Quote:Steven Tyler has decided to depart his role as a judge on American Idol. Tyler served as a judge during the 10th and 11th seasons of IDOL.

“After some long...hard...thoughts…I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” said Tyler. “I strayed from my first love, AEROSMITH, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass – the ultimate in auditory takeover…On Nov. 6, we are unleashing our new album, Music from Another Dimension on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and way beyond the stars…IDOL was over-the-top fun, and I loved every minute of it…Now it’s time to bring Rock Back. ERMAHGERD.”

“It’s been a tremendous honor to have Steven – one of the most prolific artists in the world – on American Idol for the past two seasons,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “He’s been a terrific judge, a true friend and great mentor to everyone involved with the show, and we know he’ll continue to be a huge inspiration to IDOL hopefuls for years to come. We are very sad that Steven has chosen to focus more on his music, but we always knew when we hired a rock ’n’ roll legend, he would go back to the music. We all wish him all the best and would love to have him back on the show anytime.”

“Steven Tyler is a real ‘Idol,’ a rock legend. If you had told me 10 years ago he would be a judge on American Idol, I would have thought it impossible,” stated IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “The fact that this became a reality and we had the pleasure of him gracing our stage for two seasons makes me very proud. I completely understand his desire to get back to his life as the singer in America's greatest-ever rock band. American Idol will miss him!”

“We’re all very thankful and privileged that Steven joined American Idol two years ago,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia. “A true music icon, he not only brought rock ’n’ roll to the show, but also his exceptional taste in spotting and nurturing undiscovered talent. We will sincerely miss his poetic phrases, his remarkable creativity and his unique spirit. We’re sad about his departure from the show, but understand his decision to return to music full-time and hope he’ll be back to grace the American Idol stage in seasons to come.”

Quote:Michael Slezak ‏@MichaelSlezakTV

Good News for Fans of Legit, Eloquent Feedback; Bad News for Fans of 'Beautiful' -- Steven Tyler Announces Idol Exit http://tvline.com/2012/07/12/steven-tyler-announces-american-idol-exit/

Quote:Haley, don't listen to them! What do you get from that? They're both wrong! That song showed me that you can. It wasn’t a hit song but you sang it, you nailed it.The upper register, you nailed it, you nailed it with feeling. You pushed it over the top. The audience heard it and America heard it.

Quote:Randy's not a singer...She nailed it. She used her voice just the way she was supposed to...she delivered it like the blue plate special, it was just so good...it showed she had emotion, and it showed she could sing...(the bussing) pissed me off...the best singers have character...If you watch Reinhart up there, every bad comment she gets, it rolls right off. That’s how good she is. The one thing I’m a little afraid of, America’s been wrong before. The very one that came out on top, didn’t win first, right? They were on the back lines? Sometimes that character is a little bit to push people away.

Abbreviated notes from the video found at the bottom of this page: http://www.eonline.com/news/241434/steven-tyler-here-s-the-idol-vote-americans-got-wrong

Quote:Haley, don't listen to them! What do you get from that? They're both wrong! That song showed me that you can. It wasn’t a hit song but you sang it, you nailed it.The upper register, you nailed it, you nailed it with feeling. You pushed it over the top. The audience heard it and America heard it.

Quote:Randy's not a singer...She nailed it. She used her voice just the way she was supposed to...she delivered it like the blue plate special, it was just so good...it showed she had emotion, and it showed she could sing...(Randy and J-Lo trying to throw her under the bus) pissed me off...the best singers have character...If you watch Reinhart up there, every bad comment she gets, it rolls right off, that's how good she is...

Quote:INTEGRITY | We all know Uncle Nigel and His Evil Genius Minions have their agendas, and too often over the last few Idol seasons, the judges have felt less like invested observers/shapers of the proceedings, and more like mouthpieces for whatever demographically approved outcome the powers-that-be wanted to have. (Exhibit A: The repeated evisceration of Haley Reinhart.) Tyler’s replacement must have the courage of his or her convictions, the willingness to praise the best performances and criticize the worst — regardless of whether or not said performers are among the season’s “chosen” vocalists.