Joe Perry Wanted Paul Rodgers To Join Aerosmith
Classic Rock can confirm that Paul Rodgers was invited to be Aerosmith’s new frontman.
This happened at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour in London last November, when Aerosmith’s troubles with singer Steven Tyler were just beginning to surface.
The awards were a star-studded affair. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and Rodgers were among the multitude of high-profile rockers in attendance.
During a break in the ceremony Perry approached Scott Rowley, Classic Rock’s Editor In Chief, and asked him: “Can you introduce me to Paul Rodgers?”
Amazingly, Perry had never met the Free/Bad Company/The Firm/Queen + Paul Rodgers frontman before.
Rowley guided Perry to Rodgers’ table and the two stars engaged in conversation while Rowley chatted to Rodgers’ wife, Cynthia.
However, Classic Rock’s Jerry Ewing, who was sitting at the table, overheard Perry make a direct approach to Rodgers about replacing Tyler in Aerosmith.
Ewing recalls:
“Basically Scott came over with Joe Perry who had asked to be introduced to Paul. After an initial introduction Perry started saying how Rodgers was his second-favourite vocalist of all time.
“Rodgers typically asked who Perry’s favourite was, and Perry said: ‘The lead singer of Aerosmith.’ Cue some embarrassed laughter.
“The talk then moved on to what Perry was doing and he said that he was doing the Joe Perry Project and they were looking to come over here and tour, at which point Rodgers mooted the idea of them supporting Bad Company on their just-announced shows.
“The next thing, Perry is starting to tell Rodgers that they have problems with Tyler and that they intend to carry on regardless – and how great it would be if Rodgers took the slot, and would he be interested in trying out?
“If I remember correctly there were the usual ‘how flattering’ platitudes but no real commitment, as you’d expect, nor refusal.”
Classic Rock knows of two more major names who have been approached to sing for Aerosmith.
We’ll be revealing another of those names on www.classicrockmagazine.com tomorrow (Thursday, January 28), with the final one to follow on Friday. So stay tuned to the Classic Rock website.
The March issue of Classic Rock, which goes on sale next Wednesday, February 3, features Joe Perry on the cover and contains more exclusive Aero-revelations.
Its not aerosmith without Tyler.
He’d be better off doin some kinda side project till tyler gets off his ass.
Strange that Paul doesn’t have a stronger solo career considering everyone who thinks he’s the greatest.
As the story goes, Ritchie wanted Paul for Deep Purple back in the day. Page tapped Paul for the Firm. Paul hooked up with Queen.
He’s obviously a great singer that people respect. Yet it doesn’t appear he translates that very well to a solo career which is a shame.
I think Aerosmith, especially after Queen, would be a big mistake. I’d rather see him go the supergroup route like Chickenfoot or Black Country.
At this point in his career, just grab some mates (outside of Bad Company) and have some fun without having to live up to some other band’s reputation.
This whole saga is getting as uncomfortable as watching your pensioner mother snog a 16 year old.
I’m with Mark. They could make another project… Aerosmith without Tyler isn’t Aerosmith. But I’m ok with Paul Rodgers on vocals… he sing well, I like it.
I’ll bet Chris Robinson was approched as well……..we’ll see
in all fairness paul rodgers is a bluesy soulful singer and aerosmith does not need that type of singer.a person who they realistically should ask or give a try is eric martin who is Mr. Bigs lead singer,also the eric martin band,and 415 in the early years lead singer.he has good range and can get up there and scream if need be,rodgers isn’t that type of singer.it would look bad for paul to even consider it after the fallout with queen.eric has touring and audience experience and would be a great choice!
paul rodgers is a bluesy soulful singer and not right, give eric martin,Mr. Big,eric martin band and 415 lead singer.he has the experience of touring and being in front of a audience.also has a higher range vocally than paul rodgers.
Get Michael Monroe!
It is NOT………… and NEVER WILL BE…. ^A^ without Steven Tyler.
Joe, please STOP this nonsense before I throw up.
I was right!!!
See my post under “Aerosmith: ‘We Don’t Want Unknown to Replace Tyler’”
If this is the route Joe Perry is going down, why not ask Michael Bolton, he ain’t be doing much recently.
It’ll be Liam Gallagher next…
get rodgers wig to do it.
i love the smiths pump is still in my top ten albums,
but they should have stoped a long time ago, they haven’t come up with anything great since the 90’s
love em to bits but time to stop getting a new singer wouldn’t work wouldn’t be the same,
perry+ rodgers might do some great writing together and even could stand a good rocking performance ..but problem is
IT WILL NEVER BE AEROSMITH.
do some side project(i dont mind as long as it rocks!) …but touring and performig as Aerosmith it just won’t sound like right as aerosmith should
Hey Perry, quit running your mouth and stick with your own band for a year. No Tyler, No Aerosmith. Simple. I’m not paying to see wanna be’s. Pretty lame.Jokes on you
Just stop it, why would Paul want to do this? no no no no…..bad idea from everyone’s point of view
whats perry state of mind,no tyler no aerosmith.who,s next perry;goerge michael.honkin on bobo;
I can’t believe Joe Perry would even think of doing this.If Steven Tyler would be replaced by ANYONE that would be the end of Aerosmith. Steven Tyler is Aerosmith. Joe Perry is great too but Aerosmith as a band would be dead in the water without Tyler. Maybe they should fire this Kaufman guy….NO ONE would miss him.
I’m with Arthur, why in the world would Paul want to do this? He’s got a great catalogue of his own; his solo band and/or the current Bad Company lineup is great, I’m sure he’ll stick with that and not even think about this. The Queen experiment was enough, he took a beating for that, even though he was awesome. And Aerosmith isn’t Aerosmith without Steven Tyler.
replace the manager for even thinking of replacing Tyler. us true fans dont mind waiting for Tyler to get back on his feet. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. soo lame and dirty. And Joe what the hell are you thinking? what kind of team player are you. you’re supposed to support your your band mates not stab them in the back. so ashamed of you. Steven Tyler makes Aerosmith and if he aint in it then its not Aerosmith and we dont want 2nd best, we can go to tribute bands for that. Ahh glad i got that off my chest…
Paul Rodgers is too good for the likes of Aerosmith. He’s got his own identity, does’nt need to prove anything to anyone.
u have got to be kidding me. i have been a fan for as long as the band has been on the scene. the good the bad and the ugly. they know from past expeirence that they might as well hang it up. joe without steven or steven without joe will never work. they are as they have quoted…in a round about way… brothers to the core. steven is seeking help for an addiction..what he needs to do on top of that is get rid of Erin. sorry but this all started after Theresa left him. the band needs to look at the bigger picture. they are whole as 5.. they are nothing with 4. and that is any of them, not just steven and joe.. heres to hoping they can work it out, tour one more time and call it a wrap in a blaze of glory.
Move over boys and let some great new bands like Jet, Mambo Sons or Dekko take over.
Both of these bands have seen better days – let’s get some new ideas in there.
Everyone but Steven has been ready to record and tour..for a while now and when illness/injury prevented it, that member was temporarily replaced..
HE wants to persue “BRAND TYLER” whatever THAT is. Have seen JPP – Hagen would be a great replacement… but that would dismantle JPP- an insanely kick-ass band.
It seems Steven wants the band to sit around waiting with their thumbs up their a**es till he’s good and ready … meanwhile, they’re ready to rock.
Everyone’s saying Aerosmith need Steven Tyler. I don’t listen to Aerosmith. Don’t think they’re that good and wouldn’t even buy their greatest hits, but if Paul Rodgers is singing for a band, you go and see him no matter who it is!