What's in Store for Aerosmith, Steven Tyler?

Aerosmith reportedly meeting to discuss future, maybe without iconic front man.

ByABC News
February 9, 2010, 2:23 AM

Feb. 9, 2010 — -- The battle between Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler and the band's management could soon end up in a very un-rock and roll place: Court.

People close to the iconic band are scheduled to meet today to discuss its future, which may or may not include Aerosmith's star frontman, currently in rehab for painkiller addiction. But according to Tyler's attorney Skip Miller, should the band cut his client loose and replace him with another singer, there will be hell to pay.

In January, Miller wrote a letter to Aerosmith manager Howard Kaufman, requesting that Aerosmith's management "immediately cease and desist from engaging in acts and conduct to the harm and detriment of your own client, Aerosmith, and our client who is one of its members."

Miller was referring to recent comments made by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry that the band is looking for a new frontman.

"The word's been out there for a while," Perry told Canada's QMI news agency in January. "Hopefully, we'll have found a new singer by the summer, and Aerosmith will be able to go back out on the road."

Miller told Billboard.com that on behalf of Tyler, he scheduled a Feb. 9 meeting of Aerosmith's "shareholders" to figure out what's next for the band. Issues include: Recording a new album and touring Europe and South America in 2010.

And while Miller's four-page letter states that "we reserve all of our legal rights and remedies in this matter, including, without limitation, pursuing legal action for damages and other appropriate relief," he told Billboard.com that he and Tyler see court as a last resort.

"Steven Tyler does not want lawsuits," said Miller. "We do not want to go in that direction. The direction we want is Aerosmith, with Steven Tyler, touring in Europe, touring Latin America, releasing a new album ... This is the direction it's all intended to go. It's just amazing to me current management would be taking any other position."

Miller and Kaufman did not immediately return ABCNews.com's calls for comment Monday. However, representatives for both men stated they were traveling; Miller's office said he was en route to Monday's meeting.

The sit-down is the latest in a months-long drama between Tyler and Aerosmith. In November 2009, after Tyler told a British magazine that he was preparing to focus on a solo career, Perry turned their 40-year-old friendship into a public feud. The guitarist took to Twitter to vent his feelings regarding Tyler's impending absence and insisting the band keep on rocking.

"Aerosmith is positively looking for a new singer to work with. You just can't take 40 years of experience and throw it in the bin!" Perry tweeted Monday. "Band is playing hotter than ever and our songs need to be played live! Don't despair; Aerosmith not splitting up. Promise that's the last you'll hear from me on the subject till we gear up again."

But days after that, on Nov. 10, Tyler and Perry performed the musical equivalent of hugging it out, reuniting on a New York City stage and announcing that Tyler was sticking with the group, contrary to what Perry previously reported.