Joe Perry Agrees With Gene Simmons' 'Rock Is Dead' Remark

Aerosmith axeman Joe Perry revealed in a recent interview that he doesn't necessarily disagree with Gene Simmons' "Rock is dead" remark.

"Well, I think he's right in the sense that this whole era of rock and roll has dwindled down to literally a cottage industry," Perry told BAM magazine. "When we started, being in a rock band was one step away from being an outlaw. No one ever said, 'Oh good, you're playing in a rock band, how wonderful!' But music was so important to the fans, that was our marching music to the revolution."

Perry went on to say that he thinks the days of rock bands playing sold-out stadiums and selling millions of records in one shot are over, but there will be things to look forward to in the genre. "Stuff moves along, technology moves along," he continued. "I think there's still going to be an excitement created by seeing your favorite performer live. It might not be the kind of music that you and I like, or Gene likes, but it's still going to be there."

The guitarist recently released a memoir titled Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith that highlights his journey from music fanboy to guitar hero. "Naturally, the meat of the book proves to be the relationship between Perry and frontman Steven Tyler, a rock 'n' roll partnership with all of the carnage, love, backbiting, separations, and reunions you'd expect," The Boston Globe wrote about the book. "Perry's anecdotes could have been flown in from some ace rock 'n' roll-centric novel, and do more than amuse; the best enlighten, not just about this band and the partnership at the core of it, but the very nature of creativity itself."

Perry told BAM that Tyler has been texting him about the book, but nothing negative yet.

Tags

Joe Perry, Aerosmith, Gene Simmons