In an extensive interview, the legendary guitarist opens up about the dynamics that drive the band and why making a new Aerosmith album might not be in the cards.
There have been precious few constants in a musical landscape that has undergone seismic changes over the past several decades, from the birth of the larger-than-life rock star to the advent and eventual death of the MTV era to the digital revolution that has made it much easier for fans to hear music – and much less likely that they’ll buy it.
Aerosmith, the rock band that sprung from New England in the early ’70s and amped up the boozy, bluesy brashness of The Rolling Stones into an arena-ready brand of hard rock, is still standing through all of the changes and challenges, from the ups and downs of the music industry to the group’s own highly publicized internal turmoil.
At the heart of Aerosmith is the prolific and sometimes volatile relationship between frontman Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry, a duo dubbed “The Toxic Twins” at the height of their drug-addled debauchery. Those days are long behind them, but Aerosmith, now well into its fifth decade, does not appear to have any intentions of winding down its legendary career anytime soon. The group is currently on its “Blue Army” tour, which will wrap up in early August, and on Sept. 4, the band will release “Aerosmith Rocks Donnington 2014,” a DVD that captures the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ performance at the iconic British rock festival. Factor in the side projects, like Tyler’s impending debut country album and Perry’s involvement with the Alice Cooper-led Hollywood Vampires project, and you get the idea.
With all of this as a backdrop, Perry recently took the time on a day off from the tour to chat exclusively with HNGN about what keeps the band and its fans going, the concert DVD, the possibility of a new Aerosmith studio album, Tyler’s reaction to Perry’s 2014 autobiography, “Rocks,” and his admiration for Johnny Depp. Continue reading Aerosmith’s Joe Perry Talks New Donnington DVD, Steven Tyler And Jamming With Johnny Depp