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This article is about the band. For other uses, see Steppenwolf.
Steppenwolf
Origin Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s) Acid rock, blues, hard rock, psychedelic rock, proto-metal
Years active 1967 - 1972 ; 1974 - 1976 ; 1980 - present
Label(s) ABC Dunhill Records
Mums Records
Epic Records
MCA Records
Associated acts The Mynah Birds, The Sparrows, T. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other For "acid rock" as a geologic term see Igneous rock. Acid rock is a form of Psychedelic rock, which is characterized The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a style of Rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs. The year 1967 was an important year for Psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles ( Sgt In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music ABC Records started in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records the record label of Am-Par Record Corporation (a subsidiary of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres Mums Records was a short-lived Record label in the United States in the early 1970s by Bobby Roberts, formerly of Dunhill Records. Epic Records is an American Record label. It is owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment. MCA Records was an American -based record company owned by MCA Inc The Mynah Birds were a R&B band based in Toronto, Ontario in the 1960s Canadian Sixties blues-rock band The Sparrow(s evolved out of Jack London & The Sparrows and later morphed into heavy rock group Steppenwolf. I. M. E. , World Classic Rockers
Website www.steppenwolf.com
Members
John Kay
Danny Johnson
Michael Wilk
Ron Hurst

Steppenwolf is a rock band that helped establish heavy metal music in the late 1960s along with bands like Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly. World Classic Rockers (or WCR) is a rock supergroup that was founded by Nick St John Kay (born 12 April 1944 as Joachim Fritz Krauledat in Tilsit, East Prussia) is a German -born Canadian singer Michael Wilk (born c 1952 in Chicopee Massachusetts) is an American Keyboardist, Songwriter, and Record producer Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Blue Cheer is a San Francisco -based rock group that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and again from the mid-1980s to the present Iron Butterfly is an American Psychedelic rock and early Heavy metal band well known for their 1968 hit " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida The band was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of its predecessor, The Sparrows. The year 1967 was an important year for Psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles ( Sgt Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West John Kay (born 12 April 1944 as Joachim Fritz Krauledat in Tilsit, East Prussia) is a German -born Canadian singer Michael Monarch (born on July 5, 1950 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Guitarist. Rushton Moreve (born John Russell Morgan; November 6, 1948 &ndash July 1, 1981) was a bass guitarist best known for his work Goldy McJohn (born John Raymond Goadsby on May 2 1945) is a Canadian Keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for Jerry Edmonton ( October 24 1946 — November 28 1993) was the Drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf Canadian Sixties blues-rock band The Sparrow(s evolved out of Jack London & The Sparrows and later morphed into heavy rock group Steppenwolf.

The band has sold more than 25 million units worldwide, releasing 8 gold albums and 13 Hot 100 singles, including three top-10 hits in "Born to Be Wild", '"Magic Carpet Ride", and "Rock Me". " Born to Be Wild " is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the American rock band Steppenwolf. "Magic Carpet Ride" may also refer to a dance song by Mighty Dub Katz " Magic Carpet Ride " is a rock song written by Steppenwolf enjoyed worldwide success from 1968 to 1974, but clashing personalities led to the end of the core lineup. Today, frontman John Kay is the only original member left, having served as lead singer for almost all of the 40 years since 1967. Kay has stated that there will be no more Steppenwolf tours, but according to band manager Charlie Wolf, he has left open the possibility of doing "a half dozen shows in '09". [1]

Contents

History

The Sparrows

Steppenwolf had its roots in a Toronto blues-influenced rock band called The Sparrows, which was established in 1964 by brothers Dennis , Jerry Edmonton and Nick St. Nicholas (German born, like Kay). Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Canadian Sixties blues-rock band The Sparrow(s evolved out of Jack London & The Sparrows and later morphed into heavy rock group Steppenwolf. Mars Bonfire was the Stage name used by rock Musician Dennis Edmonton (born 21 April 1943) perhaps best known for Nick St Nicholas (born Klaus Karl Kassbaum September 28, 1945 in Plön, Germany) is a bassist, and is best known for his Kay joined The Sparrows in September 1965 to sing and play guitar after the original singer, Jack London, left the group. David Marsden (born Stratford Ontario) is a Canadian Radio broadcaster Shortly thereafter, Goldy McJohn, who had once played in The Mynah Birds with Neil Young and Rick James, was brought in to replace departed keyboardist Art Ayre. Goldy McJohn (born John Raymond Goadsby on May 2 1945) is a Canadian Keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson Jr) ( February 1 1948 &ndash August 6 2004) was an American musician The band shortened its name to The Sparrow in May 1966.

The band had some success in Toronto, and then Stanton J. Freeman became their Manager and took them to New York where he booked them into The Barge in Westhampton for a month and arranged a record deal with Columbia Records. The Album was not released until Steppenwolf became popular. Freeman then took them to San Francisco for the "Summer of Love". Dennis Edmonton and Nick St. Nicholas quit at this point to pursue other musical ventures. 17-year-old Michael Monarch and Rushton Moreve replaced them for a short time in The Sparrows before the band changed its name to Steppenwolf, at the suggestion of Dunhill Records producer Gabriel Mekler, who facilitated the band's signing with his employer. Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions Gabriel Mekler was a Songwriter, Musician, and Record producer who attained fame in the 1960s helming classic albums for Steppenwolf, Three

Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf rocketed to world-wide fame after their third single, "Born to Be Wild", and their cover of Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher" were prominently used in the 1969 cult film Easy Rider (both titles originally had been released on the band's debut album). " Born to Be Wild " is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the American rock band Steppenwolf. Hoyt Wayne Axton ( March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American Country music Singer - Songwriter, " The Pusher " is a rock song written by Hoyt Axton, made popular by the 1969 movie Easy Rider which used Steppenwolf Easy Rider, a 1969 American Road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern. In the movie, "The Pusher" accompanies a drug deal, and Peter Fonda stuffing dollar bills into his Stars & Stripes-clad fuel tank, while "Born to Be Wild" is then seen in the opening credits, with Fonda and Hopper riding their Harley choppers through the American West. Peter Henry Fonda (born February 23[[ 940]] is an American actor The song, which is closely associated with motorcycles ever since, introduced to rock lyrics the signature term "heavy metal" (in fact, not about a kind of music, but about a motorcycle: "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder, racin' with the wind. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. . . "). The song had already reached number 2 on the charts by the summer of 1968. It had been written by Jerry Edmonton's elder brother(and former Sparrow guitarist), Dennis, who had begun using the pen name Mars Bonfire.

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. "Magic Carpet Ride" may also refer to a dance song by Mighty Dub Katz " Magic Carpet Ride " is a rock song written by 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,which included the song Snowblind Friend, another Axron-penned song, about the era and attitudes of drug problems. They are still fondly remembered by fans as two of the best rock & roll snapshots of the attitudes of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

There were several changes in the group's personnel after the first few years. Moreve was fired from the group in 1969 for missing gigs after he became afraid to return to LA, convinced that it was going to be levelled by an earthquake and fall into the sea. Rob Black filled in for Moreve until Nick St. Rob Black may refer to Rob Black (Musician, Australian Country Music Artist Rob Zicari, aka Rob Black pornographer Nicholas, Kay's old German buddy and former Sparrow member, came aboard. Monarch quit after disagreements with Kay that same year and was replaced by Larry Byrom . Larry Byrom (born December 27, 1948 in Huntsville Alabama) is an American Guitarist who has written recorded and toured with acts St. Nicholas' tenure with the group proved to be brief and he himself was let go in 1970 after incurring Kay's wrath by showing up onstage in a bunny suit and playing his bass loudly and out of tune. The above tales were related by Kay in his 1994 autobiography Magic Carpet Ride (co-written with Canadian author John Einarson ) . "Magic Carpet Ride" may also refer to a dance song by Mighty Dub Katz " Magic Carpet Ride " is a rock song written by George Biondo was then recruited and guitarist Kent Henry replaced Byrom in 1971. George Michael Biondo (born September 3 1945, Brooklyn, New York) was the Bass guitarist of the American Rock Kent Henry is a American guitarist and songwriter best known for his contributions to Steppenwolf and Blues Image.

The band broke up in 1972 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.

Kay toured Europe as The John Kay Band in 1972 and Steppenwolf was on the bill too with Kay fronting both groups. His rapport with Steppenwolf and the audiences' enthusiastic responses convinced him that maybe Steppenwolf had disbanded prematurely.

Reunion

Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with its core linup of Kay, Edmonton, and McJohn, along with longtime bassist Biondo and newcomer Bobby Cochran, Eddie Cochran's nephew. Bobby Cochran is an American Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Record producer who has worked with Steppenwolf, The Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran ( October 3, 1938 He took music lessons in school but quit the band to play drums The band signed with Mums Records in retaliation for what Kay perceived as a lack of support by Dunhill Records for his solo album. Mums Records was a short-lived Record label in the United States in the early 1970s by Bobby Roberts, formerly of Dunhill Records. Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions Their first album apart from Dunhill was Slow Flux which included their last Top-40 hit, "Straight Shootin' Woman". Following the tour in support of the album's release, McJohn was dismissed for what Kay described as a decline in the quality of his performances, as well as his erratic behavior. McJohn was replaced by Andy Chapin on Hour of the Wolf in 1975, though McJohn appeared in artwork for the single to Caroline (Are You Ready) and claims that his keyboard work can be heard on many of the album's tracks. Andy Chapin ( Feb 7 1955 – December 31, 1985) was an American Keyboardist best known for his short stint with the After the album peaked at #155, the band attempted to break up, but the label, now having been absorbed by Epic Records, insisted Steppenwolf record one more album to satisfy their contractual obligations. Epic Records is an American Record label. It is owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment. The ensuing album, Skullduggery (1976), featuring Wayne Cook on keyboards, was released without a tour to support it, and Steppenwolf disbanded a second time. Wayne Cook is an American Keyboardist best known for his time with Steppenwolf and Player.

New Steppenwolf

From 1977 until 1980 there were a variety of Steppenwolfs put out on the road by a disreputable concert promoter named Steve Green. Steve Green (born August 1, 1956 in Portland Oregon) is a Contemporary Christian music singer notable for his vocal range ( Tenor Another promoter, David Pesnell, reportedly acted as manager for an incarnation featuring former members Nick St. Nicholas, Goldy McJohn and Kent Henry, but without Kay himself. A new studio album, produced by Phil Spector, was attempted in 1978 but abandoned due to Pesnell and Spector's hateful relationship with each other. Harvey Philip Spector (born December 26 1940) is an American Record producer and Songwriter. The relationship ended with a well documented fist fight between the two at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in which Pesnell sent Spector to the hospital where he stayed for three nights. Assault charges were dropped against Pesnell after it was determined by the Los Angeles Police Department that Spector had instigated the fight. Another album, The Night Of The Wolf, was said to have been recorded and produced by Pesnell in 1979 featuring such songs as "Night of the Wolf" and "I Don't Want To Lose You" but never released. A concert tour in the U. S. , Canada and Europe was promoted by Pesnell with the opening acts including Iron Butterfly. The St. Nicholas/McJohn grouping eventually disbanded due to exhaustion and heavy drug use by Nick St. Nicholas, Goldy McJohn, drummer Frankie Banali. Frankie Banali, born November 14, 1951, is an American Drummer best known for being the former drummer of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot St. Nicholas formed yet another version and went back out on the road. McJohn also eventually headed back out himself with another lineup that sometimes included Kent Henry. Frankie Banali later went on to join Quiet Riot. Quiet Riot was an American heavy metal band whose 1983 & 1984 success contributed to launching the 1980s Glam

After hearing of the “new” Steppenwolf incarnations, John Kay was furious since an original agreement among the bandmembers in the early 70s stated that anyone leaving forfeited any rights on the group's name, while the last original members standing when the group disbanded(Kay and Jerry Edmonton, as it turned out)would have exclusive claims on the name hereafter. At their lawyers' advice, Kay & Edmonton agreed to license the name to the others. This licensing agreement stated that Goldy & Nick would have to give up their Steppenwolf record royalties forever in order to go forward. They both(perhaps unknowingly or not totally appreciating what they were giving up) agreed. Eventually, the agreement was terminated after promised fees were not paid to Kay & Edmonton. John Kay then took to the road in 1980 with a new lineup as John Kay & Steppenwolf to drive the fake groups off the road and out of business once and for all.

John Kay & Steppenwolf

John Kay & Steppenwolf at Lillehammer Rock Weekend in Lillehammer, Norway.
John Kay & Steppenwolf at Lillehammer Rock Weekend in Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer is a town and municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional

Reportedly, John Kay had a couple of meetings with David Pesnell, (after his release from rehab for his drinking and drug problems), about management, concert promotions and producing a new album for the band. Pesnell wanted to produce an album featuring new songs on Side A, by the reformed band Three Dog Night and with Side B of the album featuring songs by Steppenwolf. The album's working name was "Back to Back", a play on each band having a side of the album and the fact the bands were back together again. Pesnell's concept was simple; each band would record four new songs, with a fifth song on each side featuring a medley of the band's past songs. This would give the Pesnell produced album a double release of singles to support a concert tour featuring the two bands. Many individuals inside the music industry believed the concept was solid and would lead to greater success for the two reunited bands, but Pesnell could not get John Kay or the members of Three Dog Night to agree on the various elements of the project and he eventually dropped the project, much to the dismay of Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night. As crazy as it may be, even though both bands liked the concept of the album and tour, the arguments included who would be Side A and Side B and which of the two would headline the upcoming concert tour.

The reformed John Kay & Steppenwolf lineup featured(besides Kay) Mike Palmer(guitars, backing vocals), Steve Palmer(drums, backing vocals), Danny Ironstone(keyboards, backing vocals) and Kurtis Teel on bass. Stephen Leonard Palmer (born Brighton, Sussex on 31 March 1968) was a footballer who played in England in the 1980s and 1990s with Ipswich The Palmer brothers had played in a group called Tall Water and had also been involved with Kay in his solo career in the late 70s. Teel was replaced by Chad Peery and Ironstone by Brett Tuggle by 1981 and the new grouping put out Live in London overseas. Tuggle was then displaced by Michael Wilk and a new studio album, Wolf Tracks, was released in 1982 on the small Attic(Nautilus in the U. Michael Wilk (born c 1952 in Chicopee Massachusetts) is an American Keyboardist, Songwriter, and Record producer S. ) record label. Bassist Welton Gite, who appeared on this album, left shortly after its completion and was replaced by Gary Link. Welton Gite is a Bass guitarist composer and arranger Gite moved to New Orleans at age 11 and began playing bass at the age of 12 Another album, Paradox, followed in 1984.

In early 1985 the Palmer brothers and Gary Link departed Steppenwolf and Kay & Wilk decided to continue on with a pared down quartet that comprised: Kay, Wilk, Ron Hurst(drums, backing vocals) and Rocket Ritchotte(guitars, backing vocals). Wilk would also handle bass duties from his keyboards from here on. This lineup released Rock N' Roll Rebels(1987) and Rise & Shine(1990). Both of these were on the Qwil & I.R.S. Records imprints respectively. IRS (International Record Syndicate Records was a Record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg Ritchotte had departed temporarily in 1989 to be replaced by Les Dudek and then Steve Fister but then returned in 1990 for three more years. Les Dudek (born August 2 1951, at Naval Air Station Quonset Point Rhode Island) is an American Guitarist. Fister(ex- Iron Butterfly) came back in late 1993 but turned guitar duties over to Danny Johnson(formerly of Derringer, Rod Stewart and others) in 1996. Iron Butterfly is an American Psychedelic rock and early Heavy metal band well known for their 1968 hit " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida The term derringer is a genericized misspelling of the last name of Henry Deringer, a famous maker of small Pocket pistols in the 1800s Roderick "Rod" David Stewart, CBE (born 10 January 1945 is a Singer and Songwriter born and raised in London England and currently

As the band was named after the novel Der Steppenwolf by German author Hermann Hesse, who was born in the Black Forest town of Calw, the city invited them to come over and play in the International Hermann-Hesse-Festival 2002 [2], along with other bands inspired by Hesse, like Anyone's Daughter. Der Steppenwolf is the tenth Novel by German - Swiss author Hermann Hesse. Hermann Hesse (ˈhɛʀman ˈhɛsə ( 2 July, 1877 — 9 August, 1962) was a German - Swiss poet novelist and painter For the suburb of Adelaide, please see Black Forest South Australia; for the CDP in Colorado, please see Black Forest Colorado. Calw (ˈkalf traditional dialect pronunciation) is a town in the middle of Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany, capital of the district Calw. Anyone's Daughter is a German Progressive rock band founded in 1972 in Stuttgart by Uwe Karpa und Matthias Ulmer The concert drew considerable media coverage, with Kay's fluent German stunning those who did not know beforehand about him growing up in Germany.

The band performed its farewell concert October 6, 2007 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland featuring Kay, longtime keyboardist Michael Wilk, drummer Ron Hurst, and guitarist Danny Johnson. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Ripken Stadium is the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds, Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in the New York-Penn League. Aberdeen is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States.

A 2007 newsletter from John Kay's Wolfpack fanclub states there will be some remastering of the band's classic albums throughout 2007 and 2008. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Personnel

Further information: List of Steppenwolf personnel

Discography

Further information: Steppenwolf discography

Notable performances

Popular culture

See also

References

External links

Canada has been a source of Rock and roll music for decades beginning with Paul Anka who in 1957 went to New York City where he recorded his own composition
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