How ‘Young Frankenstein’ Inspired This Classic Rock Song

Lauren Novak October 17, 2:44 pm

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, 1974. — 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

With Young Frankenstein being on Svengoolie‘s schedule this weekend, it feels like the perfect time to remember Mel Brooks‘ comedy-horror masterpiece and how it unexpectedly helped inspire one of the most iconic rock anthems of all time: “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith.

Aerosmith is now one of the most beloved bands of all time, and it was a single from 1975’s Toys in the Attic that cemented the band’s place in rock history. “Walk This Way” became an instant staple, so irresistible that a decade later, hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC revived it with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, creating one of the most famous crossovers in music history.

In early 1975, Aerosmith were holed up at the Record Plant in New York City, midway through recording Toys in the Attic. They were running low on material and looking for inspiration, so Perry pulled out a riff he had worked on during a trip to Hawaii. It had music but no words.

They decided to take a break from the studio. The band and their producer, Jack Douglas, went to Times Square to catch Mel Brooks’ new comedy Young Frankenstein. They particularly liked the scene where Marty Feldman‘s Igor leads Gene Wilder‘s Dr. Frankenstein down the stairs, saying “walk this way,” before limping across the screen in exaggerated Brooks style.

Douglas thought the line was perfect for Perry’s unfinished track. Tyler did not yet have lyrics, and after misplacing his notes in a taxi, he was forced to improvise. He once said, according to Far Out Magazine, “‘Walk This Way’ came out all at once. If you listen to the words, they’re all really filthy. If you listen closely, you’ll hear that I disguised it quite cleverly.”

Where to Watch Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein will air this weekend as part of Svengoolie’s lineup on MeTV at 9pm on October 18, 2025. It is also available to rent or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Vudu.