WILL AEROSMITH, FACES CONTINUE WITHOUT TYLER, STEWART?

Two members of Aerosmith told Rolling Stone that they still plan on hiring a new singer to take the place of Steven Tyler, while three surviving members of the Faces revealed to the bible that they plan to tour next year without Rod Stewart.

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer both expressed concerns that Tyler may have returned to some of his bad habits. “He doesn’t act like a sober person,” Whitford told RS. “I’m not hanging with the guy, but his history of drug abuse is well documented. And like many other people in this same position, the prospects aren’t good. For most people, full-blown recovery is a tough thing to pull off.”

Added Kramer: “I hope that Steven takes the time to put the focus on Steven and get healthy and take care of himself.” When asked what he meant by “get healthy” Kramer explained (sort of), “The truth of that is something that only Steven can answer, and I’m not really at liberty to discuss it; you’d have to speak with him or his management.”

Meanwhile, the group says they have no plans to wait two years to reform, which Tyler has asked them to do while he works on a solo album and his book. “We have a 40th anniversary coming up, and we all would like to celebrate that with our fans,” said Kramer. “There’s people that we’ve been kicking around—famous singers. If that’s part of what it takes for us to move forward then, you know, that’s what it’s gonna be.”

A rep for Tyler said he is too busy working on his forthcoming memoir to comment on the allegations.

Meanwhile, erstwhile Faces guitarist Ron Wood, drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist Ian McLagan appear to have a big hole of their own to fill. With Stewart prepping to head out on tour behind Soulbook, his latest stroll down memory lane, they need somebody to sing signature tunes like “Stay With Me,” “Flying” and “Cindy Incidentally.”

“If we don’t do it very soon, one of us is gonna check out,” McLagan said in Billboard. “We’ve been waiting and waiting for Rod to say yes; now he’s finally said no. He’s busy doing other shit. So we’re gonna do it.”

The Faces briefly reunited in late 2008 and warmed up for a reunion tour. “We had a few fantastic rehearsals last week and we’re ready to go,” Wood told Rolling Stone last December. “It’s like no time has passed by.” But Rod’s spokesperson denied rumors that Stewart and Wood had written an album’s worth of new Faces songs. Wood’s commitment to the Rolling Stones could also come into play, though nothing has yet been announced for 2010.

McLagan noted that the band had worked with Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall and Squeeze’s Paul Carrack during an on Oct. 25 benefit show in London. “I think it’s more exciting, actually, with different singers, different bass players, maybe some other guests, another guitarist or whatever,” he said, putting Hucknall on the band’s short list.

As for the bass slot previously held by the late Ronnie Lane, ex-Stone Bill Wyman filled in for the December ’08 show, but he’s not expected to want to go out on the road. McLagan said he hopes to bring in former Sex Pistol Glenn Matlock for the tour.