Joe Perry, Eric Clapton, and the guitar better than The Beatles: “So much attitude”
Joe Perry has said Eric Clapton’s guitar playing on “Steppin’ Out” made a lasting impression on him, especially its intensity, tone and swagger. The Aerosmith guitarist valued feel and attitude over speed alone, and saw Clapton’s blues playing as a model for the kind of energy he wanted in rock and roll.
Perry recalled being struck by the instrumental track on John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers’ Beano album, saying its distorted sound broke with the country-style twang common at the time. He also credited Clapton’s influence in Aerosmith’s early music, pointing to the swing in songs such as “Write Me a Letter” and describing it as close to Clapton’s work with The Yardbirds.
- Joe Perry singled out Clapton’s “Steppin’ Out” for its attitude and tone.
- Perry favoured guitar feel and swagger over speed alone.
- Clapton’s blues style helped shape Aerosmith’s early sound.
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Joe Perry is a guitarist best known for his work with the American hard rock band Aerosmith, whilst Eric Clapton is one of the most influential guitarists in rock history, having gained prominence through The Yardbirds before launching a hugely successful solo career. Clapton's distinctive blues-rooted approach to guitar has shaped how countless rock musicians think about their craft and the emotional intensity they bring to their playing.
In the mid-1960s, Clapton made a particularly notable impression with his distorted, blues-influenced guitar sound on the Beano album by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, which represented a significant departure from the country-tinged guitar styles prevalent at the time. This approach emphasised feel, tone and attitude over technical speed alone, creating a raw energy that would influence rock musicians seeking an alternative to pure technical virtuosity.
This blues-based aesthetic became central to how Aerosmith developed its sound in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with Perry deliberately drawing on similar swagger and intensity in the band's early recordings such as "Write Me a Letter". Understanding these musical connections illuminates how rock music evolved through artists building upon and learning from their predecessors, particularly in how American rock bands absorbed and reinterpreted British blues-influenced guitar styles.