For Aerosmith fans, the end of the road came far sooner than expected. In September 2023, the band kicked off their much-hyped Peace Out farewell tour — only for it to be derailed after just three shows when Steven Tyler badly injured his larynx. What was supposed to be a grand goodbye turned into a sudden silence.
By August 2024, the group made it official: they were retiring from the road. For many, that announcement felt like the closing of a chapter that had spanned more than five decades.
And yet, when Tyler made a surprise appearance at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert last month, rumors started swirling: could Aerosmith really come back for one more run?
Joe Perry, ever the straight-talker, quickly set expectations. “He just doesn’t want to tour, and he can’t tour,” the guitarist told WBUR. “I’m not sure I would want to go out and book another 40-city tour either. It’s a long way to the top and staying there takes it out of you — especially an Aerosmith tour.”
Still, Perry admits the door isn’t completely shut. Another Las Vegas residency like their Deuces Are Wild shows in 2019 and 2022? “I’ll never say never, but I wouldn’t bet on it,” he said with a grin.
But a single, final Aerosmith performance? That’s something Perry still believes could happen. “I would bet that there’s an Aerosmith show left,” he revealed, echoing what he told Eddie Trunk earlier this summer. “We’re all alive and well, so we’ll just have to see… I know there’s gotta be at least another Aerosmith gig. I’m just not looking forward to putting that setlist together.”
Could Tyler handle one last night under the lights? Perry thinks so. “I think he would. It’s just a matter of getting there, you know? We’re up there, man. And it’s a lot.”
Until then, Perry is keeping busy. This week, he’ll launch a short North American run with the Joe Perry Project, joined by Aerosmith bandmate Brad Whitford, longtime touring member Buck Johnson, Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo, and Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson.
“The vibe is loose — kind of like a garage band, but on a big stage,” Perry said. “This lineup is a dream, and these gigs are selling out. It’s a good place to be.”
