Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford has revealed that the band feel “a little bit abandoned” by Steven Tyler, who is currently concentrating on his country-influenced solo work.
Whitford revealed that plans to tour in early 2016 were put on hold by the frontman, telling Billboard.com “Steven doesn’t want to do it.”
“It’s unfortunate,” he continues. “We kind of feel a little bit abandoned by him. I guess he seems to think his solo career is going to go great guns, and he doesn’t seem to realise that – in my opinion – his fans around the globe want to see him in the context of Aerosmith and don’t really care for whatever he thinks he’s gonna do.”
“I don’t know if he gets that but, hey, that’s what he wants to do. I can’t put a gun to his head. It’s just pretty disappointing.”
Tyler’s solo record, which is being recorded in Nashville, is expected in 2016. Tyler previewed some of the tracks at a gig in New York in September.
Last year, Tyler told Rolling Stone: “I grew up in the woods of New Hampshire… I have more country in me than people think.”
He’s no stranger to the country scene. In the past year, he has performed with country stars including Brad Paisley, Jana Kramer, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, and has signed to the same record label as Taylor Swift, Big Machine.