Nobody's Fault

Album: Rocks (1976)
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Songfacts®:

  • Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler's lyrics were inspired by a fear of earthquakes, which were big news in the '70s. In 1971, a quake hit San Fernando, California, killing 65 people, and another in 1972 took the lives of about 5,000 people in Nicaragua. The 1974 Charlton Heston movie Earthquake continued to stoke fear, as did reports that a fault line in New Jersey ran through a nuclear power plant. "Fault" refers to both the fault line and the idea that it's our fault as a civilization for ignoring the threat of earthquakes.
  • Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford wrote this song along with Steven Tyler. Whitford worked on the song with their producer, Jack Douglas, who was living with the band in the "Wherehouse," which was the rehearsal space outside of Boston where they also recorded much of the Rocks album using a mobile unit. Whitford, who played both rhythm and lead guitar on the track, came up with the lick, which Douglas recorded. He and Douglas then spent a lot of time trying out different ideas to come up with the track.
  • This song was never a hit, but many musicians have cited it as a favorite. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash said in Rolling Stone magazine, April 21, 2005: "The key to Rocks is the first two songs: 'Back In The Saddle' and 'Last Child.' That combination just ripped my head off. But my favorite song on the record has always been 'Nobody's Fault,' which is the second song on the B-side. Aerosmith had an aggressive, psychotic, drugged-out vibe, but at the same time they had a Stones-y blues thing going on. There was just nothing cooler than Aerosmith coming out of America at that point." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • In our interview with Brad Whitford, he said that a friend of his was touring with Jeff Beck when Beck declared this his favorite Aerosmith song. "I just felt like I had arrived," Whitford told us.

Comments: 9

  • Metal Mark from Rockford IllinoisTestament does a cover of this Aerosmith song
  • AnonymousEyes are full of desire, mind is so Ill at ease, everything is on fire, s--t piled up in debris…..
  • John T B from Aiken ScHardest hitting Aerosmith was done before they disband and reunited. It’s like two different bands.
  • Tim H from Clarkdale, AzThis song needs to be played at very high volume
  • Dane from Green Cove Springs Fla., FlTotally rockin'.I heard this one in the late 80's when I bought Gems on cassette tape.Remember them?Love the song.Very heavy.
  • Tom from Robesonia, PaOne of my favorites from my favorite album. It is definitely their most underated song. It is Aerosmith at their hardest.
  • Steven from Land O Lakes, FlThis Really needs to be played in concert a lot more!
  • Chris from Vienna, AustriaThis song sure kicks ass - but what always struck me as most unusual, was the topic of song. Or are there any other rock or metal songs dealing with californian earthquake-related problems?
  • Ozzi from Brookhaven, PaThis song kicks ass, its so good. Aerosmiths takes on screaming metal. and it definitely was the perfect time for aerosmith to come out in the 70s.
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