Editing Steppenwolf (band) (section)

==History==
===The Sparrows===
In 1965 John Kay joined [[The Sparrows (band)|the Sparrows]] and was followed by Goldy McJohn. The group eventually broke up.<ref name="stone"/> 

===Breakthrough, success, and decline (1967–1972)===
[[File:Steppenwolf original lineup.jpg|thumb|The original lineup of Steppenwolf. Clockwise from top left: McJohn, Edmonton, Moreve, Monarch, Kay]]
In late 1967, [[Gabriel Mekler]] urged Kay to re-form the Sparrows and suggested the name change to Steppenwolf, inspired by [[Hermann Hesse]]'s [[Steppenwolf (novel)|novel of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://steppenwolf.com/ |title=John Kay & Steppenwolf &#124; Welcome to The Official Website |publisher=Steppenwolf.com |access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/><ref name="stone"/> Steppenwolf's first two singles were "A Girl I Knew" and "Sookie Sookie". The band finally rocketed to worldwide fame after their third single, "Born to Be Wild", was released in 1968, as well as their version of [[Hoyt Axton]]'s "[[The Pusher]]". Both of these tunes were used prominently in the 1969 [[counterculture of the 1960s|counterculture]] [[cult film]] ''[[Easy Rider]]''<ref name="Grdn">{{cite news |last1=Dave Simpson |title=How we made Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild: Interview |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/31/how-we-made-steppenwolf-born-to-be-wild |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=31 July 2018}}</ref> (both titles originally had been released on the band's [[Steppenwolf (Steppenwolf album)|debut album]]).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In the movie, "Easy Rider" the song "The Pusher" accompanies a drug deal, and [[Peter Fonda]] stuffing dollar bills into his Stars and Stripes-clad fuel tank, after which "Born to Be Wild" is heard in the opening credits, with Fonda and [[Dennis Hopper]] riding their Harley choppers through the America of the late 1960s. The song, which has been closely associated with motorcycles ever since, introduced to rock lyrics the signature term "[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]"<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> (though not about a kind of music, but about a motorcycle: "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder, racin' with the wind...").<ref name="Grdn"/> Written by Sparrow guitarist Dennis Edmonton, who had begun using the pen name [[Mars Bonfire]] and inspired by a billboard roadside advertisement Bonfire liked which depicted a motorcycle tearing through the billboard artwork, the song had already reached number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in August 1968.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/249 249]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/249}}</ref>

In 1968 Steppenwolf played one of their biggest shows up to that time at the [[Fillmore East]] to rave reviews, sharing the bill with [[Buddy Rich]] and Children of God.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 |title=Billboard|date= November 23, 1968|access-date=August 24, 2015}}</ref>  On November 27, 1968, they played a concert with [[Iron Butterfly]] at the [[Baltimore Civic Center]].

The group's following albums had several more hit singles, including "[[Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf song)|Magic Carpet Ride]]" (which reached number three) from ''[[The Second]]'' and "Rock Me" (with its bridge lasting 1:06, which reached number 10) from ''[[At Your Birthday Party]]''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> It also sold in excess of a million units.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> ''[[Monster (Steppenwolf album)|Monster]]'', which questioned US [[Vietnam War]] policy, was the band's most political album. Following the ''Monster'' album from 1969, the following year, the band released ''[[Steppenwolf 7]]'', which included the song "Snowblind Friend", another Hoyt Axton-penned song about the era and attitudes of drugs and associated problems.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=1135}}</ref>

Several changes in the group's personnel were made after the first few years.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Bassist Rushton Moreve was fired from the group in 1968 for missing gigs after he became afraid to return to Los Angeles, convinced by his girlfriend that it was going to be leveled by an earthquake and fall into the sea. Rob Black briefly filled in for Moreve until former Sparrow bandmate [[Nick St. Nicholas]] came aboard in the latter months of 1968. Michael Monarch quit the group in August 1969 as his relationship with Kay deteriorated. [[Larry Byrom]], who had been in TIME with Nick St. Nicholas, ably replaced Monarch on guitar.<ref name="Larkin"/>But Nick St. Nicholas was let go in mid-1970. He had supposedly appeared in nothing but rabbit ears and a jock strap at the Fillmore East in April 1970<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamusicawards.com/act/nick-st-nicholas/|title=Nick St. Nicholas|publisher=LA Music Awards}}</ref> – and his habit of wearing muumuus and kaftans on stage began to wear on Kay, whose penchant for leather vests and pants was more in line with the image he wanted for the band. [[George Biondo]] was then recruited, and the band lineup for their live performances in the middle of 1970 was John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, Goldy McJohn, Larry Byrom and George Biondo. However this lineup was also unable to remain together, as Byrom became upset with McJohn over personal issues and quit the band in the early part of 1971. Guitarist [[Kent Henry]] then replaced Byrom.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> 

[[File:Steppenwolf (1970).png|thumb|In 1970]]

In November 1971 the band released ''For Ladies Only'', with the lineup consisting of Kay, Henry, Biondo, McJohn and Edmonton.  The album was notable for several reasons, most notably the controversial LP inside cover art, the romantic, political, social lyrical content and the fact that it featured several of the group members on lead vocals.

===Breakup (1972–1973)===
The band broke up after a farewell concert in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day, 1972.<ref name="Larkin"/> Kay went on to a brief solo career, scoring a minor solo hit in 1972 with "I'm Movin' On" from his album ''Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes''. Although it received generally high marks from most critics, the album sales were disappointing in the US.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Kay released a second solo album in 1973 on the [[Dunhill Records|Dunhill]] label titled ''My Sportin' Life''. This album sold less than his first solo album and was less gritty and more LA studio-polish in sound.

Following the first official breakup of Steppenwolf, and after the release of Kay's first solo album, a late summer and autumn 1972 tour in the US and Europe occurred, which featured Kay heading both the John Kay Band and Steppenwolf, at the top of the bill. Dunhill had released an album of a collection of Steppenwolf songs titled ''Rest in Peace''.  Thus, the tour was known as the RIP tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19720812&id=_FZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6023,3364491|title=The Evening Independent – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com}}</ref>

===Reunion (1974–1976)===
Steppenwolf reformed in 1974 with its core lineup of Kay, Edmonton and McJohn, along with longtime bassist Biondo and newcomer [[Bobby Cochran]], [[Eddie Cochran]]'s nephew, on lead guitar.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The band signed with [[Mums Records]] in retaliation for what Kay perceived as a lack of support by Dunhill Records for his solo albums. Their first reunion album was ''Slow Flux'', which included their last top 40 hit, "Straight Shootin' Woman".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

In February 1975 McJohn was dismissed for what Kay described as a decline in the quality of his performances, as well as erratic behavior. McJohn was replaced by [[Andy Chapin]] on ''Hour of the Wolf'' in 1975, though McJohn appeared in artwork for the single to ''Caroline''. After the album peaked at number 155, Kay attempted to dissolve the band again, but the label, now having been absorbed by [[Epic Records]], insisted Steppenwolf record one more album to satisfy their contractual obligations. The ensuing album, ''Skullduggery'' (1976), featuring [[Wayne Cook (musician)|Wayne Cook]] on keyboards, was released without a tour to support it, and by the early fall of 1976, Steppenwolf disbanded a second time. Kay appeared in a segment of the popular music TV show ''The Midnight Special'' to announce the end of Steppenwolf and also played a solo version of the song "Hey I'm Alright". This song appeared on Kay's third solo album ''All In Good Time'', released on Mercury Records in 1978.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

==={{anchor|Bogus}}<!-- [[New Steppenwolf]] and [[Bogus Steppenwolf]] redirect here -->"New Steppenwolf" revival act (1976–1980)===
After Kay disbanded Steppenwolf, former members [[Goldy McJohn]] and [[Nick St. Nicholas]] formed a "revival act" called "New Steppenwolf". McJohn did not last long, but St. Nicholas continued with the venture for several years. Various incarnations included, according to author [[Dave Thompson (author)|Dave Thompson]], a "revolving door of musicians" consisting of "jobbing players".<ref>{{cite book | last =Thompson | first =Dave | title =Smoke on the Water: The Deep Purple Story| publisher =[[ECW Press]] | date =2004 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=LzzCw6xs9roC&q=new+steppenwolf&pg=PA225 | isbn =9781550226188 }}</ref> Among those players were vocalist Tom Holland (who would go on to form the B'zz and later Holland) and drummer [[Steve Riley (drummer)|Steve Riley]] of future [[W.A.S.P. (band)|W.A.S.P.]] and [[L.A. Guns]] fame. Yet another musician involved, guitarist Glen Bui, went on to work with Goldy McJohn until he died in 2017. ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'' described these bands as "unprofessional, bogus versions" of Steppenwolf.<ref name="stone">{{cite book | title =The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll | publisher =Simon & Schuster | date =2001 | url =https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl | isbn =9780743201209 }}</ref> Although Kay and Edmonton had originally licensed the use of the "New Steppenwolf" name, they later sued for breach of contract. St. Nicholas agreed in 1980 to cease use of the name, but legal disputes about promotional use of the Steppenwolf name continued until 2000.<ref>{{cite book | last =Burr | first =Sherri | title =Burr's Entertainment Law in a Nutshell | publisher =West Academic | date =2012 | pages =PT274 | isbn =9781628106435 }}</ref>

===John Kay and Steppenwolf (1980–2018)===
[[File:John Kay.JPG|thumb|Kay and Steppenwolf performing in [[Lillehammer]], Norway, May 2007]]
Kay had a few meetings with David Pesnell about management, concert promotions and producing a new album for the band. Pesnell wanted to produce an album featuring new songs on side A, by the reformed band [[Three Dog Night]] and with side B of the album featuring songs by Steppenwolf. The album's working name was "Back to Back", a play on each band having a side of the album and the fact the bands were back together again. Pesnell's concept was simple: each band should record four new songs, with a fifth song on each side featuring a medley of the band's past songs. This would give the Pesnell-produced album a double release of singles to support a concert tour featuring the two bands. Though both bands liked the concept of the album and tour, the arguments included who would be side A and side B and which of the two would headline the upcoming concert tour.

The reformed John Kay and Steppenwolf line-up featured John Kay, Michael Palmer (guitars, backing vocals), Steve Palmer (drums, backing vocals), Danny Ironstone (keyboards, backing vocals) and Kurtis Teel on bass. The Palmer brothers had played in a group called Tall Water and had also been involved with Kay in his solo career playing live gigs in the late 1970s. Teel was replaced by Chad Peery and Ironstone by Brett Tuggle by 1981, and the new grouping released ''Live in London'' overseas. Tuggle was then displaced by [[Michael Wilk]] and a new studio album, ''[[Wolftracks]]'', was released in 1982. ''Wolftracks'' was one of the earliest digitally recorded albums in the industry. It was recorded live on a two-track Sony digital recording system. Bassist [[Welton Gite]], who appeared on this album, left shortly after its completion and was replaced by Gary Link, formerly with [[Back in the Streets|Dokken]]. Another album, ''Paradox'', followed in 1984.

In December 1984 the band as it was disbanded and Kay and Wilk decided to continue in early 1985 with a pared-down quartet composed of Kay, Wilk, Wilk's friend Ron Hurst (drums, backing vocals) and Rocket Ritchotte (guitars, backing vocals). Wilk also handled bass duties from his sequencing computer keyboards from then on. This line-up released ''Rock N' Roll Rebels'' (1987) and ''Rise & Shine'' (1990); these were on the Qwil and [[I.R.S. Records]] imprints, respectively. Ritchotte had departed temporarily in 1989 to be replaced by [[Les Dudek]] and then Steve Fister, but then returned in 1990 for three more years. Fister (ex–[[Iron Butterfly]]) then came back in late 1993, but turned guitar duties over to Danny Johnson (formerly of Derringer, [[Rod Stewart]] and others) in 1996.

As the band was named after the novel ''[[Steppenwolf (novel)|Der Steppenwolf]]'' by German author [[Hermann Hesse]], who was born in the [[Black Forest]] town of [[Calw]], the city invited them to come over and play in the International Hermann-Hesse-Festival 2002,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calw.de/hessejahr2002/dokumentation/hessejahr2002/festivalcalw/rockkonzerte/rockkonzerte.htm#Steppenwolf|title=Hermann-Hesse-Stadt Calw|publisher=Calw.de|date=March 19, 2003|access-date=November 5, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928222926/http://www.calw.de/hessejahr2002/dokumentation/hessejahr2002/festivalcalw/rockkonzerte/rockkonzerte.htm#Steppenwolf|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> along with other bands inspired by Hesse, such as [[Anyone's Daughter]]. 

The band performed what they then labeled their "Farewell Concert" on October 6, 2007, at [[Ripken Stadium]] in [[Aberdeen, Maryland]], featuring Kay, keyboardist and programmer Michael Wilk, drummer Ron Hurst and guitarist Danny Johnson.  However, the band, rejoined by bassist Gary Link, began touring again in June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://steppenwolf.com/p-4915-2009-concert-tour.html|title=2009 Concert Tour|website=Steppenwolf.com|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119180039/https://steppenwolf.com/p-4915-2009-concert-tour.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Steppenwolf were nominated for the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2017, but were not inducted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheartradio.ca/en/music-news/canada-s-steppenwolf-nominated-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-1.2038436.html|title=Canadas Steppenwolf Nominated For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame|website=Iheartradio.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Bliss|first=Karen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7549738/steppenwolf-rock-hall-fame-nomination-surprise|title=Steppenwolf's John Kay on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination: 'It's a Surprise'|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>

On November 22, 2019 John Kay announced that the band's October 14, 2018 show was their last.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://steppenwolf.com/n-11242-the-end-of-an-era-a-new-beginning.html|title=The End of an Era & A New Beginning'|website=Steppenwolf.com|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807180230/https://steppenwolf.com/n-11242-the-end-of-an-era-a-new-beginning.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>