The Aerosmith Song Metallica Didn’t Know But Had To Perform Live

Aerosmith members have preserved their commercial success and international fame for more than fifty years. Almost all their fans knew their iconic records by heart and sang with the band during their remarkable live performances. Also, some of them covered and released their versions of these songs to draw their favorite band’s attention through their social media accounts.

Therefore the band members tend to think that rock music lovers and younger musicians know the popular Aerosmith songs. However, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry realized that Metallica didn’t know one of their songs which has been defined as a rock and roll classic by many critics. This was revealed after it was announced that Metallica would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, during which they would perform.

Metallica’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction And Performance

2009’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were Jeff Beck, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-DMC, and Bobby Womack, and the ceremony was held on Saturday, April 4, in Cleveland. In addition, it was considered as a family reunion for Metallica after they got back together with their former bassist Jason Newsted who was featured in ‘The Black Album.’

Newsted stated that he was happy to be invited by his former bandmate and drummer Lars Ulrich years after his departure from the band. However, this heartwarming reunion turned into a challenge and ‘train wreck’ when Metallica was supposed to perform the iconic Aerosmith song ‘Train Kept a Rollin.’ It was released on the band’s second studio album ‘Get Your Wings’ on March 15, 1974, with Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and Flea. 

The problem was Metallica didn’t know how to play or sing this classic rock and roll song which surprised Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Joe Perry. Thus, they had to teach ‘Train Kept a Rollin’ to the band members for the sake of their performance, and the musicians were able to perform the song during the event despite this challenge. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry revealed the incident in his autobiographical book entitled ‘Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith’ for the first time.

Later, in one of his interviews, Perry highlighted that Metallica couldn’t play the song without his help because they probably hadn’t listened to it before. Alice Cooper added that it was a rock and roll 101 song, so it was surprising for him. Moreover, Perry grasped that the new generations had started forgetting the classic songs thanks to Metallica, but he stressed that they never stopped being influential.

In Joe Perry’s words, he said:

“When Metallica was inducted into the Hall of Fame, they had Jimmy Page. I think, Jeff was getting inducted to and I come up to play with Metallica. The song was ‘Train Kept a Rollin,’ and Metallica didn’t know it. They didn’t know ‘Train Kept a Rollin.’ It was like a drummer not knowing wipeouts. Jim, Ian, and Jeff kind of looked at each other like, ‘Okay, well.’ We went through the song for him and had the teleprompter. Of course, it was no pun intended, but it was a train wreck.”

You can check out the song, its Metallica cover, and the interview below.