20, might get you to ho-ho-ho-ing. The a cappella quintet will bring its “Christmas in the City” tour to H-Town during the week before holiday, and presales are now in progress, with the general sale on Friday. In the holiday spirit of giving (and because the group hails from Arlington), $1 from the price of each ticket sold will be contributed to Texas flood relief efforts. Randy Rogers began his musical career playing joints around central Texas, soon building a regional and then a national following while he and his band began racking up hit albums and singles. You can get the password for the presale (now in progress) through the band’s website and beat the rush before the Friday ticket sale for Rogers’ show at the 713 Music Hall on Saturday, December 13.
Herb Alpert. Is he still alive? Not an unreasonable question, but the answer is a definite “yes.” The 90-year-old trumpet player still has his chops, and he is going on the road early next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his album Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which sported not only some incredibly catchy instrumentals but also a nude-but-not album cover. The presale for Alpert’s show on Saturday, January 17, at the Smart Financial Centre begins today, and the general sale is set for Friday.
Concerts This Week Editor’s Note: Flaming Lips’ Houston performance was canceled because of a family emergency.
Original story: A documentary tracking the history of the Flaming Lips called The Fearless Freaks was released some years back, and seldom has a title been more on-the-nose. Based on the early ’90 success of the single “She Don’t Use Jelly,” the band has been classified as “alternative rock,” but “alternative everything” might be a more accurate bit of nomenclature.
Musically, these guys are like no one else, incorporating a number of diverse influences along with a preponderance of psychedelia. In terms of stage craft, the Flaming Lips have utilized all sorts of fanciful gimmicks over the years, including encasing lead singer Wayne Coyne in a large plastic bubble which allowed him to walk over audience members’ outstretched hands. The band’s current tour reunites the Lips with former touring mates Modest Mouse. Catch all the trippiness tonight at the 713 Music Hall. Whipping a quick 180, let’s consider Dale Watson, who is about as hardcore country as a guy can get. After spending his early years in North Carolina, in 1977 Watson’s family moved to Pasadena, where he began playing in honky-tonks as a teenager. He soon relocated to Los Angeles, where he secured a spot in the house band at the Palomino Club, which became ground zero for alt-country. Since then, Watson has been a torchbearer for traditional country music, with songs like “Nashville Rash” and a multi-volume series of albums called The Truckin’ Sessions which contains nothing but truck-driving songs. You can hear the real deal on Saturday at the Heights Theater. The Offspring hit it big by figuring out a way to put a sheen on punk rock while not totally depriving the form of its energy and rebellion. “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” were all hits, showing a keen sense of satire while rocking hard enough to keep heads bobbing. Catch The Offspring on Saturday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on a bill with fellow poppy punkers Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.
There’s a lengthy list of musicians who have taken issue with Donald Trump over his presidential campaigns using their songs — and it only continues to grow. Dozens of artists and bands, from ABBA and Elton John to Rihanna and Paul McCartney, have publicly condemned Donald Trump since 2015 for playing their songs at his events and rallies…
Deep Purple confessed “We pulled a fast one on our fans.”
Many bands have jumped on the bandwagon of a goodbye, farewell, last time you will see, end of the road, peace out tour.
The Big Good-Bye Bands
Sept 30th 1982 The WHO played the Pontiac Silverdome
The Who has done four or more; Kiss dragged it out until they finally did it. Motley Crue flipped-flopped on their promise to hang it up. Eagles, after hell froze over, took a long goodbye to fans.
Some have many of them, and they make a lot of money with higher-priced tickets and merchandise. Many fans and people in the industry feel it’s a fun way to make lots of money.
Deep Purple Comes Clean About The Whole Idea Of Good-Bye
Deep Purple, which started in the late 1960s, is one of the pioneers of heavy metal and hard rock and roll.
Deep Purple was in town most recently in the MotorCity with YES at the Michigan Lottery Amp theater. They continue touring there, with shows on the East Coast and then in the UK, Netherlands, and Germany.
Lead singer Ian Gillan recently confessed that their 2017 tour, which was supposed to be their final tour, was just a lie to sell concert tickets.
During a recent interview, Gillan said it was a joke in 2017. “Because it was the promoters. And someone said, ‘We’ve got to sell some more tickets’. And it’s the good old standby, the farewell tour. So I said, ‘OK, we’ll call it the ‘goodbye’ tour, but let’s call it ‘the long goodbye,’ and emphasize the word ‘long,’ so it’s an enigmatic phrase.”
The trick worked, and more tickets were sold. Now, seven years later, Gillan says that even today, the band does not intend to quit any time soon.
Aerosmith Was On A Peace Out Farewell Tour
I give Aerosmith a pass on this one, as the tour was getting underway. The band had never said goodbye before, so this one was on the up and up.
Aerosmith has canceled its farewell tour due to lead singer Steven Tyler’s vocal cord injury. However, the band will still get in the studio to make some future magic.
Ted Nugent’s ‘Adios Mofo ’23 Tour’
‘Adios Mofo ’23’ Final Tour.
Ted is still doing shows, just not full-blown-out massive tours.
“The musical dream will continue, but I’m not going on tour anymore because hotels are in jail. [Laughs] A hotel room is a jail for me. Plus, Ted’s hunting dogs miss him when out on the road. Ted also doesn’t charge outrageous sums of money to see a show.
Foreigner’s ‘Historic Farewell Tour’
Foreigner on Stage at Pine Knob during the 94.7 WCSX Anniversary Show on June 15, 2024.
Foreigner will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 19, 2024.
Foreigner is still on an open-ended farewell tour that could continue into 2025. The band may also perform occasionally or have residencies after the tour. Mick Jones, the only remaining founding member of the band, has said that he’s comfortable with the decision to retire because the band members have given so much to the band and want to spend more time with their families.
Lou Gramm on stage at WCSX’s Bret Michaels Party Gras
Foreigner Lou Gramm was recently on stage with Bret Michaels’ Parti Gras. I saw this live and must say Lou Gramm’s voice was impressive. No backtracks were needed for this guy, as he hit high notes like the good old days.
List Of Some Of The Most Expensive Records Ever Sold
(photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Some of The Most Expensive Records Ever Sold will astound you with how much they went for.
Whether you are new to collecting records or a seasoned vinyl hoarder like me, one of the joys of expanding your collection is finding a bargain. Whether that means picking up an album in a sale or digging through the crates in your local charity shop, Salvation Army bins, or garage sale finds, you never know when or where you might uncover something rare.
There is plenty of folklore surrounding the community of record collectors—tales of “Holy Grail” discoveries that often motivate music enthusiasts to keep digging.
One Really Rare Find Was Here In Michigan
Denise and Dan Zieja have a vast record collection, which is an understatement. Good friends of mine have more than one incredible story from the local record store Melodies & Memories in Eastpoint, MI.
One treasure came as a test pressing from an artist-turned-producer named Frank Wilson.
Only 250 demo copies of this single by Motown soul singer and producer Frank Wilson were ever pressed, and only around five are reported to have survived when Motown boss Berry Gordy destroyed the rest.
Stories about the reason for their destruction vary. Still, rumor has it that Gordy wasn’t too happy about the prospect of one of his best producers launching a singing career, ordering the demos to be trashed, and dating his daughter, maybe?
It’s also said that Wilson felt the same way and decided against releasing the single, but either way, a handful slipped through the net, and the exact number of surviving copies isn’t known for sure. Gordy is said to possess one of them.
Several decades later, an incredibly rare test pressing of “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” ended up in the hands of Dan & Denise Zieja,
“Everybody wanted to know about it, but we always knew that it had to stay in Detroit, that it had to stay where it belongs,” Denise Zieja said. “I got offers from all over the world, including here at home, from Third Man Records owner Jack White.
Jack White Gets A Rare Record
When Jack White a known vinyl collector learned about the existence of the rare Frank Wilson recording he expressed interest in purchasing it from the family.
White officially acquired the 45 single, and on Record Store Day at Third Man Records in Detroit’s Cass Corridor, they also pressed a limited amount of copies of the single on purple vinyl.
Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, “Chit!.” Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.
Aerosmith fans were delivered quite the blow this month when the iconic band announced their farewell tour was canceled and that they were retiring from touring. In a new interview, bassist Tom Hamilton talked about the state and future of Aerosmith.
Hamilton offered up some clarification to Charlie Kendall’s Metalshop about Steven Tyler’s voice. Hamilton said Tyler’s vocal injury “wasn’t a case of him blowing his throat out by doing something wrong.” Instead, Tyler had a freak fall during the third show of Aerosmith’s farewell tour, which resulted in him fracturing his larynx.
He added, “We don’t know what the future holds, but it won’t include touring.” As far as the decision to retire from the road, Hamilton said it was a decision made by both the band and their management.
When asked whether Aerosmith would move on without Tyler, Hamilton said, “There’s been no talk at all about going on the road with another singer. I can’t imagine it.”
Hamilton was asked whether Aerosmith might take the KISS route and do some sort of avatar version of the band and said, “A virtual Aerosmith? I’m drawing a blank on that one.”
A Timeline of Aerosmith’s Retirement From Touring
In September 2023, Aerosmith postponed a handful of dates on their farewell tour. At the time, it was revealed Tyler suffered vocal cord damage that led to “subsequent bleeding.” Doctors also instructed him to go on vocal rest and not sing for 30 days.
Weeks later, Aerosmith postponed their entire farewell tour until 2024 due to issues related to Tyler’s vocal cord injury.
The band shared in a statement, “Unfortunately, Steven’s vocal injury is more serious than initially thought. His doctor has confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx which requires ongoing care.”
The band noted, “He is receiving the best medical treatment available to ensure his recovery is swift, but given the nature of a fracture, he is being told patience is essential.”
Tyler added in his own personal statement, “I am heartbroken to not be out there with Aerosmith, my brothers and the incredible Black Crowes, rocking with the best fans in the world. I promise we will be back as soon as we can!”
On August 2, Aerosmith issued the following statement:
“It was 1970 when a spark of inspiration became Aerosmith. Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades. Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock ‘n’ roll history.
It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.
We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.
We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time. Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”
Erica Banas is a news blogger who’s been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she’s ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C’mon now!) She’s also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
On Friday, the band announced their “heartbreaking and difficult” decision to retire from touring in a statement shared on their website and social media accounts, citing 76-year-old lead singer Steven Tyler’s vocal injury, which he sustained during a show in September 2023.
“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” the band said in their statement. “In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.”
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during night one of their “Peace Out: The Farewell Tour” on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
(Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing,” the statement continued. “As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side.”
“Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible,” the statement further said. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”
Aerosmith, which formed in Boston in 1970 with Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, previously shared the news about Tyler’s vocal cord injury, in a statement shared on Facebook.
“To our fans: Unfortunately, Steven’s vocal injury is more serious than initially thought,” the statement began. “His doctor has confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx which requires ongoing care.”
At the time, the band was supposed to embark on their farewell tour, titled “Peace Out,” which they said would be their last. The tour, which was announced in May 2023, included a 40-date run of shows and was slated to kick off in Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2023, with The Black Crowes as their special guest.
The tour was rescheduled to commence on Sept. 20, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
A message from Tyler was also shared in the statement then, in which he said he was “heartbroken to not be out there with Aerosmith, my brothers and the incredible Black Crowes, rocking with the best fans in the world.”
“I promise we will be back as soon as we can!” he added.
The band also previously canceled several Las Vegas shows in 2022 due to an undisclosed illness of Tyler.
In their statement on Friday, the band shared how excited they were to hit the road for their tour.
“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time,” they said. “Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”
Their statement concluded with information on how concertgoers will be automatically refunded if they purchased their tickets through Ticketmaster. Those who purchased theirs on a third-party resale site will need to reach out to their point of purchase for more details.
“Good Morning America” has reached out to Aerosmith’s rep for additional comment.
On Friday, the band announced their “heartbreaking and difficult” decision to retire from touring in a statement shared on their website and social media accounts, citing 76-year-old lead singer Steven Tyler’s vocal injury, which he sustained during a show in September 2023.
“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” the band said in their statement. “In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.”
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during night one of their “Peace Out: The Farewell Tour” on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
(Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing,” the statement continued. “As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side.”
“Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible,” the statement further said. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”
Aerosmith, which formed in Boston in 1970 with Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, previously shared the news about Tyler’s vocal cord injury, in a statement shared on Facebook.
“To our fans: Unfortunately, Steven’s vocal injury is more serious than initially thought,” the statement began. “His doctor has confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx which requires ongoing care.”
At the time, the band was supposed to embark on their farewell tour, titled “Peace Out,” which they said would be their last. The tour, which was announced in May 2023, included a 40-date run of shows and was slated to kick off in Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2023, with The Black Crowes as their special guest.
The tour was rescheduled to commence on Sept. 20, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
A message from Tyler was also shared in the statement then, in which he said he was “heartbroken to not be out there with Aerosmith, my brothers and the incredible Black Crowes, rocking with the best fans in the world.”
“I promise we will be back as soon as we can!” he added.
The band also previously canceled several Las Vegas shows in 2022 due to an undisclosed illness of Tyler.
In their statement on Friday, the band shared how excited they were to hit the road for their tour.
“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time,” they said. “Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”
Their statement concluded with information on how concertgoers will be automatically refunded if they purchased their tickets through Ticketmaster. Those who purchased theirs on a third-party resale site will need to reach out to their point of purchase for more details.
“Good Morning America” has reached out to Aerosmith’s rep for additional comment.
BOSTON – Massachusetts-based rock band Aerosmith has announced that they’re retiring from touring and cancelling their farewell tour due to lead singer Steven Tyler’s vocal injury.
“Heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision”
In a statement posted on social media, the band said, in part, “We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”
Brad Whitford, Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton and Joe Perry of Aerosmith perform at UBS Arena on September 09, 2023 in Elmont, New York.
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Tyler sustained the vocal injury during a concert last September and initially said he wouldn’t be able to sing for the next 30 days. But Aerosmith later had to announce that the tour would have to be put on hold because the injury was “more serious than initially thought.”
The band was supposed to resume their farewell tour on Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh with stops after that in Philadelphia, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New York. They were also set to perform a “hometown show” last New Year’s Eve at Boston’s TD Garden to ring in the new year before it was cancelled due to Tyler’s injury.
“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time. Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true,” the band continued in their statement.
What happens to my Aerosmith tickets?
The band said anyone who purchased concert tickets through Ticketmaster will be refunded automatically. Those who bought their tickets through sites like StubHub or SeatGeek need to contact their point of purchase for more information.
Victoria D. is a digital producer for CBS Boston. Before joining CBS Boston in 2023, Victoria had already worked in journalism in both New York and Boston for more than 10 years.
Aerosmith have added an Orlando date to their farewell tour
Veteran rockers Aerosmith have expanded their “Peace Out” farewell tour, adding a handful of shows that include a brand-new date in Orlando next year.
The band’s “Peace Out” jaunt — with blues-rockers the Black Crowes along for the ride as touring openers — kicks off in Pittsburgh this fall. “Peace Out” celebrates 50 years’ worth of Aerosmith music, with a setlist pulling from all eras of the band’s discography.
Originally kicking off last year, the “Peace Out” run was postponed after a few shows, when singer Steven Tyler suffered a vocal injury. This week’s announcement sees all dates rescheduled, and even a couple of new shows added. The tour includes only one other Florida date, on Valentine’s Day 2025.
Aerosmith and the Black Crowes play the Kia Center on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 12, through Ticketmaster.
A lawsuit accusing Steven Tyler of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 1975 was dismissed by a judge on Wednesday, Deadline reports.
In the suit, which was filed in November, Jeanne Bellino alleges that the Aerosmith frontman, who was 27 at the time, sexually assaulted her twice when the pair met in 1975, first in a phone booth and then at the Warwick Hotel, by groping and forcibly kissing her.
Bellino’s suit was brought under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which extended the statute of limitations for older cases. However, the judge ruled that Bellino’s case didn’t qualify for the two-year window for older incidents, because she didn’t “allege conduct presenting a serious risk of physical injury.”
In response, Bellino’s counsel released a statement saying, “Tyler’s lawyers filed the motion to ask the Court to dismiss the lawsuit in early February but failed to serve it on the survivor as required by court rules to allow the Plaintiff to file an opposition. The Plaintiff, Jeanne Bellino, will ask the Court to reinstate the lawsuit.”
The suit was one of two pending against Tyler. The other was filed in California in 2022 by a woman who says she had a sexual relationship in 1973 with Tyler while she was 16, and is still in process.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been accused of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a minor in a new lawsuit filed by Julia Holcomb — who says she was 16 years old when Tyler first targeted her in 1973.
The lawsuit, which was filed under a 2019 California law that temporarily waives the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault, claims that Tyler used his position as a rich, famous rock star to manipulate her into having a sexual relationship with him when she was underage.
While the lawsuit does not directly identify Tyler by name, instead referring to Doe 1 and Does 2 through 50, Holcomb has spoken publicly about her allegations against Tyler — and some of the details in the suit were taken from the rock star’s own memoir.
Holcomb alleges that she met Tyler during an Aerosmith concert in Portland, Ore., just after her 16th birthday. Tyler, now 74, would have been 25 at the time.
According to the suit, which was obtained by Rolling Stone, Tyler brought Holcomb back to his hotel room and they discussed her age, as well as her troubled home life. Tyler then allegedly “performed various acts of criminal sexual conduct upon” her before sending her home the next morning.
Holcomb says she was “powerless to resist” Tyler because of his “power, fame and substantial financial ability.” The lawsuit reads that Tyler “coerced and persuaded Plaintiff into believing this was a ‘romantic love affair.’”
In 1974, Tyler allegedly convinced Holcomb’s mother to list him as her guardian, which would allow him to travel with Holcomb across state lines and bring the minor on tour without the fear of prosecution.
Tyler writes of this incident in his own memoir, saying he “almost took a teen bride,” and that “her parents fell in love with me, signed a paper over for me to have custody, so I wouldn’t get arrested if I took her out of state.”
The lawsuit alleges that in 1975, Holcomb became pregnant with Tyler’s son when she was 17 years old, but was convinced to get an abortion by the Aerosmith frontman — a claim she has spoken about before at anti-abortion rallies and in public interviews.
Tyler allegedly insisted on the abortion following an apartment fire, arguing that their unborn baby would be harmed due to the smoke inhalation and the fact that Holcomb had been taking drugs during their relationship — drugs that, Holcomb claims, were being provided by Tyler.
According to the lawsuit, Holcomb went through with the abortion after Tyler threatened to stop supporting her. After terminating the pregnancy, Holcomb says she left Tyler and moved back to Portland, where she became a devout Catholic and eventually met her husband.
Holcomb claims she buried these memories of Tyler until the rock star wrote about them in his memoir and subjected her to “involuntary infamy” by framing her childhood sexual assault as a “romantic, loving relationship.”
The 1997 Aerosmith autobiography references Tyler’s relationship with an underage girl, the apartment fire and abortion — though the victim in question is referred to as Diana. Tyler further wrote about these events in his own memoir and mentioned the apartment fire, but not the abortion.
The acknowledgments of Tyler’s memoirs include Julia Halcomb, which could be a misspelling of Holcomb.
Story continues below advertisement
Steven Tyler sends Donald Trump cease-and-desist letter for playing Aerosmith at rallies
