What happens when you combine Aerosmith’s legendary guitarist Joe Perry with an all-star lineup featuring members of the Black Crowes and Stone Temple Pilots? Pure rock and roll magic, that’s what! The Joe Perry Project 2025 tour launched with a bang this week at Tampa’s Hard Rock Event Center, proving that classic rock is alive and absolutely kicking.
Why Did Joe Perry Reunite His Project for 2025?
Rock fans have been asking this question since Perry announced the Joe Perry Project 2025 tour back in May. With Aerosmith’s future uncertain and Steven Tyler’s reluctance to hit the road, Perry assembled this supergroup to keep the music alive. And boy, did he make the right call!
The 19-song setlist Wednesday night was a masterclass in rock history, blending Perry’s solo work, Aerosmith classics, and deep cuts from his bandmates’ catalogs. Starting with the tried-and-true “Let the Music Do the Talking,” vocalist Chris Robinson immediately put his own spin on things by opting for the Aerosmith lyrics instead of the original Project version.
What Songs Are on the Joe Perry Project 2025 Tour Setlist?
Sure, there were some first-night jitters – Robinson improvised his way through the Aerosmith deep cut “My Fist Your Face,” and Perry’s guitar hit a tuning snag during “Same Old Song and Dance.” But when this classic rock supergroup locked into their groove, the results were absolutely electrifying.
The real momentum shift came during “Fortunate One,” the Perry-Robinson collaboration from 2023’s Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII. Before launching into the song, Perry took a playful jab at streaming services, joking that fans could buy it on “Apple Records — what is that, pay-per-view, where you pay for the music and we get fuckin’ stiffed?”
Robinson’s deadpan response? “Or you could go to a record store and just steal it.” Classic rock banter at its finest!
How Do the Stone Temple Pilots Songs Sound Live?
Bassist Robert DeLeo brought his Stone Temple Pilots legacy to the stage with covers of “Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song.” While “Vasoline” needed some fine-tuning to shake off the rust, “Interstate Love Song” received a rootsy makeover that let Robinson reinterpret Scott Weiland’s original with his signature bluesy cry.
The band also stomped through Black Crowes favorites “Twice as Hard” and “Jealous Again,” with the latter giving Perry space for a freewheeling outro solo that had the crowd absolutely roaring. But despite the supergroup nature of this lineup, they sounded most powerful when focusing on Perry’s own compositions.
Which Aerosmith Songs Stole the Show?
This is where the Joe Perry Project 2025 tour really hits its stride. The one-two punch of Aerosmith’s “Combination” and “Get It Up” marked a definitive mid-set highlight, with Perry diving deep into those swampy, swaggering riffs while nailing vocal harmonies alongside Robinson and longtime Aerosmith keyboardist Buck Johnson.
Fellow Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford brought the house down with his longtime showcase “Last Child,” followed by a volcanic finish featuring “Chip Away the Stone,” “Draw the Line,” “Train Kept A-Rollin’,” and the inevitable crowd-pleaser “Walk This Way.”
By the finale, Perry was completely fired up – slinging his guitar low, unleashing solos with youthful vigor, and even dropping his instrument to bash it with his shirt in true rock god fashion.
What Makes This Tour Special for Joe Perry?
In a recent interview, Perry admitted that large-scale touring “takes it out of you, especially an Aerosmith tour.” But in this more intimate setting with the Joe Perry Project 2025 tour, he can still unleash that legendary energy like the good old days.
This tour represents more than just classic rock news – it’s a celebration of musical camaraderie and the enduring power of guitar-driven rock. Watching classic rock artists of this caliber collaborate and feed off each other’s energy reminds us why this music has stood the test of time.
Despite those few opening-night hiccups, the Tampa show delivered exactly what fans hoped for: a live, raw, unrefined feast of incredible songs and prodigious talent. Most importantly, it reminded everyone why Joe Perry remains one of rock’s most celebrated and effortlessly cool guitarists.
The Joe Perry Project 2025 tour continues through August, bringing this all-star lineup to venues across North America. If the Tampa kickoff is any indication, rock fans are in for an absolutely unforgettable experience.
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Sources:
- https://ultimateclassicrock.com/joe-perry-project-2025-tour-photos-set-list-review/
- https://consequence.net/2025/08/joe-perry-steven-tyler-doesnt-want-to-tour-aerosmith/
- https://joeperry.com/tour/
- https://loudwire.com/joe-perry-project-2025-tour/
