Going Down / Love in an Elevator

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as the Zoo Crew spins Going Down / Love in an Elevator by Aerosmith from their iconic album Pump! This raucous track, released in August 1989, is packed with stories that make it a standout. According to frontman Steven Tyler, the song was inspired by a real-life moment when he was caught making out in an elevator, only for the doors to open at the worst possible time. He described the agonizing wait for those doors to close as feeling like "a lifetime," which fueled the song’s cheeky energy. The spoken intro, featuring Catherine Epps as the elevator operator asking, "Going down, Mr. Tyler?" sets the tone with a playful nudge, a line that also kicks off the album version and its music video. That video, directed by Marty Callner, features the band strutting through a Los Angeles department store, with former Playboy model Brandi Brandt as the suggestive operator, adding to the song’s risqué vibe.

Another fun tidbit: the track’s recording at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver between April and June 1989 was a chaotic affair. Aerosmith shared the studio with Mötley Crüe, who were cutting Dr. Feelgood at the same time. Mick Mars’ blistering guitar leaked into Aerosmith’s sessions because of his cranked-up amps, adding an unintentional edge to the Pump recordings. The song’s production, helmed by Bruce Fairbairn, leaned into a rawer sound compared to the glossier Permanent Vacation, with Joe Perry later saying the band wanted to "strip off a little fat" and get back to their gritty roots. Social media posts from the band’s official accounts, like a 2017 X post celebrating the song’s release anniversary, often highlight that iconic intro line, showing how it’s stuck with fans. The track’s success is undeniable—it hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990, though it lost to Living Colour.

Now, let’s rewind to how Aerosmith, the Bad Boys from Boston, got their start. Formed in 1970, the band came together when Steven Tyler, then Steven Tallarico, met Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton, who were playing in a group called the Jam Band. Tyler, who’d been fronting his own band, Chain Reaction, was blown away by their sound and pushed to merge the two acts. He insisted on being the lead vocalist, refusing to play drums as he had in his earlier gigs. Drummer Joey Kramer, who knew Tyler and dreamed of jamming with him, joined the mix, and after guitarist Ray Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971, the classic lineup was set. They moved into a shared house at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, where they wrote and rehearsed relentlessly. The band’s name came from Kramer, who’d scribbled “Aerosmith” on his notebooks in school, inspired by Harry Nilsson’s Aerial Ballet album—not, as some thought, anything to do with Sinclair Lewis’ novel.

Their big break came in 1972 when Columbia Records president Clive Davis caught their set at Max’s Kansas City in New York. Aerosmith wasn’t even scheduled to play but paid out of pocket to get on the bill, a hustle that paid off with a $125,000 record deal. Their 1973 self-titled debut, featuring Dream On, started their rise, but it was 1975’s Toys in the Attic and 1976’s Rocks that made them superstars, blending bluesy hard rock with a swagger that drew comparisons to the Rolling Stones. Despite struggles with substance abuse in the late ’70s and early ’80s, their 1986 collaboration with Run-D.M.C. on Walk This Way and albums like Permanent Vacation and Pump cemented their comeback. Today, they’re hailed as America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band, with over 150 million albums sold and a 2001 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Aerosmith on their official website, where they recently announced a limited-edition Pump vinyl for the album’s 35th anniversary. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news, though the band shared in 2024 they’re retiring from touring—a tough but necessary call. For fan communities, check out the unofficial r/Aerosmith subreddit, where the Blue Army swaps stories and debates lyrics like whether Sweet Emotion says “sweat hog mama” or “sweet talkin’ mama.” There’s also the Aerosmith Wiki on Fandom for deep dives into their discography. So, Zoo Crew, keep spinning those records and let’s keep lovin’ it up ’til we hit the ground!