Expert: Ross Viles - 2/9/2011

Question
A friend says that she is reading a biography of Aerosmith, and it states that Walk This Way was inspired by Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Most sites state Young Frankenstein, but an exact source is never given.  The closest that comes to a source "In an interview, Steven Tyler..."

Answer
John,

From having read "Walk This Way" several times, I know for a fact that the song "Walk This Way" was inspired by "Young Frankenstein." Steven Tyler mentions this in their auto bio. He talks about how when the band was recording "Toys In The Attic," they had everything completed (music and lyrics) for "Walk This Way," except that they had no title for the song.

One night in 1975, the band went out to see "Young Frankenstein" and in one scene they saw, one of the characters mutters the words "Walk This Way." The band loved that line so much that they chose it for the title of that song.

I'll also add that "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is never mentioned in that auto bio. Perhaps your friend got the movies mixed up. Hope this helps!

Ross