Rocker Steven Tyler refused to tell his bandmates in Aerosmith he had signed on as an American Idol judge - because he knew they'd give him grief.

The "Love in an Elevator" singer had just rejoined the band after a spell in rehab when it was announced he was joining Jennifer Lopez as the talent show's new judge, and he admits the members of Aerosmith found out just like fans did - from the Internet.

In a pre-taped interview with former Idol judge Ellen Degeneres, which aired on her show on Tuesday, Tyler says, "I didn't tell them. A band is like a... It's not women. It's men. It's a different world. We keep a lot to ourselves. We don't often tell the truth.

"(When they found out) they were like an old girlfriend, right - 'Why didn't you tell me first?' and that kind of crap. But they're very happy (now)."