January 10, 2012

Not every Aerosmith fan was thrilled when the band's frontman Steven Tyler accepted a gig as an American Idol judge in 2010. Particularly not older fans, who wanted the singer to stick to doing the things that they felt a classic rocker should do – i.e. NOT appear on TV singing shows.

Even Tyler's bandmates were unimpressed with the decision, with guitarist Joe Perry telling the Calgary Herald the show was "One step above Ninja Turtles" and 'I'll tell you one thing, when we put this band together, this is not something that (Steven) would do. It's his business, but I don't want Aerosmith's name involved with it. We have nothing to do with it.'

But just over a year later, as Idol preps to head into its 11th season, Perry might be at least pleased with his royalty cheque.

Tyler tells Access Hollywood that the show has been nothing but good for Aerosmith's sales and has introduced the band to a new, younger audience. He said, "[Last season] it wasn't really accepted up front [with the rock community], mostly from my own bandmates because they didn't know what was going on with the Aerosmith thing at the end. But it's brought younger kids to our music anyway," he said, reportedly adding that Aerosmith sales last year were up 260 percent.

The down side? He can't go out in public without being recognized.

"It's like, 'Really?... I can't go anywhere anymore."

(Photo by PR Photos)

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