Walk This Way (Live 1978 / Wildcard Remaster)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic "Walk This Way (Live 1978 / Wildcard Remaster)" by Aerosmith, taken from their iconic performance at Texxas Jam '78, and the Zoo Freaks are surely loving this gritty, high-energy rendition. This live version, captured at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on July 4, 1978, showcases Aerosmith during their Draw the Line tour, a period when the band was riding high but teetering on the edge of personal and professional chaos. The song itself, originally from 1975’s Toys in the Attic, was born during a soundcheck in Honolulu in December 1974. Guitarist Joe Perry was riffing, inspired by the funky grooves of The Meters, particularly their tracks “Cissy Strut” and “People Say.” Perry asked drummer Joey Kramer to lay down a groove, and the iconic riff emerged organically. Steven Tyler jumped in, jamming on drums before adding his signature vocals, crafting a track that blended hard rock with a raw, funky edge. The live 1978 performance is notable for its raw intensity, though some fans, like commenter Jeff Liles on a Dallas Observer post, felt the band was off their game that night, with Liles recalling a disappointing show that led him to retreat to the back of the venue.

Another layer of trivia comes from the song’s cultural impact, especially its 1986 revival through a groundbreaking collaboration with Run-D.M.C.. As noted in a Wikipedia entry, producer Rick Rubin introduced the rap group to the song, though initially, members Joseph Simmons and Darryl McDaniels were skeptical, dismissing the lyrics as “hillbilly gibberish.” Jam Master Jay encouraged a natural rap flow, and Perry and Tyler joined to re-record parts, with Perry even laying down bass tracks using a borrowed instrument from a Beastie Boys member. The resulting cover, released on July 4, 1986, as shared in a 2019 Aerosmith X post, became a rap-rock milestone, hitting number 4 on the Billboard charts and earning a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single in 1987. The Texxas Jam ’78 performance, however, remains a pure snapshot of Aerosmith’s 1970s grit, with Tyler occasionally riffing on lyrics, which some Amazon reviewers criticized as “screwing up” but others, like one passionate fan, defended as Tyler “riffin’ and rollin’” in rare form, per an Amazon review.

Aerosmith’s origins trace back to the late 1960s in Boston, Massachusetts, where the band’s core members—Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer—came together with a shared love for blues, rock, and R&B. Tyler, born Steven Tallarico, was drumming in various bands and working as a singer when he met Perry and Hamilton in Sunapee, New Hampshire, in 1969. Perry and Hamilton were playing in a group called the Jam Band, and after jamming together, they decided to form a new outfit. Tyler, inspired by the Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds, pushed for a hard-edged sound, and by 1970, Aerosmith was born, named after Harry James’ 1940s song “Aerosmith,” which Kramer suggested. They honed their craft in Boston’s club scene, signing with Columbia Records in 1972 after a gig at Max’s Kansas City. Their debut album, Aerosmith (1973), featured “Dream On,” but it was Toys in the Attic (1975), with “Walk This Way,” that catapulted them to stardom, cementing their status as America’s answer to British rock.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, Aerosmith’s official channels are the place to start. Their official website offers tour dates, merch, and news, while their Facebook page keeps fans updated with throwback posts and live updates. On Instagram, they share behind-the-scenes shots and concert clips, and their X account is active with #AeroHistory posts, like one from June 18, 2024, celebrating “Walk This Way.” Fan communities thrive online too, with the Aerosmith Fans Facebook group boasting thousands of members sharing rare photos and concert stories. The fan-run Aero Force One website, Aerosmith’s official fan club, offers exclusive content and pre-sale tickets, while Aerosmith Temple provides a treasure trove of discographies, lyrics, and vintage media for diehard devotees.