Friends of Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler say it was Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger who drove Steven Tyler to quit American Idol.

“Seeing Mick take the piss out of him on Saturday Night Live was funny, but it also made Steven think about his credibility. Mick has always been his idol, and the reason he went into rock, if Mick thinks that him judging is lame there could be some truth in it.

Steven doesn’t want to lose his status or his place in music, and being associated to a show that is almost anti rock might introduce him to a new audience, but they don’t get his music.

His performance at the American Idol finals was also instrumental to realising that: there he was, rocking his heart out with Joe Perry by his side, looking
out on a sea of little girls that had cheered his judging, but looked utterly bewildered by rock. A few talks with the band later, and Steven was certain where
his heart was.”