Recuperating from a recent and unspecified surgery, Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford will sit on the sidelines for part of the group’s upcoming summer tour. In a statement, the band members said they “regret any inconvenience to their fans and thank everyone for their support.”

Filling in for the guitarist while he recovers will be Bobby Schneck, who has played with Green Day, Weezer and Slash. Schneck has probably been feverishly practicing as Aerosmith recently announced they would be playing their classic album, 1975’s “Toys in the Attic,” in its entirety on tour.

As to when Whitford might rejoin his bandmates, a band representative told TicketNews, “We have no further information at this time.”

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The band kicks off its 2009 itinerary on June 10 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO, the first of three headlining shows before hooking up with ZZ Top on June 21 at Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, VA, for the summer tour. The summer tour dates run through September 16 in Auburn Hills, MI, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.