AEROSMITH's JOE PERRY Hopes STEVEN TYLER Is Happy Doing 'American Idol'

AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry tells Spinner.com that he has no ill will for the band's singer, Steven Tyler, over Tyler's decision to become a judge on the new season of "American Idol". "Steven wants to spend time in L.A. and do this," Perry says. "He's always talked about doing stuff like that and I think he wants to try his hand at that. Let him go at it. That's an interesting endeavor. I hope he's really happy doing it."

AEROSMITH completed a North American tour last month in Canada and the rest of the band members are now back home, waiting for their vocalist to carve out time to return to the studio and make the group's first album since 2001. Perry tells Spinner.com that he isn't worried that these were the band's final dates. "I'm optimistic about it," he says. "I know that the band will always somehow put something together and play, whether it's two or three weeks out on the road and playing this or that or some charity stuff. I do not think this band is going to see its last show, that's how I feel."

AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald last month that Tyler believes he has the time and energy to continue fronting the band while also being a judge on the new season of "American Idol". Hamilton explained, "Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record. He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that's the way it will come out."

Tyler and the rest of AEROSMITH butted heads last year, after his fall from a stage on South Dakota led to a canceled tour, a trip for Tyler to rehab and threats by the singer to embark on a solo career. Things were smoothed over for this past summer's trek, but tensions have been raised again by Tyler's "Idol" involvement.