Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has said he always knew that singer Steven Tyler would rejoin the band after acrimoniously leaving last year.

In December, Tyler took time away from the group in order to enter rehab, during which period the band began looking for a replacement.

In an interview with the Guardian, Perry confirmed that the group had started scouting for a new singer, but said he was always confident that Tyler would return.

"It was just something for us to do, you know,” he said. “I knew that the band wasn't going to break up.

“I've known the guy (Tyler) too long, we've been through way too much shit together for it to all end. He's my fucking blood brother. I knew he'd come back. I just didn't want to wait."

Perry also admitted during the interview that he wasn’t sure whether Aerosmith would release another album.

The guitarist said the demand for new music had “fallen off” adding: “I think of some of the songs I've written or co-written and I think, why should I bother trying to top that?”

Aerosmith will headline the Download festival in Donnington later this month.

The group are also set to play a one-off show at London's O2 Arena on June 15.

(by Jason Gregory)