AEROSMITH Bassist TOM HAMILTON: 'The Cancer Is Gone'

AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton has issued the following update:

"Well, I got sprung for a couple of days last week and got to do some stuff with the band finally. You've probably heard about the NASCAR thing. In case you haven't, they're going to use a modified 'Back in the Saddle' for their theme music for next season. Along with the song they asked us to do a video of us performing the new version. Who wouldn't. Well, we ain't WHO so we would!! The band did the main shoot at a show in Las Vegas at the beginning of November. I wasn't in shape to do it yet so the producers generously offered to do another shoot later in the month at a gig at a really cool place called Mohegan Sun. It's a giant hotel/casino/arena complex on the Mohegan Reservation in Connecticut. The arena is about a ten thousand seater with awesome acoustics and, best of all, great dressing rooms.

"Doing my part a month later worked really well for me. I have to say, the recovery phase of the chemo and radiation is pretty slow but that month made a big difference.

"I got to the gig early and shot a take right around when we would usually do a sound check. They only needed Steven and I so it went quick. As a matter of fact they got what they needed with that one take. Later on we would put 'Saddle' in the set and film that too. So the plan was to put 'Saddle' early in the set so the band would look fresh and un-sweaty. I would come out for that song and then split until close to the end of the show when I would come prancing out and play the last four or five songs, including 'Sweet Emotion'. It was kind of fun to have people look at me with concern and try to make sure that I wasn't taking on too much after my long ordeal. The night went really well and was over in like a second. I almost felt cheated. It's a good thing I had my New York trip to look forward to.

"About a week later we all met in New York for a special show at a place called the Beacon Theater which is a small theater with a balcony. It reminded me of a gig we did in New York centuries before when we were looking for a manager who could get us a record deal. That's an old story that you've probably heard a hundred times before. I'm sure you'll be hearing about it a hundred more but not right now. It was a big day for me because it would be my first full show since all the cancer stuff. The cancer's gone by the way. I had a P.E.T. scan about a week or two before and it showed that the tumor and the cells in the adjacent lymph gland were gone. I never really experienced the disease but the treatment is something I hope I never have to experience again. It truly sucked.

"I think the band might have been a little apprehensive about me playing a whole show and being right up to speed. After all, those guys had been out grinding away for three months. I knew I was good to go and I hope the show that night proved it. I had a great time as did everybody else. It was an amazing feeling and made me reflect on why I've wanted to do this so bad ever since I was in Junior High School.

"After New York I had to say goodbye to everybody. I still have doctor stuff to take care of. As good as I feel I'm not quite 100% yet so I had to head home while everybody else headed out to finish the tour. What an odd feeling. You'd think I'd be kind of used to it but I'm not. Every day I'm aware of those guys being out there on the road with me not there. I can feel the pull. It really makes me look forward to our European tour we're planning for next spring. We haven't been there in over ten years so it's going to be an awesome experience.

"Book your flights now!"