This live version of "Mama Kin" finds Guns N' Roses paying tribute to one of their primary influences, Aerosmith, by covering Steven Tyler's swaggering hard rock anthem from the 1973 debut album. Included on the live side of G N' R Lies, the recording dates from 1986 and demonstrates the band's reverence for the blues-drenched hard rock tradition that preceded them. Slash delivers an electric guitar solo at 156 BPM in E-flat, channeling the Joe Perry influence that runs deep through his playing while stamping the material with his own personality. The cover choice is significant in rock history, as Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses would eventually become touring partners, with the younger band's energy reportedly spurring Tyler and Perry toward their own comeback. The solo showcases Slash's ability to honor the spirit of the original while injecting the raw urgency that characterized GN'R's live performances. At this stage, the band was still playing small Hollywood venues, and the recording's rough edges and crowd noise document the incendiary atmosphere that preceded their global breakthrough.
