Band’s drum tech will replace Kramer
Joey Kramer will not be seen or heard behind the drum kit when Aerosmith returns to Las Vegas for its Deuces Are Wild residency later this year. The group says Kramer has taken a temporary leave of absence to focus on his family.
Kramer has “regrettably made the decision to sit out the band’s concerts in 2022 so he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times,” the band shares in a statement to USA Today.
Drum tech John Douglas will be stationed behind the kit as “[Kramer] and the band look forward to his future performances with Aerosmith.”
Kramer was notably absent between 2019 and 2020 as he and the band had a public feud. In January 2020, Kramer filed a lawsuit against Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford after a “freeze out” wouldn’t allow him to perform with his longtime bandmates during GRAMMY Week.
Kramer suffered injuries in spring 2019, but stated he was ready for the band’s Vegas residency in fall 2019. However, the drummer suggested he was subjected to a new band policy where he had to audition to prove he was “able to play at an appropriate level” to rejoin.
In January 2020, a Massachusetts judge denied Kramer’s request to return to the band. The judge ruled that there’s not enough time for the group to rehearse and pull off an adequate performance given Kramer’s extended absence.
A month later, Kramer returned to Aerosmith during the residency at Park MGM, which seemed to mark the end of the dispute. The shows were short lived as the pandemic forced the shows to be postponed.
This week, the legendary band announced that it would be celebrating its 50th anniversary with the return of the residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Shows start June 17th and will be the first live concert experience presented in Dolby Atmos at Dolby Live.
