The 5 Songs That Aerosmith’s Joe Perry Named His Favorites
Joe Perry picks his favorite songs ever. Aerosmith‘s guitarist Joe Perry is one of the most influential guitarists and Perry likes to add old-school rock and country sound to his music and lyrics for Aerosmith‘s band. In this article, we listed what made Joe Perry a great guitarist and who influenced his musical style.
Joe Perry’s Favorite Songs of All Time
Throughout Joe Perry‘s career, Aerosmith‘s guitarist shared his respect for various guitarists who have influenced his playing style.
As one of the co-founding members, principal songwriters, electrifying lead guitarists, and co-producers of Aerosmith, Joe Perry has secured an iconic status in the pantheon of rock music. His contributions have been instrumental in propelling the band to unprecedented success over the span of three decades, with over 160 million album sales, four Grammy Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Joe Perry‘s enduring legacy with Aerosmith has earned him a host of accolades and honors, including 12 MTV Video Awards, 2 People’s Choice Awards, 6 Billboard Music Awards, 8 American Music Awards, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Song, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (featured on the soundtrack to Armageddon).
When it comes to crafting unforgettable guitar riffs, few can match the skill and expertise of Joe Perry. As the lead guitarist of American hard rock legends Aerosmith, Perry has left an indelible mark on the genre with iconic riffs like ‘Walk This Way’, ‘Back in the Saddle’, and ‘Get the Lead Out’. It’s no secret that Perry is a go-to figure for insights on what makes a great rock song tick.
But what inspires Perry to create these timeless riffs? According to the man himself, he often channels the work of his musical heroes. Take, for example, the creation of the unforgettable lick in ‘Love in an Elevator’. In discussing the song’s origins, Perry revealed that he drew inspiration from none other than Jimi Hendrix. It’s this kind of dedication and attention to detail that has made Perry one of the most influential and revered guitarists in the history of rock music.
Joe Perry has shared his top five favorite songs with Rolling Stone. These songs reflect Joe Perry’s diverse taste in music and showcase his appreciation for various genres.
- The Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Women
- Jimi Hendrix – Driving South
- The J. Giles Band – Love Stinks
- Deep Purple – Highway Star
- Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone
Aerosmith‘s guitarist Joe Perry revealed their top five greatest songs of all time. Here is Joe Perry picks his favorite songs as follows:
5. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan, also known as Robert Dylan and originally named Robert Allen Zimmerman, was born on May 24, 1941, in the United States.
He is recognized as one of the most significant songwriters of all time and has had a profound impact on popular culture over a career spanning more than 60 years. Many of his most renowned works were created during the 1960s when songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963) and “The Times They Are a-Changin'” (1964) became anthems for social justice movements such as civil rights and antiwar protests. Dylan’s lyrics during this time were influenced by a range of political, social, philosophical, and literary themes, and challenged traditional pop music conventions, appealing instead to the growing counterculture.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Joe Perry reveals which Bob Dylan song he inspired:
“I don’t know what he is singing about half the time, but somehow the lyrics were easy to wrap your head around This is a song [Like a Rolling Stone] that has stuck with me forever.”
Perry also added this in a Fox News interview:
“Thin ice to cover an artist as iconic as Dylan. not only are his songs brilliant, but his performances of those songs have become so revered themselves. Hopefully you don’t make it different just for the sake of making it different. I just wanted to kind of reinterpret. Dylan’s style of songwriting comes from such a long history of the traditional folk-blues, the songs are basically simple in their construction.
So there’s so much room for interpretation in there. If any songwriter has been a major contributor to the soundtrack of that generation, of our generation, it’s Bob Dylan”
4. Jimi Hendrix – Driving South
During an interview on the making of the chart-topping hit “Love in an Elevator,” Joe Perry of the legendary rock band Aerosmith revealed his profound admiration for the one and only Jimi Hendrix. Also, regarded as the original guitar hero, Jimi Hendrix has a plethora of classic tunes that could serve as a source of inspiration for any aspiring musician. However, Perry chose to take a different approach and draw from one of Hendrix’s more obscure works, showcasing his deep knowledge and appreciation for the musical genius of the late guitar legend.
He mentioned why Jimi Hendrix’s “Driving South” is his favorite song:
“There’s a version from the BBC with the original Experience where he just cuts loose for six minutes. It really gives you an idea of his blues roots.”
3. The J. Giles Band – Love Stinks
The J. Geils Band, pronounced as “Jay Geils,” appeared on the American rock scene in 1967, comes from Worcester, Massachusetts. Lead guitarist John “J.” Geils was at the forefront of the band’s formation, alongside original members including vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz, drummer Stephen Bladd, vocalist and keyboardist Seth Justman, and bassist Danny Klein.
With Wolf and Justman as principal songwriters, the band showcased their R&B-influenced blues rock sound throughout the 1970s.
Joe Perry talked about The J. Giles Band and why he likes their ‘Love Stinks’ song:
I don’t know if there is a better frontman than Peter Wolf. They were one of the first bands to understand the value of videos and MTV.”
2. Deep Purple – Highway Star
Joe Perry also likes timeless classic songs. We know Deep Purple with tons of timeless classic rock songs.
Joe Perry also appreciates Deep Purple as a harp, laser-focused approach to their own extended instrumental breaks. He explained why he most likes the ‘Highway Star’ song from Deep Purple:
“This was constructed back when real players knew how to hold your attention with a solo for three minutes.”
1. The Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Women
“Honky Tonk Women” is a popular song by The Rolling Stones, a famous English rock band. The song was released as a single in July 1969 in the UK, and a week later in the US. Even though it wasn’t included in any album, a country version named “Country Honk” was later added to the album Let It Bleed. The song reached the top of the charts in both countries.
“Honky Tonk Women” has been listed among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Joe Perry also adds why he likes The Rolling Stone band’s ‘Honky Tonk Women’ song:
“This has all the elements of what makes the Stones the Stones. It’s a simple song, but those are the hardest ones to write.”
