Traduza\\ STEVEN TYLER 'Stronger Than Ever,' Says AEROSMITH's JOE PERRY

According to The Pulse of Radio, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told Reuters that lead singer Steven Tyler is "back and stronger than ever" following a period of several months during which the frontman did a 90-day stint in rehab while his future with the band was in doubt. Despite threats by Perry and the other members of the group last fall to find another vocalist while Tyler pursued an announced solo career, Perry now says that Tyler "didn't really leave the band . . . The press kind of twisted it around to sell papers but you know the bottom line is I just knew things were just going to work themselves out."

Perry added that Tyler "made it very clear" that he had no intention of leaving AEROSMITH while working on a solo project. But that's not how it sounded during the past few months, when Perry actually approached singers like Paul Rodgers, Billy Idol and Chris Cornell about taking over.

The trouble started last August when Tyler fell off a stage and injured himself in South Dakota, forcing the cancellation of a tour and launching rumors that the long-sober vocalist had fallen off the wagon.

A February summit meeting, complete with lawyers, led to a reconciliation between Tyler and the band. South American and European dates have already been announced, along with an already sold-out August 14 gig at Boston's Fenway Park with THE J. GEILS BAND.

Perry did admit, however, that his friendship with Tyler is not what it used to be, saying, "When our kids were younger and . . . growing up together we were a lot closer together. As the kids got older and they started going off their own ways and Steven ended up getting divorced . . . you know, the family get-together, we don't really do that much any more. But it doesn't interfere with the band."