Steven Tyler could use a little help being ruthless.

The Aerosmith frontman recently stated that he didn't have the heart to crush the dreams of American Idol hopefuls.

While some judges have unrelenting callousness in spades (yes, we're looking at you, Simon Cowell), after two tours in the seats of power, Tyler still didn't want to be responsible for extinguishing the spark in even the worst of performers.

"[I] couldn't imagine telling some girl - or J.Lo telling some girl - she sucks and she can't sing so then for the rest of her life she's not singing," Tyler told Howard Stern on Wednesday.

Tyler admits that the program makes for excellent television by utilizing a format that is "supposed to take the piss out of people." After debuting on the show in 2011, the 65-year-old created a "gentle" judging technique during the 10th and 11th seasons of the competition.

Why would the rocker sign on to work the show if he knew he couldn't deliver the harsh truth when necessary? Tyler explained that following his crushing fall from the stage during a 2009 performance, tensions were high between his fellow band mates and him

"I took it because I was pissed off at the band," Tyler said, referencing the difficulties he experienced with drugs and Aerosmith during the prior years. "I fell offstage [in 2009] and nobody called me and I was also on drugs, so I held the grudge."

If you were hoping Tyler may be considered as one of the judges brought back for American Idol season 13, it would probably be safe to cross him off your list.

Tags: American Idol Steven Tyler