Joe Perry on Rock, Family and Hunting In Minnesota
Pioneer Press, MN
November 30, 2005
Once a rocker, always a rocker. That's Joe Perry, the 55-year-old Aerosmith guitarist, family man and entrepreneur (the Hard Rock Cafe sells Perry's own Mango-Peach Tango hot sauce).
Currently on the road with Lenny Kravitz to promote the new live disc "Rockin' the Joint" (the tour stops Tuesday at Target Center), Aerosmith plans to start work on a new studio album in the spring. During a phone interview last week from his tour bus, Perry talked about life on the road, both as a performer and a father. Here's what he had to say:
On Aerosmith's current stage, which features several catwalks that extend far into the audience: "I'm a fan first, and I don't believe good rock 'n' roll exists unless it's in partnership with the fans. By putting ramps up into the audience and keeping the stage low, it creates such an energy and an interaction with the crowd, it's a sum that's greater than the parts."
On the state of today's arena rock: "Back in the '80s and '70s, there were lots of rock 'n' roll shows of all different sizes.
"These days, there are fewer bands able to draw enough people to afford to put up a show like this. (The groups who are still around) like U2, the Stones and us — we came from a generation when you really didn't have anything else to do but play your music live."
On touring with his wife and kids: "My family is with me all the time. When my wife and I decided to have kids, we decided they would come along on the road with us. It's a big commitment, no doubt about it, but it works out for us."
On visiting Minnesota: "Minneapolis is one of our favorite places to stop. We usually spend more time there (than on this tour). We've spent up to a couple of weeks at a time in town, living out of a hotel downtown. You've got such a great vibe there and such a strong underground music scene. And I love to go hunting (in northern Minnesota). I've got some good friends there who take me pheasant hunting. Last time I was there, I got 16 birds."
On tour opener Lenny Kravitz: "It takes a lot to get me out of the dressing room to watch an opening act, but I do every night for Lenny. He's really a great live performer — he puts everything he's got into his show."
On the perfect holiday gift for an Aerosmith fan: "A pair of tickets would be a good gift. I think an Aerosmith fan would like anything from the Sharper Image catalog. I was just in a Sharper Image store looking at some of their robots — some of those things would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. They're amazing just to look at."
November 30, 2005
Once a rocker, always a rocker. That's Joe Perry, the 55-year-old Aerosmith guitarist, family man and entrepreneur (the Hard Rock Cafe sells Perry's own Mango-Peach Tango hot sauce).
Currently on the road with Lenny Kravitz to promote the new live disc "Rockin' the Joint" (the tour stops Tuesday at Target Center), Aerosmith plans to start work on a new studio album in the spring. During a phone interview last week from his tour bus, Perry talked about life on the road, both as a performer and a father. Here's what he had to say:
On Aerosmith's current stage, which features several catwalks that extend far into the audience: "I'm a fan first, and I don't believe good rock 'n' roll exists unless it's in partnership with the fans. By putting ramps up into the audience and keeping the stage low, it creates such an energy and an interaction with the crowd, it's a sum that's greater than the parts."
On the state of today's arena rock: "Back in the '80s and '70s, there were lots of rock 'n' roll shows of all different sizes.
"These days, there are fewer bands able to draw enough people to afford to put up a show like this. (The groups who are still around) like U2, the Stones and us — we came from a generation when you really didn't have anything else to do but play your music live."
On touring with his wife and kids: "My family is with me all the time. When my wife and I decided to have kids, we decided they would come along on the road with us. It's a big commitment, no doubt about it, but it works out for us."
On visiting Minnesota: "Minneapolis is one of our favorite places to stop. We usually spend more time there (than on this tour). We've spent up to a couple of weeks at a time in town, living out of a hotel downtown. You've got such a great vibe there and such a strong underground music scene. And I love to go hunting (in northern Minnesota). I've got some good friends there who take me pheasant hunting. Last time I was there, I got 16 birds."
On tour opener Lenny Kravitz: "It takes a lot to get me out of the dressing room to watch an opening act, but I do every night for Lenny. He's really a great live performer — he puts everything he's got into his show."
On the perfect holiday gift for an Aerosmith fan: "A pair of tickets would be a good gift. I think an Aerosmith fan would like anything from the Sharper Image catalog. I was just in a Sharper Image store looking at some of their robots — some of those things would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. They're amazing just to look at."
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