Aerosmith retired from touring over the weekend due to a vocal injurt sustained by vocalist Steven Tyler. In part, the band stated Tyler "has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible."
It's a commendable decision on the part of Aerosmith, especially considering the other option is "get out there and sound like garbage." Van Halen frontman Van Halen clearly agrees with that sentiment as well, considering his comments to the crowd at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI on August 2.
Hagar praised Aerosmith for their wise decision, later noting that some people don't really know when to retire. It's not clear who the comment was directed at, but I can certainly think of a few guys that should maybe consider walking away from the microphone these days.
"We had some crazy news today. We got here this afternoon sometime and we're all sitting around backstage and a friend of ours that works for Aerosmith came and said, 'Yeah, Aerosmith called retirement today. They quit. They stopped.' God bless 'em. It's a horrible thing. It's a horrible thing," said Hagar. "What a great fucking loss."
I gotta tell ya, one of the times in 1973, Montrose was playing Cobo, and we were opening for Aerosmeith, and we didn't know who they were, and they sold out Cobo, and I'm going, 'Who the fuck are these guys?' So, we did our show, we did an encore, and we played 'Helter Skelter' for our encore. And Aerosmith comes on and they opened with 'Helter Skelter.' Steven and I have been friends ever since."
Hagar continued: "Long story short, we love those guys. We all grew up with those guys. You grew up with them, we grew up with them, Mike and I. They've been our competitors to Van Halen for fucking 10 years. You know what I'm saying? 'Fuck those guys.' No, no, no, but we really do like them. It's just that we're mad at them. But anyway, what a shame.
"It's a sad thing, but honest to God, my hat goes off to one of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time, Mister Steven Tyler, for saying, 'I can't sing anymore. I quit.' Fuck yes. Listen, that's honorable. That's fucking honorable. The day I can't sing anymore, I will fucking do the same thing. And that's what a lot of other motherfuckers should have did a long time ago."
