For rock fans worldwide, Aerosmith has been one of the biggest bands in rock history since their debut in the 1970s. While they've had numerous hits over the years, "Walk This Way," from their 1975 album, Toys in the Attic , is one of the most famous and beloved songs by fans.
The song was the album's second single, following "Sweet Emotion," and one of the last tracks the band completed for the record. Surprisingly, Aerosmith found inspiration for "Walk This Way" in an unexpected place: in Young Frankenstein «.
In an interview The Wall Street Journal In 2014, the band recalled how everything came together to create the song "Walk This Way.". Joe Perry recalled how they were working on half the album and were "stuck" working on the remaining songs at New York's Record Plant studio when they decided to take a break.
Steven Tyler , Joey Kramer , Tom Hamilton , Brad Whitford and producer Jack Douglas went to the cinema in Times Square to see a movie Mel Brooks « Young Frankenstein, to relax. When everyone returned, it was clear they had enjoyed the film, as they discussed various lines and moments from the film.
Perry, who remained in the castle, said: "They were laughing at how Marty Feldman met Gene Wilder at the castle door and told him to follow him. „Come here,“ he says, limping, and hands his cane to Wilder so that he can also go this way.».
Then came the eureka moment: "While all this was happening, Jack stopped and said, 'Hey, 'Come Here' could be a great title for a song.' We agreed. But we still needed lyrics." And the rest is history. While the film didn't influence the band's lyrics, which were written shortly afterward, it remains the inspiration for the iconic title of one of Aerosmith's best songs.
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With its provocative lyrics, fast tempo, powerful instrumentation, and Tyler's quick, raspy vocals, "Walk This Way" immediately seems like a surefire hit. But that wasn't always the case when the song first came out.
The song "Walk This Way" was first released in 1975 and didn't make much of a splash, but finally gained recognition after its re-release the following year. It reached number 10 on the chart. Billboard Hot 100, and years later a new version by the hip-hop group Run-DMC, featuring Aerosmith, reached number 4 on the same chart.
Related: The 1982 New Wave song, inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood, became a classic but never reached number one on the charts.
This article was originally published by Parade on June 4, 2026, in the News section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.