On July 28, 1979, Joe Perry, the iconic guitarist of "Aerosmith", abruptly left the band.
(Photo: Richard Corkery)
The tension within "Aerosmith" had been brewing for some time. The band's meteoric rise to fame in the early '70s had been accompanied by relentless touring, recording pressures, and a hedonistic lifestyle. Substance abuse and personal conflicts began to take their toll on the members, particularly on the relationship between Joe Perry and lead singer Steven Tyler. The recording of their sixth studio album, "Night in the Ruts", was plagued with delays and disagreements. The situation reached a boiling point during a concert in Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Ohio.
Perry's wife Elyssa and Tom Hamilton's wife Terry got into a physical confrontation backstage. This fracas was just one in a series of arguments that had been unraveling during the tour. The escalating conflict culminated in an explosive backstage argument between Perry and Tyler, leading Perry to announce his departure from "Aerosmith".
The news left fans in disbelief. Perry's exit was seen as a catastrophic blow to the band, as his while he is one of the band's main songwriters and his guitar work was integral to their signature sound. "Aerosmith", often referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston," had built their reputation on the electrifying chemistry between Tyler and Perry. With Perry gone, many wondered if the band could survive.
Perry's departure had immediate and far-reaching consequences. "Aerosmith, struggled to complete "Night in the Ruts", ultimately hiring Jimmy Crespo to finish the album and fill the void left by Perry. The album lacked the cohesive energy that defined their earlier work. Commercially, it underperformed compared to their previous releases. Meanwhile, Perry wasted no time in forming "The Joe Perry Project", quickly releasing the album "Let the Music Do the Talking" in 1980. The new band's raw sound and Perry's distinctive guitar work garnered positive reviews, but it was clear that the magic of "Aerosmith" was difficult to replicate.
But it did not end with that. Brad Whitford, "Aerosmith's" other guitarist, also left the band in 1981 to pursue a new project, "Whitford/St. Holmes", with Ted Nugent's vocalist Derek St. Holmes. This further compounded "Aerosmith's" challenges, as the band had now lost both of its primary guitarists. Whitford's departure underscored the deepening crisis within the band and contributed to their struggle to maintain their identity and sound.
The years following Perry's departure were challenging for "Aerosmith". The band released albums that failed to capture their former glory. Substance abuse issues continued to plague the members, further hampering their efforts to reclaim their status. However, the story took a dramatic turn in 1984 when Perry and Tyler reconnected, leading to Perry's and Whiteford's return to the band. This reunion marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback for "Aerosmith", culminating in the release of the massively successful album "Permanent Vacation" in 1987 and later "Pump" in 1989 and of course their best-selling album "Get A Grip" in 1993.
In retrospect, July 28, 1979, was not just the day Joe Perry quit "Aerosmith"; it was the beginning of a new chapter that would ultimately lead to one of the greatest comebacks in rock history.
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