According to TheWeek.com, AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler is one of the rock stars helping to fund a special gel that replicates the action of human vocal cords - a help to musicians and cancer patients alike.

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a special gel that mimics the vibrations of human vocal cords. The project could have profound effects on people with damaged voices, from aging singers to throat cancer patients.

The research is being funded in part by THE WHO's Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler, and actress Julie Andrews, whose voice was affected by 1997 surgery. They hope the gel will help people with damaged vocal cords to sing again. But it also could be useful to the 13,000 Americans diagnosed with throat cancer each year, or anyone in the 6 percent of the U.S. population with some kind of voice disorder.

Read more here.

Aerosmith will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their iconic 1976 album, Rocks, with a special edition release due out November 23rd, 2011 in Japan. The release will coincide with Aerosmith's fall tour through Japan, kicking off Tuesday, November 22nd in Kanazawa.

Rocks - 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition contents:

- Rocks, Japan edition CD (jewel case with a replica of a golden spine onsert for Japanese LP sleeve)
- the first Japan tour programme Replica (28-page)
- the first Japan tour poster replica (Nippon Budokan version)
- the first Japan tour ticket replica (from the first show at Gunma Sport Center)
- Japanese 7" singles' artwork replicas ('Home Tonight' / 'Back In The Saddle' / 'Last Child')
- four postcards of photos from the Rocks era

* all housed in a clear, plastic case

The raw and raucous Rocks is the fourth album by Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976 and featured such stand-out tracks like 'Back In The Saddle', 'Rats In The Cellar', 'Sick As A Dog' and 'Nobody's Fault'. The album peaked at #3 in the US, #14 in Canada and #46 in Sweden.

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has told Rolling Stone that the band's new album is almost done and should be released in March. Aerosmith have been recording with long-time producer Jack Douglas (who worked on such classic albums as 1974's Get Your Wings, 1975's Toys In The Attic, and the aforementioned Rocks album) on their 14th studio album and first set of original material since 2001's Just Push Play and first studio album since 2004's blues covers CD, Honkin' On Bobo.

Douglas stated about the process in a recent online update: "For those who are asking, this album will be raw, nasty, tough rock with a good deal of the old Aerosmith 'tongue in cheek.'"

(Thanks: AeroForceOne)