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Bradley Ernest Whitford (born February 23, 1952)Putterford, Mark (1991) ''The Fall and Rise of Aerosmith'', Omnibus Press, Strong, Martin C. (2001) ''The Great Metal Discography'' (2nd edn.), MOJO Books, , p. 11-13 is an American musician who is best known for serving as the
rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular re ...
and co-
lead guitarist Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...
for the
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest ha ...
band
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whitford (guitar). Their style, which is rooted in blues ...
for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. He has also worked as a
songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music ...
for the group, co-composing well-received tracks such as 1976's " Last Child".


Career

Whitford graduated from
Reading Memorial High School Reading Memorial High School (RMHS), overseen by the Reading Public School district, is a four-year high school serving the town of Reading, Massachusetts, United States, as its only public grade 9-12 school. The school had a student body of 1, ...
in 1970. After attending the
Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
, 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.Waller, Don (1998)
Rock This Way: A Brief History of Roads Taken
, ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...
'', August 15, 1998, retrieved April 3, 2010
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 Derek St. Holmes (born February 24, 1953) is an American rock musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's early solo career. After splitting from Nugent in 1978, St. Holmes worked with various artists, mo ...
, simply called Whitford/St. Holmes. The project was dissolved after a sole self-titled album was released in 1981, although Whitford/St. Holmes reunited for a 2015 tour, at which a follow up album titled ''Reunion'' was sold. Whitford briefly toured with the Joe Perry Project, featuring former Aerosmith bandmate Joe Perry, before both Perry and Whitford rejoined Aerosmith in 1984. In the mid-late 1980s, all band members completed
drug rehabilitation Drug rehabilitation is the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and street drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The general intent i ...
, including Whitford, who completed programs to combat his
alcohol abuse Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors, ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependence, in extreme cases resulting in health problems for individuals and large scale social problems such as alcohol-rela ...
. Whitford remains sober to this day and continues to be an active member in Aerosmith. Whitford also served as a producer for a well-known
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
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 Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
, joining the tour after a month.Kreps, Daniel (2009)
Aerosmith Lose Guitarist Brad Whitford For Part of Summer Tour
, ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'', June 8, 2009, retrieved April 3, 2010
Kreps, Daniel (2009)
Aerosmith's Whitford Plots July 7 Return From Head Injury
, ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'', June 15, 2009, retrieved April 3, 2010
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 James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
along with other musicians such as
Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". '' AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...
, Sacred Steel, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson,
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Kenny Wayne Shepherd (born Kenny Wayne Brobst; June 12, 1977) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced significant commercial success as a blues artist. Life and career Shepherd wa ...
, Ernie Isley,
Living Colour Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish (who replaced Muzz Skillings in 1992). St ...
, Hubert Sumlin, Chris Layton, and bassist
Billy Cox William Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix. Cox is the only surviving musician to have regularly played with Hendrix: first with the experimental group that backed Hendrix at Woodstoc ...
.Benson, John (2010)
Experience ... Jimi Hendrix
, '' News-Herald'', March 22, 2010, retrieved April 3, 2010
Along with fellow Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Whitford was included in the ''
Guitar World ''Guitar World'' is a monthly music magazine for guitarists – and fans of guitar-based music and trends – that has been published since July 1980. ''Guitar World'', the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original art ...
'' book ''The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time'' in 2007.Kitts, Jeff & Tolinski, Brad (2008) ''The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time'', Hal Leonard, , p. 9 In November 2015, Whitford/St. Holmes reunited for a 10 show tour.


Musical contributions and style

While Joe Perry is Aerosmith's better 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 "Sick as a Dog" and "Back In the Saddle" (on which Perry plays six string bass), "Last Child", and on the ballads " You See Me Crying" and "
Home Tonight "Home Tonight" is a power ballad by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, the song is the closing track on Aerosmith's 1976 album ''Rocks (Aerosmith album), Rocks''. It was released as the second single from '' ...
", "
Lord of the Thighs "Lord of the Thighs" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith. It was written by frontman Steven Tyler, and released on the band's 1974 album '' Get Your Wings''. Drummer Joey Kramer has said it is his favorite song to perform live. ...
" and " Love in an Elevator". The version of "Lord of the Thighs" on their 1978 live album ''
Live! Bootleg ''Live! Bootleg'' is a double live album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in October 1978. While most of the performances were drawn from concerts in 1977 and 1978, "I Ain't Got You" and " Mother Popcorn" were taken from a radio br ...
'' in particular is perhaps his most famous soloing moment. When Aerosmith made their comeback in the late 1980s, Whitford continued to co-write tracks such as "Permanent Vacation" and "Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man", and plays occasional lead guitar on some more recent tracks as well as during many live performances. Concerning his lesser role in the band's songwriting process, Whitford has said, "I don't consider myself a terribly prolific writer. I can write music with other people if they're better songwriters than I am. I really can't create a song. It's very difficult to do. That's why the people that can do it are very few and far between. I'm certainly not that type of a guy. More of a guitar player, more of the kind of uywho comes up with enough riffs and ideas to write a song. But to write lyrics and come up with a melody for it, it won't happen." Said Aerosmith lead singer
Steven Tyler Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. ...
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."
Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash ...
, lead guitarist of
Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff ...
cites Whitford as one of his heaviest influences, stating: "I identified with Joe Perry's image, both soundwise and visually....but I was also totally into Brad Whitford's guitar solos, and he had a more direct influence on the way I play than anybody realizes."


Aerosmith songs where Brad Whitford plays lead guitar

Brad Whitford plays lead guitar, co-leads, or plays the guitar solo on the following Aerosmith songs. #"Make It" from (co-lead) ''
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whitford (guitar). Their style, which is rooted in blues ...
'' #" Dream On" from (co-lead, during live performances) ''Aerosmith'' #"One Way Street" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Aerosmith'' #" Walkin' The Dog" (during live performances) ''Aerosmith'' #"
Same Old Song and Dance "Same Old Song and Dance" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith, written by singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. Released on March 19, 1974, as the lead single from their second studio album, ''Get Your Wings'', it has remained ...
" (co-lead, during live performances) from ''
Get Your Wings ''Get Your Wings'' is the second studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 1, 1974. The album was their first to be produced by Jack Douglas, who also was responsible for the band's next three albums. Three singles were rel ...
'' #"
Lord of the Thighs "Lord of the Thighs" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith. It was written by frontman Steven Tyler, and released on the band's 1974 album '' Get Your Wings''. Drummer Joey Kramer has said it is his favorite song to perform live. ...
" (lead on album, co-lead, during live performances) from ''Get Your Wings #"Spaced" from (co-lead) ''Get Your Wings'' #" S.O.S. (Too Bad)" from ''Get Your Wings'' #"
Seasons of Wither "Seasons of Wither" is a power ballad by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and is five minutes and thirty-eight seconds in length. It was released in 1974 on the band's second album ''Get Your Wings'' ...
" (co-lead, second guitar solo) from ''Get Your Wings'' #" Big Ten Inch Record" (co-lead during live performances) from '' Toys in the Attic'' #"Round and Round" from ''Toys in the Attic'' #" You See Me Crying" (co-lead, first and outro solo) from ''Toys in the Attic'' #" Back in the Saddle" (co-lead) from Rocks #" Last Child" from ''Rocks'' #"Sick as a Dog" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Rocks'' #" Nobody's Fault" from ''Rocks'' #"
Home Tonight "Home Tonight" is a power ballad by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, the song is the closing track on Aerosmith's 1976 album ''Rocks (Aerosmith album), Rocks''. It was released as the second single from '' ...
" (co-lead, first solo) from ''Rocks'' #"I Wanna Know Why" from '' Draw the Line'' #" Kings and Queens" from ''Draw the Line'' #"The Hand that Feeds" from ''Draw the Line'' #" Milk Cow Blues" (co-lead and first guitar solo) from ''Draw the Line'' #"No Surprize" (co-lead) from ''
Night in the Ruts ''Night in the Ruts'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 1, 1979 by Columbia Records. Guitarist Joe Perry left the band midway through the album's recording. The album was initially produced at the b ...
'' #"
Remember (Walking in the Sand) "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", also known as "Remember", is a song written by George "Shadow" Morton. It was originally recorded by the girl group the Shangri-Las, who had a top five hit with it in 1964. A remake by Aerosmith in 1979 was ...
(co-lead) from ''Night in the Ruts'' #"Mia" (co-lead) from ''Night in the Ruts'' #" Shela" (co-lead) from ''
Done with Mirrors ''Done with Mirrors'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 4, 1985. It marked the return to the band of guitarists Joe Perry, who left in 1979 and Brad Whitford, who departed in 1981. The band's first ...
'' #"Gypsy Boots" (co-lead) from ''Done with Mirrors'' #"She's on Fire" (co-lead) from ''Done with Mirrors'' #"The Hop" (co-lead) from ''Done with Mirrors'' #"Hearts Done Time" (co-lead) from '' Permanent Vacation'' #" Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (co-lead, second guitar solo) from ''Permanent Vacation'' #"Girl Keeps Coming Apart" from ''Permanent Vacation'' #"Permanent Vacation" from ''Permanent Vacation'' #"The Movie" from ''Permanent Vacation'' #" Love in an Elevator" (co-lead) from ''
Pump A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they ...
'' #"Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man" from ''Pump'' #"Krawhitham" from ''
Pandora's Box Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology connected with the myth of Pandora in Hesiod's c. 700 B.C. poem ''Works and Days''. Hesiod reported that curiosity led her to open a container left in the care of her husband, thus releasing physi ...
'' #"
Fever Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using val ...
" from ''
Get a Grip ''Get a Grip'' is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. ''Get a Grip'' was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records. ''Get a Gr ...
'' #"Flesh" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Get a Grip'' #"Walk on Down" (last solo during live performances only) from ''Get a Grip'' #"Gotta Love It" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Get a Grip'' #"Can't Stop Messin'" (co-lead, second guitar solo)) from ''Get a Grip'' (bonus track) #" Nine Lives" from '' Nine Lives'' #"Ain't That a Bitch" from ''Nine Lives'' #"Crash" (co-lead) from ''Nine Lives'' #" Jaded" (during live performances) from ''
Just Push Play ''Just Push Play'' is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, co-produced by song collaborators Marti Frederiksen and Mark Hudson and was released in March 6, 2001. The album's first single, " Jaded", became a Top 10 hit in ...
'' #" Road Runner" (co-lead) from '' Honkin' on Bobo'' #" You Gotta Move" (co-lead) from ''Honkin' on Bobo'' #" I'm Ready" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Honkin' on Bobo'' #" Stop Messin' Around" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Honkin' on Bobo'' #"Beautiful" from '' Music from Another Dimension'' #"Tell Me" from ''Music from Another Dimension'' #"Street Jesus" (co-lead, first guitar solo) from ''Music from Another Dimension'' #" Can't Stop Lovin' You" from ''Music from Another Dimension''


Aerosmith songs co-written by Whitford

''The following Aerosmith songs have a co-writing credit given to Brad Whitford'' # "Round and Round" from '' Toys in the Attic'' # " Last Child" from '' Rocks'' # " Nobody's Fault" from '' Rocks'' # " Kings and Queens" from '' Draw the Line'' # "The Hand That Feeds" from ''Draw the Line'' # " Shela" from ''
Done with Mirrors ''Done with Mirrors'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 4, 1985. It marked the return to the band of guitarists Joe Perry, who left in 1979 and Brad Whitford, who departed in 1981. The band's first ...
'' # "The Hop" from ''Done with Mirrors'' # "Permanent Vacation" from '' Permanent Vacation'' # "The Movie" from ''Permanent Vacation'' # "Hoodoo/ Voodoo Medicine Man" from ''
Pump A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they ...
'' # "Krawhitham" from ''
Pandora's Box Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology connected with the myth of Pandora in Hesiod's c. 700 B.C. poem ''Works and Days''. Hesiod reported that curiosity led her to open a container left in the care of her husband, thus releasing physi ...
'' # "Soul Saver" from ''Pandora's Box'' # "Circle Jerk" from ''Pandora's Box'' # "Beautiful" from ''
Music from Another Dimension! ''Music from Another Dimension!'' is the fifteenth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 6, 2012, by Columbia Records. Their first studio album since 2004's ''Honkin' on Bobo'', as well as the first to feature all-new ...
'' # "Street Jesus" from ''Music from Another Dimension!'' # " Lover Alot" from ''Music from Another Dimension!'' # " Can't Stop Lovin' You" from ''Music from Another Dimension!''


Equipment

At current performances, Whitford can be seen playing a wide array of solid-body guitars, some including
Floyd Rose The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1976, the first of its kind, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name. The Floyd ...
locking tremolos:
Gretsch Gretsch is an American company that manufactures musical instruments. The company was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by Friedrich Gretsch, a 27-year-old German immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the United States. Friedrich Gretsch ...
s, several Floyd Rose Discovery Series guitars, a Shoreline Gold painted ( Stratocaster style
Melancon Pro Artist
a
Gibson Les Paul The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952. The guitar was designed by factory manager John Huis and his team with input from and endorsement by guitarist Les Paul. Its typ ...
Goldtop along with a wide variety of Fender Stratocasters. Whitford continues to tour primarily with vintage Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Pauls for Aerosmith concerts as well as smaller gigs. 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 BC Rich Eagle, while Perry often played an alien-looking red BC Rich Bich). On the amplifier front, Whitford has created his own amplifier company – 3 Monkeys Amplification and tours with many of their products. Furthermore, he also uses Paul Reed Smith amps. Additionally, Whitford has used a myriad of pedals throughout his career including many boutique ones.


Guest appearances

*Whitford appears in '' Guitar Hero: Aerosmith'' as the guitarist. He is also a playable character. *In 2011 Whitford made a guest appearance on A&Es ''
Storage Wars ''Storage Wars'' (stylized as ''STORAGE WAR$'') is an American reality television competition series that airs on A&E. It initially aired for 12 seasons, from December 1, 2010, to January 30, 2019. A 13th season premiered in April 2021. Whe ...
'' episode "Hang 'Em High Desert" along with collector Barry Weiss appraising two vintage guitars and an amp *In 2012 Whitford contributed to Joe Bonamassa's album '' Driving Towards the Daylight'' on several tracks. *In 2019, Whitford made an appearance, along with his son Graham, in an episode of American Pickers where Mike and Frank find the original Aerosmith van (Season 20, episode 8)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitford, Brad 1952 births Living people Aerosmith members Berklee College of Music alumni American heavy metal guitarists Guitarists from Massachusetts Rhythm guitarists People from Winchester, Massachusetts American male guitarists American rock guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Hollywood Vampires (band) members Glam metal musicians Blues rock musicians