
Steppenwolf is an American rock group that was prominent from 1968 till 1972. The group was formed in late 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton. Guitarist Michael Monarch and bassist Rushton Moreve were recruited by notices placed in LA area record stores and musical instrument stores. The essential core of Steppenwolf was John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, his brother Dennis Edmonton and Goldy McJohn from The Sparrows (originally Jack London & the Sparrows from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada). Steppenwolf sold over estimated 25 million record worldwide, releasing eight gold albums and twelve Billboard Hot 100 singles of which six were Top 40 hits, including three Top 10 successes: "Born to Be Wild", written by Dennis Edmonton, "Magic Carpet Ride", and "Rock Me". Steppenwolf enjoyed worldwide success from 1968 to 1972, but clashing personalities led to the end of the core lineup. Today, frontman John Kay is the only original member, having served as lead singer since the band was formed.
Links To Peel[]
Peel first heard of the band when he stole Steppenwolf's LP from Jonathan King claiming on his 04 February 1968 show that he liked the sleeve and would play some tracks on his show if he liked it:
- "And I'd like to say thank you to Jonathan King, famed TV personality, from whom I've just nicked an LP from Steppenwolf, who are a Los Angeles group we may hear on the programme perhaps next week if the LP is as nice as the sleeve."
Peel continued playing tracks from the group until 1972, when he last saw them play at the Buxton Pop Festival during their RIP tour before the group split initially for good. When the band reformed in the late 70's, Peel rarely played any tracks from their subsequent materials. In 1993, he played K-Tel Wet Dream's cover of Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild with their own interpretation and the original sample of the song under the track title of Pumpkin Eater.
Shows Played[]
Steppenwolf -- Born To Be Wild Official Live Video HD
- Steppenwolf
- 18 February 1968: Born To Be Wild (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill 50029
- 03 March 1968: Derry Rides Again (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill 50029
- 03 March 1968: A Girl I Knew (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill DS-50029
- 07 April 1968: Everybody's Next One (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill DS-50029
- 10 April 1968: Hoochie Coochie Man (album - Steppenwolf) RCA Victor RD 7974
- 08 May 1968: A Girl I Knew (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill DS-50029
- 23 June 1968: A Girl I Knew (album - Steppenwolf) Dunhill DS-50029
- 14 July 1968: A Girl I Knew (album - Steppenwolf) RCA Victor
- 25 August 1968: Born To Be Wild (7") RCA Victor RCA 1735
- possible extra unknown date: Born To Be Wild (7") RCA Victor RCA 1735
- 22 September 1968: Lost and Found By Trial and Error (album - The Second) Dunhill DS 50037
- 27 October 1968: Magic Carpet Ride (album - The Second) Dunhill DS 50037
- 10 November 1968: Magic Carpet Ride (7") Stateside
- 15 December 1968: Don't Step On The Grass, Sam (album - The Second) Stateside SSL 5003
- 12 September 1972: Everybody's Next One (LP - Rest In Peace) Dunhill
- 15 September 1972: The Ostrich (LP - Rest In Peace) Dunhill
- 25 June 1980: Born To Be Wild (7") Stateside-Dunhill
- 30 December 1998: Born To Be Wild (LP - Rock Anthems Vol. 2)
- John Kay
- 12 May 1972: I’m Moving On (single) Probe
See Also[]
- New Singles
- Singles Reviews
- Gigography 1969
- Gigography 1970
- Gigography 1972
- International Times: Perfumed Garden Column