Steven Tyler Back in Drug Rehab; Aerosmith Seek New Singer!

It seems legendary rock vocalist Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is back in drug rehab addicted to painkillers (Oxycontin?) and Aerosmith is preparing to rock on without him. Tyler checked into the Betty Ford Treatment Center in late December, 2009 for treatment. Steven Tyler has a long history of drug abuse going way back to the 1970s when he was infamous for his heroin and cocaine addictions along with his partner in crime and guitarist for Aerosmith, Joe Perry. Tyler and Perry had both been clean and sober for years and years, however, Steven Tyler fell off the clean and sober wagon back in May, 2008 when he checked into a drug rehab facility, and it's sad to hear that Steven Tyler has once again become addicted to drugs. While Oxycontin abuse is not as bad as sticking needles in one's arms, it's still a highly addictive opiate prescribed mainly for pain relief from injuries. Steven Tyler claims he was prescribed the drugs for relief from pain from injuries suffered from years of performing, and says, ""With the help of my family and team of medical professionals, I am taking responsibility for the management of my pain and am eager to be back on the stage and in the recording studio with my bandmates."

Meanwhile, the other members of Aerosmith say they are ready to rock on without Steven Tyler and are seeking a new singer to tour with them in 2011 to celebrate Aerosmith's 40th anniversary. They claim that Steven Tyler will be out of the picture for at least a year or a year and a half, what with his upcoming foot and leg surgeries, and on top of that his addiction to painkillers. Says, Joe Perry, "In the meantime, the rest of the band wants to play." But seriously, what kind of 40th anniversary tour would it really be without gosh danged Steven Tyler??? Who could possibly replace the man?? It's Steven Tyler, baby!

Personally, I hope that Steven Tyler is able to overcome this most recent addiction, get his health back in order, and rejoin Aersomith as soon as possible. To tell the truth, I was not too surprised to hear he was back in drug rehab. It seems that every time I read an interview done with Steven Tyler -- even interviews done this past year --, he still likes to boast about all the drugs he did in the past and still glamorizes it all a bit too much, which is a dangerous thing to do if you are a recovering addict, no matter how many years of sobriety you may have. I don't mean to psychoanalyze the man, especially since I do not know him personally, but I do have some experience in this area and have seen countless friends go down the destructive road of drug addiction, which can easily destroy a life whether it be an addiction to booze, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, or even the prescription drugs which seem to be abused by so many famous celebrities these days.

That being said, here's wishing Steven Tyler success in his latest trials and here's hoping Aerosmith -- one of America's greatest rock icons -- are able to get back in the saddle again...