Biography
Who is Joe Perry?
Early life and education
Joseph Anthony Pereira was born in the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. He grew up in the town of Hopedale. His father was a Portuguese accountant from Madeira. His mother worked as a high school gym teacher of Italian descent. As a child, Joe Perry wanted to be a marine biologist like Jacques Cousteau.
Joe Perry struggled with his grades at the Hopedale high school. His parents moved him to Vermont Academy in Saxtons River. This boarding school housed around 200 young men. He later discovered that he had ADHD during his school years.
Musical influences
Joe Perry began playing guitar at age ten. Although he is left handed, he used his right hand to play. He felt changed after watching The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. He would often synchronize his guitar riffs with records.
He discovered British bands like The Who and The Kinks. The Yardbirds had a significant impact on his musical goals. He also liked the distorted guitar sounds of The Rolling Stones. Jimi Hendrix was another major influence he discovered at school.
Rise of Aerosmith
Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton started The Jam Band. They later recruited Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford, and Steven Tyler to form Aerosmith. The group became successful in the mid 1970s. They released hit singles like Dream On and Sweet Emotion.
He played on almost all studio albums, excluding Rock in a Hard Place. He contributed to records like Toys in the Attic and Rocks. Other hits included Walk This Way and Back in the Saddle. He sang lead on the song Bright Light Fright.
Later career and honors
Joe Perry acted in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as a member of The Future Villain Band. They recorded a cover of the song Come Together. In 1979, Aerosmith headlined a festival over acts like AC/DC and Van Halen.
He founded the Joe Perry Project and joined Hollywood Vampires alongside Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Rolling Stone listed him as the 84th greatest guitarist of all time.
Birthday and age
Joe Perry was born on September 10, 1950, which makes Joe 76 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Joe shares the date with 48 other famous people.
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