Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION! 

Finally coming back to Steppenwolf! So many of you said we had to hit this track before we continued on with them! Cheers guys where do we go from here?! 🙌🏻🔥

True story: I was in a blues band, playing in a dive bar, and we were dying onstage. All of the sudden a guys comes through the back door on his Harley, pulls up in front of the stage and revs the throttle. The guitarist immediately broke into Born to be Wild, even though we’d never played it before. It all came together perfectly and the place went nuts. Best onstage moment of my life!

The line "Heavy Metal Thunder" referred to a motorcycle, not a music style but it became the tag for Heavy Metal music later on. This song was the featured track from the 1969 classic movie Easy Rider.

I love the fact you guys don’t stop the music to react to it, waiting until the song ends is so much better, thanks

Whenever I hear this song I always remember my '68 Camaro, and how the State Police knew me by first name.

Heavy Metal Thunder! This song has been in every movie that has a motorcycle anywhere in it. Lol

This wasn't just a song of the sixties, it was THE song!

Born to be Wild still rocks and resonates. Steppenwolf is long overdue to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

What you can't experience is hearing this music back when it came out, before all the heavy metal that came afterward. This was so unique in its time.

Can you imagine this being part of your early teenage years? It was mine, and thousands, if not millions like me!

Two Steppenwolf songs, this one and “The Pusher” were both in the movie “Easy Rider” (1969). This song was originally released in June of 1968, I was 13 years old that summer and it was all over the radio back then. Thanks for the tunes and the memories!

I really can’t get my head around your statement “I’ve never heard this song”. This is one of the most iconic rock songs of all time, and has been in more movies and advertisements than just about any other song. I was a freshman in college when this song hit the airwaves.

If any song was ever made for a road trip, its this one, I think it's on every 'driving rock' compilation album ever made.

If this song isn't on your road trip playlist, do you really have a road trip playlist??

If you were around when this song came out, there is absolutely no way you cannot envision scenes from "Easy Rider" with Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and a very young Jack Nicholson going on inside your head.

One of the most influential bands of the 60's and yet, not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Says a lot more about the Hall of Fame that it does about the band..

"Heavy metal" was a term first used by a journalist to describe Blue Cheer's sound on SUMMERTIME BLUES. Steppenwolf was the 1st to immortalize it in song, shortly thereafter.

THE anthem of the 60’s

Without a doubt, Born to be Wild is one of the best rock'n'roll songs ever made....."Like a true nature child, we were born to be wild'

I don’t know how it’s possible to live in this country and never have heard this song. It’s basically in the fabric of our society.

Harley Davidson's are the heavy metal thunder. I rode for over 20 years and this song never got old with us bikers and biker chicks!

When I was in high school I saw Steppenwolf and The Guess Who together in concert. It was amazing! You haven’t reacted to anything by The Guess Who yet. That would be a good direction to head into - American Woman / Undun / No Time / These Eyes / Laughing / No Sugar Tonight-NewMother Nature / Share the Land...there are so many to choose from. 🎧

There may be two, possibly three songs that could legitimately be considered the official theme song of the Baby Boom Generation. This would be one of them. ☮

Here's a tip - instead of adding melting ice to your drinks which dilutes the taste of your chosen libation - freeze your alcohol - which really doesn't freeze at all - to keep your drink smooth, cold, and unwatered down during your episodes. Enjoy your drinks neat. A game changer.

"Monster" is their epic masterpiece. Very relevant lyrics that still hold up well in our current climate.

Classic, of course. Could consider doing "The Pusher", a slightly deeper cut, but still a known song by us old heads.

51 Years Later.... Andy and Alex reacting to this song!! Can't you believe that it's been 51 years since it's release?

Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" is the definition of an "S' rating. An anthem of the generation.

steppenwolf, deep purple, CCR. Loved that sound back then so raw, heavy and unique

Film - Easy Rider - This song was the second on the soundtrack. The song that kicked that film off was another Steppenwolf song - "The Pusher".... sleazy, sleazy, sleazy and a must to do next from them.

It was used in the 1969 movie "Easy Rider" as the protagonists ( Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and a very young Jack Nicholson) were going down the highway on their Harleys. The "heavy metal thunder" line in the song referring to the sound of motorcycles.

"Hey Lawdy Mama" or "Rock Me" both pretty Steppin-wolfish.

I remember when I first heard this on the radio at home. BLEW me away and I still have a copy this day. I was driving a motorcycle at the time and when it came on the radio me and all my friends would hop on our bikes and blast off. It ALWAYS did that and still does. One of my top fave songs to this day.

More? The pusher; sookie sookie, snowblind friend, monster, it's never too late.. lots of good ones.

I always love the sound of a Hammond B3 played through Leslies. "Snowblind Friend," was written by Hoyt Axton, but Steppenwolf did a great cover of it.

John Kay... decades of amazing music and his hard hitting vocals... the original Rock God ! 😎🎙

Responsible for more speeding tickets than any other song !

The drummer drives this song so hard. Great powerful breaks from him

Great tune by Steppenwolf..Hey Lawdy Mama

Alex's bit about the angry cooks in a Midwestern diner is one of the best analogies I've ever heard. Hats off to you brother!

This particular song's been in so many movies and commercials I feel like everybody's heard bits 🎵🎶🎸🎤

One of the most kick ass guitar sounds ever.

Damn, I never noticed an accent. I had to look it up. Steppenwolf is a Canadian band, but the singer, John Kay, was born in Germany. Great ear.

"His voice sounds like an argument between the cooks in a midwestern diner" -- damn, that's awesome and hilarious! Spot on.

You haven’t heard this song before? Am I old? I must be old now. Wow, guys. Thanks for pointing out I’m past my prime. The joy is now gone. Well done.

We did a parody of this song for my sister called, "Born To Be With Child." (She's always pregnant)

"The pusher" has to be next as you enter a very deep Steppenwolf rabbit hole.

Such a truly famous and epic song. It was amazing hearing it live.

I'm 55 years old. "You guys don't get out much do you?" But, appreciate your efforts in broaden your music taste.

Lead singer John Kay was born in Germany. Maybe a little hint with accent?. Love you guys to check out there song. Screaming night hog, and hey ladi mama. As well as the pusher. Rock on !!!

Another one from the late 60's Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man. It's different !

Oh my goodness!!! I can sing every lyric of this song 50 years later 😆😆 They played this song ALL THE TIME on the radio 💜

One of Greatest songs ever written it has inspired generations.

Gentlemen, you need this in your life >>> studio version of Deep Purple - Space Truckin' . Big hit for them. Also Woman From Tokyo , another hit.

Steppenwolf "The Pusher" add it to the "Easy Rider" montage. Lol

"It's Never Too Late" is a deep cut classic, lyrics and all... also "Hey Lawdy Mama", "Rock Me" and "The Pusher".

This song has been in a million movies. Its the Bikers anthem. I've always considered these guys the first heavy metal band. He's from Germany. Need to do the Pusher, Jupiter's Child, Screaming Night Hog. Truly one of the best bands ever.

GOOOD MORNING FAMILY!!!!

Two instruments we don't hear enough in "rock" music anymore : organs and harmonicas. I said it.

Genre HARD ROCK! I love them..John Kay's voice is totally unbelievable

Steppenwolf is the reason my friends and I all had a "Big Muff" as our first guitar pedal. One of my all time fave bands with many deep cuts. Canadian gold. Also: Alex's analogies are amazing.

John Kay is a German-born Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf

OMG what took so long? This one is such a beloved classic. Love the organ love the voice love the everything about it.

Such a great classic rock tune, dudes! This one..& their: Magic Carpet Ride..& The Pusher..R forever pt of the soundtrack of the 60's..& still hold up 2day. Thx 4 this one guys!

This was a really cool song back in 68. I was a preteen at the time, but with 2 older siblings got into th ed good music at an early age.

"The Pusher" would be a great deep cut follow-up.

"Yeah Darlin' go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once And explode into space" Cool Lyrics 1968

"Monster" is a great Steppenwolf deep cut!

My sister and I Loved this song! We made a huge mural for our bedroom that said Born to be Wild! Such a great time to be young with such great music!

I recommend George Thorogood, "Bad To The Bone."

DUDES!!!! Finallllly!!!

Watching Easy Rider in the theater in '69 and they get ready to hit the highway and this song kicks in....instant rush!!!!

Steppenwolf were a great band who should be in the rock n roll hall of fame. At the time, their music was classified as acid rock, a precursor to what eventually became heavy metal. Their music, like Cream was heavy for the times. Other songs to check out: Monster (a 9 minute opus) and shorter singles like, Move Over, Who Needs Ya, Spookie Sookie, Lawdy Mamma, etc.

Great reaction, guys! "Heavy Metal" was a term used a lot by Beat writer William S. Burroughs in the early-mid '60s - in some instances he used it to describe certain characters, but in others he also used it to describe whacked-out, hardcore drug addiction. It's not clear if Steppenwolf knew that, but the Beat writers were incredibly popular/influential with the '60s rockers, so not impossible. After Steppenwolf used the term in this song, supposedly, film critic Lester Bangs was the first to use the term to describe a particular type of music, and he compared Sabbath's music to Burroughs's writing (there are other arguments that different writers for Cream Magazine came up with it first - but either way, you guys should totally track down some old Lester Bangs reviews, one of the great rock critics of all time). Anyway, the term seems to have been born out of a mix of ideas and musical styles in the late '60s/early '70s, when the metal was a lot different than it is today!

One of the most iconic rock and roll songs ever ☮️

i didn’t know it was humanly possible not to have heard this a zillion times already?

'Who Needs Ya' is a must listen. Follow up with 'Jupiter's Child'.

Their drummer's brother wrote it after seeing a poster in the window of a motorcycle shop that said "Born to Ride". Singer, John Kay before Steppenwolf worked as a solo folk/blues act in a small Toronto club where he also helped in the kitchen and with cleanup. So, pretty close guesses on that. Rushton Moreve's bass on that song is incredible. Only guitarists, John Kay and Michael Monarch are still with us, sadly.

Also an argument for the Beatles Helter Skelter being the first heavy metal song 😉

"Monster" is one of Stepp's most progressive songs. I recommend it highly.

It is amazing that you guys have reached college age without hearing many of the songs you review. Classic rock stations have played the songs over and over since they were released in the 60s and 70s.

This song was the first time "heavy metal" was mentioned as a musical genre; the first heavy-metal song, however, is generally regarded as being "Summertime Blues" by Blue Cheer. I recommend making a reaction video of "Summertime Blues".

I believe Ginger Baker of Cream was the one who said “if Cream gave birth to heavy metal then it should’ve had an abortion.” Anyways, check out Cream’s “Spoonful” on the Wheels or Fire album. Absolutely the best cover of that Willie Dixon song.

First on tape, then cd, now digital. This was always the number one on my playlist. I start every car trip with this pounding on my ears!

This song reminds me of the days when teenage guys would hitchhike around the country, a sight seldom seen these days.

Everyone says this song coined the phrase "heavy metal", but the song is talking about motorcycles, not music. This song's true legacy is its ability to bring people of different musical preferences together under a common banner. If you are in a classic/had/metal rock band playing in a typical dive somewhere, someone in the audience is going to HATE your band and what you're playing. You pop this one out of the speakers, and- regardless of what you have blasting through your car speakers- EVERYONE is going to join you on the chorus. Country, rock, metal, easy listening, whatever, it doesn't matter.... The place will fill with drunks screaming "BOOOOORN TO BE WIIIIIIIILD!!!!!!"

That was the first reference to heavy metal in a song. Not a song, but an anthem of my generation. The anthem of my life.

When we first heard that song on the radio, we knew we were in the sixties!

My life’s Steppenwolf mission will be fulfilled if you react to their best song, Rock Me. Killer percussion solo and banging bass. Also, a crime against humanity that they are not in the RRHOF

This song, "Born To Be Wild" is widely considered to be rock's first heavy metal song...

John Kay, lead singer, was born and generally raised in Germany. Good catch on the accent. He is legally blind (hence the ever-present shades) but not totally blind. Amazing songwriter and singer; killer voice. I have loved Steppenwolf for over 50 years; keep in mind this song was from the '60's. SOOOOO many good songs from them......but here's one: from their 7th album, aptly named "Steppenwolf 7", "Who Needs Ya". It just so totally kicks arse from beginning to end, has a sense of humor, and an all around fun song that will rock you to the bone.

I adored John Kay when I was a kid. Steppenwolf was my first rock and roll band crush. I'm 68 and still love to hear this music.

Morning gents. Great choice, this is the quintessential Steppenwolf song. I'd love to see you listen to Zomby Woof by Zappa.

Its hard to get more classic than Born To Be Wild. I have heard the song a zillion times throughout my life. I can remember being a kid when this song first came out, and it sounded so fresh and cool back then, and even today it has something special. I'm surprised Andy didn't say how he could listen to it on a road trip. just don't do it in a Prius lol.

The amount of speeding tickets this song was responsible for, was uncountable. You could not drive slow when this came on the radio.

If you had to get across to someone what classic rock was with just one song, this is the song I would choose.

This song feels like your climbing a mountain and you hit the top right before you drop back down for the chorus.

One of only a few "Al Bundy" approved songs.

"Monster/Suicide/America" are absolutely the next song(s) to review, followed by "The Pusher"...great stuff!

Sounded great on my car radio late at night. Great times.