'American Idol's' Steven Tyler on New Aerosmith Album: 'It's Written'

Frank Micelotta / FOX

Despite Randy Jackson’s pessimistic declaration that “the record business is still really in the toilet,” fellow American Idol judge Steven Tyler excitedly told journalists at the show’s TCA panel on Sunday that Aerosmith has a new album written.

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“All of it's been written but I’ve got to lay lyrics on it and I haven’t had a lot of time,” said Tyler. “What I’ve listened to so far knocked me out. I know a good song and I know what gets played on the radio. I’m not that pretentious to say we’ve got hits, but we’ve got something and that’s all that matters.”

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The Aerosmith frontman said guitarist Joe Perry is due to arrive next week  so that they can continue working on music. As for the sound of this album, the band’s first in more than seven years? Tyler cracked: “It’s Aerosmith, how do you hide from my big mouth?”

Indeed, it seems Tyler can’t do much hiding at all anymore. Thanks to Idol, he says, “Really, I can’t go anywhere. It was like that before, but I can’t go anywhere now because of the show and the notoriety, because it took sales up 260 percent last year.”

The TV experience has also “brought younger kids to our music,” Tyler added. “It’s been nothing but good.”

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin