Nikki Sixx paid tribute to Aerosmith days after they announced their retirement from touring due to Steven Tyler’s vocal injury. The frontman fractured his larynx during a performance last year.
The longtime Aerosmith fan wrote on Facebook:
“In 1973, a fifteen-year-old kid named Frank Feranna walked into a record store alone and emerged with the first Aerosmith album in hand. I would carry that album with me everywhere, including to friends’ houses, confessing to them that this was the future of rock ‘n’ roll.”
He continued:
“As the years rolled on, my opinion never changed. Lyrically, musically, rhythmically, and especially with those monster songs, Aerosmith was unparalleled. Their entire catalog is outstanding, but those first five albums were the holy grail for a young, future Nikki Sixx.”
The Bassist Honored All Of The Band Members
Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Joe Perry formed Aerosmith in 1970 with Brad Whitford joining them a year later. Their self-titled debut album came out in 1973.
Sixx commented on the band members’ skills and sound in the early records as follows:
“I recently sat on the cliffs in St. Barths, playing along to those albums. Can I just say, Tom Hamilton’s work continues to inspire me, and what a rhythm section they had with Joey Kramer behind that kit. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford wove those guitars back and forth to the point you sometimes couldn’t distinguish the dueling guitars because the sound became one big kick to the side of the head.”
He said of the vocalist:
“Steven Tyler, to me, has always been the ultimate singer, lyricist, and showman, but personally, he’s a man who helped me at the beginning of my sobriety. I’ve been lucky to become a peer, a friend, and always a fan of this great American rock ‘n’ roll band. Thank you, Aerosmith, for everything.”
Sixx Has Been A Longtime Fan
Nikki Sixx admitted to being a ‘superfan’ of Aerosmith in past interviews. The bassist shared his love for the band and its frontman in various interviews, as well.
When Aerosmith released a collection of their unreleased songs from 1971 in 2021, Sixx praised them on social media again. He shared a screenshot from Spotify listening to ‘1971: The Road Start Hear’ and wrote:
“This is hands down one of the greatest rock bands in history, and to hear these early recordings just blew my mind. Thank you, Aerosmith.”
Aerosmith Will No Longer Tour
Aerosmith released another collection of their ‘Greatest Hits’ in August 2023. Their Peace Out: The Farewell Tour kicked off the next month but had to be canceled after the third show in Elmont, New York.
The band announced 39 new dates for the tour in April 2024, which was supposed to start in September. However, they decided to retire from touring due to Steven Tyler’s inability to recover from his vocal cord injury. Their statement read:
“As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He 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. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”
The message ended with thanks to their fans for making their dream come true.