Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Joe Perry
September 10, 1950
Lawrence, Massachusetts, US
76 Years Old
Virgo
Who Is Joe Perry?
Joe Perry is an American musician and songwriter, widely recognized as the electrifying lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band Aerosmith. His distinctive blues-infused style has been a driving force behind the band’s enduring sound and global appeal.
Perry's breakout moment arrived in the mid-1970s with Aerosmith's string of hit records, including the seminal albums Toys in the Attic and Rocks. These successes established the band as rock icons, solidifying his reputation as a guitar hero.
Early Life and Education
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Joseph Anthony Pereira spent his formative years in Hopedale, Massachusetts, with his accountant father and high school gym teacher mother. From a young age, Perry harbored dreams of becoming a marine biologist, inspired by Jacques Cousteau.
Despite struggles at Hopedale Junior Senior High School, he eventually attended Vermont Academy, where exposure to rock music ignited his passion. He picked up the guitar at age ten, teaching himself to play right-handed despite being naturally left-handed.
Notable Relationships
A string of relationships preceded Joe Perry's long-standing marriage to Billie Perry, whom he wed in 1985. He was previously married to Elyssa Jerret from 1975 to 1982.
Perry shares sons Tony and Roman with Billie, and he has a son, Adrian, from his marriage to Jerret. Billie also has a son, Aaron, from a previous relationship.
Career Highlights
As a founding member of Aerosmith, Joe Perry’s iconic guitar work defined classic albums like Toys in the Attic and Rocks. The band has sold over 150 million albums worldwide, cementing their place as one of America’s best-selling rock bands.
Beyond Aerosmith, Perry launched The Joe Perry Project and co-founded the supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp. He also authored his autobiography, Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith, in 2014, sharing insights into his legendary career.
Perry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 with Aerosmith and has earned four Grammy Awards. He also received the ASCAP Founders Award and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.
Signature Quote
“I've come to realize that you live on through recordings; they're like a musical diary, a window into somebody's soul.”