Steven Tyler Admits It Took Him Many Years to Get over Anger of Aerosmith Bandmates Sending Him to Rehab
American singer Steven Tyler stayed angry at his band, Aerosmith for years for insisting that he went to rehab. It took him years to get over it, and he opened up about it in a soul-baring and candid interview.
Most addicts would never readily agree that they have a problem. When they do, it takes extra grit and strength for them to decide to seek help, and get better.
For Steven Tyler, getting better meant that he was not in charge of his actions, and the drugs were. He fought against it, and years after the rehab, he resented Aerosmith for making him face his addiction.
Steven Tyler at his Second Annual GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party on February 10, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
A DEBT OF GRATITUDE
In a candid and soul-baring interview with Haute Living, the rock star said,
"So, I got sober, and you know, it took me many years to get over the anger of them sending me to rehab while they went on vacation."
Tyler added that after letting go of his anger, he developed a new sense of gratitude, especially after he realized that's the reason he's here. Life after rehab meant meeting his ex-wife, Theresa, and giving birth to his two children.
IT WAS A TIME OF MENTAL INSTITUTIONS
It also meant a new recording company and a reliable public relations team that helped the singer stay sober. He went on to find a new "High," — music, and in his words, there's no drug stronger than that.
The Aerosmith frontman now realizes that if he ever does drugs again, he stands to lose all the good things in his life.
The '80s were the beginning and the end of Tyler and his band's drug use. There were no rehab institutions in those days, and he got committed twice, in '84, and '86 to mental institutions, and the last came in '88.
NOTHING LESS THAN NOTHING
Now, at 70, the singer is living a transformed life brought by his sobriety, and as he puts it,
"My sobriety cost me nothing less than nothing."
Tyler's new lease on life and time around abused women at Sierra Tucson filled him with a desire to help. He started the Janie's Fund, a charity organization that helps women, and it remains functional, with a shelter, Janie's House, near Atlanta.
DRUGS EQUALS TO LOSING IT ALL
The Aerosmith frontman now realizes that if he ever does drugs again, he stands to lose all the good things in his life. The latter consists of his house, his steady gigs, cats, and his girlfriend, Aimee Ann Preston.
The two started their relationship in a professional capacity back in 2014. Preston worked as his assistant, and things progressed between them on a more intimate level.
Steven Tyler and Aimee Preston at the Premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Ad Astra" on September 18, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
Tyler and his lady made their public debut at Sir Elton John's Oscar party in 2016, and have been going strong since then. The couple lives together, and despite engagement rumors, they are not saying "I do" anytime soon.
The "Janie Got A Gun" singer is an example of musicians at the top of their game, and sober. He sees his life as a dream come true and is grateful for all he has.