Aerosmith bass player sidelined after surgery

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton has become the third member of the group to be sidelined by health problems since its troubled tour kicked off a month ago, the band's publicist said on Tuesday.

Hamilton, a 57-year-old cancer survivor, is recovering from "non-invasive surgery" and will miss "some dates," according to a statement. The publicist did not have additional information.

In 2006, Hamilton underwent a seven-week course of radiation treatment for throat cancer, forcing him to miss many of the dates on a concert tour underway at the time. As was the case then, he will be replaced by David Hull, who previously played on Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry's solo outings.

Hamilton, who co-wrote two of Aerosmith's biggest hits with singer Steven Tyler, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun," has been with the quintet since its inception in 1970.

Aerosmith's current tour began on June 10, but ground to a halt after seven shows when Tyler tore a leg muscle. His daughter, plus-size model Mia Tyler, wrote on her MySpace blog on Tuesday that the 61-year-old rocker is in a cast.

To date, seven concerts have been postponed. But the publicist said Wednesday's scheduled show in Atlanta would go ahead. It will mark 57-year-old guitarist Brad Whitford's first appearance on the tour. He underwent emergency surgery just before the tour began, having hit his head while getting out of his Ferrari.

The various ailments come amid some apparent strife in the Aerosmith camp. Tyler recently parted ways with the band's long-time handlers, HK Management, and signed as an individual with Union Entertainment Group, whose roster includes Canadian rock band Nickelback and Kevin Costner's rock band.

But Tyler's bandmates have stayed put at HK Management, which has represented Aerosmith since 1999.

The news of Tyler's switch was imparted to fans on Saturday through a Twitter message sent by Perry's wife, Billie, who has emerged as the band's unofficial spokeswoman.