Steven Tyler Talks About His New Song

When Aerosmith started melting down in the summer of 2009, Steven Tyler famously said it was time for him to establish “Brand Tyler.” He wasn’t kidding. In addition to appearing as a judge on this season’s American Idol and writing a new memoir, today he released his new solo song “(It) Feels So Good” on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show. He’ll debut a video for the song on Thursday’s American Idol broadcast.

“I wrote the song at the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles a few years ago,” Tyler tells Rolling Stone. “I swear it’s going to be a hit. I can hear it coming out of people’s cars this summer. I’m a fool for melody, man. I’ve got to have melody. I miss it, and there it is.”

Tyler originally planned on putting the track on an Aerosmith album. “They didn’t like it,” he says. “So I just kept it for the last couple of years.” He thought about giving the song away to anybody who bought his book. “But it’s a different world now,” he says. “Once one person gets it, they put it out. So that wouldn’t work. I feel so fucking good, even though it’s a bit of a risk.”

Aerosmith recorded demos for a new album earlier this year, and Tyler also has tentative plans to record his first ever solo LP. It’s unclear what project (if any) would surface first. Rumors have also been circulating that the band will reunite for the American Idol finale, but nothing has been confirmed. Last year, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry blasted Steven Tyler for taking the Idol job, saying that the show was “one step above Ninja Turtles.” In 2007, however, Perry performed “You Really Got Me” on American Idol with Sanjaya Malakar. Perry’s been uncharacterically quiet these past few months, so his current opinion of the show is unknown.