Steppenwolf (band)
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- This article is about the band. For other uses, see Steppenwolf.
| Steppenwolf | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Toronto, Canada | |
| Genre(s) | Hard rock Rock Heavy metal Southern Rock |
|
| Years active | 1967 - 1971 1974 - 1976 1981 - present |
|
| Label(s) | ABC Dunhill Records Mums Records Epic Records MCA Records |
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Steppenwolf is a rock band that started in 1967 and is best known for the hits "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride" and "The Pusher". Due to the German background of the band's leader John Kay, they were named after the novel Steppenwolf by author Hermann Hesse. They have currently sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
Contents |
[edit] Background
At the age of 4, John Kay and his mother, after escaping from East Prussia, fled from Soviet occupied East Germany to West Germany (an event recounted in the song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf Seven and "The Wall" on the album Rise and Shine), before moving to Canada in 1958.
Steppenwolf had its origins in a Toronto blues band called The Sparrows, which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in Yorkville. By 1967 they had settled in San Francisco, playing a high energy mix of blues rock, psychedelia and folk music. Producer Gabriel Mekler of the label Dunhill Records in Los Angeles suggested the band introduce more aggressive beats. With music that helped pioneer hard rock and heavy metal, they became Steppenwolf. This band's original members were:
- John Kay, vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Jerry Edmonton, drums
- Michael Monarch, lead guitar
- Goldy McJohn, keyboards
- Rushton Moreve, bass
[edit] Success
Steppenwolf rocketed to world-wide fame after their third single, "Born To Be Wild", and their cover of Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher" were used in the cult film Easy Rider (both titles originally were released on the band's debut album). "Born To Be Wild" was written by Jerry Edmonton's elder brother Dennis, who was lead guitarist of The Sparrows and early Steppenwolf. He left them to perform solo using the name Mars Bonfire. "Born To Be Wild" reached number 2 on the charts. The song introduced to rock lyrics the signature term "heavy metal" (in fact, not about a kind of music, but about a bike: "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder, racin' with the wind...").
This was followed by several more hits, including "Magic Carpet Ride" (which reached #3) from Steppenwolf The Second and "Rock Me" (which reached #10) from At Your Birthday Party. Many fans consider their double album Steppenwolf Live (an extended single album in the UK) the best of Steppenwolf's releases, though John Kay expressed a personal dislike for the album in his autobiography, Magic Carpet Ride.
Monster, which criticized US policy of the Nixon-era, and Steppenwolf 7 were the band's most political albums, and are still fondly remembered by fans as two of the best rock & roll snapshots of the attitudes of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
[edit] Breakup and reformation
The band broke up in 1971 following the release of another political concept album, For Ladies Only, and Kay went on to a successful though inconsistent solo career, scoring a minor solo hit in 1972 with "I'm Movin' On" from his album Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes. Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with the album Slow Flux, which produced the minor hit "Straight Shooting Woman," then disbanded again in 1976. From 1977 until 1980 Steppenwolf reformed for touring, this time with various former members but without Kay himself. A new studio album, Night Of The Wolf was recorded in 1979 but never released. The new Steppenwolf, according to Kay's autobiography, turned out to be a shell of the original band, and caused the reputation of the band to deteriorate. Lawsuits were fought. To protect the name, John Kay formed a new version of Steppenwolf in the early 1980s and went on tour as "John Kay and Steppenwolf", as well as releasing a solo album in 2001.
The band still tours on a regular basis and enjoys world-wide popularity, and is especially popular in Canada and Ontario, where John Kay began his musical career. The latest newsletter from John Kay's Wolfpack fanclub states the following: "As you are probably aware, 2007 marks our 40th anniversary and 2007 will also be the last year of touring for John Kay & Steppenwolf .... 1967-2007-ONE HELLUVA RIDE!" There will be also some remastering of the band's classic albums throughout this year 2007.
[edit] Trivia
In the Neil Young biography, "Shakey", Neil Young attributes his guitar style to the influence of John Kay. Young and Kay are both Canadians. Former founding Steppenwolf member Goldy McJohn once played in a band with Young and Rick James known as The Mynah Birds.
In 2004, John Kay was inducted onto Canada's Walk of Fame, in recognition of his early years as a Canadian citizen and the beginnings of his musical career in Toronto. Whereas any celebrity that meets criteria can finance their way into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, inductees to Canada's Walk of Fame are selected via a supervising committee, and thus must earn their honour. John Kay was present at the induction ceremony in Toronto, and reiterated his strong affection for Canada.
[edit] Discography
- Steppenwolf (1968) - gold certified
- Steppenwolf the Second (1968) - gold certified
- At Your Birthday Party (1969) - gold certified
- Early Steppenwolf (live album 1969 but recorded in 1967)
- Monster (1969) - gold certified
- Steppenwolf Live (1970) - gold certified
- Steppenwolf 7 (1970) - gold certified
- For Ladies Only (1971)
- Gold (Their Great Hits) (1971) Compilation album
- Rest In Peace (1972) Compilation album
- 16 Greatest Hits (1973) Compilation album
- Slow Flux (1974)
- Hour of the Wolf (album) (1975)
- Skullduggery (1976)
- Reborn to be Wild (1976) Compilation album
- Live in London (1981)
- Wolftracks (1982)
- Paradox (1984)
- Rock & Roll Rebels (1987)
- Rise & Shine (1990)
- Born to be Wild - A Retrospective (1991) Compilation album
- Live at 25 (1995) (double live album recorded during Silver Anniversary Tour)
- Feed The Fire (1996) (re-recorded Rock & Roll Rebels with additions and removals)
- Summerdaze (1997) (with other artists, 3 new songs)
- The Millennium Collection (2000) Compilation album
- All Time Greatest Hits (1999) Compilation album
- Live in Louisville (2004) DVD + CD
- Steppenwolf Gold (2005) Compilation double album
[edit] Steppenwolf and related bands line-up
| Band Name | Vocals | Guitar | Bass | Keyboards | Drums | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack London & The Sparrows I | Jack London | Dennis Edmonton | Bruce Palmer | CJ Feeney | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Jack London & The Sparrows II | Jack London | Dennis Edmonton | Nick St. Nicholas | CJ Feeney | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Jack London & The Sparrows III | Jack London | Dennis Edmonton | Nick St. Nicholas | Art Ayre | Jerry Edmonton | |
| The Sparrows | Jerry Edmonton | Dennis Edmonton | Nick St. Nicholas | Art Ayre | Jerry Edmonton | |
| The Sparrow I | John Kay | Dennis Edmonton | Nick St. Nicholas | Art Ayre | Jerry Edmonton | |
| The Sparrow II | John Kay | Dennis Edmonton | Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| The Sparrow III | John Kay | Michael Monarch | ??? | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| The Sparrow IV | John Kay | Michael Monarch | Rushton Moreve | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton |
| Band Name | Vocals | Guitar | Bass | Keyboards | Drums | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steppenwolf I | John Kay | Michael Monarch | Rushton Moreve | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf II | John Kay | Michael Monarch | Rob Black | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf III | John Kay | Michael Monarch | Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf IV | John Kay | Larry Byrom | Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf V | John Kay | Larry Byrom | George Biondo | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf VI | John Kay | Kent Henry | George Biondo | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| John Kay Band I | John Kay | Kent Henry | George Biondo | Hugh O'Sullivan | Penti 'Whitey' Glan | |
| John Kay Band II | John Kay | Danny Kortchmar | Lee Sklar | Mike Utley | Russ Kunkel | |
| Steppenwolf VII | John Kay | Bobby Cochran | George Biondo | Goldy McJohn | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf VIII | John Kay | Bobby Cochran | George Biondo | Andy Chapin | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf IX | John Kay | Bobby Cochran | George Biondo | Wayne Cook | Jerry Edmonton | |
| Steppenwolf X | John Kay | Bobby Cochran | Jack Ryland | Wayne Cook | Jerry Edmonton |
| Band Name | Vocals | Guitar | Bass | Keyboards | Drums | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. I | Tom Pagon | Kent Henry | Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Tony DeSanti | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. II | Tom Pagon | Kent Henry/ Jamie James |
Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Tony DeSanti | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. III | Tom Pagon | Tony Flynn/ Jamie James |
Nick St. Nicholas | Goldy McJohn | Tony DeSanti | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. IV | Larry Green | Jamie James | Nick St. Nicholas | Evan Smith | Jack White | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. V | Bob Simpson | Kent Henry | Rushton Moreve | John Hall | Jerry Posin | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. VI | Bob Simpson | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Armond Blackwater | Frankie Banali | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. VII | Bob Simpson | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Armond Blackwater | Jack White | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. VIII | Bob Simpson | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Geoff Emery | Dick Jurgens | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. IX | Bob Simpson | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Geoff Emery | Jack White | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. X | Tommy Holland | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Geoff Emery | Jack White | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. XI | Tommy Holland | Ruben Raven | Nick St. Nicholas | Geoff Emery | Steve Riley | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. XII | Tommy Holland | Tony Flynn | Nick St. Nicholas | Geoff Emery | Steve Riley | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. XIII | Peter McGraw | Paul Nauman | Rick Reed | Goldy McJohn | Robbie Roberti | |
| The New Steppenwolf, Inc. XIV | Nick Graham | Kent Henry | Paul Conroe | Goldy McJohn | Lawrence Hammock |
| Band Name | Vocals | Guitar | Bass | Keyboards | Drums | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Kay Band III | John Kay | Larry Byrom | Bob Wray | Clayton Ivey | Roger Clark | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf I | John Kay | Michael Palmer | Kurtis Teel | Danny Ironstone | Steven Palmer | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf II | John Kay | Michael Palmer | Chad Peery | Brett Tuggle | Steven Palmer | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf III | John Kay | Michael Palmer | Welton Gite | Michael Wilk | Steven Palmer | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf IV | John Kay | Michael Palmer | Gary Link | Michael Wilk | Steven Palmer | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf V | John Kay | Rocket Richotte | Michael Wilk | Michael Wilk | Ron Hurst | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf VI | John Kay | Les Dudek | Michael Wilk | Michael Wilk | Ron Hurst | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf VII | John Kay | Steve Fister | Michael Wilk | Michael Wilk | Ron Hurst | |
| John Kay & Steppenwolf VIII | John Kay | Danny Johnson | Michael Wilk | Michael Wilk | Ron Hurst | |
| John Kay Band IV | John Kay | Danny Johnson | Guy DeVito | Michael Wilk | Ron Hurst |
