Monkey on My Back
Encyclopedia
"Monkey on My Back" is a song by American
hard rock
band Aerosmith
. Written by lead singer Steven Tyler
and lead guitarist Joe Perry
, the song was released on the band's 1989
album Pump
. It was released as a promotional single to rock radio in 1990
, where it reached #17 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart.
and addiction, and got the "monkey off their back." In the video The Making of Pump
, Steven Tyler discusses how it was one of the few songs on Pump to make use of the F word
, in the line "feeding that fuckin' monkey on my back". But Tyler felt he needed to make use of the word, to be more harsh and garner more attention on the issue. He felt it would make kids' ears perk up and listen to the lyrics and message of the song, which was more effective in telling the consequences of drug use, rather than the attitude of the time which was simply "just say no".
from 1989–1990 and also on other tours throughout the 1990s. Additionally, the band performed the song at several famous televised performances, including on Saturday Night Live
on February 21, 1990 as well as at their MTV Unplugged
performance on September 18, 1990.
"Monkey on My Back" was also included on the band's 1998
live compilation A Little South of Sanity
.
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...
. Written by lead singer 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...
and lead guitarist 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...
, the song was released on the band's 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
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:...
. It was released as a promotional single to rock radio in 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
, where it reached #17 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.
Song information
The song is one of Aerosmith's most straightforward songs about how the band overcame drug abuseDrug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and addiction, and got the "monkey off their back." In the video The Making of Pump
The Making of Pump
The Making of Pump is a video and DVD documentary about the making of the Pump album by Aerosmith. It also features interviews with the band.-Personnel:*Tom Hamilton*Joey Kramer*Joe Perry*Steven Tyler*Brad Whitford*Bruce Fairbairn-See also:...
, Steven Tyler discusses how it was one of the few songs on Pump to make use of the F word
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
, in the line "feeding that fuckin' monkey on my back". But Tyler felt he needed to make use of the word, to be more harsh and garner more attention on the issue. He felt it would make kids' ears perk up and listen to the lyrics and message of the song, which was more effective in telling the consequences of drug use, rather than the attitude of the time which was simply "just say no".
Live performances
The band performed the song heavily on the Pump TourPump Tour
The Pump Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted twelve months, from mid-October 1989 to mid-October 1990. The tour was put on in support of the band's second consecutive multi-platinum album Pump, released in September 1989....
from 1989–1990 and also on other tours throughout the 1990s. Additionally, the band performed the song at several famous televised performances, including on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
on February 21, 1990 as well as at their MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
performance on September 18, 1990.
"Monkey on My Back" was also included on the band's 1998
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
live compilation 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...
.