Aerosmith's Joe Perry Pans Gold with the Blues
SundayNews
June 20, 2004
By MaryAlice Bitts
After 30-plus years in the business, Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry has done his share of interviews. He's measured, slick and prepared. So it's a good 15 minutes into the conversation before a question takes him by surprise. And when it does, he loosens up and talks petting zoos.
"We were on tour, and we went by Elvis' house (in Tupelo, Miss.), where he was born. We found this petting zoo. I got slobbered on by a camel, rubbed elbows with an incredible Bengal tiger - it was just so ferocious. And things like that happen all the time when I'm on the road.
"We just try to keep it (touring) interesting," He explained. "I'm always trying to find it."
That same adventurous spirit has led Aerosmith into uncharted aural waters - and it's been a scenic, sometimes sonic, ride.
The band's 25th album, "Honkin' on Bobo," rides 12 tracks into the genre of fast-riding blues, a grassroots American sound Aerosmith will be celebrating Saturday, along with its old hits, at Hersheypark Stadium. Cheap Trick is the opening act.
MTV icons, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers, and a two-time Super Bowl act, the Grammy Award-winning Boston group spun some of the most memorable hard-rock hits in the '70s: "Sweet Emotion," "Walk This Way," "Last Child," "Back in the Saddle," and "Dream On," to name a few.
But with the '80s advent of hair bands/synth pop, Perry and lead vocalist Steven Tyler slipped into drug abuse and alcoholism, and internal disputes flared. Perry, and later bassist Brad Whitford, left to pursue other projects, and the group's popularity flailed.
Perry and Tyler sobered up and, in 1984, Perry and Whitford returned to the fold to score a big comeback album - with big hair to match.
Going for commercial gold
Perry's attitude about the style change seems a mixture of defensiveness and practicality: "The power ballad/MTV movement got us back on our feet. It was just a business, because we were pretty broke," he said. "Anyone at the concerts still heard a fair amount of hard rock. Not many people had faith that we would continue. And prove it we did."
The band's formulaic '80s and '90s hits bear him out: "Dude Looks Like a Lady," "Angel," "Janie's Got a Gun," "Livin' on the Edge." Later songs like "Cryin'," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and "Jaded" also zoomed up the charts.
Now back on solid fiscal ground, Aerosmith could afford to ignore the bottom line with "Bobo." But that doesn't mean there's no nail biting.
"I've always been a big blues fan, so for me ("Bobo") was a real labor of love," Perry said, "but I think that everybody in the band, to varying degrees, kind of had their doubts about whether this was the right thing to do. But once we got all down to the studio and started hearing songs being played back, we went, 'OK, This is a lot of fun. Let's do it.'"
Die-hard hard-rock Aerosmith fans need not despair.
In concert, "We're going to play all of our old songs, too. We still rock out," Perry assured. "And the songs (on the blues album) are pretty upbeat, too.
"There are going to be places where there are going to be bends and curves in the road. But there are other places where you can throw your own interpretation into it.
"It's like a fingerprint, you know? It's going to come off with your own character. You kind of learn from the masters, or whoever it is that you're inspired by, but then don't be afraid to take some chances, and try and play some things that aren't there."
Coloring the blues
This is a blues album all right, but it's Aerosmith blues: You can hear Tyler's signature voice, and Perry's interwoven guitar all over it, driving riffs that are reminiscent not only of Chuck Berry ("Shame Shame Shame") and Muddy Waters ("I'm Ready"), but also vintage Aerosmith itself ("The Grind").
"Bobo" also delivers some surprises, with Perry supplying some lead vocals ("Stop Messin' Around") and playing the hurdy-gurdy and dobro ("Back Back Train") and slide guitar ("Jesus Is on the Main Line").
The latter song, recorded in Tyler's barn studio, packs the raw energy of a live revival.
We never would have seen this coming, back in the raunchy old days. But this is today - a time when Whitford lends his talents to a Disney Album ("A Road to Happiness") and Tyler reads "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" for charity (ReadBoston Literacy initiative fund-raising compact disc).
Perry says that while his band once pushed the limits - on the airwaves as well as in their personal lives - they are now pretty tame. He admits that when his four sons' friends come to his house, they'll find "a good, safe environment for our kids to grow up in. My wife and I don't drink, and we don't have any raging parties going on."
Times they are a-changin'
The once-hedonistic Perry no longer takes anything for granted.
"I didn't ever think I'd be in the Hall of Fame, or any of that (expletive); I just thought it would be great if I could play with my band in front of an audience and be able to have a good party afterwards. To have as much as this band has is beyond anything I've ever imagined.
"You can get a job; you can travel, if you want. You can go to the Tupelo petting zoo, if you want. You can go to Elvis' house, if you want. There's all kinds of things you can do - if that's what you care to do," he said.
"It's a miracle. It's beyond anybody's control, to have the blessing of having a band that can do the kinds of things this band does. Whether we're touring Europe or Japan, or crossing the United States, I'm looking. I don't know what for, but I definitely find stuff."
Go to the Top
June 20, 2004
By MaryAlice Bitts
After 30-plus years in the business, Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry has done his share of interviews. He's measured, slick and prepared. So it's a good 15 minutes into the conversation before a question takes him by surprise. And when it does, he loosens up and talks petting zoos.
"We were on tour, and we went by Elvis' house (in Tupelo, Miss.), where he was born. We found this petting zoo. I got slobbered on by a camel, rubbed elbows with an incredible Bengal tiger - it was just so ferocious. And things like that happen all the time when I'm on the road.
"We just try to keep it (touring) interesting," He explained. "I'm always trying to find it."
That same adventurous spirit has led Aerosmith into uncharted aural waters - and it's been a scenic, sometimes sonic, ride.
The band's 25th album, "Honkin' on Bobo," rides 12 tracks into the genre of fast-riding blues, a grassroots American sound Aerosmith will be celebrating Saturday, along with its old hits, at Hersheypark Stadium. Cheap Trick is the opening act.
MTV icons, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers, and a two-time Super Bowl act, the Grammy Award-winning Boston group spun some of the most memorable hard-rock hits in the '70s: "Sweet Emotion," "Walk This Way," "Last Child," "Back in the Saddle," and "Dream On," to name a few.
But with the '80s advent of hair bands/synth pop, Perry and lead vocalist Steven Tyler slipped into drug abuse and alcoholism, and internal disputes flared. Perry, and later bassist Brad Whitford, left to pursue other projects, and the group's popularity flailed.
Perry and Tyler sobered up and, in 1984, Perry and Whitford returned to the fold to score a big comeback album - with big hair to match.
Going for commercial gold
Perry's attitude about the style change seems a mixture of defensiveness and practicality: "The power ballad/MTV movement got us back on our feet. It was just a business, because we were pretty broke," he said. "Anyone at the concerts still heard a fair amount of hard rock. Not many people had faith that we would continue. And prove it we did."
The band's formulaic '80s and '90s hits bear him out: "Dude Looks Like a Lady," "Angel," "Janie's Got a Gun," "Livin' on the Edge." Later songs like "Cryin'," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and "Jaded" also zoomed up the charts.
Now back on solid fiscal ground, Aerosmith could afford to ignore the bottom line with "Bobo." But that doesn't mean there's no nail biting.
"I've always been a big blues fan, so for me ("Bobo") was a real labor of love," Perry said, "but I think that everybody in the band, to varying degrees, kind of had their doubts about whether this was the right thing to do. But once we got all down to the studio and started hearing songs being played back, we went, 'OK, This is a lot of fun. Let's do it.'"
Die-hard hard-rock Aerosmith fans need not despair.
In concert, "We're going to play all of our old songs, too. We still rock out," Perry assured. "And the songs (on the blues album) are pretty upbeat, too.
"There are going to be places where there are going to be bends and curves in the road. But there are other places where you can throw your own interpretation into it.
"It's like a fingerprint, you know? It's going to come off with your own character. You kind of learn from the masters, or whoever it is that you're inspired by, but then don't be afraid to take some chances, and try and play some things that aren't there."
Coloring the blues
This is a blues album all right, but it's Aerosmith blues: You can hear Tyler's signature voice, and Perry's interwoven guitar all over it, driving riffs that are reminiscent not only of Chuck Berry ("Shame Shame Shame") and Muddy Waters ("I'm Ready"), but also vintage Aerosmith itself ("The Grind").
"Bobo" also delivers some surprises, with Perry supplying some lead vocals ("Stop Messin' Around") and playing the hurdy-gurdy and dobro ("Back Back Train") and slide guitar ("Jesus Is on the Main Line").
The latter song, recorded in Tyler's barn studio, packs the raw energy of a live revival.
We never would have seen this coming, back in the raunchy old days. But this is today - a time when Whitford lends his talents to a Disney Album ("A Road to Happiness") and Tyler reads "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" for charity (ReadBoston Literacy initiative fund-raising compact disc).
Perry says that while his band once pushed the limits - on the airwaves as well as in their personal lives - they are now pretty tame. He admits that when his four sons' friends come to his house, they'll find "a good, safe environment for our kids to grow up in. My wife and I don't drink, and we don't have any raging parties going on."
Times they are a-changin'
The once-hedonistic Perry no longer takes anything for granted.
"I didn't ever think I'd be in the Hall of Fame, or any of that (expletive); I just thought it would be great if I could play with my band in front of an audience and be able to have a good party afterwards. To have as much as this band has is beyond anything I've ever imagined.
"You can get a job; you can travel, if you want. You can go to the Tupelo petting zoo, if you want. You can go to Elvis' house, if you want. There's all kinds of things you can do - if that's what you care to do," he said.
"It's a miracle. It's beyond anybody's control, to have the blessing of having a band that can do the kinds of things this band does. Whether we're touring Europe or Japan, or crossing the United States, I'm looking. I don't know what for, but I definitely find stuff."
Go to the Top
Labels: aerosmith, joe perry, mary alice bitts, MaryAlice Bitts
posted by MaryAlice Bitts at 6:41 AM
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