Brad Whitford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brad Whitford
Whitford performing with Aerosmith in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Bradley Ernest Whitford
Born	(1952-02-23) February 23, 1952 (age 73) Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock blues rock rock and roll glam metal heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1970–present

Bradley Ernest Whitford (born February 23, 1952) is an American musician. He is best known as a guitarist for the famous hard rock band Aerosmith. In 2001, he was honored by being added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Brad has also helped write songs for Aerosmith, including the popular 1976 track "Last Child".

Early Life and School

Whitford performing with Whitford/St. Holmes in St. Charles, Illinois, November 13, 2015

Brad Whitford finished high school at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, Massachusetts in 1970. After that, he went to the Berklee College of Music to study music.

Music Career

Joining Aerosmith

Before joining Aerosmith, Brad played in several local bands. These included Cymbals of Resistance and Justin Thyme. In 1971, he became a member of Aerosmith. He took the place of their first guitarist, Ray Tabano. Aerosmith quickly became one of the biggest bands of the 1970s.

Solo Work and Return to Aerosmith

In 1981, Brad left Aerosmith for a short time. He wanted to work on his own music project. This project was called Whitford/St. Holmes, with singer Derek St. Holmes. They released one album in 1981. Later, in 2015 and 2016, they reunited for tours and released another album called Reunion.

Brad also played briefly with Joe Perry's band, the Joe Perry Project. Joe Perry was another guitarist from Aerosmith. Both Brad and Joe rejoined Aerosmith in 1984. Brad has been an active member of Aerosmith ever since.

In 1994, Brad had to leave an Aerosmith tour in Asia due to a family emergency. Another musician, David Minehan, filled in for him for a few days.

Later Years

In 2007, Guitar World magazine included Brad and Joe Perry in their book. It was called The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Brad had a head injury in 2009 after getting out of his car. He needed surgery and missed the start of Aerosmith's summer tour. He was able to join the tour about a month later.

In 2010, Brad was part of the Experience Hendrix tour. On this tour, he played songs by the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He performed with many other famous guitarists.

His Musical Style

Joe Perry is often seen as Aerosmith's main guitarist and songwriter. However, Brad Whitford has also made many important contributions to the band. He helped write popular songs like "Last Child". He also co-wrote some of Aerosmith's heavier songs, such as "Nobody's Fault".

Brad played lead guitar on several Aerosmith songs. These include "Sick as a Dog", "Back In the Saddle", and "Love in an Elevator". His guitar solo on "Lord of the Thighs" from the 1978 live album Live! Bootleg is very well-known. When Aerosmith became popular again in the late 1980s, Brad continued to co-write songs.

Brad has said that he doesn't see himself as a main songwriter. He feels he is more of a guitar player. He comes up with guitar riffs and ideas for songs.

Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, described the two guitarists. He said Joe Perry's playing comes from raw emotion. He added that Brad's style is "more schooled," meaning he has more formal training.

Slash, the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses, has said Brad Whitford influenced him a lot. He mentioned that Brad's guitar solos had a direct impact on his own playing style.

Aerosmith Songs

Brad Whitford has played lead guitar or co-lead guitar on many Aerosmith songs. Here are some examples:

• "Lord of the Thighs" from Get Your Wings
• "Round and Round" from Toys in the Attic
• "Last Child" from Rocks
• "Love in an Elevator" from Pump
• "Fever" from Get a Grip
• "Nine Lives" from Nine Lives
• "Road Runner" from Honkin' on Bobo

Brad has also helped write many Aerosmith songs. Some of these include:

• "Round and Round" from Toys in the Attic
• "Last Child" from Rocks
• "Kings and Queens" from Draw the Line
• "Permanent Vacation" from Permanent Vacation
• "Hoodoo/ Voodoo Medicine Man" from Pump
• "Beautiful" from Music from Another Dimension!

His Gear

When Brad Whitford performs, he uses many different types of guitars. These include Gretsch guitars and Stratocaster-style guitars. He also plays Gibson Les Paul guitars. For Aerosmith concerts, he often uses older Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Pauls.

In the late 1970s, Brad and Joe Perry often used guitars from BC Rich. Brad liked an unpainted BC Rich Eagle guitar.

Brad also has his own company that makes amplifiers, called 3 Monkeys Amplification. He uses many of their products when he tours. He also uses Paul Reed Smith amplifiers. Throughout his career, Brad has used many different guitar pedals to create unique sounds.

Other Appearances

• Brad Whitford appears in the video game Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. You can even play as him in the game.
• In 2011, Brad was on the TV show Storage Wars. He helped a collector look at some old guitars and an amplifier.
• In 2012, Brad played on several songs for Joe Bonamassa's album Driving Towards the Daylight.
• In 2019, Brad and his son Graham were on the TV show American Pickers. They helped the hosts find the original Aerosmith band van.

See also

In Spanish: Brad Whitford para niños