John Kay..Steppenwolf.. was the first concert I ever went to… I think it was in 69.. at the old original Electric Factory in Philly.. I was in HS… it was the start of many shows..by many bands..! John.. you were my Little Richard..! The inspiration..! Since then I’ve been playing bass in a lot of bands….Thanks John..! 👍🏼❤️
I bought Steppenwolf Live when it came out in 1970. Two of the songs, Don't Step on the Grass, Sam and From Here to There Eventually irritated Mom and she confiscated my new double album and unsuccessfully hid it from me. Neither she nor I ever knew that John Kay had escaped communism. What an amazing story.
I engineered one of John Kay's solo albums long after Steppenwolfe broke up, and was privileged to work with him in the studio for about a month. He took me aside one day and taught me how to get the Leslie organ sound that Steppenwolfe had. A real highlight moment! (But I am sworn to secrecy!)
@@anthonylewis9055 Replacing one of the main power tubes in the Leslie cabinet with an 12AX7 tube. This created the extra distortion. Don't tell anyone!
@@MaureenDeVries-wd9mh because no one cares REALLY, or rather serious rockers don't care for the Hall of sh..t, they're 🤡 clowns... anybody and everybody is nominated😂
@@MaureenDeVries-wd9mh we don't need a H of F to tell us that so and so are good artists... 💙 At 15 years of age ,I lived in Beirut, Lebanon, in the 70s and Steppenwolf was VERY popular amongst the rocking crowd, others like the British Cliff Richard and The Shadows too, which are mostly ignored to this day in America
this is one of the few documentaries about a rock star that i found intriguing from beginning to end. very impressed with John Kay and feel kind of privilidged to have seen him live.
The eldest son (Danny Johnson) of my north Louisiana neighbors was the Steppenwolf guitarist for 20+ years. Rode the school bus with his younger brother in the mid 70s. In interviews he always speaks highly of the way John treated the band members.
"Easy Rider" was filmed in the first-half of 1968. When the music was added in post-production (Summer 1968), "Born To Be Wild" had just been released, and was a big hit right out of the box. It fit perfectly for the movie. Hence, its iconic inclusion. By the time Easy Rider was released (July 1969), Steppenwolf was by then one of the biggest American bands.
If any band should be in the Hall of Fame..when Steppenwolf first came out their music was perfect for the times. It spoke to us young people . I was in jr.high school my older brother was in college. Glad the sparrow came to California. Glad everything worked out. What a great story !
My wife, deceased in 2011,was glorious to have an original picture of John, autographed to her in person on the boardwalk, I had to sit down and get out of the 🌞 after Steppenwolf played, I found some at the corner of the wall and bandshell,sit down and his drummer walked by and said,"there they are" and she couldn't resist to talk to him and get the autograph picture.He's definitely a legend.He had his sunglasses on, definitely didn't act blind,he was moving fast up the boardwalk.Awesome.Bless her heart.
He was not blind. "Legally blind" means that there is some serious degradation to eyesight, but that a person typically can get around to some degree. Be it, not handling bright lights, sunlight, focus, etc.
Intelligent, clear-minded and well-spoken. John Kay is fluent in the German language and has great historic and cultural knowledge about his homeland. He is also wonderfully North- American. He has been very fortunate in this life and he is fully aware of it. This man is one of the most impressive survivors of the 60's rock scene. John and his band, Steppenwolf belong in the rock hall of fame more than many whom have already been inducted. This man is a genuine rockstar and quite a gentleman to boot. AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY !!! THANK YOU !
My guess is that guys like John Kay say what they think and feel about the rock music press and the cognoscenti. He probably pissed a few people off over the years. If your politics are not in line with theirs, that'll hurt your chances too. It is hard to believe that some influential person in the fold won't pitch for them a bit. The thing about Steppenwolf is that they were really up and down during the 70's. They had a high turnover of bandmembers. More than Deep Purple probably. It must bother board members to have to allow bands like Kiss, Rush, Journey, Roxy Music, Chicago and Deep Purple passage into the fold. They would rather put in some goober that dressed up like a woman and humped a blow-up doll onstage. They would call that inovative!
@@kenm.3512 To be inducted one will must have done something to change the game. Just being good doesn't make an artist a game changer. A person must create a new technique that serves as a new brick in the wall of the overall body of musical knowledge. Kay was good and one of my faves, however he didn't invent a new way of painting.
m. saint Very few are game changers. We allow ourselves to be convinced that many artists are. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne.....good artists. All in the hall, as are scores of others that while very good....are not game changers.
@@kenm.3512 According to their rules, the ones who aren't game changers must be verified as having X amount of record sales at least 25 years prior to consideration for induction.
Huge Steppenwolf fan. One of my all time favourite groups! So much great music. Monster is one example of the genius of John Kay. A masterpiece. One of the BEST rock groups EVER!♥️🎶
Saw John Kay in 94 downtown West Palm Beach, FOR FREE, just stumbled upon the stage with no idea he was performing....so cool, he was the nicest. Thank you for the bio on him wow ❤️
I don't know if John Kay reads these comments? But, I worked as a mechanic at the Beverly Hills bicycle shop on Robertson Boulevard and I sold John Kay and his entire band some 10-speed road bikes. John invited me to their practice which I believe was in the Hollywood Hills? I kind of wish I had accepted, but I heard some stories about the band and heavy drug use. Anyway, I wanted to stop and say hi. Glad you survived all those tough years.
I wouldn't think John could ride a bike based on his bad eyesight, but I vaguely remember reading where he drove a dirt bike out in the open area one time figuring he wouldn't hit anything lol!
The Pusher made such an impression on me when I was young. The meter, the guitar, the dirty aspect of the whole thing. Steppenwold aren't forgotten, but they are more than 2 songs....
Steppenwolf fans, What incredible obstacles John Kay had to overcome!!! What resilience! I have a deep respect and admiration for Kay! John Kay's success in America proves the old saying of America being the land of opportunity! One of my all-time favorite Guitarists is Michael Monarch! Noticibly, Monarch's time with the band was Steppenwolf's most fruitful! Michael had a Great sound and was very charismatic. Sadly, the crazy sex, drugs and Rock And Roll lifestyle caused Monarch's departure in '69. My all-time.favorite Steppenwolf track is "Rock Me"!
So glad to see this! John and his cohorts in Steppenwolf created the soundtrack to my adolescence and I will never forget the inspiration I felt listening to The Ostrich, Draft Resister and Power Play, Don't Step on the Grass, among so many others. Wonderful man, wonderful values. Thank you so much, John. Bless you.
He is absolutely awesome. What a biography! The obstacles he had to overcome is astounding. Makes my struggles seem like nothing. Yet he developed into the incredible person that he is today. I finally got to see my favorite band, Steppenwolf, several years ago and John Kay still had it together. He was the only original member, needless to say, and I don't believe anyone on stage was younger than 50. Rock on John. Love ya!
What a fascinating, cool guy. I've always been a big fan of Steppenwolf, never knew anything about the band or the man behind them. Thanks for this great little documentary. Interesting that you can still hear traces of his German accent when he speaks. Considering the life he has led, he looks incredible.
I've listened to Steppenwolf off and on since the early '70s, and in all that time, I've heard John speak about ten words of German. I'd love to hear him speak or sing auf Deutsch. I assume when/if Steppenwolf plays in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, he does speak to the audience auf Deutsch!
This gentleman is really a german export to be proud of: immortal figure in Rock history, charismatic frontman - and still in my top five of Rock singers. Thank you, Elsbeth Krauledat, for being such a brave and giving mother!
Mr. Kay, You were my first crush as a young girl. I had no idea all the struggles you've endured. You certainly deserved every drop of fame. I hope you and your family are living in peace, and I pray God blesses you dearly.
Seeing this blew me away! As a young teenager kids my age were to young to be real hippies, instead we were the second wave of that movement, but we really dug the same music. It was the Easy Rider soundtrack record that introduced us to Steppenwolf. Wow what a story this documentary. Saw them at the Boathouse in Norfolk Va. Great show !
Saw him in 87, Alvin Lee opened the show, smaller but one of the best shows I ever saw, and Iv'e seen a bunch of 'em including Golden Earring on their home turf in Holland, that was a great one to.
@@oldman9843 Oh it was, another great one I saw was Golden Earring on their home turf in Holland in 1984, I was in the Army stationed in Germany and was sent to Holland to participate in the annual 4 day 100 mile march in the city of Nijmegen, the last day of the march is always on a Friday and that night in the city of Nijmegen is the biggest party in Holland every year, people come from all over the country for it, the entire city is a party, me and my buddy were stumbling around and came across the city square where we could see a stage set up with a mixing board in front of it and a crowd forming, we made our way over to the mixing board and saw it had Golden Earring stenciled on it, don't you know a little while later after sundown they came out on stage and put on one of the best shows Iv'e ever seen, and it was free, we hung out with a bunch of young Dutch people our age, trading American beers for theirs and smoking hash with them, it was probably the high water mark of my life.
When I was a kid around 10 I was really sick. My sister was 7 years older than me and she asked me if there was anything that would help me feel better. I said yes, the only thing that would make me happy right now is if I had the Steppenwolf album with magic carpet ride on it. I think this was around 68. I played it constantly and still have it today at 61 years of age. Still listen to it.
Wow I never knew. Timeless definitive, classic rock and roll. His music will live on. Had a chance to see him back in their hey day. I missed out big time. I wonder what happened to his father.
Saw Steppenwolf in 87, Alvin Lee opened for them, great show, matter of fact Kay said at one point on stage, "It was 20 years ago this month this mess we call Steppenwolf was formed in a garage in L.A."
@@scottstores6801 It actually wasn't Ten Years After when I saw him he was just billed as Alvin Lee, however during his act I could see that famous guitar he had at Woodstock with the peace symbol on it sitting behind a stack of amps, when he unplugged the guitar he was using and walked behind the amps to get it I knew that the finale was imminent, as soon as he came walking around from behind those amps the crowd saw it and erupted, then he broke into the start of I'm Coming Home, it was great.
@@dukecraig2402 I saw them then too and also Roger McGuinn of the Byrds was with them too! Alvin Lee had only a 3 piece, himself, a bass player and a very small young man on drums, very young guy and short!
@@lesschoenberger3070 It's been so long ago that I can't even remember how many musicians were on stage with Lee, but I remember him and when he came walking out from behind those amps with that guitar he'd played at Woodstock and the crowd erupting, I think he was touring for that album that had the song Detroit Diesel on it, which may have been the name of the album also.
What an incredible documentary about one of the greatest, if not THE greatest songwriter/musicians of our times. Thanks so much for posting this. Cheers.
What a story! What a life! To come here and share his voice with us in a time we needed exactly what he had to say! Even now, his lyrics are nearly prophetic! Plus the fact that his voice is incomparable. Nobody ever has sounded like John Kay and never will. His songs will live forever. I came to rock music with my brother trying to learn guitar to Steppenwolf songs. Anyway thanks for sharing these docs and music. Just very grateful to you for doing this. ❤
John is a very well spoken and intelligent man. It’s a pleasure to listen to him tell his story.
4 года назад
this music was my fathers generation but i know all the words in 1980 i found an old 8 track and wore it out! what a story john .your wife iz awsome too im a kezzle .Germans are my favorite!
When I was a young teen back in the late 60s I was with my dad at a drive-in restaurant in his old Dodge . We were sitting in the car waiting on the food while Born to be Wild was playing on the loud speakers outside. My dad said no wonder this generation of young people are going crazy listen to that music! I remember thinking yes listen to that band's sound I love it...lol I've got to find that album and buy it!! After that I have been a big fan of John Kay and Steppenwolf for decades. So much so that I consider them being part of the building blocks of my musical taste.
My first Concert, Steppenwolf, 1967- Duluth Minnesota; while my Brother was in Vietnam, my sister in law, took me see them. They saw the Monster, the rest just nurtured.
Brilliant recap, and so apropos for 2023. I hope more folks get to see this the life of John K and his band and what it takes to survive in this world and make a difference. Thank you.
Saw them about 6 times. They would play lulu's roadhouse in kitchener Ontario Canada. They would play there once or twice a year. The 90's were awesome they still had it.
I just found now out who John Kay was from this video. Thank you. Of course I've heard the music, which is great. The second I saw him on the screen I thought, is that a movie star that I never heard of? Apparently in addition to being talented, he's a good person who moved in with his wife on the first date and are still together til this day. This story is uplifting. Thanks.
I had bought Kay's solo album on a clearance album rack, years ago. Its called Forgotten songs and Heroes. It was released in 1972. I still have the LP. He plays his favs of who musically influenced him. Very nice record. Always a keeper in my collection.
This is brilliant! I remember seeing the Steppenwolf documentary on MTVs Behind the Music but this blows that documentary away by far! So glad i found this on RU-vid!
This is one of the best and most enlightening interviews I've ever seen. It must be difficult for him to have imagined that a simple phrase that HE SANG AND MADE FAMOUS, as a simple (but incredibly precise and poetic) line in a song, would, as one of the commentators said, come to define an entire genre of music. I count myself seriously fortunate to have heard Steppenwolf on one of their tours after they'd "reunited", there may have been some band-member changes but as long as they had John Kay singing, any other personnel changes, while regrettable, were certainly understandable, given the span of years. (This concert would have been in the early 90's I think). I remember the night as incredible, and thinking that Kay had not lost even a micron off his 'edge'. His delivery was powerful and perfectly timed, his passion undiminished. The venue was "Star Lake" a relatively new outdoor amphitheater built outside Pittsburgh (like...WAY...outside...past Imperial, PA... damn near the WVa. border.) But a great concert and a great night regardless. To hear the personal obstacles he's overcome helps one understand the power and the drive behind his voice, (and MASSIVE kudos to his mother) and yet listening to him speak, he seems like a perfectly down-to-Earth guy, who could care less about his status as a true living legend of rock music. I wish you continued health, a good life and peace, John.
He's obviously very intelligent and so we'll spoken.It never ceases to amaze me how a guy like John for whom English is a second language speaks it better than 90% of born Americans.
I still think of JOHN KAY to this day. I guess his look and attitude which was totally cool for young hippies at the time resonated. Of course STEPPENWOLF was very successful I bought their records and went to their concerts.
Als junger Mann war ich all Ihrer Musik ausgesetzt, mein Vater arbeitete für RCA und ABC Dunhill. Schön, einen Überblick darüber zu bekommen, warum Ihre Musik den Test der Zeit bestanden hat.
Lance..had no idea these Iconic rockers were not in the HoF..ffs..Push, Born to be..Magic...all these songs that has impressed every one of us in one way or another..movies, cruising..just like congress the HOF is full or cronies and corruption..
iamrichrocker it’s a scam and a sham...a fucking shit show..if someone tells me the cure or nile Rodgers are more iconic than Steppenwolf,they don’t know shit about music
Svar a scandal hallo one of America s most influence band who can denyed eazy rider born to be sild the pusher ,monster mega und so wieder steppen Wolf forever
I was lucky enough to see Steppenwolf in Bangor Maine on their "For Ladies Only" tour, 1971 I believe.Tickets were $3 or $4.00 I think, was a long time ago.Fantastic show, I do remember that !
I think I can safely say that John Kay has to be one of the top five East-German born, immigrants to Canada then America who innovated a new genre of Rock music ever! Seriously, I have always loved watching his rare interviews, where you see the real man. He is a very intelligent, considerate person.
John Kay and Stephen wolf. Stephen wolf was one of my first 8-tracks, I loved the song Magic Carpet Ride. They toured in the early 80's, I saw them in a bar in Bossier City's old Bossier Strip.
I was 11 in 1969.My mother and father belonged to the Columbia Record Club,we were getting all the rock n' roll albums.When they were working I had the stereo on full blast and tapping on a metal stool for a drum and it was on.The old man next door played guitar on his front porch and drank dandelion wine,he paid me 25 cents for each star chocolate basket full of dandelion flowers.
I was at their last gig in Toronto at Thistletown Collegiate before they went to LA. They were called The Sparrow and changed their name to Steppenwolf in the US. They were originally Jack London and The Sparrows, before they split with London. I have several of their singles, the best of which was IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS TODAY. Yorkville: those were the days. I played at the El Patio, Boris's, The Red Gas, The Uppercrust Cafe (great Chili con carne), the Avenue Road Club (Sylvia Tyson used to give us free hot chocolate) and many others; great gigs, didn't make any money, though, unless you count Colombian Gold. LOL.
