Mama Kin

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Mama Kin" by Aerosmith from their self-titled debut album! This track, written by Steven Tyler, is a hard-rockin’ anthem that’s been a staple of the band’s live shows for decades. One wild piece of trivia: Steven Tyler was so confident in "Mama Kin" that he got "Ma Kin" tattooed on his arm while writing the album, though his thin arm couldn’t fit the whole title! He even told his bandmates this song would make them rich and famous. Tyler revealed in interviews that he borrowed the song’s main riff from an old Blodwyn Pig track called "See My Way," and the lyrics came from improvised scatting, giving it that raw, soulful edge. The line “Sleeping late and smoking tea” was originally “Sleeping late in Sunapee,” a nod to a New Hampshire town tied to the band’s early days.

Another cool story comes from 1988 when Aerosmith toured with Guns N’ Roses. At the tour’s final show, they brought GNR onstage for an epic jam of "Mama Kin," a moment that highlighted the mutual respect between the bands, even as GNR’s "Sweet Child O’ Mine" stole the spotlight. The song also helped Aerosmith land their Columbia Records deal after Clive Davis caught their live performance at Max’s Kansas City in 1972. Fun fact: the lyrics reference their former road manager, Mark Lehman, with the line “Bald as an egg at 18, and working for your daddy’s a drag.” Aerosmith even opened a music club in Boston called the Mama Kin Music Hall in 1994, where they played a legendary secret gig in 1995 under the pseudonym “The G-Spots,” rocking rare tracks and covers for a lucky crowd of 250 fans.

Aerosmith, formed in Boston in 1970, kicked off their journey when Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums), and Brad Whitford (guitar) came together with a shared love for blues-based hard rock. Tyler, a drummer and singer in local bands, met Perry and Hamilton in Sunapee, New Hampshire, where they jammed and dreamed big. Kramer, a childhood friend of Tyler’s, joined after they decided to form a band, and Whitford completed the lineup. Inspired by the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds, they honed their gritty, swaggering sound in Boston’s club scene. Their big break came after that fateful Max’s Kansas City gig, leading to their Columbia Records deal and the release of their debut album in 1973, which included "Mama Kin" and "Dream On." Known as “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band,” their raw energy and Tyler-Perry songwriting duo set them apart.

Stay connected with Aerosmith through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Zoo Freaks can also join the Aero Force One Official Fan Club on Facebook or check out fan-driven sites like AeroForceOne and Aerosmith Backburner for deep dives into the band’s history, rare bootlegs, and fan stories. Keep rockin’ with the Zoo Crew, and let’s keep in touch with Mama Kin!