Few songs in rock history have managed to evolve, explode, and change the course of music more than Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” Originally released in 1975 on the Toys in the Attic album, it was already a hard-hitting, swagger-soaked track. But a decade later, when it was reborn with Run-D.M.C., it became a genre-defining anthem—a song that didn’t just rock, it rewrote the rules.
At its core, “Walk This Way” is pure Aerosmith: groove-heavy, sexually charged, and built around a riff so iconic it practically struts.
The Riff That Started It All
That unforgettable opening riff? That’s Joe Perry, channeling funk, blues, and Chuck Berry through a fuzzed-out Gibson Les Paul. It’s a riff that doesn’t just start a song—it sets a scene. Dirty. Funky. Confident. The kind of riff that makes your shoulders move before you even realize it.
Recorded at a time when Aerosmith was ascending from Boston bar band to rock royalty, “Walk This Way” became a defining track on their Toys in the Attic album. But the band didn’t initially think it was a hit. That changed when producer Jack Douglas and Steven Tyler crafted lyrics and a vocal performance that turned the track into rock ‘n’ roll theater.
Lyrics: Sex, Style, and Swagger
“Walk This Way” is, on the surface, a teenage tale of lust and awkward discovery—a classic high school boy-meets-girl scenario filtered through Steven Tyler’s tongue-twisting, rapid-fire delivery.
“Backstroke lover always hidin’ ‘neath the covers / ‘Til I talked to your daddy, he say…”
It’s bawdy, it’s cheeky, and it’s delivered with a wink and a growl. Tyler doesn’t just sing the lyrics—he performs them, turning each verse into a mini drama of hormones, rebellion, and rock-star attitude.
1975 Success and Rock Radio Dominance
When released as a single in 1975, “Walk This Way” reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, helping propel Toys in the Attic to multi-platinum status and solidifying Aerosmith’s status as America’s answer to the Rolling Stones.
The song became a staple of live shows, loved for its stop-start rhythm, explosive energy, and that instantly recognizable intro. For years, it was considered one of the band’s signature tracks—and then, in the mid-1980s, something unprecedented happened.
Run-D.M.C. and the Birth of Rap Rock
In 1986, hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. were working on their Raising Hell album with producer Rick Rubin. Rubin had the wild idea to cover “Walk This Way”—not just sample the beat, but actually perform it with Aerosmith.
At first, Run-D.M.C. was skeptical. Aerosmith? Rock guitars? But once they heard the riff, they recognized the rhythmic similarity between Tyler’s verses and a rap flow. The collaboration was on.
The result? A musical explosion.
Steven Tyler’s scream.
Joe Perry’s riff.
Run-D.M.C.’s flow.
It bridged a cultural gap, bringing hip-hop to rock audiences and vice versa. It also resurrected Aerosmith’s career, introducing them to an entirely new generation.
The video—featuring a literal wall between the bands being smashed down—was a perfect metaphor. “Walk This Way” became a crossover hit, peaking again on the charts and proving that genre doesn’t matter when the groove is that good.
Legacy: One Song, Two Revolutions
“Walk This Way” has the rare distinction of being a landmark twice. First, as a pure rock track that helped define the swagger and sound of 1970s hard rock. Then, a decade later, as the spark that ignited rap-rock and changed MTV, radio, and the entire music industry.
It’s been covered, sampled, parodied, and revered. And it still rocks.
Final Thoughts
“Walk This Way” isn’t just a song—it’s a cultural milestone, built on one of the best riffs in rock history and elevated by performances that broke rules and made new ones.
Whether you love it for its 1970s grit or its 1980s innovation, one thing is certain:
When that riff hits, you walk this way—because there’s no other way to go.
