Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Claims Sobriety (On Stage, At Least)

August 25, 2009 by Eric J

Steven Tyler wants to squash all the rumors flying about after his tumble from the stage in South Dakota, which resulted in a broken shoulder. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Tyler states that he was just “in the zone” when he fell. Personally, I think he was trying to stage dive, and forgot his age for a moment.

On his health:

“I’ve been better. I’ve got my arm in a sling [from a broken shoulder]. I’m on all the drugs I’m not supposed to be on. But I’m dealing with the pain pretty good.”

On his failed stage dive:

“I don’t really know. There was a torrential downpour and the guys [at the campground] said, “Look, it’s still slippery.” I watched myself on YouTube, and it could have been my knee buckling or any ankle. The last thing I remember before I hit the ground was people grabbing for me, but they couldn’t reach me because of the barricade. At any other Aerosmith show I probably would’ve been caught and thrown back onto the stage — naked and without jewelry [laughs]. I stood up and couldn’t raise my arm and knew I’d broken something.”

On the rumors of strife within the band:

“Someone is leaking stuff, pretending to know, and you know, I don’t even care. Has the band done things to me where I’ve wanted to quit? Positively. But I’ve stuck in there for the sake of a few sounds we got. I respect the power this band has in and of itself regardless of who says what.”

Watch the video below, and read the entire interview here!