NIKKI SIXX Calls STEVEN TYLER's Decision To Join 'Idol' 'A Really Forward-Thinking, Cool Thing'

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has chimed in on the war of words between AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Kid Rock regarding Tyler's decision to become a judge on the new season of "American Idol".

In a recent interview, Rock called Tyler's move "the stupidest thing he's ever done in his life. He's a sacred American institution of rock 'n' roll, and he just threw it all out the window. Just stomped on it and set it on fire."

Rock added: "I think whoever's advising him ... we should bring back the guillotine, or whatever they call that thing. And if it was himself, he needs some serious counseling. I love him to death, but I gotta speak the truth."

During last night's (Tuesday, November 9) edition of Nikki's nationally syndicated radio show "Sixx Sense", Nikki recalled his conversation with Steven in which he praised the AEROSMITH singer for getting involved with "Idol", calling it "a really forward-thinking, cool thing."

Sixx said: "So we were talking— God, what was it?? Last week — a little bit about Steven Tyler being on 'American Idol' and I said I'd talked to Steven and he'd said that I really saw the perspective the way that was, kind of, his idea for why he did it. Kid Rock was blasting him pretty hard and, you know, I don't have a problem with Kid Rock — I mean, I know him — and I get what he's trying to do; he's trying to say that 'American Idol' is, like, cheesy… But the whole point of Steven Tyler being on 'American Idol' is to not make it cheesy, it's to give it a real artist on there. Steven knows how to dress, right?! So he knows style. He knows how to design sets, so he knows how to do that. He knows how to write songs — obviously — [and] he plays instruments, he's one of the greatest singers, one of the greatest frontmen of all time... So who's better to judge somebody and give them advice or maybe say they don't have it than a guy like Steven? There should be more Steven Tylers on there. So when I talked to Steven about that, we were talking about how Steven has the ability to find the next Jimi Hendrix, to find the next Janis Joplin, to find the next Kid Rock. This is a positive thing for music, this is a pipeline that we usually don't have. And what I explained to him is, I said, 'You know, Steven, when I was growing up, the only way I could get turned on to AEROSMITH was through Circus magazine or Creem magazine, and if you were really, really, really lucky and the snobs over at Rolling Stone [magazine] decided to put you on the cover and do an article on you, you might find out about a rock band there, but usually it wasn't rock bands [that they would cover], it was CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG or something, more [like] that. So he said, 'You know, it's true.' I said, 'So on [my] radio show, if I want a band that I really like to be on the radio show, I can pump it out there and get a lot of people to hear it, and that's what you're doing, too.' And we were really happy about where we were at in our life and that we were doing things differently than just using print media, or maybe now the Internet. I mean, using something like television or radio, that, to me, is smart. Kid Rock bashing him feels a little, to me, like he's just trying to get some attention . . . I do know this — Steven's doing a really forward-thinking, cool thing."

An audio recording of Sixx talking about Tyler's "American Idol" gig on the "Sixx Sense" radio show can be streamed below.

As previously reported, GODSMACK singer Sully Erna has also come to the defense of Tyler. Speaking on Detroit rock station WRIF last week, Erna said of Tyler's decision to join "Idol", "I think it's brilliant. Beyond good. I think he's gonna be the male Paula Abdul, 'cause he's a little bit dingy, you know what I mean?! He's probably all pilled up, and he's gonna be funny. I mean, he's witty, he's really witty."

Erna added, "It's supposedly the right thing to do is to rag on a show like that, 'cause it's so popular, and everybody that has a problem most of the time, they have a problem with something that's really popular — it's the envy/jealousy thing . . . I think it's brilliant that Steven Tyler is gonna be one of the judges."

As for Rock, Erna said, "Kid Rock needs to shut up. This is gonna be great for TV, man."

Speaking last Thursday (November 4) at an "Idol" press conference in Los Angeles, Tyler responded to Rock's comments, saying, "He's just jealous, he's just jealous. And he's working his new record, so God bless him."

Slash also recently called Tyler's decision "disappointing."

Tyler's "Idol" gig stunned his bandmates when it was announced. AEROSMITH nearly split with the singer last year but reunited for a tour this past summer. Plans to make a new album have been complicated by Tyler's new job, although the other members of AEROSMITH say they'll work around their singer's schedule.