Aerosmith, one of the most iconic rock bands in history, has an extensive catalog of hits that have defined generations. However, among their myriad of popular songs lies an enigmatic outtake titled “Hollywood.” This song’s journey through different production phases, lyrics, and ultimately its omission from any official album makes it a fascinating subject for any Aerosmith fan or music historian.
The Rick Rubin Sessions: 1986
The initial production sessions for Aerosmith’s “Permanent Vacation” album were led by the legendary producer Rick Rubin in 1986. These sessions were shrouded in mystery, as Aerosmith was on their “Done With Mirrors” tour from January to August 1986, making exact dates for these sessions unclear. Despite this, it is known that Steven Tyler and Joe Perry recorded their parts for the iconic 1986 remake of “Walk This Way” with Run-DMC on March 9, 1986. This timeline suggests that the sessions with Rubin likely took place before this date, or in December 1986.
The Hollywood Demos: Mid-1990s Bootlegs
“Hollywood” was part of the first attempt at the album during the sessions with Rick Rubin in 1986. Two different takes of the song escaped from the studio in bootleg form in the mid-1990s. These bootlegs had minimal structural and lyrical changes, marking “Hollywood” as a well-finished outtake that got far into the production process. The recording quality of these demos isn’t excellent, likely because they were not polished studio recordings but raw demos. This rawness adds a layer of authenticity, capturing the song’s initial essence despite sometimes making Steven Tyler’s lyrics hard to decipher.
Revisiting “Hollywood”: The 1992 Sessions
Remarkably, “Hollywood” reappeared in demos from 1987 and again on February 18, 1992, during the “Get a Grip” sessions. This later version featured the same basic tracks but with Steven Tyler adding a few extra layers of vocals and trying out alternative lyrics. Some of these additional or alternative lyrics included:
Missing me? Ain’t what you get,
What’s is it to me? I ain’t have the sweat,
Oh wee, better get wise,
Look all zones, it’s no surprise,
Backdoor lady is what I’m all about,
Mess with me and I’ll knock you out…
This 1992 revisit suggests the band saw potential in “Hollywood,” but it never made the final cut for “Get a Grip.” We don’t think the band got to rerecord the song, rather, it being just Steven trying a few extra things.
Analyzing the Lyrics and Themes
“Hollywood” is a funky rock song that offers a harsh and sarcastic critique of the Hollywood lifestyle. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the entertainment industry’s dual nature: the glorification and subsequent vilification of celebrities. Lines like “Now you see it, now you don’t / Someone’s gonna take it away” and “Just like heaven when things are good / But there ain’t no hell like Hollywood” encapsulate this duality. The song’s narrative suggests that Hollywood can build you up only to bring you down, chewing you up and spitting you out when you no longer serve its purpose – perhaps more relevant now with the rise of the “cancel” culture, and how the media targeted Tyler after the recent abuse lawsuits.
The 1992 version’s additional lyrics continue this critique, with references to deceit and violence, emphasizing the toxic environment that Hollywood can become.
Why “Hollywood” Was Omitted
The song’s themes could have been a double-edged sword for Aerosmith. While “Hollywood” presented an honest critique of the entertainment industry, including it on an album during a period when Aerosmith’s fame and commercial success were still uncertain could have been risky. The band needed to solidify their comeback with “Permanent Vacation” and “Get a Grip,” and a song critiquing the very industry they were trying to conquer might have been seen as counterproductive.
“Hollywood” remains an intriguing piece of Aerosmith’s history. Its journey from the initial 1986 Rick Rubin sessions, through mid-1990s bootlegs, to the revisited 1992 demos, showcases the band’s evolving creative process. The song’s critical view of Hollywood’s fleeting and often destructive nature provides a stark contrast to the band’s more commercial hits. While “Hollywood” may never have officially made it onto an album, its story continues to captivate fans and music historians alike.
All night long
Hollywood
All night long
You’re saddle sore
And on the grind
Just pushed you a little bit more
Don’t mind if I do
It’s Hollywood
Hot damn – hands in a jam
Never say can’t
‘Cause you know you can
In Hollywood
Don’t be mesmerized
What goes on here
Ain’t no surprise
As long as you’ll be cool
In Hollywood
Oh, wee set the pace
Fill your nose
Despite your face
They’ll make you Babylon
In Hollywood
Now you see it
Now you don’t
Someone’s gonna take it away
Now you see it
Now you won’t
Every dog has it’s day
Oh wee I got the cools
A brand new car
And the family jewels
And they won’t stop me now
In Hollywood
Oh wee boogedy shoe
Got myself a new hairdo
I’m makin it somehow
In Hollywood
Now you see it
Now you don’t
Someone’s gonna take it away
Now you see it
Now you won’t
Every dog has it’s day
All night long
Hollywood
All night long
Hollywood
In time they’ll build you up
And then they’ll bring you down
Hollywood
You’re a dream machine
Some day they’ll burn the king for sellin out
Chew you up and spit you out
Just like heaven when things are good
But there ain’t no hell like
Hollywood
Would you guess
What it’s all about
You may be a lady
But I’ll knock you out
Wrap my knuckles upside your head
Make you take back
Every damn thing you said
You play with me
Gonna pay the price
No ghost of a chance
I’m holdin the dice
You lie about this and
lie about that
Don’t wanna hear
Nothing about no more crap
Now you see it
Now you don’t
Someone’s gonna take it away
Now you see it
Now you won’t
Every dog has it’s day
All night long
Hollywood
All night long
The Back-Burner: Aerosmith Outtakes & Demos 