Tag: Rehab/Therapy

Steve Tyler Needs a Replacement?!

Posted by Kat – January 21, 2010

Okay, so you might have heard a whisper here or there that Steve Tyler was now in rehab for a major addiction to painkillers. He announced it back in December, but he also announced that he was going to be actively writing and recording along with Aerosmith as soon as he could get things squared away. As it turns out, though, the guitarist, Joe Perry, has just let loose a major bombshell. The rest of the band is looking to replace Tyler.

Now, your brain probably just went “What? Aerosmith without Steve Tyler? Is that even possible?” But, the boys of the band have started to put the word out that not only is it possible, they’re going to be holding actual auditions soon to find the new front runner of Aerosmith. They haven’t stated whether or not this is going to be a permanent switch, but let’s just say that if Tyler doesn’t get clean quick, he might find himself kicked out of the band.

Part of the problem isn’t just that Tyler’s in rehab, though, it’s also because he’s got surgery on top of it, and there’s just no telling if he’ll be out in time for the 2011 40th anniversary of the group coming up. There’s a few people that they’ve spoken to, and the band, not surprisingly, sees having a new singer the same as getting a guitarist for when someone’s sick. Unlike many other bands, where the singer sees himself as the front liner and without him, the band would never make it, it looks like Aerosmith is not following that formula. There’s no official word on when the auditions will be, but it looks like whoever steps in is going to have some massive, massive shoes to fill and some fans to majorly impress. I do not envy the singer.

Eminem Gets Much Needed Help From An Unlikely Friend

Posted by Kat – January 4, 2010

When you think of hardcore rapper Eminem, the last thing you’d think of is going to be the man who wrote “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John. But, it seems that Eminem has been looking for a friend with one of the friendliest artists of the music industry. In an interview with BBC Radio on Saturday, Sir Elton came out saying that Enimen has been coming to him as a supportive friend and confidante during this time. Of course, who better to go to then Elton John, known for his supportive nature. In fact, Elton John stated that he enjoyed giving help to those friends who needed and asked for it, and it seems that Eminem has been no exception.

Eminem spoke in the past of his problems with substance abuse, mainly due to a dependence on painkillers, such as Vicodin. He has mentioned how quickly he was spiraling downwards due to the addiction. In fact, as the drugs went from one prescription medication to quite a few, Eminem recounts how he found himself taking up to 20 pills a day and it had gotten to the point where he didn’t even know what he was taking.

Elton John has been there for Eminem for other situations as well, namely to combat accusations that Eminem’s lyrics were homophobic. He was the one to discuss making sure that he would perform at the Grammy’s, but only if Sir Elton would be there. When he did perform alongside him during the Grammy’s, it made an unintentional statement. He didn’t care about his orientation and Elton was supportive of the performance, helping to forget a friendship that clearly has been one of the best influences on Eminem’s personal recovery. One can only hope that Elton John and Eminem’s friendship will continue to be strong and help the younger man recover from a difficult addiction.