NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Tyler says he’s exiting “American Idol” to put rock ‘n’ roll first.
NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Tyler says he’s exiting “American Idol” to put rock ’n’ roll first.
Tyler said he’s leaving the hit show after two seasons to rededicate himself to Aerosmith, the band he fronts. The rock star said he loved every minute on the hit Fox singing contest but added, “it’s time to bring rock back.”
“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress, ‘American Idol,’ before she boils my rabbit,” Tyler said in a statement, making a joking reference to the 1987 Michael Douglas-Glenn Close thriller “Fatal Attraction.”
“I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back — but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.”
The band is currently on a nationwide tour with Tyler and has an album due out in the fall.
Tyler’s “Idol” departure leaves original judge Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez, but the singer-actress’ future with the show is cloudy.
Lopez said she was saddened to hear that he was leaving.
“I can’t even imagine anyone else there right now because I’ve just spent two years sitting next to him,” she said. “I love Steven, and we became close during that time. We were a great support for each other, on an adventure that neither one of us knew what it was going to be. So it’s hard to hear that he won’t be doing it.”