STEPPENWOLF's driving force over many decades has been vocalist guitarist JOHN KAY, of German descent and christened Joachim F. Krauledat. The band has become immortalized with the biker anthem 'Born To Be Wild', a song covered by countless bands young and old on the live circuit. Although this song is undoubtedly their legacy STEPPENWOLF also scored big time with the Psychedelic 'Magic Carpet Ride' and a string of other hits.

a Blues band titled JACK LONDON & THE SPARROW and based in Toronto with a line up of Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboard player Goldy McJohn (real name John Goadsby) and drummer Jerry Edmonton. The latter's real surname being McCrohan, the 'Edmonton' acknowledging his place of birth. THE SPARROW released two singles for CBS Records 1966's 'Tomorrow's Ship' and the following year's 'Green Bottle Lover'.

1967 found THE SPARROW evolving into STEPPENWOLF. The name being taken from a novel by Herman Hesse. A single 'Twisted' was issued credited to Kay as a solo artist (although including all the previous band members) before the enlistment of bassist John Russell Morgan as the new band title STEPPENWOLF was adopted. (Moreve was later killed in a car accident).

STEPPENWOLF's debut 1968 album, recorded in just four days and produced (as would most STEPPENWOLF albums) by Gabriel Mexler, proved to be a slow seller at first until 'Born To Be Wild' began making inroads into American radio. The album would eventually peak at number 3 whilst the single just missed out on the number 1 spot. The song was actually not written by any member of the band, the composer being Edmonton's brother Dennis under his pseudonym of Mars Bonfire.

To Be Wild' furthered it's appeal with it's inclusion on the cult biker movie 'Easy Rider' movie. With it's biker credentials in place the song also hit a collective nerve with the lyric 'heavy metal thunder' being delivered at the birth of what would later to be termed Heavy Metal 'Born To Be Wild' unwittingly ensured it's timeless appeal.

With such a huge hit to capitalize on STEPPENWOLF delivered their second album. 'Magic Carpet Ride', a song as different to it's successor as one could find, reached number 3 in the Billboard charts.

Such was the status of STEPPENWOLF early live recordings of THE SPARROW playing in San Fransisco were dredged up and released unbeknown to the band. Despite the dubious provenance 'Early Steppenwolf' still charted.

Mid 1969 the band underwent line-up changes with both Monarch and Russell leaving the fold. Monarch was to become part of DETECTIVE for two critically acclaimed albums before working with ANDY FRASER, MEAT LOAF and STEEL MONARCH. This latter band would see the guitarist working with a pre QUIET RIOT Frankie Banali.

New enlistees were erstwhile T.I.M.E. (TRUST IN MEN EVERYWHERE) members guitarist Larry Byrom and German bassist Nick St. Nicholas, the latter's real name being Klaus Karl Kassbaum. This line up issued 'At Your Birthday Party', another top ten album with another huge hit in 'Rock Me'.

1970 'Monster' concept album continued the chart presence although by now the impact of each successive release was getting lesser. The 'Live' album of the same year (STEPPENWOLF were contracted for two albums a year) was recorded at a benefit gig for "Students against the war in Cambodia". As not enough tracks were captured at the gig the band ended the album with studio tracks mixing in crowd sounds. Not the last time this deception would be used on a Rock record.

Following the 'Steppenwolf 7' album Byrom departed for RATCHELL (and countless sessions) and was superseded by former BLUES IMAGE man Kent Henry. St. Nicholas also lost his place to George Biondo. St. Nicholas would team up with BLUE CHEER in 1975.

STEPPENWOLF were put on ice in early 1972 as Kay set about his solo career debuting with 'Forgotten Songs And Unsung Heroes' the same year. Edmunton and McJohn meanwhile founded MANBEAST.

Kay pulled STEPPENWOLF back together again for the 1974 'Slow Flux' album. The album was a direct result of a supposed farewell European tour during which fans made it clear STEPPENWOLF were still wanted. The band were back in the charts again with 'Straight Shootin' Woman' although it would be their last appearance in the Billboard rankings.

STEPPENWOLF at this juncture comprised of Kay, Biondo, McJohn, Edmunton and legendary Rock n' Roller EDDIE COCHRAN's nephew guitarist Bobby Cochran, previously with KINDRED. In mid 1975 McJohn embarked on a solo career and Andy Chapin filled in on keyboards for the 'Hour Of The Wolf' record. Before it's release Chapin was out in favour of Wayne Cook. The album sales suffered badly when the act's label, Mums Records, went bankrupt upon the eve of its release.

A further brace of albums ensued for Epic 1977's 'Skullduggery'and 'Reborn To Be Wild' before the band folded once more. A 1979 version of STEPPENWOLF, not even including John Kay and centred on bassist Nick St Nicholas, featured Frankie Banali, of QUIET RIOT repute, on drums. Another drummer would be Steve Riley of ROADMASTER and later L.A. GUNS and W.A.S.P. Some time in this period Herman Rarebell, later of the SCORPIONS, became drummer with STEPPENWOLF. Kay cut his second solo album 'All In Good Time' in 1978.

Cochran was to join THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS and more recently fronts his own BOBBY COCHRAN & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS.

By 1981 STEPPENWOLF was back for a world tour with Kay joined by a new look band of guitarist Michael Palmer, bassist Chad Perry, ex DETROIT keyboard player Brett Tuggle and drummer Steven Palmer. These shows culminated in the 'Live In London' outing after which Tuggle departed (later joining DAVID LEE ROTH, WHITESNAKE and JOE SATRIANI). Perry also bailed out.

This period of flux also saw the inclusion of vocalist Tom Holland, later of THE B'ZZ and HOLLAND.

STEPPENWOLF's substitutes were bassist Welton Gite and keyboard player Michael Wilk for the 1983 studio album 'Wolftracks'. Strangely these recordings would be re-issued in 1997 on C.M.C. International retitled 'Five Finger Discount' and credited solely to Kay.

delay of many years preceded the next album, 1987's 'Rock & Roll Rebels'. Wilk remained alongside new faces guitarist Rocket Ritchotte and drummer Ron Hurst. Ritchotte's track record includes membership of CHER's Rock act BLACK ROSE and STAN BUSH & BARRAGE. Athough issued for commercial release 'Rock & Roll Rebels' recordings were in fact initially intended to be demos. Touring in America during 1989, billed as JOHN KAY & STEPPENWOLF, would see former MICHAEL DES BARRES and LITA FORD guitar virtuoso STEVE FISTER in the ranks.

A further album, 1990's 'Rise & Shine' on IRS Records, surfaced in 1990. Ritchotte departed in late 1993 to join DAVID LEE ROTH. It would be STEVE FISTER, fresh from touring with PAT TRAVERS, who would assume the mantle during 1994-95.

STEPPENWOLF got the chance to amend history in 1996 when they re-recorded the 1987 album 'Rock & Roll Rebels'. All the tracks were recorded once more and two new songs 'Bad Attitude' and 'Feed The Fire', the latter the title of the new CD. For this outing STEPPENWOLF were joined by the accomplished talents of former BLACKFOOT, AXIS, ALCATRAZZ and ALICE COOPER guitarist DANNY JOHNSON.

Hurst and Wilk also session on DANNY JOHNSON's 1997 solo album 'Grih Grih Thing'.

During 2000 a version of STEPPENWOLF's 60s hit 'Magic Carpet Ride', as newly recorded by Blues guitar great EDGAR WINTER, was included on the soundtrack to the movie 'Star Kid'.

2001 found both Nick St. Nicholas and Michael Monarch entrenched in the veteran Rockers act WORLD CLASSIC ROCKERS. Nicholas had only recently been awarded a court judgement allowing him to claim "Ex STEPPENWOLF" membership. STEPPENWOLF's 'Rock Me' found inclusion on the soundtrack to the 2002 groupie movie 'The Banger Sisters' starring Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarondon.