Walk This Way (Live 1978 / Wildcard Remaster)

The Zoo Crew is grooving to "Aerosmith"'s "Walk This Way (Live 1978 / Wildcard Remaster)," a track that’s pure rock energy, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This song, originally from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic, has some wild stories behind it. One gem comes from how it got its name—Steven Tyler and the band were inspired after watching Young Frankenstein during a break while recording. In the movie, Igor’s line “walk this way” with his hunched-over shuffle cracked them up, and it stuck as the song’s title and chorus hook. It’s a perfect example of how a random moment can spark something iconic.

Another cool tidbit is how the song came together musically. Joe Perry was riffing during a soundcheck in Honolulu in 1974, drawing from the funky vibes of The Meters’ “Cissy Strut.” He wanted something fresh, avoiding a standard chord progression, so he shifted keys in a way that gave the song its unique edge. Tyler jumped in, jamming on drums, and the core of “Walk This Way” was born right there. The lyrics, packed with cheeky innuendo about a schoolboy’s wild adventures, were Tyler’s way of sneaking some risqué fun past the censors, as he admitted in a later interview, saying he “disguised it quite cleverly.”

The song’s legacy grew even bigger with its 1986 remake alongside Run-DMC, a collaboration that almost didn’t happen. Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels once called the original lyrics “hillbilly gibberish,” and they were hesitant to cover it. But producer Rick Rubin saw the potential to blend rock and rap, and when Tyler and Perry joined them in the studio, magic happened. The track not only revived Aerosmith’s career but also broke barriers, becoming a cornerstone of rap-rock and hitting number 4 on the Billboard charts.

Aerosmith kicked off their journey in Boston in 1970, born from a mix of grit and chance. Steven Tyler, a New York native with a voice that could shake walls, met Joe Perry while working at an ice cream parlor in Sunapee, New Hampshire. Perry, a guitarist obsessed with blues and rock, was already playing in a group called the Jam Band with bassist Tom Hamilton. They linked up with drummer Joey Kramer, who’d been in 10 bands by age 18, and guitarist Ray Tabano, who was soon replaced by Brad Whitford. The name “Aerosmith” wasn’t deep—it was just a name no one hated, tossed out by Kramer. They started grinding in Boston clubs, got signed by Columbia Records, and dropped their debut album in 1973, setting the stage for their raw, bluesy hard rock sound.

You can keep up with Aerosmith at their official website, where they share tour news and merch like limited-edition vinyls. They’re active on Facebook, with over 16 million followers vibing to their posts about milestones like the 50th anniversary of Toys in the Attic. On Instagram, they drop throwback photos and clips that capture their wild energy. Over on X, they celebrate “AeroHistory” moments, like when “Walk This Way” hit the charts. Fans, or the “Blue Army,” connect through sites like Aero Force One, their official fan club, and groups like the Aerosmith Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks would fit right in sharing their love for the band.