The Joe Perry Project

The Joe Perry Project is an American rock band formed by Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry. Perry formed the band shortly before his departure from Aerosmith in 1979. The Joe Perry Project signed a record deal almost immediately after Perry's exit from the band with Aerosmith's label, Columbia Records, who were disappointed with the chaos in the Aerosmith camp and hoping to maneuver Perry back into Aerosmith. The Project, with its debut album Let the Music Do the Talking played mostly around the Boston area in smaller venues. Aerosmith replaced Perry with guitarist Jimmy Crespo and after, Rick Dufay was brought on to replace Brad Whitford, Aerosmith's other original guitarist, after his departure shortly after Joe Perry's. After several line-up changes over the next few years and two more albums with dismal sales the Joe Perry Project dissolved in 1984 when Perry agreed to reunite with Aerosmith (Brad Whitford also rejoining bringing the band back to its original form) and the band went on to have arguably one of the most successful "comeback" stories in music history. Joe Perry has reformed the JPP several times since as a side project to stay busy during downtime with Aerosmith.

The Joe Perry Project
OriginUnited States
GenresHard rock, blues rock
Years active1979–1984
2009–2010 (hiatus)
LabelsRoman Records, Columbia Records, MCA Records
Associated actsAerosmith, BUX, Savoy Brown, Angel
Websitewww.joeperrymusic.com
MembersJoe Perry
David Hull
Hagen Grohe
Paul Santo
Marty Richards
Past membersRonnie Stewart
Ralph Morman
Joey Mala
Charlie Farren
Cowboy Mach Bell
Danny Hargrove
Joe Pet
Brad Whitford

History

The original band line-up consisted of Joe Perry on guitar and sometimes lead vocal, Ralph Morman,[1] on lead vocals, bassist David Hull, and drummer Ronnie Stewart. This line-up recorded the band's 1980 debut album, Let the Music Do the Talking,[2] which was produced by long-time Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas. The album was well-received and sold 250,000 copies in America within its first six months of release.

In June 1980, while on tour in support of the album, Ralph Morman was fired from the band due to issues with alcohol and his undependable and unpredictable behavior. He was temporarily replaced by singer Joey Mala, of the New York-based act Revolver, in order for Perry to fulfill concert obligations until a permanent vocalist could be brought in. A permanent replacement was eventually found in singer and rhythm guitarist Charlie Farren. Perry, Farren, Stewart, and Hull recorded one album, I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again,[3] which proved to be less successful than the group's debut effort. Columbia Records executives were reluctant to promote the album, which some believe was due solely on the fact that they were much more interested in a reunited Aerosmith, than a Perry solo project. This resistance from the label, combined with Perry's ongoing drug and financial problems, led to the entire band quitting in 1982.

Equipped with a new record label (MCA Records) and three new band members in singer Cowboy Mach Bell, bassist Danny Hargrove and drummer Joe Pet, the band released Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker in 1983. The album met the same fate as its predecessor, selling less than 50,000 copies. Despite the poor sales, The Project went out on a final tour in support of the album, adding then-former Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford to the line-up.

A compilation album, The Music Still Does the Talking: The Best of the Joe Perry Project, was released by an Australian Indie Record label in 1999.

Reformation

On October 6, 2009, Joe Perry, on his own record label (Roman Records)[4] released a solo album titled Have Guitar, Will Travel.[5] The first single was called "We've Got a Long Way to Go."[6] Although the record was released as a Perry solo album, the touring band included original bassist David Hull and was billed as The Joe Perry Project. Also participating were guitarist/keyboardist Paul Santo[7] (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Ringo Starr), drummer Marty Richards[8] ( James Montgomery, Norah Jones, The J. Geils Band) and German vocalist Hagen Grohe who was discovered by Billie Perry[9] (Joe Perry's wife) on YouTube. The new Joe Perry Project also backed Joe on his latest album, making it a de facto JPP album.

On September 20, 2009, the new Joe Perry Project played the first public concert of the Have Guitar, Will Travel Tour at Memorial Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts.[10] The show was announced just days before the event. Fans who attended were the first to hear some of the new songs from the upcoming album, as well as a handful of classic Aerosmith songs including: "Let the Music Do the Talking" (original JPP version), "Walkin' The Dog," "Dream On," "Combination" and "Walk This Way." The final song of the night was a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."

During the 2009–2010 tour, the Joe Perry Project opened for Bad Company[11] and Mötley Crüe.[12]

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed The Joe Perry Project among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[13]

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

See also

References
  1. "Ralph Morman". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  2. "Let the Music Do the Talking - Joe Perry Project, Joe Perry | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  3. "I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again - Joe Perry Project, Joe Perry | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  4. "Roman Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  5. "Joe Perry - Have Guitar, Will Travel". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  6. Bienstock, Richard (September 16, 2011). Aerosmith: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Boston Bad Boys. Voyageur Press. p. 65. ISBN 9781610597692.
  7. "About". Paul Santo. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  8. "Marty Richards". Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  9. Alexandra Capotorto. "Billie Perry – Hottest Rockstar Wives". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  10. Blabbermouth (2009-09-21). "THE JOE PERRY PROJECT Performs In Plymouth; Video Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  11. "Bad Company News". Badcompany.com. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  12. "Motley Crue | Official Website for Mötley Crüe". Motley.com. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  13. Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
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