Aerosmith Pauses Touring; Other Options Still Open

In a candid new conversation with Billboard, Joe Perry offered a measured update on the future of Aerosmith, nearly two years after the group formally retired from touring due to Steven Tyler’s devastating vocal injury.

A Band in Limbo, Not in Retirement

While Aerosmith may be off the road, Perry made it clear that the band’s story is not necessarily finished. The guitarist described the group as “definitely not in touring mode,” but stopped short of declaring a permanent end to live appearances.

“The band is still kind of definitely not in touring mode, but there are certainly other options, so we stay in touch,” Perry said, suggesting that one-off performances or special appearances remain within the realm of possibility.

The band’s August 2, 2024 announcement marked a sobering moment for fans worldwide, coming almost a year after Tyler fractured his larynx during a September 2023 show. The injury abruptly halted their “Peace Out” farewell tour, which had only just begun and was expected to run into early 2024.

Steven Tyler’s Long Road Back

Central to any potential return is Tyler’s recovery — a process Perry described as slow, careful, and uncertain. According to the guitarist, it has only been in recent months that the frontman has begun to feel comfortable using his voice again.

“You just never know,” Perry admitted. “It’s just been in the last six months that Steven’s started to get comfortable with singing; he literally had to take a year off before he was able to start stretching his vocal cords, and you’re always worried about reinjuring it.”

He continued with a reflection that underscores the band’s current mindset:

“I learned a long time ago that everything we do is fragile… so we just take it day by day. You hope for the best. You just have to have the confidence and have that vision of positive in front of you. You can’t do it unless you envision it.”

That cautious optimism was briefly realized on April 30, 2025, when Perry and Tyler shared a stage once again at a private San Francisco benefit for Janie’s Fund — Tyler’s organization supporting young women who have experienced trauma. The performance, though intimate, hinted at a resilience that fans have long associated with the band.

Beyond Aerosmith: New Chapters and Lingering Echoes

Even as Aerosmith’s future remains uncertain, its members continue to explore creative avenues. Perry and Tyler recently teamed up with Yungblud for the EP “One More Time,” blending generations of rock in a collaboration that felt both nostalgic and forward-looking. Tyler also joined Yungblud onstage during the “Back To The Beginning” concert honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath in Birmingham — a symbolic passing of the torch between eras of rock history.

Meanwhile, Perry is preparing to return to the road in Europe with Hollywood Vampires, alongside Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, and Johnny Depp. Yet even as he steps into another high-profile project, the shadow of Aerosmith looms large.

For Perry, the road ahead appears less about replacing the past and more about preserving its legacy. Whether through selective appearances, studio work, or simply maintaining the bond between bandmates, the guitarist seems intent on keeping Aerosmith’s spirit alive — even if its days of full-scale touring have passed.

In that sense, the band’s future may not be defined by grand comebacks, but by quieter, more deliberate moments — the kind that reflect both the fragility Perry speaks of and the enduring power of a group that helped shape rock music for over five decades.