‘American Idol’ Won’t Interfere With Aerosmith Says Bassist
‘American Idol’ Won’t Interfere With Aerosmith Says Bassist
September 25, 2010
Jed Gottlieb of Bostonherald.com reports: Fear not, Aerosmith fans. New “American Idol” judge Steven Tyler is not giving up his day job.
According to Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, the 62-year-old singer believes he has the time and energy for both “Idol” and the band.
“Steven’s been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record,” Hamilton said yesterday from his home near Boston. “He’s been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that’s the way it will come out.”
If Hamilton sounds a little nervous, it’s because he is.
He doesn’t doubt Tyler’s commitment to his mates in Aerosmith, who wrapped up their world tour in Canada last week. But Hamilton is eager to get into a recording studio and start work on what would be the band’s first album of new material in a decade filled with injuries, illness and infighting among band members. He sees the potential for “Idol” to increase the ongoing friction.
“There’s a lot of not knowing what’s going to happen, but that’s how it’s always been for us,” Hamilton said. “I’m not sitting here thinking that (Tyler on “American Idol”) is not going to work for us. Steven is an incredible I-can-do-anything kind of guy. But he’s taken a big bite, and I’m looking forward to seeing him chew it.”
Hamilton said the band found out about Tyler’s potential “Idol” gig from management in late July before playing a show in Southern California. It was surprising news that clearly peeved a few in the Aerosmith camp; Joe Perry told the Calgary Herald “I don’t want Aerosmith’s name involved with (“Idol”). . . It’s a reality show designed to get people to watch that station and sell advertising . . . It’s one step above “(Teenage Mutant) Ninja Turtles.”
Hamilton said he’s never watched “American Idol.” But he does know one TV contest that’s right for the Bad Boys of Boston.
“Just this afternoon I was watching ‘Family Feud’ thinking we should be on this show,” he said before adding with a laugh, “Oh wait, we already are!”
Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com and news.bostonherald.com