Hallo, John Kay, with an extraordinary voice and charisma, was born in Tilsit, East Prussia, real name Joachim Fritz Krauledat, short history ".....after the Second World War this east part of Germany divided between Russia and Poland. John grew up behind the Iron Curtain, his first clear memory is of a daring night-time escape with his mother to West Germany, where he was later deeply impressed by the American rock 'n' roll he heard on US Army Forces radio. 1958 he immigrated to Canada and continued his love affair with music, performing as a folk and blues singer throughout North America before joining the rock band The Sparrow which became part of the scene happening in Toronto’s Yorkville, later, San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury and finally LA’s Sunset Strip. There in 1967 Kay formed Steppenwolf, which quickly became one of the world’s foremost rock n’ roll bands releasing such standards as "Born to Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride...”. I remember you mentioning your interest in history, here's a little backstory, best regards from Berlin.
A healthy country should be able to tolerate discussion of what has gone wrong . We’re not a healthy society. Too many can’t tolerate any criticism . I hope we can in the future again. It’s when we’re at our best.
John Kay (Canadian) on American politics are couple of elections ago: “Well over 40 years, there were numerous schools of thought and articles that warned us of the dumbing of America and during the ensuing 40 years that prophesy unfortunately came to pass, and you have a lot of disgruntled people who have seen changes they are very unhappy about and they feel put upon by the changes because they are feeling that they are losing their country and their white male dominance thing. So when somebody steps up and says he’s inspired by Mussolini and that ‘I can do anything you throw at me better than anyone else.’ ‘I’ll build you a wall’ and all of the rest of it, it will resonate with those who have never bothered to inform themselves and be aware that leadership is not just about making a bunch of grandiose promises, but understanding how the world works these days. When you push the anger and fear button, which Mr. Trump has managed to really do effectively, that’s what you get;"
At the time, Steppenwolf were somewhat eclipsed by Led Zeppelin and the Who on FM radio. John Kay had a very recognizable voice and very interesting background (German fleeing Soviet army, learning English on American Forces radio, and near blindness)
I remember sitting in my living room, as a kid, and looking at this album cover -- it was one of my older brothers' favorite albums -- and just thinking how strange it looked. I was about 6 years old and was only just discovering all of my sibling's music: Steppenwolf, Hendrix, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Chicago Transit Authority, and lots of other great tunes. Some of this music went over my head, as a kid, but I was still intrigued by it all. The Beatles was my "gateway drug" into the world of Rock and Pop and stuff like this was readily available in my house when I was growing up. Amazing statement against war and injustice. Excellent.
Steppenwolf is one of my all-time favorite Rock bands....this band is one of the pioneers of metal Rock!!! And the band always give insight on society....especially the Western society. Great song. Good reaction.
This was an important song that helped galvanize young people against that stupid war. From a time when you couldn't hide from great music - it was everywhere. Even the most over-produced, mainstream, simple popular music was mostly listenable. It's good to see young people keeping boomer music alive.
This song should be blasted over speakers in EVERY major city in this country, it's WAY past time for us to wakeup!!!! John Kay was WAY ahead of his time, stuff he wrote in 1969 still relevant today.
This brings back memories of being in Quang Tri Province along the DMZ, Vietnam. We had the weapons, but we couldn't change the fact we were there in the fucking armpit of the world..... Image that I rode a motorcycle to Woodstock - peace, love, and music. Three months later I was drafted. What a fucking shock!
Been loving Steppenwolf since day one. I saw John Kay & Steppenwolf at the enlisted mans club in Oak Harbor, Wa. of all places & later pn the riverboat President in NOLA. Outstanding shows both times. Give a listen to Don't Step on the Grass & Snowbind Friend.
54 years later, Monster is still as relevant as ever. One of John's best, still my favorite Steppenwolf album. Hard to believe John recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Happy birthday, John. Forever young!
other great Steppenwolf songs include "Jupiter Child", "Don't Cry", "Magic Carpet Ride", "Born to be Wild", "It's Never Too Late", "Everybody's Next One"..... it is a great mystery why they aren't in the Rock Hall of Fame
I was 14 years old when this came out. John Kay hit the nail on the head! Then and now the powers that should not be has us fighting wars that we have no business in! I love this song and it brings a tear to my eye knowing what THEY have done in our country's name!
One of my favorite steppenwolf songs. I won a $25 bet with a friend of mine who said I couldn't recite the lyrics to the song, we were at a local park sitting in the grass, and one of the girls there ran home, got the album, brought it back and I nailed it. 2 years later I volunteered to go in the army from 69-73. We need this more than ever now.👍👍👍🇺🇲
This song still rings true to this day and still is sadly relevant, but what a great tune! One of their very best epics, John Kay has the gravitus to spit out those lyrics and really mean them. For another, do the Pusher, if you know it, try Magic Carpet Ride. Enjoy, they were a great band, I saw them in the front row, they were feet away from us... Rock On! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶
My brother (about 9 years older than me), who was in high school at the time, did a paper about the lyrics to this song and got an A. Once i was old enough to fully understand what it was all about, I really dug this.
Well sir you stumbled on to one of the most relevant, creative, historical masterpieces of modern times. Also consider that when this was written we were also coming out of the Civil Rights movement at the time. This country was a powder keg during those times. This song is the story of how we got to where we are. I was 14 with an older brother in the Army at the time this was released. The greatest thing about your journey discovering the great music that came before, is that it will take you a considerable amount of time to get through it. Don't pressure yourself. Take your time to really enjoy it. A really good psych. rock/blues song from the era is "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat. Listen to the studio version to the live at Woodstock version. They're both great. Also a pure Psych. rock song by Jefferson is "She Has Funny Cars". Written by Marty Blaine about a materialistic girlfriend he had at the time. An ultra cool drum groove in it. BTW I play drums as well. Don't stop and practice regularly. The great Buddy Rich was once asked how often he practiced and his answer was Practice? What for? If I got something in my head and I can't get it worked out on my kit in a half hour what's a couple of days going to do? You probably know he is considered by many to be the greatest drummer of all time. But neither you or I are Buddy so lets grab the sticks and keep hitting them hard!
I highly recommend For Ladies Only. But make sure you do the 9 min plus long FM radio friendly version. Epic jazzy middle part that sounds very different than most Steppenwolf.
Thanks, brother. I truly appreciate that. I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos 🙏 this was a great track. Both songs I've heard from them so far have been awesome and had a great message.
I remember this striking me very hard as I looked around in the early seventies.....it's so appropriate now. I may have lived too long.🙄 On a less weighty subject, this band is not in the rrhof.
The RRHOF has become a complete joke. Dolly Parton, Snoop Dog, Harry Belafonte, MANY others that have never had anything to do with the genre are in it. Not questioning their talent in their own spheres, but this has become beyond ridiculous as a serious organization.
It became the Popular Music Hall of Fame decades ago and should have been renamed as such. A true memorial for real rock bands still needs to happen...
Great band, saw 'em in the mid-70s at venerarable Massey Hall in Toronto. New lead player, great catalogue, John Kay an amazing, charismatic lead vocalist/frontman, no slouch on guitar himself. Great pick, thanks, L33 and patron whose name escapes me at this late stage in the comment. 😮 😉🤙🏼🎶❤️✨️🕊
You picked one of my favorite anti-war, anti-left, yes the SOB's who got us involved in the Vietnam ware were supporting the communists, political songs. You will really have to look it up but you will find videos on YT. Monster was very big hit for Steppenwolf and it was awesome hearing live back in the mid 80's. The longest songs were by Iron Butterfly - In A Gadda Da Vida. It was over 17 minutes. Pink Floyd had Interstellar Overdrive that was another long one. Rare Earth - "Get Ready" is over 20 minutes.
Awesome reaction video! I would love to see your reaction to "Power Play" by Steppenwolf - a true Protest song, from this same album, I believe...the lyrics from this song and from Power Play are so relevant to today. Thank You, sir
you did a song by Steppenwolf now how about a song called Steppenwolf Hawkwind - Steppenwolf ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TlRKOF_iZzA.html not about Steppenwolf about a wolfman / man wolf
