Steven Tyler did not shy away when David Letterman asked him about some really controversial questions
'Aerosmith' frontman Steven Tyler joined the judge's panel on American Idol in 2010; he famously quit the reality show in 2012 to concentrate on his music career. In 2011, Tyler appeared on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' and was left feeling uneasy when his past cropped up in Letterman's questions. The television host quizzed the 'Hole in my Soul' hitmaker about his drug addictions and an embarrassing fall off stage during a performance instead of focusing on his 'Idol' stint. "Was it 2009 when you fell off the stage? Did the band come to your aid when you took a header there or not?" Letterman oddly began within a few minutes of the show.
"Yes and no, but you know when you fall, make it a part of your dance. Yeah!" Tyler hilariously shot back. "It's not any news here about my drug use and addictions in the past," he said, openly acknowledging his addictions. Letterman was referring to the viral South Dakota moment in the 'Aerosmith' frontman's career; as per The Guardian, during one of his mesmerizing moments of delighting the live audience, Tyler fell off the stage and sustained injuries to his head, neck, and shoulders. The audience initially believed it was part of the act: "We thought maybe he stage-dived into the crowd, but he didn't get back up. I thought he was falling back to crowd surf," Jessica Kokesh, an eyewitness, stated.
"30 years ago, you know I was doing Nepalese temple balls and starting the finest of cocaine," Tyler admitted on the show. He further claimed to have been under the effects of a drug called Lunesta when he fell off the stage. "So like a couple of years ago, you know, I was taking Lunesta because I had some problems with my feet and was taking drugs. That's the tip of the iceberg, snorting it and falling off the stage." "I think you get to go to sleep; are you snoring?" Letterman cut in. "Yes, I was. That shows you what kind of a drug addict I was," Tyler continued.
"Now when you snort it, does it make some sort of it has a different reaction with the body chemistry than when you swallow?" Letterman asked curiously. "It ah.. David, yes, yes, it does okay. I was looking for any excuse to get high," Tyler confessed. Fans, however, loved the candid confessions from the 'Aerosmith' frontman, "Very sincere interview...only Dave could take care of," an online user noted. "Nice job, Steven. Dave was trying to bring up uncomfortable things for him to talk about, and Steven sailed right through, being a gentleman," a fan gushed. "At least he’s clean for now!!" a viewer praised.
While appearing on Oprah Winfrey's show, Tyler admitted that he was grateful to be alive, "The pit being right there. I was on Lunesta, which is a sleeping pill, and drugs for the pain in my feet because of some operations I had. And people would say, "You're gonna kill yourself; you're gonna be dead tomorrow," he told Winfrey. The 'Angel' singer briefly relapsed in 2022, but for the past two years, he has been on a healthy sobriety journey.