NEW YORK • Even as rock fans mourn the death of Tom Petty from cardiac arrest, they have received reassurances about the health of another veteran rocker - Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.
Talk had it that the 69-year-old might have suffered a heart attack or a seizure after the American band recently axed the remaining four shows of their South American tour.
Fans were told only that Tyler had been advised by his doctors to seek "immediate care".
But he set the record straight via a statement on Aerosmith's website. "It breaks my heart to have left this tour early. The band have never played better. Just watch the 100,000 people at Rock in Rio."
Making light of his medical issues, he added: "I give you all an A+ for creative speculations, but I certainly did not have a heart attack or a seizure.
"Sorry to have cut the tour short, but I had to have a procedure that only my doctor in the States could perform."
However, Tyler did not clear the speculation over what his health condition was, saying only: "I promise I'll be back… unfortunately, health does not wait and it's something even I can't schedule around our shows."