(Credit: Far Out / KaddiSudhi)
Thu 18 December 2025 3:00, UK
Despite being labelled as the American version of The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith never thought their career would last as long as it did. Not when they emerged during a time when the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle either left you behind or chewed you up and spit you out.
According to Joe Perry, if you lasted long enough – literally and figuratively – it was a blessing that most people didn’t have the luxury of enjoying. As he recently told Music Radar, “There was the whole thing of if you could make it past 27 years old, and still be alive, that was an event. I mean, none of us ever thought we were gonna be doing this past 30!”
Lasting longer than a few years, as a band, didn’t just seem impossible because of the nature of life in rock; it was also part and parcel of success in the industry, especially if you were in a band like Aerosmith. Most rock bands enjoyed their time in the sun before something else came along as a replacement, meaning that anything that lasted beyond its expiry date was almost unheard of.
Obviously, it takes more than just a handful of lasting hits to ensure a band’s legacy, and while Aerosmith had that, too, there was also a lot more at play that made sure they weren’t left behind to collect dust. One was their humility, which, all things considered, might seem a bit of a stretch when applied to any given rock figure that soared across the 1960s and 1970s.
However, Joe Perry especially wasn’t the type to appear boastful or egotistical, and even though he had every right to be as a well-skilled guitarist who rivalled most of his peers, he never claimed to be the best at what he did, and whenever he reflects on the landscape now, it’s obvious that he feels more grateful and appreciative as someone whose time in the spotlight is far from over.
Perhaps that’s the secret to Aerosmith’s lasting legacy – those moments where Petty takes complete control, pushing their sound to new heights, scoring moments of true magic that could be a match for even the more obvious guitar heroes. The best part is that most of the more obvious examples of this, like ‘Sweet Emotion’ and ‘Walk This Way’, are moments that also show off his versatility, blending different nuances of funk and psychedelia with classic rock tropes, evoking that timeless sound that’s hard to replicate.
When it comes to why Aerosmith continue to be one of the most popular rock bands on the planet, it’s right there – Perry at the centre of their enduring charm, the shining star on most of their biggest hits. However, according to Perry himself, some of their best moments actually exist within songs that were written by or in collaboration with Brad Whitford, like ‘Last Child’ – famously one of Whitford’s best contributions across their entire discography.
“Brad wrote some of my favourite songs in our catalogue, and he played some of my favourite solos,” Perry told Guitar World. “His style is so different to mine, but if you listen enough to our stuff, you can tell the difference between Brad’s sound and mine.”
Steven Tyler also recalled how much of a defining moment the song was for Whitford, saying that, while he has no idea what he “put into” the song, it’s “his [moment] forever”.
Whitford had a pretty impressive streak when it comes to Aerosmith’s defining tracks, also penning the heavier ‘Round and Round’ and another Rocks staple, ‘Nobody’s Fault’. Although subtle, Whitford’s presence easily found its position at the forefront of their sound, guiding and shaping despite being far less prolific than his fellow instrumentalists.
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