Steppenwolf “7” Lineup
Was written by a Canadian & Sung by a German. That would be “Born To Be Wild”
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article (#47- sW) Feb- Mar 2015
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZer0
When I was a kid in Sioux City, my Dad finally got a newer car a 1968 VW Beetle, white with a red interior & an 8Track Player, I think he had all of 3 tapes, one I do not remember,the other ‘Savoy Brown’ “Lookin In” & one of my all time favorite albums “7” by: SteppenWolf.
>Meet Me After Four: 1965<
It all started in in Sep ’65 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada as ‘The Sparrow’ with brothers Dennis Edmonton: (Dennis Eugene McCrohan: aka Mars Bonfire: 21 Apr 1943) on Guitar & Jerry Edmonton: (Gerald McCrohan: 24 Oct 1945; Ontario – 28 Nov 1993 ) on Drums & Nick St. Nicholas: ( Klaus Karl Kassbaum: 28 Sep 1943; Plon, Germany ) on Bass & Goldy McJohn: (John Raymond Goadsby: 2 May 1945; Toronto) on Keyboards, these 4 added one John Kay: (Joachim Fritz Krauledat: 12 Apr 1944; Tilsit Germany) on Lead Vocals, Guitar & Harmonica, a posthumous LP is released of this lineup.
Soon the band relocate to San Fransisco, Ca. now renamed “Steppenwolf” from the 1927 novel “Der Steppenwolf” by German Author Hermann Hesse, As Kay is German born. So there you have it a 3/5 Canadian & 2/5 German Rock Band from Calif. They released their 1st 45 Single “A Girl I Knew/ The Ostrich” in late 1967.
> Everybody’s Next One: 1968 <
The band’s “1st” full LP came out in Jan 1968 in Mono & Stereo with 3 Singles the 2nd being “Born To Be Wild” a #2 in Jun ’68. Also 2 songs from this LP were used in the 1969 film “Easy Rider” with new members Michael Monarch: (5 Jul 1950; L.A. CA.) on Guitar & Rushton Moreve: (John Rushton Morey; 6 Nov 1948- 1 Jul 1981) the Bassist for the 1st 2 LPs died in a car cash as did Drummer Jerry Edmonton years later.
The band’s next LP “The 2nd” was released in Oct 1968, with the 45 Single “Magic Carpet Ride” a #3 hit in Sep ’68, as was a common practice in those days, the 45 version is almost a minute & half shorter & is very different from the LP version. 2 songs from the band are used in the Dec. 1968 film “Candy” I personally like the 2nd LP much better than the 1st, even though the 1st is more critically acclaimed.
>Jupiter’s Child: 1969 <
This is where things begin to be ever changing for the band, as they start a constantly changing lineup with almost every other album. Moreve’s out & St. Nicholas is back in the band & they release their 3rd LP “At Your Birthday Party” in Mar 1969 with 2 Singles one being ”Rock Me” a #10 hit in ’69. The band’s 1st “Live” LP is released although it is a recording of a 1967 concert; this was put out as way to buy time to record the next LP. The band makes their only appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in 17 Aug 1969, when St. Nicholas steals the spotlight with his now infamous “The Fuggs” comment.
Nick was very nearly as popular as Kay the lead singer simply for this reason, The Frank Zappa all girl band “The GTOs” had a song on their 1969 LP titled “I’m In Love With The Ooh Ooh Man” which was in fact Nick St. Nicholas, as he made one of the “GTOs” go “Ooh Ooh” If you don’t know Nick lived in Minneapolis for many years playing with his band “StarWolf” who did release a 45 Single.
At this point Monarch quits the band & they get their 2nd & one of my favorite guitarists of all time Larry Byrom: (Lawrence Clifton Byrom; 27 Dec 1948; Huntsville, AL.) & then release their 4th studio LP “Monster” was released in Nov 1969 with 2 Singles one being “Move Over” that hit #31 on the charts & the other the title song “Monster” @ #39, as before the single version is different @ 4min & LP version is at 9 min. This LP is politically charged & another of my personal favorites, even though panned by the critics. ‘Steppenwolf’ being Hugh Hefner’s favorite band at the time appeared on his local TV show”Playboy After Dark” on 17 Dec 1969.
> Foggy Mental Breakdown: 1970 <
After a World Tour the band releases a 2nd “Live” LP from this World Tour, in Apr ’70 buying more time as St. Nicholas is fired for wearing only his underwear & Bunny Ears @ the Easter Concert, they release 2 singles “Hey Lawdy Mama” & the Non-LP “Screamin Night Hog” clearly geared towards the biker crowd.
Now with 3rd Bassist George Michael Biondo (3 Sep 1945; Brooklyn) on board, the band record, what I feel is one of the greatest Rock Records of all time “7” is released Nov 1970 with 2 Singles “Who Needs Ya” & “Snowblind Friend”. This is the 2nd LP where Kay exchanges Lead Vocals with another member this time it’s Biondo, instead of Jerry. I know this album best as the ‘8Track Version’ so I listed the song order here (as it is in a different running order than the LP)
Ball Crusher
Hippo Stomp*
40 Days 40 Nights
Snowblind Friend*
Who Needs Ya
Renegade*
Foggy Mental Breakdown*
Fat jack
Earschplittenloudenboomer
4 of these songs* are filmed for a live TV broadcast.
> Shackles & Chains: 1971- 72 <
The 1st of 5 Hits- Best LPs is put out in the form of “Gold” in Mar 1971. More personal changes as Byrom leaves the band to quote “Well, Goldy took off with my wife & Jerry wasn’t a very nice guy” now Kent Henry; (K.H. Plischke: 5 Apr 1948; Hollywood – 18 Mar 2009) is the band’s 4th Guitarist & “For Ladies Only” is released in Nov 1971 with 2 Singles “Ride With Me b/w For Madmen Only” the B-side is a Non-LP, & the title song “For Ladies Only” once again the single version is 4min & the LP version is at 9 min to comply with FCC Radio guidelines. Interesting note at the end of the 1st run of the band the DC Comic Character “Steppenwolf” 1st appears in Feb 1972. The band embark on a “Farewell Tour” here is the setlist to a show I am lucky enough to own;
15 Sep 1972 Fri
London, UK @ Edmonton Sundown
Sookie Sookie
Ride With Me
Foggy Mental Breakdown
Tighten Up Your Wig
Ball Crusher
Shackles and Chains
Monster / Suicide / America
The Pusher
Magic Carpet Ride
Born to Be Wild
Hoochie Coochie Man
Berry Rides Again
After this tour the band call it quits, well, for the time being, they will reform in just 2 years for 3 studio LPs. To mark the end the band releases a 2nd “Best” compilation “Rest In Peace” sometime in 1972.
So this is the brief history of the1st part of ‘Steppenwolf’ the Canadian- German Rock band who Wrote & Sang America’s Rock N Roll Biker National Anthem.
Until the next installment …. MrZer0
Mr. Zero’s Inc. *Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave N
Roseveille- St. Paul, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com
Did you check out this link?
http://patch.com/minnesota/roseville/american-rock-n-roll-national-anthem-0
Oh yea … Mr. Rik-0