Has Steven Tyler quit Aerosmith? It sure seems so.

After 40 years fronting one of rock 'n' roll's most successful bands, the singer famous for his elastic lips and shrill scream has apparently decided to walk that way, and his departure is raising questions about whether Aerosmith could carry on with a new singer.

After a concert last week, Tyler told the British magazine Classic Rock that he had pulled out of the band's scheduled tour of South America and will focus on a solo career, which he referred to as "brand Tyler."

Lead guitarist Joe Perry said on Twitter late Monday that Aerosmith is "not splitting up" but is "looking for a new singer to work with."

Perry said Monday on WKXL, a radio station in Concord, N.H., that he found out about Tyler's solo wishes after going online. Perry said he and guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton, and drummer Joey Kramer "were kind of knocked back on our heels" by Tyler's comments.

The band, which broke up for a spell in the early '80s, has been rumored to be on the rocks since Tyler, 61, fell off the stage and broke his shoulder at an August show in Sturgis, S.D. NEWS SERVICES