The Back-Burner: Aerosmith Outtakes & Demos

“Guilty Kilt” stands as one of Aerosmith’s most intriguing unreleased tracks, originating from the early stages of the band’s work on their 1989 album, Pump. Despite its potential, the song remained an instrumental piece, with Steven Tyler never fully completing the lyrics. This left “Guilty Kilt” on the “B list” of songs, ultimately leading to its omission from the final album.

The main riff of “Guilty Kilt” is believed to have been introduced by guitarist Brad Whitford, who was experimenting with similar riffs during the Pump sessions. The band held a particular fondness for the track, which led them to revisit and rework it over the years. Although it never saw an official release, “Guilty Kilt” made its way into live performances, being partially played during concerts in 1998 and 2004. Notable dates include shows at the Thompson Boling Center in Knoxville on December 7, 1998, and at Hershey on June 26, 2004. The riff also surfaced during the “Tour of the Dragon” in 2000, highlighting the band’s persistent connection to the piece.

In the mid-1990s, the full instrumental version of “Guilty Kilt” leaked through bootlegs, recorded initially at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada, in 1989. These recordings became a subject of interest among fans, offering a glimpse into the band’s creative process during that era.

The song’s journey took an interesting turn when elements of “Guilty Kilt” were repurposed for “Out Go the Lights,” a track on Aerosmith’s 2012 album, Music from Another Dimension!. Bassist Tom Hamilton explained the origin of the working title, saying, “There’s a joke about the guy who gets a hard-on with a kilt on, so it’s a guilty kilt.” The riff from the Pump sessions proved to be resilient, with Joe Perry noting, “I remember jamming that live during the show. There was something about that tempo—it’s got that funk that we do. It just wouldn’t leave us alone.”

Steven Tyler eventually revisited the demos, taking them to Maui where he immersed himself in the music. “I’d stay out there for three hours, going through song after song,” Tyler recalled. This period of reflection led him to write new, suggestive lyrics and rework the track into what became “Out Go the Lights.” The revitalized song featured Tyler on harmonica and embraced a raw, bluesy energy. Perry praised the organic nature of the recording, especially his guitar solo: “That guitar solo, that’s it from beginning to end—no editing, no cutting, no two tracks, there’s no nothin’. The groove was there, and it was just one of those things that went on.”

The transformation of “Guilty Kilt” into “Out Go the Lights” illustrates Aerosmith’s enduring ability to evolve their music while staying true to their roots. The initial omission of “Guilty Kilt” from Pump may have been due to the incomplete lyrics and the abundance of strong material vying for a place on the album. Nevertheless, the band’s continued affection for the riff ensured it remained a part of their live repertoire and eventually found new life in the studio.

The legacy of “Guilty Kilt” is a testament to Aerosmith’s collaborative creativity and the sometimes winding path a song can take from inception to release. It highlights how certain musical ideas can persist within a band’s collective consciousness, waiting for the right moment to be fully realized. Fans who have sought out the bootleg recordings appreciate the raw energy and potential of the original track, while “Out Go the Lights” offers a polished culmination of years of musical exploration.

Guilty Kilt
(Steven Tyler, Brad Withford, Joe Perry, ?)

LIVE AT KNOXVILLE, December 7, 1998:

Do it, she want to get a side lover,
Ain’t did nothing like this,

She wanna to tootoo, tootoo, tootoo,
Love it’s the love, and I see nothing at all,

Sweet Emotion, no, i don’t think so, do it…

LIVE AT PHILADELPHIA, December 17, 1998:

Too late long you made it,
And I don’t have nothing at all,

She was even a stronger lady,
And then I left my number to call,

She was a hop-dance, what a really cool way,
Gave her my love yet never got down, yeah!,

I want a deep side loving,
Never get nothing at all, next time, yea!!!…

LIVE AT HEARSHEY, June 26, 2004:
She wanted it, I wanted this down lovin,
Ain’t seen nothing at all,

She wants a good time, in a good seemed babe,
Ain’t got two, Joey any time,

It was you, she want me deep side lovin,
Gave her my love, what’s she calling my brother,

She could move fast, loser, loser ,
She won’t do it yeapataputau…

Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, next timing baby, next segment…

Studio sample with Lyrics:
Get that while you’re doin’ it,
Ain’t got nothing at all,
Gotta give it up…

I don’t know why i did it,

She was cu, cu, cu, not my honey there,
What she get not nothing at all…

About in 1975, was i there…