Aerosmith cancels tour and Detroit show, announces 'heartbreaking' tour retirement

In a dramatic finale for one of rock music's mainstays, Aerosmith has ended its five-decade touring career amid lingering vocal issues for front man Steven Tyler.

The Boston rock band announced Friday it will no longer perform live, canceling a farewell tour that was set to start in September with a Jan. 4 stop at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena.

The troubles started last fall: Tyler, now 76, suffered a fractured larynx three shows into the group's Peace Out Tour, forcing postponement of the goodbye run. A rebooted tour itinerary, including the LCA show, was announced several months later.

But Aerosmith revealed Friday that Tyler's vocal difficulties proved insurmountable.

"We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side," the band wrote on social media. "Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The band offered a "final thank you to you — the best fans on planet Earth."

"Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true," read the statement from Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford.

The January LCA show would have culminated a long history of Detroit love for Aerosmith, whose Motor City bond began in 1973 with shows at spots such as the Michigan Palace and Masonic Temple. The group became tight with an array of Detroit artists through the years, most recently including Kid Rock and Eminem.

Aerosmith's concert on Sept. 9, 2014, at Pine Knob now stands as its final area show.

Fans who purchased Peace Out Tour seats through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.

Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.