Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry recently shared insights into the “encouraging” and deeply emotional process of recording the band’s latest collaborative EP, One More Time. The project, which features a partnership with Yungblud, represents a significant milestone for the legendary rock group following a period of profound uncertainty regarding frontman Steven Tyler’s health and the band’s future on the stage.
The five-song collection, released last November, was Aerosmith’s first foray into new material since 2012’s Music From Another Dimension!. More importantly, it served as a creative resurgence after the band was forced to cancel their Peace Out farewell tour and retire from the road in 2024. That retirement was prompted by an insurmountable vocal injury Tyler sustained during the opening dates of the trek, leading many to believe the band’s recording days might also be over.
“Getting to work with Steven in the studio was awesome,” Perry noted in a recent discussion with Matt Wardlaw for UCR. He revealed that Tyler has only been able to sing without physical strain for about six months. The intensity of the two-to-three-month session was palpable, especially given the stakes of Tyler’s recovery. “It was really an intense two or three months,” Perry added, highlighting the dedication required to bring the EP to life.
Perry recalled a specific, poignant moment at Johnny Depp’s studio where the gravity of Tyler’s recovery became clear. While Tyler sang for six hours straight over three consecutive days, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Perry’s wife, Billie, was moved to tears by the performance. “She had tears in her eyes because we hadn’t heard him sing like that in f—ing years, literally since the Peace Out tour got pulled down,” Perry said. He admitted there was a time when the band feared Tyler might never sing again, making the studio sessions feel “f—ing amazing.”
While Tyler has made sporadic appearances since his retirement from touring—including a performance at Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning concert and a tribute at the MTV Video Music Awards—the One More Time sessions marked his most sustained vocal effort in years. Perry acknowledged that while full-scale touring remains off the table, the door isn’t entirely closed on live performances. “I know we’ll never be able to tour again, like a regular tour, but who knows?” he mused. “There’s a lot that goes into it, but we’ll see.”
In addition to new music, the band has been meticulously revisiting their history. They recently released a Legendary Edition reissue of their 1973 self-titled debut album, featuring remixed and remastered tracks. For Perry, the project was a chance to correct sonic issues that have bothered the band for decades. He noted that in 1973, they lacked the technical expertise to communicate exactly what they wanted, particularly regarding the drum sound, which he described as previously feeling “flat and flabby.”
With the debut album now sounding as the band originally intended, Perry is looking toward the next chapter of Aerosmith’s archival restorations. “I can’t wait to do Toys in the Attic. I think that’s the next one we’re gonna remix,” Perry confirmed. While he feels that album was sonically closer to their vision than the debut, he believes there are still elements that can be perfected with modern technology and their decades of experience.