The Joey Kramer - Aerosmith Debacle

I am not even sure how to explain this sad story. The other day, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer filed a lawsuit against the rest of the band. He argued that the rest of the band was keeping him from performing with them at the Las Vegas residency and the upcoming Grammy performance. Joey was sick for awhile and his drum tech John Douglas has been behind the kit.

Kramer says the rest of Aerosmith made him audition for his job with click tracks and they didn't let him back in the band because he lacked "energy."

A judge threw out the lawsuit.

When Kramer showed up to the Grammy rehearsals yesterday, security guards kept him from entering the building and a video of the entire thing was pretty sad.

There's a lot going on that we don't know. In fact, I'd bet a lot of money that there is a huge story here. Aerosmith released a statement saying they want Joey Kramer with them for the MusiCares award presentation during the Grammy awards telecast. I guess we'll see if Kramer shows up for that or not.

Aerosmith to Play Grammy's without Joey Kramer, Judge Denies Request https://t.co/Y2KLuQf5EA

— TMZ (@TMZ) January 23, 2020

Video: JOEY KRAMER Blocked From Entering AEROSMITH Rehearsal By Security Guards https://t.co/HxCY6HO0If pic.twitter.com/Q6GPL5S0jf

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) January 23, 2020

Comments

[Jeff]

It is very sh!tty the way the rest of the band is treating him.

[Badland]

They should all be kicked out. They sound like 💩

[Mike]

That video is cringeworthy. We don't know the whole story, but it certainly doesn't appear that the band is being very cool to their drummer of 40+ years...

[Metalboy!]

They probably finally got fed up with his 40+ years of negative b*llshit!

Seriously!, I not only read but also heard from someone who knows, he is the biggest pain in the a*s to deal with and maybe there was a “straw that broke the camel’s back” moment that has brought them to the brink of throwing him out.

Maybe he got “sick” from too much booze, as I seem to recall he has a history of stunts in rehab which may be why they are loathe to let him back in so quickly.

Still, WTH? Unless they think he’s going to go psycho on stage, and can sort of still sort of keep time, why not have him up there in a dual drummer set-up.

Unless, alas, he just can’t play anymore, which, no matter how big a jerk he is or whatever his demons are, SUCKS! because this marks the beginning of the end for the classic line up of Aerosmith!!!

[Shawn]

@MB I was leaning your direction as soon as I heard about this - There has to be way more to the story and my guess was it had to deal with substances -- you just don't lose your skills overnight - either way wish them all the best on both sides.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what is more hypocritical: MB's post or the remaining members of Aerosmith.

[steverox]

Kind of a sad story. I had no idea he was such an alleged a-hole, but even then I don't think he deserves the treatment. But I guess when the band doesn't think he can play anymore, and he thinks otherwise, there's no easy way to resolve that.

Kind of like Bon Jovi with Alec John Such, right? I mean, a band's gotta do what's right. Def Leppard gave Rick Allen all the time in the world to learn a totally new style of drumming with one arm, but if he hadn't been able to "make it", I'm sure they would have also moved on.

[fletch]

Great. Got it. Check.

It's Joey Kramer who's the difficult one.

You people obviously haven't read an areosmith interview or autobiographical book since 1980.

Me thinks there's a reinvention of reality.