AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton is set to debut his new band, CLOSE ENEMIES, on October 11 at Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee.
Joining the 72-year-old musician are bass tech Trace Foster on guitar and Peter Stroud, who has been with Sheryl Crow for 25 years. The band’s drummer, Tony Brock, is known for his work with THE BABYS and a 12-year stint with Rod Stewart. Fronting CLOSE ENEMIES is Chasen Hampton, a talented singer from Oklahoma City with deep roots in the country music scene. The band is also collaborating with lyricist Gary Stier.
Earlier today, Hamilton shared a rehearsal photo on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Hey, I need to tell you something about a band I’m playing with called CLOSE ENEMIES. We have a bunch of good songs recorded, and we’re planning to release one soon. Join us for our show in Nashville on October 11 at Eastside Bowl. Hope to see you there!”
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Hamilton expressed his excitement about the band’s progress, noting, “We’ve recorded a bunch of killer songs and are getting closer to deciding how we’ll release them. I can’t wait!”
In an interview with AARP, Tom praised Hampton as “a gifted singer who really brings the songs to life.” He added, “When I joined, these guys already had great material, and I was able to contribute some of my own. I’m eager to see how audiences react; I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
This announcement comes on the heels of AEROSMITH’s retirement from touring, which was made public on August 2, nearly a year after lead singer Steven Tyler fractured his larynx during a show in September 2023. The “Peace Out” tour was cut short after a final performance in Elmont, New York, just three dates in, with plans originally set to continue through February 2024. Tyler had expressed hope for a return to the road following the injury. The rescheduled tour was set to kick off on September 20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, featuring special guests THE BLACK CROWES.
