Questions
Who started Steppenwolf and when?
Steppenwolf was formed in Los Angeles in 1967 by singer John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton, who had all played together in the earlier band.
Where did the band name come from?
Producer Gabriel Mekler suggested the name, taking it from Hermann Hesse’s 1927 novel Steppenwolf.
Are they American or Canadian?
They are described as a Canadian-American band that came together in Los Angeles, California, with roots in the earlier Canadian group The Sparrows.
What is their most famous song?
Born to Be Wild, released in 1968, is their signature hit and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Did Steppenwolf actually invent the phrase heavy metal?
Born to Be Wild put the term heavy metal into rock lyrics, in the line about smoke and lightning and heavy metal thunder, though in the song it refers to motorcycles rather than a music genre.
Who wrote Born to Be Wild?
It was written by Mars Bonfire, the pen name of former Sparrow guitarist Dennis Edmonton, who was not a performing member of Steppenwolf itself.
How did the movie Easy Rider help the band?
Both Born to Be Wild and The Pusher featured prominently in the 1969 counterculture film Easy Rider, which helped launch the band to worldwide fame.
What were their other big hits?
Magic Carpet Ride peaked at number 3 and Rock Me reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
How many records has Steppenwolf sold?
The band has sold over 25 million records worldwide, with seven gold albums, one platinum album, and 13 Billboard Hot 100 singles.
What album was Born to Be Wild on?
It appeared on the band’s 1968 self-titled debut album, Steppenwolf, and the single sold over a million copies to earn gold certification.
Why did they fire their original bassist?
Bassist Rushton Moreve was reportedly fired in 1968 after missing gigs because his girlfriend had convinced him that Los Angeles was about to be hit by a catastrophic earthquake.
When did the band finally call it quits?
After several breakups and reunions, the group performed as John Kay & Steppenwolf from 1980 to 2018 and played its final show on October 14, 2018.
What happened to the original members?
Bassist Rushton Moreve died in 1981, drummer Jerry Edmonton died in 1993, and keyboardist Goldy McJohn died in 2017.
