| Brad Whitford | |
|---|---|
Brad Whitford performing with Aerosmith |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bradford Ernest Whitford |
| Born | February 23, 1952 Winchester, Massachusetts |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Associated acts | Aerosmith, Joe Perry Project |
| Website | Aerosmith official site |
| Notable instruments | |
| B.C. Rich Bich (made of clear acrylic) B.C. Rich Eagle Gibson Les Paul Fender Stratocaster Gretsch |
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Bradford Ernest Whitford (born February 23, 1952)[1] is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.
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After attending the Berklee College of Music, Whitford played in local bands Cymbals of Resistance, Teapot Dome, Earth, Inc., and finally a band called Justin Thyme before joining Aerosmith in 1971, replacing original guitarist Ray Tabano.[2][3] Aerosmith would go on to be one of the most successful bands of the 1970s. However, following a string of less successful albums in the late 1970s, Whitford left the band in 1981 to work on his own project with singer Derek St. Holmes, simply called Whitford/St. Holmes.[3] The project was dissolved after a sole self-titled album was released in 1981.
Whitford briefly toured with The Joe Perry Project, featuring former Aerosmith band mate Joe Perry, before both Perry and Whitford rejoined Aerosmith in 1984.[1][4] In the mid-late 1980s, all band members completed drug rehabilitation, including Whitford, who completed programs to combat his alcohol abuse. Whitford remains sober to this day and continues to be an active force in Aerosmith.
Whitford also served as a producer for a well-known Boston band, The Neighborhoods, who were led by a rabid Aerosmith fan, David Minehan. When, in 1994, Whitford was forced to leave unexpectedly in the middle of an Asian tour due to family illness, Minehan was flown to Japan where he performed in Whitford's place for several days until Whitford returned.
Whitford missed the start of Aerosmith's 2009 summer tour after requiring surgery as a result of a head injury sustained while getting out of his Ferrari, joining the tour after a month.[5][6]
In 2010, Whitford was announced as one of the guitarists to take part in the Experience Hendrix tour, playing songs performed and inspired by Jimi Hendrix along with other musicians such as Joe Satriani, Sacred Steel, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, Hubert Sumlin, Chris Layton, and bassist Billy Cox.[7]
Along with fellow Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Whitford was included in the Guitar World book The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2007.[8]
While Joe Perry is Aerosmith's more well-known guitarist and the band's principal songwriter with Steven Tyler, Whitford has made significant contributions to the band's repertoire over the years. This includes co-writing Aerosmith's hit "Last Child" as well as some of Aerosmith's heaviest songs: "Nobody's Fault" and "Round and Round", and playing lead guitar on "Back in the Saddle" (on which Perry plays six string bass) and on the ballads "You See Me Crying" and "Home Tonight". When Aerosmith made their comeback in the late 1980s, Whitford continued to co-write tracks such as "Permanent Vacation" and "Voodoo Medicine Man", and plays occasional lead guitar on some more recent tracks.
Said Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler of the two guitarists, "Joe is self-taught and his playing comes from raw emotion. Not that Brad's doesn't, but his style is more schooled."
His contributions include
Round And Round (Toys In The Attic) Last Child Last Child (Rocks) Nobody's Fault (Rocks) Kings And Queens Kings And Queens (Draw The Line) The Hand That Feeds (Draw The Line) Shela Shela (Done With Mirrors) The Hop (Done With Mirrors) The Movie (Permanent Vacation) Hoodoo/ Voodoo Medicine Man (Pump)
At current performances, Brad can be seen playing a huge array of solid-body guitars, some including Floyd Rose locking tremolos: Gretsches, a gold-painted (Stratocaster style) Melancon Pro Artist, and notably a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. Meanwhile, Aerosmith's original heyday in the late 1970s saw both Whitford and co-guitarist Joe Perry arm themselves with aggressive-looking guitars from BC Rich (Whitford favored an unpainted Eagle, while Perry often played an alien-looking red Bich).