- Writers: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child
- Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
- Recorded: March-May 1987 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Released: August 1987
- Players:
Steven Tyler–vocals
Joe Perry–guitar
Brad Whitford–guitar
Tom Hamilton–bass
Joey Kramer–drums
The Margarita Horns–Tom Keenlyside, Ian Putz, Bob Rogers, Henry Christian, and Bruce Fairbairn - Album: Permanent Vacation (Geffen, 1987)
- Also On:
Big Ones (Geffen, 1994)
A Little South Of Sanity (Geffen, 1998)
Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology (Geffen, 2001)
O Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (Columbia, 2002) - Aerosmith had enjoyed a revival in 1986 by guesting on rap group Run-D.M.C.‘s remake of “Walk This Way,” but “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” was Aerosmith’s first Top 40 hit on their own in nine years.
- The song also signaled a commercial comeback for the group, which from the late ’70s to the mid-’80s was beset with internal conflicts, drug addictions, and management problems.
- “Dude” is one of the first songs Aerosmith principals Steven Tyler and Joe Perry wrote with Desmond Child, who had worked with Bon Jovi and Kiss and was suggested to the group by Geffen Records executive John Kalodner. Tyler remembers, “I told (Kalodner) if he knew someone I could write lyrics with and have as much fun as when I’m writing songs with Joe Perry, then please bring ’em in.”
- “Dude” was picked as the first single from the album by David Geffen himself. The video for the song, directed by Marty Callner, became one of the most popular and provocative aired by MTV at that time.
- The Permanent Vacation album was the first recorded by the group after a stay at the Caron Foundation Treatment Center in eastern Pennsylvania.
- The album was originally started in February 1987 with producer Rick Rubin, who didn’t have time to finish it, but his sessions did yield an early take of “Dude.”
- The album’s original title was Monkey House.
- Permanent Vacation launched Aerosmith’s career revival in earnest, reaching Number 11 on the Billboard 200 and selling more than five million copies.
- The album also hit Number 37 on the U.K. chart, its highest showing overseas to date.
FAST FORWARD:
- Perry left Aerosmith in 1979, with guitarist Brad Whitford leaving two years later. They rejoined in 1984, and the group has been intact ever since.
- Aerosmith has continued since then, with hit albums and singles, awards including Grammys, American Music Awards, MTV Music Awards, film and television appearances, and consecutive sold-out tours.
- Aerosmith was nominated for an Oscar in 1999 for their recording of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” which was featured in the movie Armageddon.
- Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.