Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton said that he was “surprised but not shocked” when he heard about the band’s touring retirement, but admitted that it’s “hard” watching his peers push on.
In early August, the American hard rock heavyweights put an end to over five decades of delivering unforgettable live shows, in a difficult move that had veterans such as Sammy Hagar and Nikki Sixx praise their colleagues from Aerosmith for their braveness and honesty. The decision to stop touring came almost a year after Steven Tyler injured his vocal cords, and the band’s already rescheduled “Peace Out” farewell tour had to be canceled.
Having to retire from touring must have been tough for a band that’s been at it for so long, and bassist Tom Hamilton said as much during a recent interview with Bass Player. Moreover, Hamilton refuses to accept that Aerosmith will never grace the stage again:
“I find it hard to believe that we’ll never play again. I’ve been surprised by things that have happened with this band too many times to think that the future is closed.”
Given that Tyler’s problems had been already going on for a year when the decision was made, Hamilton said he was “surprised but not shocked” when he got the news. Praising his bandmate’s determination to push through the show on which he got injured, the bassist said:
“When Steven fell, he hit his larynx on a railing and fractured it. I still can’t believe he finished the show. It’s not the first time he’s had an injury during a show and powered through it. I know how hard he worked on healing and working on getting ready to go on the road again – but it just wasn’t possible.”
Asked to summarize the current state of the Aerosmith camp, Hamilton offered:
“It was a punch in the gut finding our touring days are over. Maybe someday we can do something again, but it won’t be a tour. I’ve been keeping busy playing in a band we’re calling Close Enemies. We’ve recorded a bunch of killer songs and we’re getting closer to deciding how we’re going to put it out. Can’t wait!”
He added:
“My Aerosmith bandmates and I are still in reaction mode. It’s hard going online and seeing all the other bands out there, but I try to keep myself from dwelling on it and letting myself go to a dark place inside. It’s painful thinking about all the fans who were waiting to come see us. I’ll always be grateful to them for being there for us.”
