Aerosmith member replaced on new EP
Aerosmith just released a new EP My Only Angel with Yungblud, which sees Steven Tyler return behind the microphone in the studio after retiring from touring. All Aerosmith members are not included on the EP though, as drummer Joey Kramer was replaced by former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum for the recording sessions.
Kramer has faced a rough stretch with the band in recent years. Back in 2020, he famously sued his bandmates after they blocked him from performing at the Grammy Awards tribute to Aerosmith, saying he hadn’t been able to properly rehearse following a shoulder injury. A Massachusetts judge sided with the group, and Kramer was left watching from the audience as John Mayer and others honored his legacy with the band, according to Rolling Stone.
The drama didn’t stop there. Kramer took a leave from the band’s Las Vegas “Deuces Are Wild” residency in 2019, citing health issues. Aerosmith later announced he would not rejoin for subsequent runs of the residency and tours, even after his wife Linda tragically passed away in 2022, as reported by Billboard. For fans, it’s been a divisive split between one of rock’s tightest rhythm sections and the drummer who helped define Aerosmith’s rock and roll swagger.
Yungblud has faced backlash after Aerosmith collaboration
Earlier this month, Yungblud teamed up with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, to honor the late Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV VMAs.
The next day, The Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins hit out against the tribute, calling it “another nail in the coffin of rock n roll.” Adding to his brother’s comments in an episode of his YouTube podcast, The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins further criticized the performance, taking aim specifically at Yungblud.
“I feel like what irks musicians of a certain age is the fact that Yungblud seems to have positioned himself as a natural heir to the Ozzy legacy, having nothing to do with the really important stuff,” he said in part, going on to call him a “poser” for performing shirtless and in leather pants like Jim Morrison and Scott Weiland.
Justin has since received some backlash for his remarks, to which the frontman has responded in the latest episode of “Justin Hawkins Rides Again.”
The singer began by reading a comment from a viewer, who wrote: “So let me understand this. Ozzy takes a liking to Yungblud. Yungblud participates in tributes to Ozzy and is running with attention. Now everybody wants to sh*t on him for it? This world is so f*cked, people love nothing more than hating. I like this kid’s spirit and see no reason to criticize the sh*t out of him for it.”
Justin then attempted to clarify his thoughts on Yungblud, saying: “I don’t think I criticized Yungblud’s spirit. I admire that as much as the next person. What I was saying was that it comes off like a TV personality doing rock.”
“I find it a bit cringe, and the thing about my career is that I’ve done things that are embarrassing or cringe… [and] everyone’s been really quick to kick the sh*t out of me. It’s got to be said. We can’t live in this culture where criticism is not allowed. When I’ve done embarrassing things, people have called me out, and I appreciate that kind of guidance and criticism. That’s how you become a better artist.”
The frontman went on to read other comments describing him as “real petty, bitter, and jealous,” with some fans arguing that Yungblud doesn’t “bring people down to feel good about himself.”
“I don’t need to do it either, actually,” Justin replied. “That’s not how criticism works, and the thing about opinions is, I’m allowed mine as well.”
“Someone like Yungblud should be resilient enough to cope with a little bit of critique because he’s got a huge following and his last few albums have done really, really well,” he added.
“He doesn’t need me to support him… although I have said positive things about his earlier releases because I think, culturally, he could be quite an important individual. I just don’t think he’s written any good songs yet — and that’s my opinion.”
