Joe Perry

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry released his first solo album as the Joe Perry Project in 1980 while on a euphemistic hiatus from Aerosmith. He soon settled his differences with bandmate Steven Tyler and rejoined the band. In 2005, Perry recorded another solo record, but this time there was no break with the band, and he used the simpler moniker Joe Perry for the album. Perry grew up on a steady diet of early rock 'n' roll, the British blues rock explosion and Led Zeppelin. As a member of Aerosmith, he plays decidedly dirty, riff-heavy guitar and has always been the most rewarding contributor to the band. Aerosmith would be lost without Tyler, sure, but it's Joe Perry's snake-like, sleazily funky guitar playing that pushes the band's best music beyond the parameters of simple '70s hard rock.