Aerosmith

Steven Tyler smashed his face during a "nasty fall" in a hotel shower ... knocking out several teeth ... this according to multiple reports out of Paraguay.

Tyler -- who was scheduled to perform in Paraguay with Aerosmith tonight -- was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital.

A rep for the venue where the band was supposed to perform tells TMZ ... tonight's concert has been canceled.

No comment so far from Tyler's rep.

Story developing ...

Michaele Salahi posed for a suggestive photo, hip-to-hip, with the likes of Steven Tyler -- more than five years before she decided to run off with Journey guitarist Neal Schon.

TMZ obtained the photo taken backstage during an Aerosmith concert in Bristow, Virginia -- and the story behind it is pretty wild.

Tareq Salahi is telling friends he and Michaele (aka "groupie slut") went to the show together without backstage passes -- oh, the horror --but then Michaele mysteriously disappeared for more than an hour.

We're told ... when Yoko Michaele returned she produced the photo with Steven AND an all-access backstage pass for ALL Aerosmith concerts!

We're told Michaele's explanation for the pic, at the time, was ... she and Steven were just seeing who had a flatter stomach. Steven's rep had no comment.

Tyler dropped a whole series of truth bombs during an interview with Rolling Stone ... in which he explains, "Did I take this job to show the band? F**k, yeah. Not to show them, but that I can't be held hostage anymore. I will be my own hostage. The band can't throw me out."

During the interview, Tyler also reveals he went on a drug binge with Joe Perry a few years ago during an "ill-fated attempt to cut a new album."

Tyler told the mag ... the album never got made because, "Joe was high and he couldn't play ... I couldn't sing, really, because I was snorting everything, and it f**ks up your throat. It was the wrong time."

The music video shoot will go down Monday.

By the way ... Tyler has a memoir called "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" coming out on May 3.

Tyler explained the band's ongoing beef today after his long-awaited "Idol" unveiling -- but added that when push comes to shove, "I'm sure they're real happy for me."

Sure they are.

Perry went off on Tyler during an interview with the Calgary Herald -- saying, "It's his business, but I don't want Aerosmith's name involved with [American Idol]. We have nothing to do with it."

Perry added, "[Idol] is a reality show designed to get people to watch that station and sell advertising ... it's one step above Ninja Turtles."

As for the future of the band, Perry once again threatened to replace Tyler -- saying, "[You've got] four guys that are great together, and if you find the right singer, there's no reason you can't go and entertain people."

The insanity began when Tyler arrived at the Trump Hotel in New York -- and was instantly rushed by the aggressive autograph hounds.

When Tyler's associate began to shove back ... someone reached in from behind and started to choke him out.

Tyler instantly broke up the mess, restored calm ... and then proceeded to lecture the group about standard protocol for autograph seeking.

It all went down during a performance of "Love in an Elevator" -- first, Steven playfully bumped Perry ... and then Perry retaliated bumping Tyler right back ... sending him face first into the crowd.

Tyler eventually got up -- with some help from Joe -- and then announced, "It ain't gonna happen again, baby."

Less than two weeks ago, the Aerosmith singer proclaimed "I'm doing it" when asked if he was gonna be on "Idol." But yesterday in New York, he seemed to be playing coy when asked whether he was going to take the gig.

UPDATE: "Idol" executives are being far more coy than Tyler -- because they told reporters today that "no one has signed a deal on either side of the camera who wasn't on the show last year."

The band is going ahead with a new world tour -- but today at LAX, Tyler finally admitted the obvious and said they were definitely livin' on the edge of a permanent breakup.

Good to see some people can work out their commitment issues.

TMZ spoke to multiple employees at the H.D. in Rancho Mirage, CA., who tell us Tyler randomly picked up the microphone on Saturday and belted out snippets of "Dude Looks Like a Lady" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for all the weekend warriors to enjoy.

And get this: We're also told Tyler took a hit from a helium machine and kept singing Bee Gees style while signing autographs for anyone who asked.

Coolest. Guy. Ever.

Steven Tyler has entered a rehab facility due to an addiction to prescription painkillers -- this according to the Aerosmith front man himself.

The 61-year-old singer told People he became addicted to pain medication after suffering multiple injuries over the last 10 years of performing.

Steven, who was rumored to have quit the band, put it best: "There's absolutely no validity to rumor that

is breaking up, mutha f**ka!"

And there you have it.

What is Aerosmith without Steven Tyler?Joe Perry and some guys you can't remember the name of.

The unthinkable might be a reality -- Tyler may be on his way out. Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun he thinks Tyler has quit, but he isn't really sure.

He says, "Steven quit as far as I can tell ... I don't know anymore than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."