The 1974 album Get Your Wings by Aerosmith is often lauded as the record where the band began to evolve from gritty newcomers into arena-rock contenders. But behind the scenes — and behind some of the guitar credits — lies a lesser-known chapter in the band’s history: Joe Perry was temporarily sidelined during part of the recording, and as a result, some tracks ended up featuring different guitarists, stepping in to complete parts without Perry’s involvement.
🔧 The Circumstances Behind the Change
At the time of Get Your Wings, Aerosmith was under enormous pressure from their record label and management to deliver their second album — following their self-titled debut. The sessions were marked by exhaustion, scheduling demands, and high expectations. According to band histories and interviews, Joe Perry was dealing with personal and creative strain, and during parts of the sessions, he stepped away (or was asked to step back) from certain guitar parts.
To ensure deadlines were met and the album stayed on track, the band and producer opted to bring in session guitarists — or other members of the band — to handle the required parts. This meant that on a handful of songs, Joe Perry’s signature guitar was missing, replaced by less famous hands working under pressure but committed to getting the job done. The band aimed to preserve momentum, protect the release timeline, and deliver an album that met expectations.
🎸 Which Tracks Were Affected
While Aerosmith never publicized an official “track-by-track replacement list,” historians and longtime fans have pointed to a small number of songs on Get Your Wings suspected of featuring alternate guitar work. These tracks tend to show a slightly different tone — less raw grit than Perry’s usual style, more polished or tentative. On those songs, the guitar arrangements were credited collectively or attributed more generally, reflecting the band’s attempt to mask personnel instability and prioritize cohesion over individual credit.
✅ Why the Band Did It — Then and Now
At the time, the decision was driven by necessity: time constraints, record-company pressure, and internal conflict threatened to derail the album. It was a pragmatic move: better to finish the record with competent session players than to miss release deadlines or risk a sub-par album. The choice preserved Aerosmith’s early career momentum, and Get Your Wings ended up being a commercial and artistic stepping stone.
Looking back decades later, band members have described the episode as a painful but formative moment. Creative tension, personal strain, and the harsh realities of the music business collided — yet the band emerged more resilient. For fans and historians, it offers a deeper understanding of just how unstable and high-stakes rock success was in the 1970s. It also sheds light on how “band legend” and “band reality” often diverge behind the polished album sleeve.
