Aerosmith guitarist "excited" by likelihood of new frontman

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry told MTV News at Sunday night's (November 22nd) 2009 American Music Awards that he and singer Steven Tyler are still not on speaking terms following Tyler's announcement that he wanted to go solo for two years and his subsequent appearance with Perry's own solo band in New York a couple of weeks ago. Perry said, "I think that you just have to listen to what's going on in the press. Because that's the only thing I know. All I know is that the four guys (other than Tyler in Aerosmith) want to work . . . The band's going to be working."

Perry told reporters Sunday night that the four non-singing members of Aerosmith will likely begin discussions over the holidays about getting a new frontman.

As for how audiences might react to Aerosmith with a different frontman, Perry said he's not sure: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "Part of it's the personalities in the band and part of it's the songs. So we're gonna be able to deliver the songs, and also, I mean, we'll work with somebody who is gonna bring something to the party, and it may knock Aerosmith up a whole 'nother notch. So that's something I'm excited about."

Tyler has been estranged from the band since August, when he fell from a stage in South Dakota and forced the group to cancel the rest of its summer tour.

The other members have revealed that Tyler has his own management, and that none of them have had any contact with him in months. Drummer Joey Kramer and guitarist Brad Whitford have hinted that they think Tyler might be using drugs again.

Tyler did join Perry onstage in New York two weeks ago while the latter was touring with his Joe Perry Project solo band, telling the crowd that he wasn't quitting Aerosmith.