Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith Hardcover – October 7, 2014

I had no doubt that I would get around to read Joe Perry’s autobiography; Perry’s outro solo on “No More, No More” is what inspired me to pick up a guitar almost 40 years ago. While fame/infamy seems to go hand-in-hand with the rock-n-roll memoirs being cranked out these days, surprisingly few include anything of substance and most seem to rely on shock value over a worthy story. Arguably, ROCKS proves several things: 1. in some cases, an individual member’s perspective of a band is necessary, honest and believable, 2. the experience of surviving 40+ years in the unforgiving world of rock-n-roll and remaining on top is a tale worth hearing about, 3. Joe Perry is a pretty damn good storyteller.Aerosmith, one of rock’s preeminent American bands, has certainly provided a cautious template for every band that followed it. That template includes the band’s hard-scrabble beginning, rise to fame, exploitation, fall from grace and resurrection. Joe Perry, as a founding member and half of the “Toxic Twins” (the name given to the drug-fueled, but prolific songwriting partnership he shares with Steven Tyler), arguably has the best perspective (and best demeanor) to honestly divulge the band’s dirt. While ROCKS is NOT a flame-throwing, bomb-dropping shocker, Perry certainly delivers the hard truths about Aerosmith’s tumultuous history, his tempestuous relationship with Tyler, the women, the drugs and the resilience needed to bring life back to a band that he left for dead.What impressed me about ROCKS more than anything was Perry’s open and even-handed approach to the book and the band. Ever since I first got into Aerosmith (mid-to-late 70s), I was not only intrigued by their bluesy, edgy, hard-driving sound, but also the band’s general PO’d appearance (check out the cover of their first album) … they looked as edgy and hard-driving as they sounded. While we all are aware that Steven Tyler as the screaming, screeching mouthpiece of Aerosmith (on and off stage), Perry always came across as the silent, brooding union-shop leader representing the blue-collar team comprised of the other band members (Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton). With ROCKS, Perry sheds that quiet persona and truly opens up by sharing vivid details of his life in and outside of Aerosmith. While the crux of the book certainly centers on his band, we also get an interesting and somewhat un-stereotypical image of his personal life and family. Sure, drugs and alcohol share a sizeable chunk of the books pages, but his devotion to family is an underlying theme from beginning to end. Perry reveals that behind the thunder of his Marshall stacks, the clouds of coke-dust and mobs of screaming fans is a surprisingly grounded, savvy man who admits he’s always been the type of guy devoted to the woman he’s with (somewhat astonishing considering the band’s first apex occurred during the golden era of groupies). I found the manner in which Perry discusses his life to be quite engaging … he has a knack of generating a vivid picture of events without being verbose or getting off track (unlike many memoirs I’ve read). Perry actually comes across as quite humble and respectful … even when discussing the trials and tribulations involving his relationship with Tyler and his ex-wife Elyssa.So, what makes ROCKS rock? To put it simply, the journey. Readers don’t have to be a fan of Aerosmith to enjoy the front-car view of the 40+ year rollercoaster ride that is Perry’s life. It details the hedonism we expect from a rock icon, without the bombast. And, while he delivers the goods on his relationship with Tyler, he does more to debunk the myths associated with their relationship than pour gasoline on a simmering fire. For example, I distinctly remember (as a kid) going to a pizza joint with my baseball team after a game and hearing someone tell us than the Aerosmith concert was cancelled because Tyler and Perry got into a fistfight on stage the previous night … well, that never happened (Perry states the brotherly animosity between he and Tyler has never come to blows). Sure, there are a few barbs thrown at his “toxic twin”, but overall, regardless of what the media may depict, there has always been a brotherly bond amongst all members of the band … even when things fell apart in the early 80s. Despite the lack of overt drama and “gotcha” moments, the book delivers a steady rolling account of minor and significant events that keeps you interested the whole way through. Surprisingly, it’s not solely a Perry/Tyler affair, the book provides a nice overview of the band that sheds light on the other member’s contributions. Additionally, we get some insight on the business side of rock music (including a cult-like manager whose control creeped into the bands' personal lives) and the interaction amongst fellow rock icons (the pages are filled with such contacts) … Perry paints himself quite humbly throughout. While I’ve always been a fan of Perry and Aerosmith; reading his story makes me appreciate the band even more as it is evident their success is hard earned. I loved getting the details on how Aerosmith became the villains (and the only segment worth watching) in the “Sgt. Pepper” movie with Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees. Or, how they re-worked “Walk this Way” with RunDMC; vaulting them into the realm of MTV and generating more fame and wealth than ever. Through it all, Perry has remained grounded and focused (on his music and family). I guess I was expecting a controversial expose (like so many other rock memoirs), but found myself immersed in a more believable story that proved to be just as interesting.ROCKS is a worthy read because it is entertaining, informative and more importantly, well-written. A must read for fans of Aerosmith and rock music alike.

I read lots of rock biographies and autobiographies and this is one of the best. Very cool look at the band, good and bad, as well as some awesome insights into the writing and recording of each of the albums.

Aerosmith fans will mostly love this book. General rock and hard rock fans and guitar gear geeks will probably really like it or like it somewhat. Popular culture fans, and students of the psychology of fame and addiction, will find it interesting. For most others, it will probably have not much of interest, but the book wasn't written for them.Fans will not find a lot new here. The Judy Carne romance episode is fresh and interesting, though the young folks won't know of her fame. Still, Perry and his ghost author explain the story of his life and career well and Perry comes through as a sincere lover of rock and blues music and his fans.The book's does confirm, intentionally or not, who the band's biggest talent is: its singer, Steven Tyler. Perry can riff with extraordinary creativity and, over (a long) time, Perry self-learned to make the guitar into a dynamic tool of his natural talent and devoted work. But Tyler, whose music background was bred from childhood and family professional history, and who possesses a natural feel for melody, lyric wordplay and rhythm (along with a unique voice and a behind-the-scenes mastery of many instruments) really was the main force that propelled the band and its songs into classic and monster-selling status. The other members of the band contributed a lot as well, and one of the weaknesses of this book is that Perry speaks so little of them, though he is gracious when he does. But the sound of Aerosmith's strong and versatile instrumentation is hardly just Perry. His self-confessed vice of arrogance (and apparent envy here and there) creeps through.Perry's clear anger at Tyler's ego, behind-the-back maneuvering, and weak work-ethic (as compared to Perry and the other band members) remains justified nevertheless. Some of this book is letting off that steam while admiring Tyler and even appreciating Tyler's virtues of helpfulness, talent, and in earlier days, friendship and loyalty. "Rocks" manages to be effective as both tribute and complaint.Perry and Tyler's famed drug issues remain mysterious before and after this book. Perry is candid enough, despite anti-addiction sentiments, to admit that the appeal of drug use was simply that it is fun, and it even helped with some creativity in their growth period. But the origin of that addiction -- a self-medication for ADD?; a self-destructive alcoholic granddad's genes? -- or of his drive-to fame is not clarified. In the case of Tyler and Perry the addictions also come paradoxically in the face of being raised comfortably and non-abusively by loving and supportive parents, whose love and memory are returned and celebrated here. The only generation gap issue for Perry was long-hair in his high school days and Perry's parents were more supportive than harassing.Ultimately, Perry is his origins -- a moderate conservative American white guy (of immigrant Portugese-Italian background) from middle class suburbia but who has an unusual career and a high-energy drive towards it. He supports Republicans and brags about his kids' careers and his later stable long-term marriage and family. He is very very subtly disdainful of, or perhaps more fairly said, distancing of, gays, or at least being identified with non-heterosexuality. His blues-fan sense is also more directed at English white blues-rockers than original black bluesmen. (This doesn't make him racist -- he is sincerely proud of having helped break MTV's video bias-barrier against black videos with the Run-DMC "Walk This Way" collaboration. But he is not some social radical seeking new and "diverse" experiences.)Joe Perry is one of the genuinely stuffiest of genuinely cool dudes.Again, the book tells us not much more than fans already knew. But fans will mostly enjoy it. And one final section -- an extended discussion of his "backline" and equipment -- will give those who love their amps, guitars, and effects, and all the brand names and models that go with that, a full out gear-gasm.This is a fine book, aimed at fans, with no great revelations or insights, but enough adventures and information to keep interested readers. . . . interested. And it will keep fans pleased and rewarded, though probably not wholly satisfied if they want radically new information or perspectives.