Joe Perry Parted ways with Aerosmith when its fame was at its peak in the 1970s. People perceived his departure was because of their internal conflicts. Perry recently gave a distinct perspective on his exit in an interview with Guitar World. He mentioned that he sensed a shift in the music industry and felt that his band was unprepared for the upcoming changes.
Joe Perry quit the band at the time of recording the group’s 1979 album, ‘Night in the Ruts’. He remembers there were various factors for his departure.
Remembering that point in his life, he mentioned that he wasn’t in that great state of life and he had to take good care of himself. He was very clear in his mind to leave the band. He also believed that it was time to accept fresh concepts.
Perry said they were entering the ’80s era, and he still remembered hearing the first Van Halen record and he loved it. Eddie’s guitar skills were exceptional. The way he played guitar was incredible which was completely new. At that time, he realized that something new was necessary.
“We also needed to readjust our outlook and find a way to get along again,” the guitarist said. “I recall expressing, ‘We’re not prepared for the ’80s.’ I can’t explain why I said that; it was just a gut feeling.”
As it happened, Perry’s intuition was correct. Sales for “Night in the Ruts” saw a significant drop, and with Brad Whitford departing after promoting that record, their 1982 release “Rock and a Hard Place” peaked at No. 32, barely achieving gold certification. Nevertheless, in 1984, both Perry and Whitford reunited with the band, ready to embark on a fresh chapter.
In a recent Guitar World feature, Perry highlighted eight guitarists who played a significant role in shaping his sound. Among them, he singled out Van Halen, stating, “He’s one of maybe five guys who truly changed things.”
