In the world of music, we can find numerous guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Eddie Van Halen, and many more. Such guitarists have taken the spotlight and many other guitarists fail to get recognition, but one of the talents was overlooked by Joe Perry.
The legendary guitarist of Aerosmith is listed as one of the greatest guitarists of Rock and Roll and if he says that a guitarist has impressed him then he really means it. There was a time when Joe talked about an American guitarist who he thinks is underrated in his opinion.
The Guitarist Joe Perry Said Is Underrated
Aerosmith quickly became popular in the 70s after their classic albums. They gained fans in no time and by the early 80s they were already considered as one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands. That same moment, Perry also left the group in 1979.
Alongside Perry, Brad Whitford also left the group 3 years later and both of them returned to Aerosmith in 1984, when the image of Rock and Roll was totally different than what it used to be. The band had to work through many changes to adapt to the present environment.
During the 80s Eddie Van Halen rose to popularity with his enhanced guitar skills, he expanded the way to play the instrument and many other musicians were influenced by his playing style and so did Perry. After following the steps of Eddie, many musicians found their own style and eventually their original sound.
To sound like Eddie Van Halen was really a difficult task, his playing style was described as an innovation but there was one guitarist that nearly sounded like him: Steve Vai.
In 2023 when Guitar World interviewed Perry he mentioned that Steve Vai didn’t get as much recognition as he should’ve. After performing “Frank Zappa” Steve Vai rose to popularity and became the musician who was eligible to take the place of Eddie Van Halen since both of them almost sounded similar.
“I have to mention Steve Vai because he’s just incredibly inventive. He’s a player that thinks way beyond guitar, you know? He’s got music in his head in a way that just blows my mind.”
“I saw Steve Vai play once back when he was with (David) Coverdale and Whitesnake. Some of the sounds he was making were just fucking unbelievable. I think he was playing a seven-string guitar. (He also) had some outboard gear that was doing shit that literally shook the building. He was fucking phenomenal. I’m not sure that he gets the credit that he should,” Joe Perry said.
Perry admired Steve Vai and his playing style. During an interview with Music Radar in 2004, he even called him an underrated genius.
“I appreciate what Steve Vai does on the guitar. I’m sure he’s an underrated genius. But it just doesn’t hit where I live, y’know? There’s something about that primal beat of blues, early rock, that just gets me,” he said.
Perry added, “AC/DC is a prime example of taking that blues rock thing and just living in that world. They only really move the furniture around a little on each album but it still works.”