STEVEN TYLER's 'American Idol' Gig Divides AEROSMITH Camp

According to The Pulse of Radio, the news that AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler may become one of the next judges on "American Idol" seems to have led to different opinions within the band about what Tyler's possible new gig might mean for AEROSMITH itself. Drummer Joey Kramer told Billboard.com that he sees it in a positive light, explaining, "We've been talking about it the last couple of days, and it's made me come to realize what a positive impact it could have for (AEROSMITH). The possibilities are kind of infinite with something like that happening, us being exposed to a whole new generation of people. So we'll see what happens. It should be interesting."

Guitarist Joe Perry, however, has seemed in recent interviews to be shocked and a little upset about the news. He told a Tampa, Florida radio station late last week, "I was taken totally by surprise. First of all, why would he wanna do that instead of cruise on with AEROSMITH? We've got an album that we wanna do, we wanna do another tour . . . We've got so many things lined up, and then this happens. So many things go through your head. I've been with the guy for 40 years, and he couldn't even . . . He said, 'Well, they told me not to tell anybody.'"

Perry added, "If that's what you really have to do, let's talk about it, let's plan it out, you know what I mean? We've all got families, we've all got different things going on, we've all got different things we could do. It's like getting hit over the head."

Tyler's involvement with "Idol" has not been confirmed, although he has told several outlets, including TMZ, that he has been approached for the gig. It's not clear what effect his participation in the show would have on AEROSMITH's touring and/or recording plans.

Relations have been tense in the AEROSMITH camp since last year, when a stage injury forced Tyler off the road and eventually into rehab, even as he alienated his bandmates by talking about taking two years off to pursue a solo venture. The group retaliated with threats to find a new singer. Eventually the two sides reconciled, although the "Idol" news may stir things up again.

AEROSMITH has been on a North American tour since earlier this summer and plays on Monday (August 9) in Sunrise, Florida. Kramer told Billboard.com that the band members are "getting along great," adding, "Everybody has realized what we have together is a great thing . . . Why not enjoy the power that we have and what it is we do instead of all the nonsense and drama that's gone on? I just think everybody's got to the point where they get that now."