When Aerosmith takes the stage atthe Grammyson Sunday to receive theMusicares Person of the Yearhonors, their set is expected to include an appearance from members of Run-DMC to perform their 1986 rock-rap mash-up “Walk This Way.” The million-selling single and its pioneering music video was a milestone for both groups: It exposed a wider audience to hip-hop, and also injected new life into a rock band on the outs.
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When it came time to record “we were on tour in Detroit or something, and we had one day off,” recalls Tyler. He and Joe Perry flew to New York. “Thank God Joe brought his guitar, because had he not, they just would have used the drums that are all alone on the record. They were using that sample and playing it over and over.” He and Perry recorded the song with the members of Run-DMC: Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels andJason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell.The cover appeared on the Run-DMC albumRaising Hell, which went triple-platinum within the year.
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The hit gave Aerosmith the momentum to make their next album,Permanent Vacationand suddenly they were back from the brink. “If we hadn’t done ‘Walk This Way,’ things would have been different,” says guitarist Brad Whitford. “We just had no way of knowing. Then it caught fire, and it was huge.”
The 62nd annualGrammy Awardswill be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Sunday, Jan. 26 on CBS
PEOPLE’s new special editionAerosmith: In Their Own Wordsis available now wherever magazines are sold.
source: people.com
