Aerosmith have announced that longtime drummer Joey Kramer is taking a “temporary leave of absence” from band.

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The rock veterans are gearing up to return to the stage after a two-year hiatus when their Deuces Are Wild Las Vegas residency resumes in June for a run of 24 shows.

However, they will be without drummer Kramer who is stepping away temporality so that he can “focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times”.

“[Kramer] 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,” Aerosmith said in a statement shared with USA Today. “He and the band look forward to his future performances with Aerosmith.”

The band said the situation with Kramer is a “temporary leave of absence”, and announced that drum technician Jack Douglas will once again pick up the sticks while Kramer is away.

It’s not the first time Kramer has stepped away from Aerosmith. In April 2019, he was forced to sit out of the band after suffering a shoulder injury. He asked to rejoin his bandmates for their Grammy Week MusiCares tribute show, but the band didn’t allow him to.

“Joey Kramer is our brother; his well-being is of paramount importance to us,” the band said in a statement at the time. “However, he has not been emotionally and physically able to perform with the band, by his own admission, for the last six months. We have missed him and have encouraged him to rejoin us to play many times but apparently he has not felt ready to do so.”

This led to Kramer, a founding member of the group 50 years ago, filing a lawsuit against the band, during which time security prevented him from entering Aerosmith’s Grammy rehearsal facility.

In video footage shared by TMZ, the drummer is seen approaching the door only to be told he can’t enter. “I’m sorry, we’re just asking you not to come into the property right now,” one security guard told him. “We’ve been hired by the other four members of the band to ask that you don’t come in today.”

When he was asked if that was alright, Kramer responded: “Well,you’re just doing your job.” He then thanked the guards and walked away. He rejoined the band in February 2020.

Aerosmith’s ‘Deuces Are Wild’ Las Vegas residency dates are as follows:

JUNE 2022
17, 20, 23, 26, 29

JULY 2022 
2, 5, 8

SEPTEMBER 2022
14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29

OCTOBER 2022
2, 5

NOVEMBER 2022
19, 23, 26, 29

DECEMBER 2022
2, 5, 8, 11