Steven Tyler is done as an American Idol judge after two seasons, just when his squawking, screams, yelps and effusive love for contestants were finding a groove on the show.  Wait, is this about money?

Because if money is the issue, they should pay Tyler, 64, what he wants. He started off a little slowly, but provided much needed color, personality and humor to a show that’s showing its age.

But the Aerosmith front man, who’s been a judge with Jennifer Lopez and stalwart Randy Jackson, appears to have ruled out returning for the show’s 12th season, under any circumstances, to focus on the band and his music.

Aerosmith will release a new album, Music from Another Dimension, on Nov. 6.

“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” he said in a somewhat mystifying statement. The reference apparently was to the movie “Fatal Attraction,” where an embittered woman kills the family pet of her ex-lover in revenge for being dumped.

Speculation had focused for weeks on whether Lopez, who’s enjoying a career resurgence, thanks largely to the show, will return as well. But Tyler beat her to the punch. Maybe it will help her dig for more money.

Although the hard rocker seemed oddly out of place and amusingly quaint when he started the show, somehow the chemistry between the three judges started cooking and they balanced each other nicely.

“I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.” Hmmm… maybe he did quit over money.