Joey Kramer: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry pic with Obama is 'not representative of Aerosmith'
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer has distanced himself from a photo of Joe Perry and Steven Tyler hanging with President Obama.
On Friday, Tyler and Perry had an impromptu meeting with the outgoing President aboard his private plane Air Force One in Orlando, Florida while Obama was in the city to campaign for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The image was shared on Aerosmith’s social channels, while Joe Perry also hashtagged his non-present band mates Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford in an Instagram post.
> Steven and I hanging out with President Obama on Air Force One today in Orlando Florida. #Aerosmith #StevenTyler #JoePerry #JoeyKramer #TomHamilton #BradWhitford #BadBoysOfBoston #BlueArmy #President #Obama Photo by: John Bionelli > > A photo posted by Joe Perry (@joeperryofficial) on Oct 28, 2016 at 8:31pm PDT
Unhappy about being associated with his bandmates' politics, Kramer took to social media on Saturday to retweet Aerosmith’s now deleted post with this message “This is not representative of Aerosmith.”
When his followers accused him of laying his political views bare, Kramer responded: “I didn't make anything clear ! I don't support anyone speaking for me!”
He added: “I'm not saying who I support! I don't support anyone speaking for me !”
> This is not representative of @Aerosmith ! https://t.co/wR43fvwTI8 > > — Joey Kramer (@joeykramer) October 30, 2016
> I didn't make anything clear ! I don't support anyone speaking for me ! https://t.co/cFV2sBNZGT > > — Joey Kramer (@joeykramer) October 30, 2016
> I'm not saying who I support! I don't support anyone speaking for me ! > > — Joey Kramer (@joeykramer) October 30, 2016
> Exactly ! This is why I had a problem w the pic on @Aerosmith I don't want to be included in political banter https://t.co/b3501TutIL > > — Joey Kramer (@joeykramer) October 30, 2016
Kramer’s comments came shortly after he retweeted a post by an account called Broken ObamaCare, which critiques the president’s Affordable Care Act.
Steven Tyler is a vocal critic of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Last October he personally issued Trump with a cease and desist letter after Aerosmith’s 1973 hit ‘Dream On’ was played at a rally.
Tyler’s lawyers stated: "Trump for President does not have our client’s permission to use 'Dream On' or any of our client’s other music in connection with the Campaign because it gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid,
"We are unaware of any public performance license granting Trump for President the right to perform 'Dream On' in connection with the Campaign," the letter continues, "If Trump for President has any such license, please forward it to our attention immediately."