Eat the Rich (Aerosmith song)

"Eat the Rich"
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Get a Grip
B-side"Head First"
ReleasedJune 1993 (1993-06)
GenreHard rock[1]
Length4:10
LabelGeffen
Songwriters
ProducerBruce Fairbairn
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Livin' on the Edge"
(1993)
"Eat the Rich"
(1993)
"Fever"
(1993)
Music video
"Eat the Rich" on YouTube

"Eat the Rich" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Jim Vallance. It was released in June 1993 by Geffen Records as the second single from the band's 11th album, Get a Grip (1993). The song had success on US rock radio, peaking at number five on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 34, while in Canada, it peaked at number 45.

The song quickly became a fan favorite and drew a rousing reaction from crowds when it was used as the band's opening song on the Get a Grip Tour. The band has played the song several times on the Route of All Evil Tour, despite being generally limited to a 13-song setlist. The song was included 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.

Structure

On Get a Grip, the song is preceded by a 23-second track called "Intro" which features heavy bass, rapid, quasi-tribal drumming, a reversed chorus of "Eat the Rich", rapid-fire lyrics by Tyler, and a sample of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" 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.

Music video

The music video features footage shot at Soundtrack Studios in Boston, documentary footage of the band recording parts of the song in the studio at Longview Farm In Massachusetts, as well as behind the scenes footage form a photo shoot with photographer Wayne Maser in New York City. Elements such as eyeballs, skulls, horns, etc., were added to suggest the cannibalistic overtone of the song. The video was shot, directed and edited by Peter Martinez and Produced by Ellen Stanford and featured appearances from A&R icon John Kalodner, comedian Anthony Clark and WBCN radio dj Mark Parenteau.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Eat the Rich" (LP version)4:15
2."Fever" (LP version)4:19
3."Head First"5:05
4."Livin' on the Edge" (demo version)5:08

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia June 1993
  • CD
  • cassette
Geffen [8]
United Kingdom June 21, 1993
  • 10-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[9]
Japan March 24, 1994 CD [10]

Covers and media

In addition to "Amazing," "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."

References

  1. ^ Rolli, Bryan (July 16, 2025). "Which Aerosmith Album Opening Song Is Best? See Our Full Ranking". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  2. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 1007". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  4. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 3/7/1993 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  5. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. July 10, 1993. p. 16. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  7. ^ "The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. December 25, 1993. p. YE-39.
  8. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 21/06/93: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 176. June 20, 1993. p. 19. Date is incorrect; first charted in Australia on the week ending June 27.
  9. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 19, 1993. p. 19.
  10. ^ "エアロスミス | イート・ザ・リッチ" [Aerosmith | Eat the Rich] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 27, 2026.