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26 MIN READ TIME
THE GUITARIST INTERVIEW

JOE PERRY

For five decades, his raw, instinctive guitar lines have helped Aerosmith become the kind of rock act whose songs an entire generation can sing. But as the band g rew from funk-fired upstarts into megastars, Joe Perry made sure never to lose one vital thing: curiosity. As Aerosmith call time on their stellar 50-year touring career, Joe joins us to reflect on what he’s learned about guitar along the way... Words Andrew Daly

Leading up to Aug ust of this year, Joe Perry was busy preparing for a tour. Not just any tour – he was saddling up for what was to be Aerosmith’s rebooted Peace Out tour. The same one that came to a screeching halt after a performance at the UBS Arena in Elmont, Long Island, on 9 September 2023, when normally everg reen vocalist Steven Tyler suffered an injury during the show and fractured his larynx.

But all that changed just weeks ago on 2 Aug ust when Aerosmith issued a joint statement informing the world that there would be no second chance at ‘Peacing Out’.

“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours…” said the statement that ran across all Aero ‐related social media. “Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear that a full recover y from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”

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Guitarist
November 2024
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