The guitarist Joe Perry knew wrote his “favourite” songs to play: “His style is so different”
Aerosmith's Joe Perry has praised bandmate Brad Whitford, saying the second guitarist wrote some of his favourite songs in the group's catalogue and played some of his favourite solos, despite lacking the same public recognition as Perry himself. While Perry has long been regarded as Aerosmith's flashier, more visible guitarist alongside frontman Steven Tyler, Perry himself has pointed out that Whitford's contributions were just as vital to the band's sound, even if he rarely got the credit.
Whitford brought darker-edged riffs to tracks such as "Nobody's Fault" and "Round and Round", and his soloing on songs like "Last Child" has drawn comparisons to guitarists such as Jeff Beck, credit that critics often misattribute to Perry instead. The piece also highlights the wider contributions of bassist Tom Hamilton, whose "Sweet Emotion" bassline is considered one of rock's greatest, and drummer Joey Kramer, whose looser playing style has sometimes drawn criticism from Tyler. Ultimately, the article frames Aerosmith's success as a genuine group effort rather than a product of any single star.
- Joe Perry says Brad Whitford wrote his favourite Aerosmith songs and solos.
- Whitford's riffs and solos often go uncredited compared to Perry's.
- Article credits Aerosmith's sound to the whole band, not just its frontmen.
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Aerosmith are one of the best-known American rock bands, formed in Boston in the early 1970s and fronted by singer Steven Tyler. Guitarist Joe Perry has long been seen as the band's other headline figure, forming a well-known creative partnership with Tyler often nicknamed the "Toxic Twins".
Less well known is Brad Whitford, Aerosmith's second guitarist since the band's early days, who has generally stayed out of the spotlight compared with Perry and Tyler. The band's other members are bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer, both of whom have also played significant, if less celebrated, roles in shaping the group's sound across decades of hit records.
This background matters because bands like Aerosmith are often understood through their most visible members, even though their music is usually the product of several people working together. Recognising the quieter contributions of musicians such as Whitford, Hamilton and Kramer gives a fuller picture of how the band's songs were actually written and performed.