Matt Sorum Confirms Steven Tyler’s Touring Days Are Over

LOS ANGELES, CA — Steven Tyler‘s days of touring appear to be over, according to former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum. During a Feb. 13 interview, Sorum spoke about the Aerosmith frontman’s recent live performance and the impact of his ongoing vocal struggles.

Tyler, 77, performed a set of Aerosmith hits on Feb. 2 during his Jam for Janie benefit concert in Los Angeles, aimed at helping girls affected by trauma and abuse. Sorum noted that the performance was significant for Tyler, who had sustained a serious vocal injury in September 2023 that forced Aerosmith to postpone their farewell tour.

“It was a really big moment for him because he hurt himself bad,” Sorum said. “Now, is he gonna tour again? No, he’s not. Because, and I explained this to people, Steven cannot put himself under the rigors of doing a full worldwide tour because there’s a lot of pressure.”

Sorum emphasized the incredible expectations Tyler places on himself as a performer. “If you’re not a singer, you wouldn’t understand what he goes through, but he’s a perfectionist,” Sorum said. “And if he doesn’t sing correctly, it bothers him.”

During the radio interview, Sorum elaborated on Tyler’s approach to his music. “He’s not going to tape his current voice or change the keys to better harmonize with the music. That’s just who he is. He’s, like, ‘I’m an artist. I’m a singer. This is my band. I’ve been doing this for 50 years. And if I can’t do it perfect, I can’t do it,’” Sorum explained. “And I respect that.”

Sorum revealed that he has discussed the possibility of Tyler performing a limited number of songs in the future. “I talked to him about it multiple times. I said, ‘So, just sing four or five songs tops.’ He says, ‘I can do that,’” Sorum said. “And that was just one time. Maybe down the line, he’ll do it again and possibly do the same amount of songs. It’s a lot of pressure for a guy like him.”

In August 2024, Aerosmith announced they would officially step away from touring, a tough decision following Tyler’s vocal injury. The band’s statement acknowledged the prolonged efforts Tyler had made to regain his singing voice, but noted that a full recovery was not possible. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage,” the band shared.

The recent Grammys event marked Tyler’s only second live performance since his injury. The first was in May 2024 in London when he surprised fans by singing Aerosmith’s classic “Mama Kin.” Despite the cheers from the crowd and a triumphant return, Sorum remains firm that the stress and physical demands of touring are no longer feasible for Tyler.

“Some fans were a little bit, like, ‘Well, he can sing.’ Well, let me just explain what’s happening with Steven Tyler,” Sorum remarked. “He went out and sang. And it was a really big moment for him. It’s a lot of pressure.”