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Aerosmith’s Joe Perry Talks New Album Delay, Tour With ZZ Top

4/7/09, 3:52 pm EST

Photo: Lovekin/Getty

There’s been good and bad news for Aerosmith fans this past week. After announcing that the release of their new album, their first since 2004’s blues covers record Honkin’ For Bobo, was delayed until later this year, the Boston band revealed they’d be joined by fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top on tour this summer. Rolling Stone caught up with guitarist Joe Perry prior to last weekend’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony — where Perry was on hand to watch friends Jeff Beck and Run-DMC enter the Hall — to talk the album’s postponement and Aerosmith’s summer road trip.

Perry says the band has been working on a proper follow-up to Just Push Play for the past two or three years. Aerosmith hoped to complete the album before their tour, but various health ailments, like Perry’s knee replacement surgery and Steven Tyler’s pneumonia, stalled recording. “The time we had allotted to make this record, we couldn’t do it. But it’s a work in progress and we’re gonna shoot for it when we finish with this tour,” Perry said, adding that Brendan O’Brien will serve as producer after previously working with the band as mixer on 1993’s Get A Grip.

Perry was also excited about the prospect of touring with ZZ Top, one of the few groups from Aerosmith’s era that have remained intact: “That’s just amazing to be able to play with them because it’s going to be a kickass show.” Perry also promises to reinvigorate the set lists this time around. For much more from Perry, including news on his solo album and more details about Aerosmith’s upcoming tour, check out the next issue of Rolling Stone, on stands next week.

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Behind the Scenes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction: What You Didn’t See on TV


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Comments

Tino | 4/7/2009, 6:02 pm EST

Why does Joe Perry look like Cruella de Ville?

Anonymous | 4/7/2009, 7:01 pm EST

Joe Perry supported John McCain.

Therefore I abandon Aerosmith, just like all the right wing asshats abandoned the Dixie Chicks.

It’s only fair.

Dan | 4/7/2009, 7:28 pm EST

They should call it the A to Z Tour! And then cancel it.

Hinged | 4/7/2009, 8:30 pm EST

The combined age of the members of these two bands approaches 500 years. That brings us back to 1509…17 years after Columbus!

Rock On!!

Anonymous | 4/7/2009, 8:39 pm EST

aerosmith is mad lame! anyone awating there 2009 release should be taken out back and slapped in the face. They might have been alittle kool, for like a week back in 76 but thats it. ZZ Top, gimme a break “pearl necklace” real classy. I bet this tour has the same turnout of dueshbags that go see Tom Petty and the mudcrutchers. Spend your money going to see someone who actually cares about making interesting, innovative and interesting music. You wont find it at an aerosmith, zz top show thats for fu*kn shure!

Earninja | 4/7/2009, 8:51 pm EST

Cruella de Ville…..thats classic!!!

flank | 4/7/2009, 10:35 pm EST

These are 2 great bands.
I can’t wait for the new ZZ Top album this year.
Mescalero was a great album.
I liked Just Push Play too.
I only wish Tyler had put out that Diane Warren song Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing as a solo and not tarnished Aerosmith’s name with it.

CR1ZZ | 4/8/2009, 12:26 am EST

New Zealand. Pleease. I would pay hundreds. Please. I asked nicely.
I heard a rumor that Aerosmith were coming to NZ 2010. And I’ve been desperately awaiting a ZZ Top 21st century NZ show. Pleeeeeeease. And both bands RULE. END OF FUCKING STORY.

The both rock | 4/8/2009, 12:44 am EST

Both these bands kick ass. If y’all don’t think so then maybe you need to be taken out back and slapped. You can’t find a new act out in the last 10 years that have half the talent of either of these 2. Joe Perry is a guitar god. Sorry if he doesn’t still have the pedophile arousing good looks of the Jonas Bros. I guess real music at a real concert will have to do for me.

robb | 4/8/2009, 3:46 am EST

This would be cool, but the rumored VAN HALEN and GUNS ‘N ROSES tour would kick much more serious ass.

Jungleland2 | 4/8/2009, 8:29 am EST

Two “once great” bands that have not had a good record in a while. I know they can still play, but can they still write? I hope so, these are my high school faves from back in the day.

killtheindustry | 4/8/2009, 9:57 am EST

Nah he’s not that cool anymore….wht the hell happened? Hey Joe…. Bonnie Raitt called and she wants her hairstyle back. Please remember to put “Rocks” in all your cd players on repeat before you try and write anything again,

Schultz | 4/8/2009, 10:05 am EST

Johnny Ramone was a staunch Republican and I didn’t ditch them – not gonna ditch Perry cuz I disagree with his politics. The guy wails on guitar!

jim | 4/8/2009, 11:59 am EST

2 or 3 years to work on an album?
WTF?
please GO AWAY.

goodbyewave | 4/8/2009, 12:55 pm EST

Joe looks like Linda Carter after extensive plastic surgery to cover some horrible burn…Aerosmith had two incredible albums, Toys In The Attic and Rocks…then the laughter died…

T | 4/8/2009, 1:22 pm EST

since when is it called Honkin’ For Bobo ??

Jon G. | 4/8/2009, 2:00 pm EST

I disagree, goddbyewave – “Pump” kicked ass, and still does today.

Jon G. | 4/8/2009, 2:01 pm EST

On the other hand, I watched ZZ’s live video from last year, and they’re hurtin’.

HuffStuff | 4/8/2009, 2:09 pm EST

I’ve never quite figured out the Interwebs phenomenon of why people who obviously hate the bands in question bother to click on the article, maybe or maybe not read it, and then go through the effort of making douchey comments. That draft in Mom’s basement must make you cranky.

This show will kick ass. I’m there. I predict both bands jamming together (”Baby Please Don’t Go” perhaps) for the encore.

dorian | 4/8/2009, 2:28 pm EST

While these old farts tour the same sh*t over and over again, Metallica is more relevant and dynamic than ever. If you want an ‘older’ band that still kicks ass, go and buy Death Magnetic!

Joe Perry | 4/8/2009, 2:33 pm EST

Is it just me or does Joe Perry look like he could be Bonnie Raitt’s brunette sister?

tickets | 4/8/2009, 2:35 pm EST

Yo man, i was speaking the truth when i said you should be taken out back and beaten with a stick. Why do you people insist on listening to “hasbeen” or better yet “neverwere” rock n rollers from the 70s. Who the hell said anything about the jonas brothers anyway. You want to talk about a band with talent, go see Medeski,Martin and Wood!!! I know itl be hard, but u have to act kool because they dont usually let in deushnozzles such as yourself to an event as hip as MMW

honkeycoke | 4/8/2009, 3:20 pm EST

PONGO! PONGO!

bob a rock a rolla | 4/8/2009, 6:42 pm EST

All these little jackass’s that mix politics and rock n roll need to go and find a deep hole to jump in. Do us all a favor quit bitchin.Rock stars can voice who they like. It’s called freedom of speech,hell they probably don’t want you at their shows anyway; OH!.

Bryan | 4/8/2009, 7:41 pm EST

These are two of the greatest American rock bands ever, and this show will kick ass. I just hope they come to Knoxville, TN so I can see them. And u can’t say ZZ Top isn’t talented because Billy Gibbons taught Hendrix how to play slide, so shut the fuck up. If this MMW band is so great, how come everyone i’ve asked has never heard of them?

Dude Man | 4/8/2009, 10:33 pm EST

All the people who hate Aerosmith because Joe is a conversative are idiots. I still like Pearl Jam even though they keep pushing their left-wing polics. And it’s not like Joe bashed anyone, he let them use one song. I’m sick of this magizine and some people here constantly bringing politics into the equation. ZZ Top and Aerosmith is going to be great with two awesome bands.

Dude Man | 4/8/2009, 10:35 pm EST

Sorry misspelled politics.

Dude Man | 4/8/2009, 10:37 pm EST

Sorry misspelled politics. Keep on rocking Aerosmith and ZZ Top.

tickets | 4/8/2009, 11:41 pm EST

Brian,The reason no one u know ever heard of mmw, is because your entire crew are a bunch of drunken invosiles[if thats even how u spell it] I told you people u have to be incredibly hip to get down with there intense groovezz. Soo thats why u dont know, because u r a dinosoar and you will hurt yourself trying to keep up. Brah my dad has been dragging me to see zz for years. Sure there good musicians but so is fu*kn Yanni. There are thousands of kickass, mindblowing and lifechanging acts tearing it up in 09, that dont have to rely on a tune that was on Billboard for a couple of weeks back in 78. THAT “PEARL NECKLACE” WoW it was frikin EPIC man!! Sorry if im rambling, but i know what the fu*k im talking about. This is my life. You could have a much better time elsewhere, if u were alittle more openminded, Shit!

tickets | 4/8/2009, 11:51 pm EST

I could tell you who is playing in Knoxville TN. PHISH, im going. I live on Long Island. If Aerosmith and zz are so good why cant you come to NY to go see them. Its because they r only just alittle good, and not worth the trip.

Bryan | 4/9/2009, 12:28 am EST

Tickets, u r retarded. First of all, I’m not some old timer, I’m 20. Fact is most music coming out today isn’t really that good, albeit there are some exceptions. Plus, I’m open minded, I listen to everything; The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Pantera, Rise Against, T.I., Luda, and so many more. I listen to everything from th 50’s to today across all genres, which is more than u can probably say. And the reason I don’t go all the way to NY to see these bands is because 1) I’m in college and can’t miss class, 2) its too expensive.

The Intl | 4/9/2009, 12:43 am EST

WOW that’s a horrible picture of Bonnie Raitt.

Kliff | 4/9/2009, 10:14 am EST

Rock ‘n roll doesn’t take 2-3 yrs to do.

shorty loc | 4/9/2009, 11:06 am EST

fuckin A!!!!!!!!!!!!

SteveF | 4/9/2009, 12:10 pm EST

Joe had knee replacement surgery
and then in the last few months had
to go back in the hospital because of an infection. That would age anyone.

basser | 4/9/2009, 1:54 pm EST

This will be a cool tour, although I was disappointed after seeing ZZ Top last year. They only played 75 minutes! Now the set list was great – only three tracks from 1983, and the rest were 1970s cuts. But they were kind of stiff and played too short a set. It was a let down after seeing The Eagles play 3 hours and 10 minutes. Say what you want about The Eagles, but they were motivated, inspired and having a ball when I saw them live.

Anonymous | 4/9/2009, 2:28 pm EST

Whats the deal Brian? It seems like were making up more than we are making love, girl you have to change your crazy ways. Do you really think Aerosmith is taking 3 years to make this album because it is importaint to them that the material is fresh and awesome? I think its probably more because they can care less about making new and exiting music.[no worries] All they have to do is team up with another act with a big name, And thousands of ignorant fools will come in droves. Thats kool if you want to be one of those fools. You shouldnt call me names because i have bigger and better plans, its called Bonnaroo u should try it some time

Matt | 4/9/2009, 2:34 pm EST

The actual reason for Aerosmith’s delay, I’m afraid, isn’t that Steve Tyler has pneumonia, but rather throat cancer, or at least some sort of benign (let’s hope so)tumor in his throat. He was seen a couple of years ago in the lobby of the building where I work in Boston, headed for a specialist here. More recently, he’s been seen in a large medical facility just outside Boston. My wife works there and two or three weeks ago was walking through a lobby while on break, and happened upon Tyler, who was talking about his condition with a doctor. She told me he looked and sounded terrible, and was concerned about his upcoming shows. (She was surprised that he was talking about this in a public place, but there was no one else around.) So it’s going to interesting to hear how he sounds on the tour & new album.

still tickets | 4/9/2009, 2:51 pm EST

Whats the deal Brian? It seems like we are making up more than we are making love, girl u have to change your crazy ways. Do you really think Aerosmith took 3 years to make this album because its importaint that the material is fresh and awesome? I think its more because they can give a shit about making new and exiting music.[no worries] All we have to do is team up with another band with a big name and thousands of ignorant fools will come in droves. Thats kool if you want to be one of those fools. I was trying to give u the heads up on a band that actually does kickass in 09, u should be thanking me, not calling me names. I have actually seen zz, Aerosmith,and mmw. MMW is way more of a good time, check em out and stop infecting me with your bullshit

still tickets | 4/9/2009, 3:07 pm EST

sorry for the alternate ending

bryan | 4/9/2009, 3:13 pm EST

Don’t call me a deushnozzle, Tickets.

Anonymous | 4/9/2009, 4:35 pm EST

HONKIN ON BOBO!!!!!! NOT HONKIN FOR BOBO WTF!!?!?!!!

Imp | 4/9/2009, 10:14 pm EST

Damn…that pic of Joe Perry looks like a wax dummy…

tickets | 4/10/2009, 2:09 am EST

I dont think your a dueshnozzle,
LOVE YOUU

AeroInformant | 4/10/2009, 1:19 pm EST

What a crock! The “new” Aerosmith album is actually a bunch of outtakes from previous albums with a couple of new tunes to flesh it out. I hope you liked the Get a Grip album, because the new one, if they ever get their act together and release it, will be made up of the songs that weren’t good enough for Get a Grip. This should be a great tour, but with tickets that are going to average $125 and no new material for Aerosmith to tour behind, it will be a giant rip-off. The real reason the album is delayed is because Steven can’t get his act together. Perhaps if he hadn’t relapsed into drug addiction, they would have had this record finished a year ago!! Anyone that believes that his rehab stint last year was for anything other than drug relapse is full of shit!! Aerosmith is my favorite band, but they need to get with it. They haven’t made a great record since Pump! With ever new album we get a comment from Joe saying that “it sounds like Rocks!”, yet for some reason, it always sounds more like a shiny, polished up turd!! Get with it bastards!!

Liberal Left Wing | 4/10/2009, 5:09 pm EST

Go to hell idiots. Dixie chicks suck anyway!

AERO-ROCKS!

bryan | 4/10/2009, 7:38 pm EST

Tickets, you’re wrong about no one letting in deushnozzles to see a MMW show.
You got in didn’t you?

tickets | 4/11/2009, 4:22 am EST

real original it took u 28hrs to come up with that

Anonymous | 4/11/2009, 5:34 pm EST

aeroinformant, your a tool.

contessa | 4/11/2009, 9:36 pm EST

duuuuude tickets aerosmith is my favorite band and ya THEY ARE WORTH THE TRIP PEOPLE HAVE THERE OWN OPINIONS SOO KEEPS URS TOO YOUR SELF OK NOW THAT IS SOME BULLSHIT THINGS YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST ROCK BANDS EVER!!AND LIKE I LIKE ZZ TOP TOOO SOO YA KEEP IT TOO YOURSELF!!!!!!!

AeroInformant | 4/11/2009, 10:50 pm EST

A Tool? Okay then, we’ll just see when the record comes out. Go ahead and look up some titles from the outtakes from the Pump, Get a Grip and Nine Lives albums and write them down. Then, look at the titles that make up the new album when it is released. You will see plenty of the same tracks on both lists. It will happen. If it’s Tyler’s relapse that you don’t want to believe, I don’t know what to tell you, but the proof is all out there. Sure Steven, you went to a DRUG rehab facility to rehab your leg/knee. I’m afraid not. He relapsed. Not a big deal. At least he got the proper help he needed. He got divorced and his mother died within about a year of each other. That is pretty tough and a relapse do to it, while being a bad thing, is somewhat understandable. Aerosmith is not any of the guy’s #1 priority anymore. For proof, look at the fact that Joe is working on a solo album while he is supposed to be working on an Aerosmith record. Unfortunately, I think Aerosmith’s days as a band are numbered.

tickets | 4/12/2009, 3:23 am EST

I dont know why yall hate on me so much. I didnt say you couldnt like Aerosmith. I just dont understand how you could call them the best rock n roll band ever… when you havent seen every single rockband. Maybee i havent seen every single rock n roll band either, but i most certainly seen bands that rock more than aerosmith. Im just saying maybee it might be in your best interest to broaden your horizons a bit.. Your Life will be more fullfilling and complete.

CR1ZZ | 4/13/2009, 8:51 am EST

Tickets you suck. NEVER DIS AEROSMITH, or ZZ Top for that matter. And also try not to dis on RS, people don’t seem to like it. Aerosmith are not the best, no-one is THE BEST.

Mike | 4/13/2009, 4:04 pm EST

Cool!

Michelle | 4/13/2009, 5:28 pm EST

Joe Perry is a Guitar God

tg | 5/24/2009, 4:03 pm EST

good that theyre having a rethink on setlist, cos zztop could seriously kick their asses

WTF | 6/28/2009, 10:23 am EST

WTF

WTF | 6/28/2009, 10:23 am EST

WTF

jcol | 7/6/2009, 8:35 pm EST

Both Aerosmith and ZZ Top are HOF bands. They know how to put on a show, and they’ve more than paid thier dues.
Ticket, or whatever you call yourself, the bands you mentioned couldn’t even qualify as roadies for these two legends.
Get a clue, and then get lost.

Koko | 7/7/2009, 10:02 am EST

It’s better that they are not releasing. Their new album before the tour in a way because no one will like know the songs …from it and by the way aerosmith rocks and like the past few albums haven’t had repeats …

jay smith | 7/7/2009, 8:16 pm EST

Im 50 & have been to over 300 concerts over 100 were aerosmith Im over seeing walk this way & sweet emotion ect ect but Ill keep going to see them till their gone they are the epitomy of rock & rock is the epitomy of music 770 540 0570

Ozk | 8/5/2009, 4:58 am EST

what happened to aerosmith.I think just push n play was kinda good but after that……… mate what happened.They suck now. ANd going on tour with ZZ top,cmon.What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kylie | 8/6/2009, 3:11 pm EST

Hey Joe im a big fan!!!!!!
Kylie

londonhorse | 9/20/2009, 5:06 pm EST

aerosmith rules and with zztop I’d be there.probably no canadian date though.Don’t get the new music,still listento the oldey but goodies.ROCK ON BOYS!!!

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