The Truth About Steven Tyler's Journey With Addiction

Steven Tyler is the lead singer of one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, Aerosmith. Tyler and his bandmates, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Ray Tabano, conquered the charts in the '70s and '80s (via Express). The group has produced dozens of hit songs such as "Dream On," "Crazy," "Sweet Emotion," "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," and "Walk This Way" (via Return of Rock).

However, as the band was navigating its rising fame, things behind the scenes weren't always easy. The hard-partying lifestyle of the rock scene took a toll on many stars of that time, including the Aerosmith frontman. In fact, Tyler's serious addiction to drugs and alcohol nearly cost him everything, including the band and his life. 

Thankfully, Tyler has gotten the help he needed on multiple occasions to continue creating the music that his fans love so much.

While Steven Tyler's music career was skyrocketing, he was spiraling into a pit of addiction, per American Addiction Centers. "It was more or less the thing to do," Tyler told GQ of his hard-partying lifestyle. "I don't think there were any bands that even knew what sober was."

Tyler admits to drinking way too much and using a multitude of drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and LSD. However, because that was considered to be the rock and roll lifestyle, he didn't believe he had a problem.

Instead, Tyler claims he believed that the drugs and alcohol helped his creative process and allowed him to produce hit songs. "It absolutely works for a while. But then things go wrong," he admitted. "You become addicted, it's something you do all the time, and suddenly it starts influencing your greatness."

Eventually, things got so bad for the singer that his bandmates were forced to speak up. The band staged an intervention for Tyler in the '80s and sent him to rehab. Afterward, he stayed sober for a decade, but, sadly, it didn't last.

After an intervention set up by his band, Steven Tyler spent a decade clean and sober (via American Addiction Centers). However, the Aerosmith singer suffered a relapse in the early 2000s when he was taking prescription pain medication following foot surgery. 

Tyler struggled for years after falling off the wagon. However, it wasn't until he checked himself back into rehab in 2009 that he returned to sober living yet again. The rocker has shared that it was because of the intervention in the '80s and his first trip to rehab that he had the courage to find help following his relapse.

After getting sober yet again, Tyler said that he took the proper steps to help him maintain his sobriety, which included attending AA meetings. 

"I continue to partake in the 12-step program," he told GQ back in 2019. "I can be in Afghanistan, I can be in Japan, and go to a meeting and the room is full of alcoholics and people that did drugs like I did. Only nobody's high. And, believe me, the stuff they say is phenomenal. They're still crazy, they're just not under the influence."

Unfortunately, Tyler's sobriety is still a work in progress, and the rocker suffered another relapse in 2022.

CNN reported that Steven Tyler's iconic band, Aerosmith, was forced to cancel some concert dates during its Las Vegas residency due to the lead singer's struggle with addiction. In May 2022, Tyler returned to rehab following a relapse in his sobriety. The group confirmed the news via its Instagram account and released a statement about the situation.

"As many of you know, our beloved brother Steven has worked on his sobriety for many years," the statement read. "After foot surgery to prepare for the stage and the necessity of pain management during the process, he has recently relapsed and voluntarily entered a treatment program to concentrate on his health and recovery."

The group went on to reveal that it was planning to cancel all residency dates for the months of June and July but was hoping to be back on stage in September, per Page Six. Of course, Aerosmith fans immediately began to send their good wishes to Tyler in hopes of a speedy recovery as he continues his sobriety journey.

Because Tyler has been so open about his struggle with addiction in the past, he may have plenty to say about his latest relapse when the time is right. For now, fans are grateful that the singer is getting the help he needs and expect to see him back behind the microphone in the future.