Steven Tyler Leaving American Idol to Focus on Aerosmith — Thank God!

Steven Tyler has beat Jennifer Lopez to the punch, quitting American Idol today (Thursday, July 12).  A statement from Fox confirms that Tyler is departing the show. Poor Randy Jackson -- doesn't anybody want to be on this show anymore?

"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 in a statement.  “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."

Aerosmith just released a new song, called "Legendary Child," and a new album, Music from Another Dimension, is on the way. Aerosmith, by the way, still makes pretty good music. Let’s face it: Tyler on Idol kinda watered down the Aerosmith brand, and Joe Perry must have given him a good talkin’ too.

Tyler went on to say that he's going to spend the next few years "kicking some serious ass -- the ultimate in auditory takeover."

"Idol was over-the-top fun, and I loved every minute of it," Tyler said. "Now it’s time to bring Rock Back.”

Please do.

Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson are still judges on the show as of this moment, though J-Lo mused Thursday morning on NBC's TODAY that it "may be time" for her to go. Does anybody remember how we broke artists before American Idol?