AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Steven Tyler were interviewed by CNN prior to the band's November 1 performance in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, as part of the Formula One racing weekend. The band played the grand finale for the Grand Prix event, following Formula One's first day/night race.

AEROSMITH played their first shows since early August, when an injury to singer Steven Tyler ended the band's summer tour, on October 18 in Honolulu and October 20 in Maui, Hawaii. The Maui gig was done partly to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by enraged fans when the band canceled a 2007 concert there. The shows come during a tense time for the veteran act, with Joe Perry claiming in recent interviews that Tyler has not spoken to the rest of the group since breaking his shoulder in a fall from a stage in Sturgis, South Dakota two months ago.

Perry, who released a solo effort called "Have Guitar, Will Travel" last month, has indicated in recent interviews that Tyler is holding up AEROSMITH's future plans, including the recording of a new album. Perry told the Associated Press that Tyler has "got to get his act together."

Perry will hit the road this month in support of his CD, taking along his JOE PERRY PROJECT touring band.