Walk This Way

The Zoo Crew is spinning the iconic "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith from their 1975 album Toys in the Attic, and Zoo Freaks, you’re in for some wild trivia! The song’s title was inspired by a late-night viewing of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein during a break from recording at the Record Plant in New York City. Producer Jack Douglas and the band were cracking up over Marty Feldman’s character telling Gene Wilder to “walk this way” while limping, and Douglas suggested it as the title for a track Joe Perry had been working on. Steven Tyler, however, faced a chaotic moment when he wrote the lyrics at his hotel but left them in a cab—likely in a haze, as he admitted, “I must have been stoned.” Undeterred, he rewrote the lyrics in the studio stairwell, scribbling them directly on the wall of the Record Plant’s top floor with No. 2 pencils, later copying them onto a legal pad. Joe Perry praised Tyler’s lyrical approach, noting how he uses words like percussion, weaving a story with a bluesy double entendre, reflecting the song’s tale of a high school boy’s risqué adventures.

Another juicy tidbit comes from the song’s groundbreaking 1986 cover by Run-D.M.C., which Aerosmith celebrated on X for changing music history. The idea sparked when producer Rick Rubin played Toys in the Attic for Run-D.M.C., who had been freestyling over the song’s opening break without knowing its origins. Jam Master Jay pushed for the remake, despite initial resistance from Run and DMC, who called the lyrics “hillbilly gibberish.” The collaboration, featuring Tyler and Perry, birthed rap rock, hit number 4 on the Billboard charts, and won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single in 1987. The music video, where Tyler breaks through a wall separating the bands, was a cultural milestone, becoming the first rap video in heavy rotation on MTV. Tyler later shared in his book that the lyrics depict a young man’s sexual awakening guided by an experienced girl, with “walk this way” hinting at her teaching him intimate moves, drawn from his own teenage make-out party fantasies.

Aerosmith’s journey to rock stardom began in 1970 in Sunapee, New Hampshire, where Steven Tyler met Joe Perry while Perry was scooping ice cream at a parlor. As Kidzworld recounts, the duo connected over their love for bluesy rock, and soon Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford, and Joey Kramer joined, forming the band in Boston. They chose the name “Aerosmith” simply because it was the least disliked option among them. Signed by Columbia Records, they released their self-titled debut in 1973, but it was Toys in the Attic in 1975 that catapulted them to fame, driven by hits like “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” Their raw, Rolling Stones-inspired sound and relentless touring honed their craft, making them the “Bad Boys from Boston.” Despite battles with substance abuse in the late ’70s, their 1986 collaboration with Run-D.M.C. and subsequent sobriety fueled a massive comeback with albums like Permanent Vacation.

Zoo Freaks can stay connected with Aerosmith through their official website, where you’ll find tour news, merch like limited-edition Pump vinyl, and fan club details for Aero Force One. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates, like their 2024 post celebrating 50 years of Toys in the Attic. Fans can also join the vibrant Aerosmith Temple Facebook group, a hub for devotees sharing concert stories and memorabilia, or visit fan sites like Aero Force One for exclusive content and community events. Keep rocking with the Zoo Crew, and let “Walk This Way” keep you strutting!