Joe Perry says Aerosmith will soon be announcing their first proper U.S. tour in eight years.
Since 2015 they've either been doing one-offs in America, or residencies, the bulk of which have been in Las Vegas. It was in Vegas where they last performed in the fall of 2022, but had to cut it short due to Steven Tyler's medical issues.
But the same can't be said for drummer Joey Kramer, who, like last year, will not be joining them.
Kramer, whose wife Linda died last June, will once again be replaced by his tech John Douglas, but, Perry says he's "happy and healthy" and "officially" still a member of the band.
Aerosmith released their self-titled debut album 50 years ago -- January 5th, 1973.
The Joe Perry Project starts a six-date, week-long tour on Saturday in Connecticut through April 22nd in Pontiac, Michigan.
He then heads to London in May for the two Jeff Beck tribute shows at the Royal Albert Hall on the 22nd and 23rd.
It's then back to the States for rehearsals and three Hollywood Vampires shows, before heading back to Europe for a Vampires tour in June and July.
And on May 26th, Perry will release his new album, Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII.
With Aerosmith on indefinite hiatus due to Steven Tyler's health and legal issues, Joe Perry has been keeping busy making new music.
He just released "Fortunate One,” featuring vocals from The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson. It's on his new album, Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII, which will be out on May 26th.
Perry, who wrote the song with two of his four sons, Tony and Roman, says, “I’m really excited to get this song out -- it hadn’t been written when the first version of Sweetzerland Manifesto was released [in 2018]. Tony and I wrote it together, and then my old friend Chris Robinson sang on it and knocked it outta the park! ... It doesn’t get better than that…!!! Really proud of this track.”
As for the album, it will be available on vinyl and will include six tracks and alternate vocal appearances and mixes from the earlier version.
“We had so many songs and with everything going on with The Hollywood Vampires, Aerosmith, COVID, not touring, and touring, this music kept riding along for me,” says Perry. “It was like the engine of a train that wasn’t going to stop. I’d wanted to put these songs out, and the idea of adding them to a vinyl release or Deluxe Version turned into doing MKII.
"I tend to think in terms of albums. The first one had a vibe, and MKII is a little more rocked out. I almost prefer it. It’s one of those records I can play from front-to-back live.“
Among those on the album, in addition to Robinson, are Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, David Johansen, Terry Reid, and Extreme's Gary Cherone, who will be part of Perry's six-date tour, which starts this Saturday in Connecticut.
The Joe Perry Project Tour Dates:
- 4/15/23 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino
- 4/16/23 - Boston, MA - Citizens House of Blues
- 4/18/23 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
- 4/20/23 - Des Plaines, IL - Des Plaines Theatre
- 4/21/23 - St. Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
- 4/22/23 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom
Perry and The Hollywood Vampires have also added three U.S. dates ahead of their European tour in June and July.