Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford brings side group to Amityville

The quiet member of Aerosmith is going rogue. While singer Steven Tyler is dipping into country and guitarist Joe Perry is jamming with Johnny Depp in the Hollywood Vampires, guitarist Brad Whitford is resurrecting his side project from 35 years ago. Whitford/St. Holmes, his group with singer-guitarist Derek St. Holmes of Ted Nugent’s band, has reunited and is hitting the road with a stop Saturday 7:30 p.m.  at Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville.

Whitford spoke to Newsday from his home in the suburbs of Nashville to discuss the project as well as the state of Aerosmith.

How did you and Derek initially come together?

Ted Nugent and Aerosmith toured together as a couple of the biggest headliners in the U.S. in the '70s. We also shared the same management team. The two of us became best friends and we started writing together.

How was your 1981 self-titled debut received?

It became a cult classic. Guitar players know that record. I was fine with that. It did what it did. Some people may rediscover it and see it in a different light.

You left Aerosmith in 1981 for a few years. What made you leave and were you nervous about doing so?

I wasn’t nervous at all. I was totally fed up. Derek and I had done our first album and they were struggling for months and months to make some demos for the record company. They couldn’t get it done. I went to Atlanta with Derek and made our first record in two weeks. By the end of that summer I said, “That’s it. I’ve had enough.”

You’ve recently made a new album called “Reunion,” which is set to be released. What’s the musical direction?

We definitely have our own sound and we proved it with this new record. It’s a tip of the hat to classic rock. We did the basic tracks in two days with no more than two takes each song. It’s about capturing a moment in time.

How would you describe your chemistry?

We are each other’s muse as far as songwriting. We’ve taken the old formula and applied some passion and fire. The three chords of yesteryear will still do it. You’ve just got to be inventive.

How do you balance the duties between you?

I wrote a lot of lyrics, and Derek can adapt to a song like I’ve never seen anybody do. We are not with any record label anymore. We put up the cash to record our own stuff. We live close together, so we started doing a lot of writing and recorded it live.

Why didn’t Whitford/St. Holmes continue past 1980?

We both got rather busy with the careers of Aerosmith and Ted Nugent. We felt like, “I guess that’s about it.” I didn’t see any more opportunities. It just didn’t happen, but we were still friends and kept in touch.

In your live show, what will your set list consist of?

We will play some new songs and tunes off the original album as well as some Ted Nugent (“Stranglehold”) and Aerosmith (“Last Child”) material.

Who is your fan base?

The guitar fans will come out. It’s an old school rock thing, but the songs are really refreshing. We get a good crowd. There’s still an audience who love this kind of music, and it’s fun to bring something new to the table.

How would you describe your guitar playing in Whitford/St. Holmes as opposed to Aerosmith?

I have total freedom in Whitford/St. Holmes. A lot of times with Aerosmith, which are sometimes torturous records to make, I’ll be in the studio with Steven and he’ll want a certain kind of solo. I’ll end up doing something that’s not mine. Working with Derek, we steer our own ship. We are such fans of each other’s playing.

What’s your approach to playing with Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry?

Joe and I are like brothers-in-arms. Our chemistry works. Joe plays the way Joe plays and it’s a matter of learning how to play with him. He’s written so many amazing rock riffs so the challenge for me is to enhance that. That’s always my mission.

What’s the current state of Aerosmith?

Our last show was a few months ago in Moscow, so we are currently on break. We have another album already written. But I actually don’t know what’s going on with that camp. I’m happy to have another band to have some fun with.

What are your thoughts on Steven Tyler going country?

I don’t know. I haven’t heard very much of it except the single. I just wasn’t knocked out by it. But I’m interested in hearing the rest of the album.

WHITFORD/ST. HOLMES
WHEN |  WHERE 7:30 Saturday, Revolution Bar & Music Hall, 140 Merrick Rd., Amityville
INFO 631-264-7712, revolutionli.com; 18 and older
ADMISSION $30-$55, $75 VIP Meet & Greet

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.