AceShowbiz - Joe Perry, the iconic guitarist of Aerosmith, shares insights on the band’s current status and upcoming projects as they release a new Legendary Edition of their debut album. Speaking from his Florida home, Perry discusses the uncertain yet hopeful future of the band following recent health setbacks.

Although Aerosmith is not actively touring, Perry stresses that “there are certainly other options,” and he maintains close communication with frontman Steven Tyler, whom he affectionately calls “my brother from another mother.” The duo collaborated on remixing their 1973 self-titled debut album for its reissue. The band’s 2023 farewell tour was cut short after just three shows due to Tyler’s vocal cord injury and fractured larynx, which led to an announced retirement from live performances.

Since then, Perry and Tyler have remained musically active. They recorded an Aerosmith EP with Yungblud titled One More Time in November, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. Tyler has made occasional singing appearances at benefit concerts including those supporting his Janie’s Fund and at the Back to the Beginning farewell event honoring Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. Meanwhile, Perry has toured with his Joe Perry Project and plans a summer European tour with the Hollywood Vampires. Bassist Tom Hamilton has formed a new band called Close Enemies, releasing their debut album last month.

Perry reflects on Tyler’s gradual return to singing. “Steven had to take a year off before he was able to start stretching his vocal cords again,” Perry explains. “You’re always worried about reinjuring it. I learned a long time ago that everything we do is fragile, so we just take it day by day.” He stresses the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and having confidence in the band’s future possibilities.

The newly released Aerosmith (Legendary Edition), which dropped on March 20, features remixes overseen by Perry and Tyler alongside co-producers Zakk Cervini and Steve Berkowitz. This deluxe set includes the original and remastered albums plus a full live show from March 20, 1973, recorded at Boston’s Paul Mall and broadcast on WBCN. It also contains outtakes such as an early version of the Yardbirds’ “Train Kept A Rollin’” and an instrumental jam called “Joined At the Hip (Aerojam),” which contains elements that evolved into “Sweet Emotion” on their 1975 album Toys in the Attic.

Perry admits he was initially skeptical about remixing the album, having seen previous remastered versions that offered little difference. However, listening to the multi-track tapes using modern equipment changed his perspective. “It sounds like you’re standing in the room with the band,” he says. He is particularly pleased with the new drum sound, which he felt was lacking in the original release. “Now it’s like, ‘Holy shit, this is what it sounded like when we were first recording.’” Perry emphasizes that the original version remains available and unchanged, but the Legendary Edition offers a fresh, immersive experience.

Reflecting on the recording process from October 1972 at Intermedia Studio in Boston with producer Adrian Barber, Perry recalls the band’s formative phase. “We were trying to find our place, what our goals were, what our options were. We were learning how to write and play together.” He notes that the band drew inspiration from the second wave of English rock bands, as American music at the time offered little for their ears. “Considering everything, I think the record pretty much does what it’s supposed to do.”

Perry recounts the moment he heard the finished album for the first time. “I put the headphones on, listened to the first song, then took them off and shook my head. When you’re in the middle of it, you do it piece-by-piece. Then when you hear it finished, it’s like, ‘Holy shit! I’m glad we did this.’”

The album’s standout track, “Dream On,” released as a single in June 1973, reached No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and evolved into a rock radio classic, earning a Grammy Hall of Fame induction in 2018. Perry admits that initially, he wasn’t a fan of ballads like “Dream On.” “If it didn’t rock out, I didn’t have any use for it.” He preferred more energetic songs like “Train Kept A Rollin’.” However, Tyler’s dedication to “Dream On” from the day they met helped the song grow on the band. Today, Perry appreciates its lasting impact on fans and its endurance through time.

Looking ahead, Perry plans to apply the Legendary Edition treatment to more Aerosmith albums. His next focus is Toys in the Attic, the band’s breakthrough third album which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified nine-times platinum. This album also produced Aerosmith’s first top 40 hit with “Sweet Emotion.” Perry describes this era as when the band started to truly become recording artists and develop their studio skills.

He shares his admiration for Jimmy Page’s expertise as a sought-after studio musician at age 19, contrasting it with his own early approach: “I just knew you put a mic in front of the amp and prayed.” Perry notes that Toys in the Attic was a creative period where some songs were written spontaneously in the studio amid constant touring, with riffs like the one from Tom Hamilton evolving directly into “Sweet Emotion.”

The newly included outtake “Joined At the Hip (Aerojam)” offers fans a glimpse into the band’s creative process during that time, demonstrating how their songs often developed from jams and riffs while on the road or in the studio with limited prepared material.

With Aerosmith’s hiatus from touring, Perry has expanded his focus on solo projects and other collaborations. His ongoing work with the Joe Perry Project and upcoming Hollywood Vampires tour are part of his musical pursuits during this period of transition for the band.

In summary, Joe Perry remains cautiously optimistic about Aerosmith’s future, emphasizing patience and positivity as key to whatever path lies ahead. Meanwhile, the release of the Legendary Edition of their debut album offers fans both a nostalgic look back and a fresh listening experience, celebrating the band’s origins and enduring legacy.