4:19 PM PT — We’ve obtained video from over the weekend showing Joey arrive at an Aerosmith Grammy rehearsal in L.A. only to be turned away by two security guards. The guards make it clear, they were given the orders to refuse Joey’s entry by the other 4 members of the band.
Joey says he was given a rehearsal schedule from the band on January 18 and flew to L.A. the next day … that’s where the video picks up.
Joey tells TMZ, “The band waited until January 15th to tell me that they weren’t letting me play at the awards ceremonies this week. I can hold my head high knowing that I did the right thing – to fight for my right to celebrate the band’s success that I have dedicated the better part of my life to helping build.”
He continues, “The band’s offer to allow me to participate in this week’s MusiCares and Grammy celebrations for red carpet photo ops only, is appreciated; however, with a fill-in drummer playing on stage at two events honoring our collective musical contributions, it is extremely hurtful to me. I am a professional musician who is eager to return to my rightful place with Aerosmith.”
2:36 PM PT — A rep for Aerosmith tells us the band won’t be commenting as they consider it a family matter.
Aerosmith’s drummer, Joey Kramer, got shut down in court … after a judge ruled against him rejoining the band for its upcoming Grammy performance.
The judge said Joey didn’t make a convincing enough case for playing with bandmates when they take the stage for Sunday’s award show, and also for Saturday night’s MusiCares gala.
In his ruling, the judge seemed to agree with Aerosmith’s stance that Joey’s just too rusty for a live performance at this point. He said, “Given that Kramer has not played with the band in 6 months and the dearth of available rehearsal time before the upcoming performances, Kramer has not shown a realistic alternative course of action sufficient to protect the band’s business interests.”
TMZ broke the story … Kramer sued Aerosmith claiming they unfairly blocked him from rejoining for the once-in-a-lifetime events. Kramer says the band made him audition … something he claims no member has ever had to do in 50 years of service.
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Kramer said he suffered minor injuries in Spring 2019 and was ready to return for the band’s Vegas residency shows by Fall. But, the band didn’t welcome him back with open arms, and instead, he claims they subjected him to a brand new band policy — he had to audition to get his job back.
Our Aerosmith sources said the band denied Kramer from rejoining because his performance was not on par. What’s more … our sources said the group actively tried for months to get Joey back but he just couldn’t get it together in time and left the band with no other choice but to replace him.
The band later said it “would be doing a disservice to Joey, to ourselves and to our fans to have him play without adequate time to prepare and rehearse.”
Aerosmith wasn’t happy with Kramer suing them “on the Friday night of the holiday weekend preceding the Grammys with total disregard for what is our limited window to prepare to perform these important events.”
For now, the judge is telling Joey … walk this way … away from the stage, please.
Originally published — 2:16 PM PT