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At the age of 4, [[John Kay (musician)|John Kay]] and his mother, after escaping from [[East Prussia]], fled from [[Soviet Union|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 Shines''), before moving to [[Canada]] in [[1958]].
At the age of 4, [[John Kay (musician)|John Kay]] and his mother, after escaping from [[East Prussia]], fled from [[Soviet Union|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 Shines''), before moving to [[Canada]] in [[1958]].


Steppenwolf had its origins in a Toronto blues band called [[The Sparrow]], which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in [[Yorkville, Toronto|Yorkville]]. By 1967 they had settled in [[San Francisco]], playing mix of [[blues rock]], [[psychedelia]] and [[folk music]]. Producer Gabriel Mekler of the label [[Dunhill Records]] in [[Los Angeles]], suggested to introduce more aggressive beats. With music that pioneered [[hard rock]] and [[heavy metal]], they became Steppenwolf, and this band's original members were:
Steppenwolf had its origins in a Toronto blues band called [[The Sparrows]], which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in [[Yorkville, Toronto|Yorkville]]. By 1967 they had settled in [[San Francisco]], playing mix of [[blues rock]], [[psychedelia]] and [[folk music]]. Producer Gabriel Mekler of the label [[Dunhill Records]] in [[Los Angeles]], suggested to introduce more aggressive beats. With music that pioneered [[hard rock]] and [[heavy metal]], they became Steppenwolf, and this band's original members were:
*[[John Kay (musician)|John Kay]], vocals, [[guitar]], harmonica
*[[John Kay (musician)|John Kay]], vocals, [[guitar]], harmonica
*[[Jerry Edmonton]], [[drums]]
*[[Jerry Edmonton]], [[drums]]

Revision as of 07:52, 22 August 2006

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Steppenwolf.
Steppenwolf 'Gold' album cover

Steppenwolf was a 1960s and 1970s rock 'n' roll band, best known for the hits "Born to Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride". Due to the German background of the band's leader John Kay, they were named after the novel Steppenwolf by author Hermann Hesse.

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 Shines), 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 mix of blues rock, psychedelia and folk music. Producer Gabriel Mekler of the label Dunhill Records in Los Angeles, suggested to introduce more aggressive beats. With music that pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, they became Steppenwolf, and this band's original members were:

Steppenwolf rocketed to world-wide fame after their third single, "Born To Be Wild" was used in the cult movie Easy Rider, as well as cover of Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher" (both titles originally were released on the band's debut album). The former song had introduced to rock lyrics the signed term "heavy metal" (in fact, not about a kind of music, but about a bike: "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder...") and was written by Mars Bonfire, or Dennis Edmonton, former Sparrow and brother of Jerry.

This was followed by several more hits, including "Magic Carpet Ride" from Steppenwolf The Second, and "Rock Me" 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.

Monster, which criticized US policy of the Nixon-era, and Seven 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.

The band broke up in 1971 following the release of another political concept album, For Ladies Only, and Kay went on to a successful solo career. Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with the album Slow Flux, and disbanded in 1976. From 1977 until 1980 Steppenwolf reformed for touring, this time without Kay. A new studio album, "Night of the Wolf" was recorded in 1979 but never released. John Kay formed a new version of the band in the early 1980s and went on tour as "John Kay and Steppenwolf", as well as releasing a solo album in 2001.

Discography

File:Steppenwolf - At the Whiskey A-Go-Go.jpg
Membership of Pre-Steppenwolf Bands
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


Membership of Steppenwolf
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


Membership of New Steppenwolf without John Kay
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 (none) Frankie Banali
The New Steppenwolf, Inc. VII Bob Simpson Ruben Raven Nick St. Nicholas (none) 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


Membership of John Kay's Bands
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
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