.

Steven Tyler Talks Up New Aerosmith Album at 'Idol' Finale

'It’s the kind of thing where it represents who you are'

May 24, 2012 10:55 AM ET
steven tyler american idol
Steven Tyler performs on 'American Idol.'
Michael Becker / FOX

Steven Tyler spoke about the new Aerosmith record, Music from Another Dimension, during a press conference at last night's American Idol finale. 

"It's the kind of thing where it represents who you are," the frontman and Idol judge said. "Who are you? We don't know. Sometimes our music speaks for us so this album – as Joe Perry said on one of his solo records – 'Let the music do the talking,' and this one does."

The album is slated to drop August 28th, and Aerosmith premiered the album's first single, "Legendary Child," in a performance during last night's show.

Tyler added, "Your album is like a wave, and you ride that album all the way and see what you got. Hopefully we have three or four deep, which means radio play ... Jack Douglass and I and Joe ... we worked this thing for the last year, and we're so happy about it."

Their performance also marks the first time Aerosmith has performed on Idol since Tyler joined the show in 2010, a decision that caused some turmoil within the group, making the chances for an Idol performance seem slim at the time.

"Well, we're doing an album," said Tyler last night about the group making their Idol debut. "It was the right time. This the first time we've ever had a chance to play live, the first song. The song off the album that we did depicts who we are."

During the press conference, Tyler was also asked whether he'd be upset if fellow judge Jennifer Lopez didn't return next year, as rumors have suggested.

"Probably. Everything evolves, though," he said. "Who you're gonna sit next to makes it really worthwhile. Don't take that out of context!"

Tyler also heaped some praise on fellow frontman Mick Jagger for his recent dual hosting/musical guest gig on Saturday Night Live's season finale, which had the Stones frontman impersonating Tyler. 

"He could have done, 'Yakakakaow!'” said Tyler, suggesting his signature scream. "He could have done the bastard son of Mick Jagger. There could have been so many skits. I thought he looked good in his long hair. I've always wanted him to grow it back. He looked good. It was fun."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Music Main Next

blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »