Steven Tyler Talks Drugs, Bullying on Australian TV

Steve Tyler has admitted blowing $6 million -- at least -- on drugs. The Aerosmith frontmans confession on Australian television overnight was carefully orchestrated to coincide with the ticket onsale for the bands tour in these parts.

Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry the so-called Toxic Twins -- both featured in a 14-minute segment on Australias 60 Minutes, shown Sunday night locally on the free-to-air Nine Network.

When asked if hed blown a rumored $20 million on drugs, Tyler corrected the reporter Liz Hayes. No realistically, $5 or $6 (million) easily. But (that figure) doesnt matter. You could also say I snorted half of Peru. But, you know, its what we did.

Tyler shouldnt have any problems covering the cost of his indulgences. According to his party, the band has shifted more than 150 million albums during its 40 year-plus career.

The feature was more puff-piece than revelation, and the bands drug and sex-fueled past has already been explored at length. Though the program did carry some notable soundbites.

The band were druggies dabbling in music, rather than musicians dabbling in drugs, said Perry, who will join Tyler in the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. We could tell, wed go into the studio and right at the very end , the music wasnt up to par and our shows werent up to par.

Tyler, whos on the verge of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recalled the bullying he took as a youngster served as a catalyst for his rock n roll career. I was called terrible names when I was a kid. Pinhead, and n***er-lips, for a white boy who grew up in the Bronx, thats terrible. Now Im honored by that, said Tyler with a laugh. (I was) beaten up, spit at, (called) queer. So we got a band together.

On his role as an "American Idol" judge, Tyler says his bandmates were "jealous like hell of me." But his appearance on the show "brought up Aerosmith stock by 270 percent."

In showbiz, timing is everything. As it turns out, tickets for the bands rare three-date arena tour of Australia went on sale the morning after the TV broadcast. Aerosmiths tour of Australia will be the bands first time in 24 years. Melbourne-based promoter Andrew McManus is behind the dates, which begin starting April 28 in Sydney.

Tickets are priced from Australian $129 ($132) to Australian $199 ($204).

Continued here:
Steven Tyler Talks Drugs, Bullying on Australian TV