Steven Tyler made a surprise appearance after a performance by The Joe Perry Project – Perry’s side band – in New York, taking to the stage with Perry and giving a shout out to the crowd. “I just want New York to know, I am not leaving Aerosmith,” Tyler said before taking to the mike for a rendition of “Walk This Way,” one of the band’s iconic hits.

Last week, Joe Perry shocked Aerosmith fans when he told the Las Vegas Sun Tyler had apparently decided to leave the band. “Steven quit as far as I can tell,” Perry said. The statement was reportedly spurred in part by an interview Steven Tyler did with Classic Rock magazine saying he wanted to focus on his own solo projects.

Perry also revealed Tyler had very little contact with other members of the band since he broke his shoulder falling off a stage earlier this year. Posting on his Twitter feed, Perry said Aerosmith would be “looking for a new singer to work with.” Obviously, this was finally enough to get Steven Tyler to crawl out from whatever rock he was hiding under and set the record straight.

Let’s hope Tyler and the rest of the band can get their act together and get Aerosmith back on the road and in the studio, pronto!

>> Previously: Joe Perry Says Steven Tyler Quit Aerosmith