Joe Perry Mocks Steven Tyler’s Country Album
Count Joe Perry among those who aren't thrilled with Steven Tyler's decision to record a solo country album. In a new interview, the Aerosmith guitarist laughed at his band mate's artistic decision, in particular the new single, "Red, White & You."
"Hey, if I didn't know him when I heard the song I'd go, 'It's okay, next.'" Perry told USA Today. "I'm not going to say anything else about that."
Tyler's decision has met with mixed results from the other members of Aerosmith. Tom Hamilton was all for it, saying, "He wanted to do this creative exercise of going and making an album, and I can’t blame him for wanting to do it. Joe’s done it before, I’d love to do it someday. Why be angry about it?”
But Brad Whitford was conflicted. Although he said, "I hope it’s a hit for him. It’ll be great for Aerosmith," he also admitted that the group was “a little bit abandoned" because they had to scrap the idea of a summer 2016 tour. Perry, however, didn't seem to be bothered by that as much as the whole idea of the Northeast-born-and-raised Tyler going country.
"Steven is in Nashville doing whatever he's doing. He's got a [bleeping] rhinestone cowboy hat going 'Yippee ki yay.' I don't know what else to say about that."
Although Tyler began working on this project nearly a year ago, so far only two songs, "Red, White & You" and "Love Is Your Name" have seen the light of day so far. Tyler had hoped to have the album out in "February or so" of 2016, but there has been no release date set for the as-yet untitled record.
Perry, meanwhile, is in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards tonight. He and the Hollywood Vampires, his side project with Alice Cooper, will pay tribute to Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister.
Aerosmith Albums, Ranked Worst to Best