Speaking out weeks after Aerosmith announced it was finished with touring for good, the band’s bassist, Tom Hamilton, has spoken up in an interview with AARP about his hopes for future prospects for the veteran group, saying he believes “the band is still alive,” while reaffirming that there is no scenario in which Aerosmith could ever return to the road.

In the interview, he also nixes the idea of returning to Las Vegas for another residency, and indicates that albums aren’t in the cards, either… so what form a resumption of group activity could take is unclear.

Nonetheless, Hamilton says that on the hope scale, with 10 representing a solid prospect for the band being active in some way in the future, “I’m somewhere between 7 and 9.”

“We won’t be doing any tours from now on, but I’ll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along. This isn’t the first time black clouds have been on our horizon — and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment.”

But when asked about Vegas residencies, Hamilton says that although he loved the band’s time in Vegas, “I have doubts that there are any more in the future.” As for a new album, “so far there hasn’t been any talk” about going back into the studio, 12 years after Aerosmith released its last album.

Nonetheless, he believes the band is not done. “Steven has a way of powering through challenges like this one. He’s done it before. You never know.” Even though touring is out and he thinks a residency is unlikely, Hamilton says that “there are a lot of other ways to be and do Aerosmith.”

The recent need to cancel a farewell tour that was postponed last year came as a shock, he admits, after Tyler injured his larynx and was ultimately unable to battle back into fighting shape. “Steven’s injury to his throat was really bad. I was surprised but not shocked. Still, it was a real punch in the gut. … I was ready to go.”

Hamilton speaks about his own health issues in the AARP interview, reflecting on the radiation he had in 2006 for throat cancer. “The thing about radiation is that you can get aftereffects years later, and in my case, it showed up as some damage to the nerves in my arm and hand. But I’ve figured out a way to get around it. Actually, I think my body figured out a way by itself. Then there’s the normal wear and tear that comes from slamming your fingers into steel cables for 50-plus years. But when you love to do something, you come up with ways to keep doing it.”

Hamilton is staying active musically at the moment by playing with several other musicians in a band called Close Enemies.

On Aug. 2, the band formally announced that Tyler’s recovery from his vocal injury for the resumption of the farewell tour “is not possible,” stating, “It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours.”

Hamilton’s interview offers some of the first thinking among band members to go public about whether or not the group has a future after 50-plus years. Aerosmith’s statement in early August had a valedictory ring, with no mention either of staying open to future plans outside the realm of touring or closing the door altogether.