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Sunday Smiles
On September 29, 2023, Steven Tyler announced through the Aerosmith social media channels that he was suffering from vocal cord damage. “I’m heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor’s orders not to sing for the next thirty days,” Tyler wrote. “I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday’s show that led to subsequent bleeding. We’ll need to postpone a few dates so that we can come back and give you the performance you deserve” (via The Guardian). The announcement was the second in the space of less than a year. In December 2022, Aerosmith had to cancel the last few shows of their lucrative Las Vegas residency after Tyler came down with an undisclosed illness.
Days later, a statement on behalf of the band broke the news that as well as vocal cord damage, Tyler was suffering from a broken larynx, which would require additional treatment and a longer recovery, forcing the band to cancel all remaining 2023 shows and reschedule them for the following year.
A laryngeal fracture is a rare but potentially serious injury that may be life threatening in certain circumstances, particularly as the condition is often misdiagnosed. It has an overall mortality rate of 17.9% according to the National Library of Medicine. As well as inhibiting vocalization, the fracture can block the sufferer’s airway, leading to suffocation if not properly managed and treated.
