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."

Photos: Ranking the American Idol Mentors

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."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter