The Autumn Of Joe Perry’s Discontent

Aerosmith axeman Joe Perry sat still long enough for an interview yesterday, talking about his upcoming album, Steven Tyler and the band.

Perry hasn’t been sitting on his behind since Tyler’s injuries in a stage fall Aug. 5 at the Legendary Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, S.D., caused Aerosmith to cancel its North American tour. The fifth and latest album by The Joe Perry Project – Have Guitar, Will Travel – drops Oct. 6.

Konocti Field Amphitheater, Kelseyville, Calif.

But Perry did have a few things to say about having to cancel this year’s Aerosmith tour as well as his relationship with Tyler, and Associated Press provided a few choice quotes.

Perry said the tour was “building up to be a great tour” when a misstep by Tyler caused the frontman to fall from the stage, resulting in a broken shoulder and 20 stitches in the head.

“I was pretty (upset),” Perry said. “Because right before that, he had pulled a muscle in his leg. And we had to take two weeks off and we missed probably seven dates.”

Perry also said he hasn’t spoken with Tyler since early August.

“I haven’t talked to him in over five weeks,” Perry said. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. I hear he’s getting better, but I don’t know, I really don’t know, what’s going on with him.”

Although canceling the tour wasn’t in the this year’s plans, Perry has kept busy, saying “every hole that Aerosmith left I filled.”

Perry also commented on the songwriting dynamic between him and Tyler. And his words weren’t exactly optimistic.

“All I know is he’s got to get his act together,” Perry said. “I mean, he and I haven’t written a song together alone in the same room in over 10 years, so there’s been some changes in paradigm of what Aerosmith is.”

But don’t write off the band just yet. As all Aerosmith fans know, Perry and Tyler have had their differences in the past. Although Perry says he hasn’t talked with the singer in over a month, he firmly believes Aerosmith will rock again.

“One thing I do know,” Perry said. “There’s still life left in the old band.”

Click here to read the complete Associated Press article.