Steppenwolf

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Los Angeles, California, United States (1967 – 1971, 1974 – 1976, 1980 – present)

Steppenwolf is a rock band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1967. The band originally consisted of John Kay (vocals, guitar), Michael Monarch (guitar), Rushton Moreve (bass), Goldie McJohn (keyboards) and Jerry Edmonton (drums). The band is best known for their hit singles “Born To Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”. They were named after the novel Der Steppenwolf by German author Hermann Hesse.

Frontman John Kay’s mother escaped with him at age 4 from Soviet occupied East Germany, an event recounted in the song “Renegade” on the album Steppenwolf Seven. His family resettled in Hannover, West Germany, before moving to Canada in 1958. Kay is partially blind, hence the use of dark glasses

In 1968, Nick St. Nicholas replaced Moreve as bass player.

Steppenwolf had its origins in the Toronto blues band Sparrow, which was formed in 1964 and played coffeehouses in Yorkville. By 1967 they had settled in San Francisco.

Steppenwolf rocketed to fame after their third single, “Born to Be Wild” was used in the movie Easy Rider, as well as “The Pusher”. The former song may have coined the term “heavy metal”. 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 the best of Steppenwolf’s releases. Monster and For Ladies Only 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.
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  • Steppenwolf
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  • Gold
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  • The Best Of
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  • randomlife310

    Is there a Steppenwolf song that is kind of scary sounding? I remember a creepy song that I thought was on one of my Dad's Steppenwolf albums.

    Monday afternoon

  • ZUBIMANELZUBI

    RRRRRRRRROOOOAAADD

    last week

  • myrimelomania

    Super banda, la crema y nata del rock; maestros!

    16 days ago

  • DakoSuede

    Aupa Rock and Roll (con mayúsculas)!!

    26 days ago

  • crownanchor

    Steppenwolf knew from scratch where America was heading for in Monster.......here we are right in that SICK situation:):)!!!

    28 days ago

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Seen these guys many times back in the daze...The Pusher------->"I`ve seen a lot of people with tombstones in their eyes" ( + ... +)

    last month

  • mulhernoteto

    Hoochie Coochie Man s2

    last month

  • extreme1992

    Sookie sookie sookie sookie sookie sookie sue!! ;D [2]

    March 2012
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Listen to a New Interview w/ John Kay Recorded with ABC Radio Australia

14 May 2012 | from steppenwolf.com/news.html

Watch the video to hear a new interview w/ John Kay recorded just two weekends ago with ABC Radio Australia talking about the history of the band and the release and success of the bands two …

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