And then there was Aerosmith. Just a week into their final jaunt, 2023’s “Peace Out” tour, the legendary rockers played Long Island’s UBS Arena and were at the top of their game. The band sounded and even kind of looked like it did during its late-’70s heyday. Vocalist Steven Tyler delivered a killer version of “Dream On.” The band delivered three criminally under-heralded deep cuts, “Adam’s Apple,” “No More, No More” and “Rats in the Cellar.” And then there was a surprising “Bright Light Fright” which was performed for the first time since 1994. Guitarist goo sings that nearly forgotten nugget.
Perry turned 72 the following day. The band and the capacity crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to the guitar hero, who was greeted with a cake onstage as the curtain was drawn on the show and Aerosmith’s half-century career.
However, Tyler badly injured his vocal cords during the Long Island performance and Aerosmith has retired from touring.
However that’s not so for Perry. The veteran rocker is back on the road with his Joe Perry Project, which will perform Wednesday at Tampa’s Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Perry, 74, is the focal point with the Project, which commenced in 1979 when he and guitarist Brad Whitford left Aerosmith. “Neither of us were seeing eye to eye with (Aerosmith vocalist) Steven (Tyler) at the time,” Perry told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay while calling from Los Angeles. “Sometimes things like that happen.”
Perry is being kind. He and Whitford left the band since it became a drug-fueled mess during the late-’70s.. It was time to leave even after Aerosmith released arguably the five best albums of its storied career.
The Joe Perry Project debut, 1980’s “Let the Music Do the Talking,” is reminiscent of early Aerosmith, brash and clever.
The initial Joe Perry Project run lasted until 1984, which is when Aerosmith reunited. The Joe Perry Project reared its head again in 2009 when there was turbulence with Aerosmith. There was talk of replacing Tyler but that was quashed and the Joe Perry Project returned to the garage in 2010.
However, the group came back in 2022 with some dates in New England. The lone constant in the band is Perry, who has performed with a revolving door of musicians over the years.
“I’ve been very fortunate that so many people want to work with me,” Perry said.
One of those people is Whitford, who has been like a brother to Perry.
“I have such a bond with Brad,” Perry said.
The current Joe Perry Project lineup is all-star caliber. Perry is sharing a stage with Whitford, Black Crowes vocalist Chris Robinson and the Stone Temple Pilots’ rhythm section, bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz. Keyboardist Buck Johnson, who plays with Perry on his other side project, The Hollywood Vampires, rounds out the lineup.
Speaking of the Vampires, that band is still intact and inspires Perry, who enjoys working with Vampire frontman Alice Cooper and guitarist Johnny Depp.
“You would never guess Johnny’s daytime job is an actor,” Perry said. “He’s an extraordinary musician.”
Perry has had an extraordinary career and has influenced a myriad of guitarists, such as Slash and Derek Trucks. And then there are the guitarists, who inspired Perry, which is a who’s who of axe heroes.
Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Robert Johnson and Neil Young are some of the guitar monsters, who have had an impact on Perry. Give Perry credit for mentioning Van Halen, who emerged after Aerosmith were mega-stars. The late Van Halen was a dynamic player, who changed the sonic lexicon.
“Eddie really opened things up,” Perry said. “He took the same gear that other guys used but used them in different ways.”
Young doesn’t get enough credit for his unique style of play. Would there be a Dinosaur Jr. without Young, who is known for his top tier songwriting but doesn’t get enough pats on the back as a guitar hero?
“Neil certainly plays the guitar differently,” Perry said. “That set him apart and he plays straight from the heart. There is no one quite like Neil Young.”
Perry also doesn’t get enough credit as a guitarist. The charismatic Tyler often stole the show with Aerosmith since he was one of the finest frontmen in rock history. But serious players admire the solos Perry delivered in songs such as “Kings and Queens,” “Last Child,” “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “Toys in the Attic” and “Train Kept a Rollin.”
And then there is the riff from “Back in the Saddle,” which opened many Aerosmith shows.
“It’s been a great career but I’m not done yet,” Perry said.
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This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2025.