Kid Rock Says Joining 'American Idol' Is 'The Stupidest Thing' Steven Tyler Has Ever Done

Reactions to Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler's decision to become an American Idol judge have definitely been mixed, but not many people have unloaded on Tyler quite as heavily as avowed Aerosmith fan Kid Rock.

"I think it's the stupidest thing he's ever done in his life," Kid told Entertainment Weekly . "He's a sacred American institution of rock and roll, and he just threw it all out the window — just stomped on it and set it on fire."

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

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Tyler, along with fellow judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, has already started work on Idol , although the auditions won't air until January. Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi , of course, left the show earlier this year.

"Was I nervous doing this? You bet your booty," Tyler said. "Season ten for American Idol is going to be over the top, so it's hard for us to say 'Nope, sorry, you don't cut it,' because they well up, they cry, they make me cry."

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Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

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