The electric guitar, long recognized as a hallmark of rock music and a powerful symbol of rebellion and sonic intensity, has undergone a transformation in its cultural significance. Joe Perry, the iconic guitarist of Aerosmith, shared his insights on this shift during a recent interview with Guitarist.
Perry notes that while the electric guitar once embodied the spirit of defiance, its adoption across various genres has diluted its rebellious connotation. He elaborates, “You might have a guitar solo in there, but it’s not the basis of the song. Guitar has just become so accepted; it isn’t a symbol of rebellion anymore… For better or worse, it’s just another instrument.”
Despite this change, Perry views the broad acceptance of the electric guitar as a positive evolution. He appreciates the instrument’s global reach but doesn’t feel pressured to remain “relevant” in today’s diverse music landscape. “It’s an amazing thing that’s happened over the last 70 years. Guitar is global. It’s a global market. I keep my eye on it, but I certainly don’t sweat it or worry about staying relevant,” he said.
Perry’s influence on the guitar community remains significant, with other musicians recognizing his contributions to its development. Richard Fortus from Guns N’ Roses pointed out that Perry has notably refined the Fender Stratocaster by reversing its headstock. “I think it probably came from his love of Hendrix, but having a left-handed headstock gives you more string length on low strings where you want it, which is probably why Hendrix had such a piano-like low-end. I think Joe figured out that if you have a left-handed headstock, it increases the tension on the low strings and makes the top strings easier to bend. A lot of the photos that you see of Joe show him using either a left-handed Strat or a left-handed neck,” Fortus explained.
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