Eat the Rich (Aerosmith song)
Encyclopedia
"Eat the Rich" is a song performed by American
hard rock
band Aerosmith
. It was written by Steven Tyler
, Joe Perry
, and Jim Vallance
. It was released as the second single from the band's 1993
album Get a Grip
. The song had success on rock radio, peaking at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart. In the UK
, where the song was the second single released from the album, it peaked at number 34, and in Canada
, it peaked at number 45. The band's next four singles and correlating videos were able to garner more mainstream success for the album.
. The band has played the song several times on their recent tour, the Route of All Evil Tour
, despite being generally limited to a 13-song setlist.
The song was featured on the band's 1994 Geffen Records
-era greatest hits
album Big Ones
as well as the first song on the live double-album A Little South of Sanity
.
and clear, well-defined guitar parts by Joe Perry
and Brad Whitford
, as well as a strong bass groove by Tom Hamilton
, and emotional lyrics delivered by Steven Tyler
. On Get a Grip, the song is preceded by a 23-second track called "Intro" which features heavy bass, rapid drumming, reversed singing chorus of "Eat the Rich", and rapid-fire lyrics by Steven Tyler and a little sample of Aerosmith's classic "Walk This Way
" riff right at the end, before "Eat the Rich" starts. "Intro" also features a line from "F.I.N.E.*," a song from their previous album, Pump
.
.
," "Eat the Rich" is featured on Tecmo's Dead or Alive 4
video game opening. It was one of the looped songs on Revolution X
, Aerosmith's game by Midway Games
but it was heard for a short time after playing.
Foghat
released a cover of "Honey Hush", back in 1974, with a similar intro guitar riff as the main riff in "Eat the Rich."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. It was written by Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
, Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
, and Jim Vallance
Jim Vallance
James Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC is a retired Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger and producer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams...
. It was released as the second single from the band's 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
album Get a Grip
Get a Grip
Get a Grip is the 11th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. Get a Grip was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records....
. The song had success on rock radio, peaking at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where the song was the second single released from the album, it peaked at number 34, and in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, it peaked at number 45. The band's next four singles and correlating videos were able to garner more mainstream success for the album.
A fan favorite
The song quickly became a fan favorite, despite not having much mainstream success, and drew a rousing reaction from crowds when it was used as the band's opening song on the Get a Grip TourGet a Grip Tour
The Get a Grip Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted over eighteen months, from early June 1993 to mid-December 1994...
. The band has played the song several times on their recent tour, the Route of All Evil Tour
Route of All Evil Tour
The Route of All Evil Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by American hard rock band Aerosmith and heavy metal/glam metal band Mötley Crüe that took the bands to 40 amphitheaters and arenas from September to December 2006...
, despite being generally limited to a 13-song setlist.
The song was featured on the band's 1994 Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
-era greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album Big Ones
Big Ones
Big Ones is one of the many compilation albums by the American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 1, 1994 by Geffen Records...
as well as the first song on the live double-album A Little South of Sanity
A Little South of Sanity
-Personnel:*Tom Hamilton – bass*Joey Kramer – drums, percussion*Joe Perry – guitar, backing vocals, talkbox on "Sweet Emotion", pedal steel guitar on "Rag Doll"*Steven Tyler – lead vocals, percussion*Brad Whitford – guitar...
.
Song structure
The song features a heavy drum beat by Joey KramerJoey Kramer
Joseph Michael "Joey" Kramer is the drummer for the American hard rock band Aerosmith....
and clear, well-defined guitar parts by Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
and Brad Whitford
Brad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
, as well as a strong bass groove by Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (musician)
Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton is an American musician, best known as the bassist of hard rock band Aerosmith. He has co-written two of Aerosmith's hits, "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got a Gun". Hamilton occasionally plays guitar and sings backing vocals Thomas William "Tom" Hamilton (born...
, and emotional lyrics delivered by Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
. On Get a Grip, the song is preceded by a 23-second track called "Intro" which features heavy bass, rapid drumming, reversed singing chorus of "Eat the Rich", and rapid-fire lyrics by Steven Tyler and a little sample of Aerosmith's classic "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" riff right at the end, before "Eat the Rich" starts. "Intro" also features a line from "F.I.N.E.*," a song from their previous album, Pump
Pump (album)
*After the end of "What It Takes" there is a brief, untitled, instrumental hidden track composed and performed by Randy Raine-Reusch. This was not included on all the releases in all countries.-Bonus track :-Lawsuit:...
.
Music video
The music video features footage of the band recording parts of the song in the studio, as well as odd-ball occurrences such as eyeballs, bones, and other things which may suggest the cannibalistic undertones of the song. The video was directed by Greg Vernon and featured acting from John KalodnerJohn Kalodner
John David Kalodner is a retired American A&R executive. His achievements included signing Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to Atlantic Records in the seventies....
.
Other
In addition to "AmazingAmazing (Aerosmith song)
"Amazing" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and longtime band friend and collaborator Richie Supa...
," "Eat the Rich" is featured on Tecmo's Dead or Alive 4
Dead or Alive 4
Dead or Alive 4 has received generally positive reviews. IGN gave the game 9.0/10, calling it "a move in the right direction for the series", and praised the fighting system as "deeper and more sophisticated". GameSpot awarded the game a score of 8.8/10, with one of its only negative comments going...
video game opening. It was one of the looped songs on Revolution X
Revolution X
Revolution X is a arcade rail shooter game developed and published by Midway, featuring the rock band Aerosmith. The game features gameplay similar to Midway's earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day...
, Aerosmith's game by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
but it was heard for a short time after playing.
Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
released a cover of "Honey Hush", back in 1974, with a similar intro guitar riff as the main riff in "Eat the Rich."