Aerosmith’s Same Old Song and Dance

It’s the same old song and dance for Aerosmith – Steven Tyler blurts a secret to the press and a few days later Joe Perry gives another interview saying the first he heard about the singer’s big news was when he read about it online.

On Saturday Tyler spoke with TMZ during an after-party at MGM Grand’s Studio 54 in Las Vegas.

“I’m probably going to be a judge on ‘American Idol.’ I’m doing it,” Tyler said. “What do you think? I’m doing it.”

On Monday, Tyler appeared on the syndicated American radio show “Kid Kraddick in the Morning” boasting that “this beautiful girl from Fox came up to me and made an offer. I honored her offer … and it’s just a work in progress.”

The Boston Herald spoke with Perry on Tuesday to get his take.

“I found out on the Internet like the rest of the world,” Perry said. “There was an Aerosmith after-party at Studio 54 after the Vegas show – which none of us in the band knew anything about – and he said some stuff there. I mean, this is no small thing.”

Perry said he asked his bandmate about the “Idol” rumors during a conversation in his dressing room before Saturday’s gig at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tyler said he was told to keep his lips sealed.

“I mean, after working with me for 40 years, he couldn’t tell me about this,” Perry said. “Why so secretive? We’re told it’s a done deal. If Steven is committed to a TV show, that kind of affects the rest of us. We’d like to plan our lives, ya know?”

In November 2009 a rumor quickly spread that Tyler was leaving Aerosmith after the singer gave an interview saying his future plans included “working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler.”

Perry then spoke with the Las Vegas Sun, saying, “Steven quit as far as I can tell. I don’t know anymore than you do about it. … I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band.”

By February the band had seemingly worked out its issues and the rockers posted a video blog announcing Tyler was onboard for its “Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour.” 

Fans will have to wait and see if the “Idol” rumors also turn out to be false.

Earlier this week a representative for Tyler told Pollstar, “The comment from the [TMZ] video was taken out of context. He’s having fun with the rumor. … There’s nothing to confirm.”

During Monday’s meeting of the Television Critics Association, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for the Fox Networks Group, said the goal is to get the “Idol” judging panel in place by mid-September in time for auditions.

The tenth season of “Idol” is set to premier in January on Fox.

Click here for the Boston Herald story.