Aerosmith Drummer Sues Bandmates For Preventing Him From Performing At Grammy Awards

Jan 22, 2020

Ahead of this Sunday's biggest night in music, the Grammys, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer is suing the band for excluding him from their performance.

Kramer is filing a lawsuit against Aerosmith because they wouldn't let him re-join the band after he went on a temporary disability absence in 2019. He claims he had to re-audition against a click track to make sure that he could “play at an appropriate level," according to Page Six. He also claims that when he took a few months off he had to pay for his own drumming replacment.

The band then decided to vote Kramer ahead of their Grammy gig as well as their Deuces Are Wild Las Vegas residency that runs April 2019-June 2020.

"Being prohibited from playing with a band that I have given 50 years of my life to supporting, is beyond devastating," he said in a statement to USA TODAY. "To be removed from my rightful place on stage to celebrate our success – a success that acknowledges my own life’s work, is just plain wrong."

The band will be honored on Friday for the 2020 Person of the Year handed out by Musicares, the Grammy Awards' charity, and will then perform on Sunday for the awards ceremony itself reports USA Today.

"Aerosmith is being recognized for their considerable philanthropic efforts over five decades and undeniable impact on American music history. Through the years, Aerosmith have shown support for a number of charities around the world, including Steven Tyler’s Janie’s Fund," according to the MusiCares organization's website.

To add insult to injury for Joey Kramer, it is the band's 50th anniversary year.

What do you think about the ban? Should Joey have been made to re-audition to join the band once again?