Steppenwolf

Formed 1967 in Los Angeles, CA Disbanded 1972

Group Members:
George Biondo, Mars Bonfire, Bobby Cochran, Jerry Edmonton, John Kay, Goldy McJohn, Michael Monarch, Nick St. Nicholas

Led by John Kay (born Joachim Krauledat, April 12, 1944), Steppenwolf's blazing biker anthem "Born to Be Wild" roared out of speakers everywhere in the fiery summer of 1968, John Kay's threatening rasp sounding a mesmerizing call to arms to the counterculture movement rapidly sprouting up nationwide. German immigrant Kay got his professional start in a bluesy Toronto band called Sparrow, recording for Columbia in 1966. After Sparrow disbanded, Kay relocated to the West Coast and formed Steppenwolf, named after the Herman Hesse novel. "Born to Be Wild," their third single on ABC-Dunhill, was immortalized on the soundtrack of Dennis Hopper's underground film classic Easy Rider. The song's reference to "heavy metal thunder" finally gave an assignable name to an emerging genre. Steppenwolf's second monster hit that year, the psychedelic "Magic Carpet Ride," and the follow-ups "Rock Me," "Move Over," and "Hey Lawdy Mama" further established the band's credibility on the hard-rock circuit. By the early '70s, Steppenwolf ran out of steam and disbanded. Kay continued to record solo, as other members put together ersatz versions of the band for touring purposes. During the mid 80s Kay re-formed his own version of Steppenwolf, grinding out his hits (and some new songs) at oldies shows. Nevertheless, they'll be remembered for generations to come for creating one of the ultimate gas'n'go rock anthems of all time.

Discography:

Album
1995 Move Over
1992 Night Riding
1990 Rise & Shine
1987 Rock & Roll Rebels
1985 Magic Carpet Ride
1984 Paradox
1982 Wolftracks
1977 Reborn to Be Wild
1976 Skullduggery
1975 Hour of the Wolf
1974 Slow Flux
1971 For Ladies Only
1969 Early Steppenwolf
1969 Monster
1969 At Your Birthday Party
1968 Candy [Original Soundtrack]
1968 Steppenwolf the Second
1968 Steppenwolf 7