Aerosmith Willing To Play Second Fiddle At Stone Music Fest

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has admitted that he doesn't mind giving up his own headline show to be second on the bill at this weekend's Stone Music Fest.

Speaking at this morning's press conference in Sydney at Darling Harbour's Hard Rock Café Tyler responded to theMusic.com.au saying, “You know, I have no problem playing at a festival.”

Aerosmith were added to the bill of Stone Music earlier this month as the band dropped their own show to co-headline day one of the festival with Van Halen.

“Even if we're not the first headline, I'm more than happy to play with bands who I love,” Tyler admitted. “Man, I would love the opportunity to play with AC/DC one day. That's what this is about.”

The conference also featured other members of Aerosmith, Billy Joel and Van Halen's David Lee Roth.  At one point Tyler was asked whether there was anything he could no longer do that he wished he could.

“Get high”, the American Idol judge promptly replied.

“But seriously, we still play the way we always did and when we get up on stage we just keep playing like we always have.”

Hailing from Boston, the band also took the opportunity to acknowledge those suffering as a result of the recent marathon bombing.

“Boston is our home,” Tyler said. “We send all our love out there. I mean, Joe [Perry]'s son was a mile from where the bombs hit so…

“It was really tough getting on that plane and flying far from my kids,” guitarist Perry confirmed. “All the footage of what happened kept playing on our way to the airport. Both my kids lost friends in the bombings.”

Bassist Tom Hamilton added, “I was in the cab on the way to the airport when I heard about what happened and I remember thinking, 'how dare you do this you assholes'.”

Billy Joel, who will headline the Sunday leg, denied rumours that he was retiring after this show.

“I never said that,” Joel said. “What I said was when I suck, I'll stop and this gig is almost like sticking my toe in the water to see how I'm going… I'll still be writing music [if I do retire]. I mean, I've never really though of myself as a singer anyway. I'm just a guy who plays piano. I'm a piano player. So, I'll keep writing and become a grease monkey.”