Aerosmith's Joe Perry on meeting McCain and his own political ambitions

The Hill, Washington, DC ^ | 2009-09-25 | Christina Wilkie

[rabscuttle385]

Joe Perry, the legendary rock guitarist and co-founder (with Steven Tyler) of Aerosmith, was on Capitol Hill Thursday, where he met with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and performed onstage at a Rock Stars of Science conference promoting the health sciences and scientific research.

Perry endorsed the Arizona Republican last fall in McCain's failed bid for the presidency, and he was very impressed with the senator when he met him Thursday.

"I felt better about politics in general after meeting [McCain]," Perry told The Hill. "He's a war hero, and they're the most genuine heroes. Anyone who does what [soldiers in combat] do, they're amazing heroes. Forget about [popular video game] Guitar Heroes. It's an overused word."

Perry, as self-confessed "life-long Republican," was also impressed by McCain's ability to speak frankly, without "sounding like a politician."

"He has a great vibe, and he was really frank about the election and why he lost. And he still sticks to his guns, with no B.S."

[rabscuttle385]

The Juan McCain Truth File. "I have great respect for Al Gore." —John McCain, October 2, 2008 FR Keywords: mccaintruthfile, mcqueeg, mcbama Please tag all relevant threads with the aforementioned keywords. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. To join the ping list: FReepmail rabscuttle385 with the subject line add  mccaintruthfile. (Stop getting pings by sending the subject line drop mccaintruthfile.)   Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the delusional rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of pragmatic conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless RNC shills who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Aerosmith ;-)

[Gene Eric]

Yeah, McCain’s got Toys in the Attack

[facedown]

Well, Joe will make about as much sense as the rest of the numbnuts in Washington.

[the invisib1e hand]

he's a great guitarist, and I really should start paying closer attention to his stuff.

few realize he played some songs on Mick Jagger's 2000 solo "Goddess In The Doorway" -- fewer still realize that Jagger made that record, on which he professed faith in Jesus Christ.

Other guests: Pete Townsend, Bono, Lenny Kravitz... I forget who else. But Perry's guitar work stood out.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Commendable in one respect, stupid in another.

[CatOwner]

That pretty much sums it up. McCain is on Permanent Vacation.

[GOP_Lady]

One of my favorite bands!

LOVE AEROSMITH!

The song for my prom (back in 1977) was the PERFECT song — DREAM ON!

[GOP_Lady]

I brought two of my favorite bands.

LET’S ROCK!
\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zKxNWC-wJg

[Blind Eye Jones]

Jagger and Jesus. Unbelievable from Mr. “please allow me to introduce myself...” Still Perry is talented and how the other artists reconcile Jesus and the “Goddess In The Doorway” beats me. They are more about kicking out the jams from the doors and letting paganism in.

[Frantzie]

LOL! Dream On that Juan McCain is a conservative. ;-)

[the invisib1e hand]

Mr. “please allow me to introduce myself...”

Some people will never get it.

[dragnet2]

I felt better about politics in general after meeting [McCain]," Perry told The Hill. "He's a war hero, and they're the most genuine heroes.

Someone tell the guitar player we don't elect a president to ship them off to combat, and we'd settle for someone with simple common sense that could balance a budget, secure our borders and reduce the size of government. This doesn't take a hero.

[Frantzie]

One of the reasons I will always be a Sex Pistols fan was the song Bodies. Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) who wrote it when he was probably 18 to 19 years old said it was not pro-abortion or anti-abortion. He said it was more about the lack of personal responsibility. He is very libertarian.

I think the song is very anti-abortion. Scathingly anti-abortion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGuYfG97omE

[the invisib1e hand]

Cool on you. I couldn't get the sound right away so clicked on a "related video" to check my gear, found this. A classic for strat lovers.

[Perchant]

If you want to get into Republican politics, it's not a good idea to start associating yourself with loser rinos. It's not even good to appeal to any other politician, even great ones like Reagan, for that matter, before you make your own beliefs clear.

The problem with saying you are opposed to big business is that Democrats claim to be against big business too. It can mean anything. You need to explain how government regulations create monopolies that prevent small companies from competing with these billion dollar politically connected companies, for starters.

[This Just In]

“...great guitarist” is overrated. He can play, but “great”?

[Blind Eye Jones]

Because they never listen to the Stones, which may be a good thing.

[originalbuckeye]

But I think he's from Massachusetts. Only RINO R's can be elected in such a Lieberal state. Much like Maine.

[GOP_Lady]

Rolling Stone Magazine rated him #48.

[GOP_Lady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkXntbXnx7k

[the invisib1e hand]

He can play, but “great”?

Well, I guess that's subjective. No, not in the sense of Hendrix or SRV. But he's definitely underappreciated, and his touch is very subtle (believe it or not). He gets a beautiful mix of tones sometimes.

[the invisib1e hand]

Because they never listen to the Stones, which may be a good thing.

because they can't have thought that isn't spoon fed, which isn't.

[This Just In]

I rate Rolling Stone Magazine 0.

Joe Perry is either naive or a RINO.

[the invisib1e hand]

there is the whole school of “less is more.”

[ReneeLynn]

I’ll give him a break on McCain, because Aerosmith donated a lot when Stevie Nicks was giving out iPod’s to the soldiers at Walter Reed.

[GOP_Lady]

You can’t separate rating guitarists from politics?

[This Just In]

Unappreciated? Perhaps.

Joe Perry doesn’t hold a candle to Vai, Malmsteen, Satriani, or, as you mentioned, Hendrix, among other truly great guitarists.

[Perchant]

But I think he's from Massachusetts. Only RINO R's can be elected in such a Lieberal state. Much like Maine.

Rinos are worse than Democrats. Snowe and Collins are poison to the Republican Party. It should be an even higher priority than beating Democrats to boot the Maine girls out of the Republican Party.

[This Just In]

I did.

Rolling Stone Mag is a rag, which leaves them lacking when it comes to rating anyone.

Joe Perry, who expressed his political views in supporting McCain is either naive or a RINO.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Well responsibility is not something I immediately associate with punk music, but that's neither here nor there when it is a personal song about somebody someone knows. Point the finger and how many fingers are pointing back? What somebody lacks in one sense may be observed by someone who lacks in other ways. We are all flawed, no doubt, but not to revel in it; which I think the Pistols did to glorify their personal anarchy.

[the invisib1e hand]

Vai, Malmsteen, Satriani

This is where we part ways. Technical prodigiality does not make a great gutiarist, in my estimation.

[Agamemnon]

"Goddess In The Doorway" -- fewer still realize that Jagger made that record, on which he professed faith in Jesus Christ.

I don't know the album. What lyrics do you happen to find so convincing of what you term "professed faith in Christ?"

Does he still perform "Sympathy for the Devil?" If so please square what appears to be a contradiction with the claim above.

[This Just In]

You’ve misread.

It’s not about shredding. It’s about taste, feel, groove, tonality, not imposing yourself on a tune/sensitivity, and innovation.

The pro’s don’t aspire to imitate or emulate Joe Perry.

[the invisib1e hand]

no thread on conservative rock guitarists would be complete without an mention of Skunk Baxter, virtuouso with Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers among his credits (like I should even have to say that).

And if you can find something to whine about Jeff on (besides those glasses), even music can't save you.

[the invisib1e hand]

The pro’s don’t aspire to imitate or emulate Joe Perry.

Ahh, sounds like you're a "pro."

And if you expect me to believe you don't or have never "aspired to, imitated, or emulated" anybody, then I'll call you a liar.

People who love music - pro's or con's - love it whenever and wherever and however they hear it.

[This Just In]

“Technical prodigiality does not make a great guitarist...”

I agree, but if you believe Vai, Malmsteen, and Satriani are just proficient in technical execution you fail to understand their musical ability.

[Frantzie]

There music was more about libertarianism than anarchy. They did attack the music industry which deserved it.

[This Just In]

“And if you expect me to believe you don’t or have never “aspired to, imitated, or emulated” anybody, then I’ll call you a liar.

People who love music - pro’s or con’s - love it whenever and wherever and however they hear it.”

Are you speaking as a professional musician, or someone who enjoys music?

There’s a BIG difference. There’s also I world of difference between someone who enjoys playing an instrument and a pro.

As one whose family has been in the business for decades, I doubt you’ve really lived in that world.

[the invisib1e hand]

we’re not gonna go there, champ.

[the invisib1e hand]

more about libertarianism than anarchy

six of one...

[Blind Eye Jones]

Ok, I agree Satan doesn’t have to be spoon fed. But being spoon doesn’t help matters, despite it being just a “cool” thing for the times. If Jagger is really Christian, I am truly shocked. I thought he would have rested on his evangelical hedonism and surveyed the wide spance of his rock & roll kingdom. But death crowds him so, no doubt, he is rethinking matters.

[the invisib1e hand]

you fail to understand their musical ability.

That I'll grant you without an argument. Way over my head.

[the invisib1e hand]

some people who love music happen to make a living at it. many people who make a living at it, it seems, don’t.

[This Just In]

“Way over my head”

That’s the beauty of music. No one has to be a pro in order to appreciate what brings an individual enjoyment.

[the invisib1e hand]

well, it’s really his business. But he made the record, wrote the words, and he certainly didn’t need the money. You should google up some of the lyrics. That way, if you choose to dismiss them, you can honestly say you were informed about it.