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Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton: ‘The Band Is Still Alive’
‘Sweet Emotion’ cowriter tells AARP his hopes for the group’s future on a scale of 1 to 10 are ‘between 7 and 9’
(Left to right) Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry, Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith.
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
“I’m not dead.” That old Monty Python gag (uttered by a plague-stricken man protesting his placement on a cart laden with bodies) couldn’t help but rattle around the brain of some Aerosmith fans after the band canceled its fall tour Aug. 2.
Lead singer Steven Tyler, 76, fractured his larynx last September after falling onstage. His recovery hasn’t gone well, and now Aerosmith’s touring career is over.
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But don’t count Aerosmith out just yet. “The band is still alive,” says Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, 72, who with Tyler cowrote “Sweet Emotion,” which recently hit number 8 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart (“Dream On” was number 1). We don’t know if Aerosmith will ever “Walk This Way” again — but it’s not too late to dream on about its new life in one form or another.
Hamilton tells AARP what the future may hold for a band that’s had more than one comeback on the road to selling 150 million albums.
How much hope does Aerosmith have on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being “doubtful we’ll do anything,” and 10 being “Yes, we’ll be doing something”?
On the hope scale, I’m somewhere between 7 and 9. We won’t be doing any tours from now on, but I’ll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along. This isn’t the first time black clouds have been on our horizon — and somehow the sun managed to come out.
Time and hope are all we have at the moment.
Steven Tyler performs at UBS Arena on Sept. 9, 2023 in Elmont, New York.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
What did it feel like when the tour was canceled this August?
Steven’s injury to his throat was really bad. I was surprised but not shocked. Still, it was a real punch in the gut. My mother once told me that our family motto was “Que será, será.” I’ve had plenty of practice when it comes to accepting reality and moving ahead.
Is it incredibly frustrating not to do a proper farewell tour after building up for it so long — or is there any sense of relief in not doing this tour? It’s quite a grind.
There was no sense of relief for me. I was ready to go.
Tom Hamilton performs on the Sunset Cliffs Stage during the 2016 KAABOO Del Mar at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Sept. 17, 2016 in Del Mar, California.
Getty Images
Would your own health have been OK on a tour?
I had a lot of radiation back in 2006 [for throat cancer]. The thing about radiation is that you can get aftereffects years later, and in my case, it showed up as some damage to the nerves in my arm and hand. But I’ve figured out a way to get around it. Actually, I think my body figured out a way by itself. Then there’s the normal wear and tear that comes from slamming your fingers into steel cables for 50-plus years. But when you love to do something, you come up with ways to keep doing it.
Realistically, could Tyler get better?
Steven has a way of powering through challenges like this one. He’s done it before. You never know. We won’t be touring, but there are a lot of other ways to be and do Aerosmith.
Would a Las Vegas residency be the most likely place to resume?
I loved doing those Vegas residencies. I have doubts that there are any more in the future. But …
Steven Tyler
Richard E. Aaron/Getty Images
You haven’t done an album of new material since 2012. If Tyler got the go-ahead from his doctors, could it happen? Are there songs built up ready to be worked on?
So far there hasn’t been any talk about a new Aerosmith album.
With Aerosmith on hold, I think there’s a good chance your bandmate Joe Perry will revive the Joe Perry Project, which toured in 2023. And I know you’re working on Del Fuegos drummer and addiction counselor Woody Giessmann’s Rock Bottom musical, about the addiction and recovery process.
Woody asked me to play some bass on that project. It was extremely rewarding, and I hope to continue to be involved.
I’m also playing in a band called Close Enemies with my bass tech, Trace Foster. He plays guitar along with Peter Stroud, who’s been playing with Sheryl Crow for 25 years. Our drummer is Tony Brock, who had a band called the Babys and then played with Rod Stewart for 12 years. We have a great lyricist named Gary Stier. Our singer, Chasen Hampton, is a gifted singer who really made the songs come to life. When I joined, these guys had worked up a bunch of great songs, and I was able to contribute something I had. Hopefully, when the time comes, we’ll work up some others I’ve had in my pocket for a while. All of these guys are great musicians, and it’s an honor and a challenge to be part of it all. I’m looking forward to seeing how people like it. I think they’ll be pleasantly amazed!
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