STEPPENWOLF "MONSTER/AMERICA" (reaction) 

If you're a program manager of any radio station out there... I DARE you to put this song on the air, I triple dog dare ya!!!

One of the best protest songs from my youth, the Vietnam era.

There was a lot more to Steppenwolf than "Born To Be Wild," and "Magic Carpet Ride." Other RU-vid reactors cower in darkness and remain ignorant, while SAD forges boldly ahead into a catalog rich with potential hits that never made it from album deep cut to the airwaves. Best damn band in the world that most people don't know beyond their 'radio hits'. This came out during the hottest part of the Vietnam conflict, and the anti-war sentiment and critique of the nation's government would not have allowed this to get much radio play back then. But the words still ring true, perhaps more today than when it was released. Thanks, guys, I've been trying to get someone to react to this for a long time. 👍

We had album rock stations in the early 70s. They played this uncut

It was on FM rock. Steppenwolf was one of the big 5 bands of the time. They were considered 'hard rock.' "Steppenwolf sold over 25 million records worldwide,[6] released seven gold albums and one platinum album, and had 13 Billboard Hot 100 singles, of which seven were Top 40 hits,[7] including three top 10 successes:"

For those being called down to their local Draft Board (Vietnam), I guarantee we knew of this song.

Powerful song lyrics.

One of my favorite Steppenwolf songs from my favorite Steppenwolf album. John's music has always been very politically outspoken. Interestingly enough, he was born in Germany during WWII, his father killed in the war. His name is Joachim Krauledat, thus John Kay. His mother escaped with him from behind the iron curtain when he was a small boy after the war. He has serious vision problems and is partially blind. They eventually made it to Canada where he learned English, and eventually America to form the Sparrow, which became Steppenwolf. They have soo much great music. Happy birthday to John, who turns 80 today, still active and outspoken as ever! Love ya, John!

Their song "The Ostrich" is another timeless cut that's in the same vein.....and it's short enough to air.

I was wearing my official Steppenwolf hoodie with the flag on the back. A brother called me "old-school". That's cool.

one of the best songs ever they played "Monster" on FM radio back in the day

My mom didn’t like rock music until I got her to read the lyrics to this song 😎👵🏼💜☮️

In the 1960's there were a lot of rock stations on FM radio which was kind of new. And they were not so commercial, so they would have played this song, as well as some songs by the Doors, Jefferson Airplane, or Grateful Dead that were more than 3 minutes.

This song should be blasted over loudspeakers in every major city in this country! Time to wake up and get it together again, this is beyond pathetic now...

I heard it on the radio. It was at that time when "underground" FM radio stations had started playing long album cuts, forcing even the AM stations to start playing moderately longer cuts...

That album featured guitarist Larry Byrom 😊

This song was prophetic because it applies today as much as yesterday.

The timeless, endless struggle of Good vs. Evil in all of us.

I was in high school when this song came out and this song still holds true today. This was played on FM underground radio a lot!

I read the lyrics to this song in drama class as a senior in high school in 1971. It got me laid twice. Ah, those were the days. There were only three guys in the class of 18. The teacher was new and young and attractive, which was why I took the class in the first place. Different world back then.

It was not a popular song on mainstream radio back in the Vietnam Era and is not popular in the current world, but truer words were never spoken than what you hear in this song! There is a Monster on the loose and its name is the Military Industrial Complex!

Great backing vocals by 3 ladies called "the Blackberries"!!! GREAT song, GREAT band!!!

It used to be called Monster/Suicide/America. Still as relevant today as when it was written. A Timeless Classic

When it came out, cars didn't have FM and a good home stereo was very expensive. No TV. No video games. You just jammed to the tunes. Steppenwolf played resonator guitar and Hammond organ. That's why I like Grace Potter and Ruthie Foster.

unfortunately, some things havent change since this song was released.its STILL just as relevant today.

So glad that you youngsters really "get it". Good questions and analysis. In the 60's and 70's, some FM stations catered to the audiophiles and played long songs like this. Few commercials too....and great analog quality. "No static at all". Thank you for no interruptions. Keep up the great work!

STEPPENWOLF is the original leader of the 60s rockers with the most political commentary along with the folks singers who were the originators of that . .. Have you heard Don't Step on The Grass Sam ?

Powerful band. Lots of songs with meaningful lyrics or iconic imagery. I like It's Never too Late and Screaming Night Hog, but they have a bunch of great songs including the iconic Born to Be Wild and The Pusher.

Great prospective 👍

It was definitely played on the radio in its entirety and not rarely. Always after 11 p.m. and it was called in all the markets as long-form album-oriented rock. I wonder if a search for AoR would cite any good write-ups.

As true today as then.

It was played plenty on WNEW-FM in New York in the late 60's and early 70's. WNEW at that time was considered one of the first Progressive/Alternative Rock Stations in the Country.

They wouldn’t play much rock on radio then it took a few years until when fm came out before it started to get mainstream

Vietnam war baby. It was from that era. But now it’s prophetic

Very powerful song, I've listened to this since it first came out...and things have gotten worse ever since!

The truth

This was played on what was called "the underground" radio stations....mostly university stations. They played entire albums without break. This went on from the late 60s until about 74 or 75. You would turn on the FM station and hear "Dark Side of the Moon" start to finish. Just a different time. This was made 57 years ago. That was a John Kay composition. You could listen to this song, and I defy you to find a single word phrase or reference that would date it. It could be played today, and no one would blink an eye thinking it was a 57 year old song. I am a Conservative, and also a Vietnam vet ( 30 months in-country) . This refrain of "America , where are you now? Don't you care about your sons and daughters? . Don't you know we need you now, we can't fight alone against the monster." rings as true on May 24th, 2024 as it did in 1967. Truly, we have created a living breathing entity that has its own existence as its priority. That means, sucking the life blood it needs ( money) from the people, and always ALWAYS making sure it has a Proletarian Guard to protect it from disgruntled subjects. The people have created the very animal they fought so hard to free themselves from. They are SHOCKED they have put themselves where they are....and ask... "People of America! Is THIS what we envisioned when we created this nation? Yes, we made mistakes...and have done so much to correct those mistakes, but even as our attention is diverted to correcting our past mistakes, this monster is growing at an accelerated pace....and has become ungovernable. We have become it's servants , and serve it as it is our master. At 73, I ask...."America, where are you now? Don't you care about your sons and daughters?" Not getting an answer, I ask a different question, but of the same idea " Don't you know that we need you now, we can't fight alone against the monster." And still I do not realize that like the people of the USSR when being tortured and soon to be executed would say " If Stalin knew you were doing this, he would have you hanged!!" We still haven't realized who the monster really is. We SAY it. ...but by our very questions and actions we show we do not understand we have built a huge omnipotent self-aware entity that also recognizes it has willing and knowing servants. These servants know by bended knee they are assured of prosperity and power...as long as it doesn't threaten the monster's standing. We are living it today. The DOJ, FBI, Judges, Democrats, ....and the reason for the fury this monster has unleashed is because of the refusal to obey. As the monster has no moral compass, it is up to its human tenders to offer that direction. But, alas, the worldly rewards are too much....and war is the only way our.... or the bent knee. Heavy song. lol....heavy...now THAT's a dated term!

The Live Steppenwolf album has the same song but it is clocked at 9:56.

This song is as relevant today as the day it was written. What started in the late 60's was interrupted and I hope the younger generation can pick it up and continue. We must struggle to get a decent nation to live in, whether we like it or not, or else the monster will swallow up all hopes and dreams in the name of profits. BTW, if people DO really start this progress forward, it will help fuel a music revival equal to that during the 60s, 70's, and 80's.

I like your "arf" barking pumpkin shirt!

Although written and recorded in '69 , it is still relevant today to the point of the only thing that has changed is where the war is being fought . Monster was one of the first concept albums, and should be heard in it's entirety, if you can't, then listen to From Here To There Eventually.

Its was played on the FM stations at the time, I think there was a shorter version with just the Monster part that played on AM radio.

_Excellent reaction ! New sub+1!_ i recommend you more 🔥 ★ - *Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild* || Official Audio 1968 ★ - *Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride* || Official Audio 1968 BONUS TRACK : ★ - *Golden Earring - Radar Love* || Official Audio 1973🔥 ★ - *Foghat - Slow Ride* || Official Audio 1975 🔥 ★ - *Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love* || Official Audio 1967 🔥 ★ - *Heart - Barracuda* || Official Audio 1977 🔥 ★ - *Dr. John - Right Place Wrong Time* || Official Audio 1973 🔥

This a huge protest song underscoring American hypocrisy and public apathy throughout history. The interior album photo is pretty cool too!

OH they didnt want this song played at all .

So well done it's just as uncomfortable to listen to today as it was back in 1969!

Well, one would hope that it could get played on the radio today. It should be played on the radio and blared from your windows and rooftops. Back in the day these songs were being pushed and played on the radio.

SQUONK .

Just about all of Steppenwolf's music is great. And I'm incredibly grateful that it's not the same 3 songs that are reacted to ad nauseam: "Born to be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride" and "The Pusher". All 3 are good songs but I think I've heard them enough to last the rest of my life. Even though their music is always good "Monster/America" would not be in my personal top 5 either. I won't bother recommending any of my favorites because I can see in the comments that people are requesting the same old 3 again. All that being said I believe Steppenwolf was one of the best bands ever and that some of their lesser known album cuts were their best music.

THANK you but this now

My lp is in the next room. Monster equates more to America today than it did in 69

Great song, it is of that era but still relevant today, Steppenwolf was such a great pioneering band in rock, so many site them as an influence. Try this one live as well, if you have not heard the Pusher from them, you should do that next. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎹🎶

Great tunes from a great band that's still not in the rock and roll hall of fame...

I won $25.00 from one of my smartass friends who thought I couldn't recite all the lyrics, we were sitting in a park on the grass, one of the girls ran home, grabbing her copy of the album and I recited the entire thing with 0 mistakes. Obviously, one of my favorites, then and now.🤠👍👍👍👍

Way ahead of their time.

Great shirt, Sifa.

Steppenwolf is kind of a little overlooked when it comes to their influence on music of their time. Very topical lyrics for the time and what always sounds to me like a foreshadowing of heavy rock that was to come later.

Yeah, man! 😊 Love Steppenwolf, like, my jam, bitd. Saw slightly later version mid-70s, loads of hits, sounded great. Cheers, SAD. 😉🤙🎶❤️✨️🕊

I loved the air drumming....

I was lucky enough to work for an fm station in the 70s where there was no time limit to what you could play.We were anti 3 min pop

when this came out, you only heard it on FM stations like KSHE in St. Louis.

Never heard any FM then. But AM came in very good late at night, since stations went off early. Picked up WBAP in Dallas and Chicago's Wolfman Jack. Little Rock's Beaker Street after midnight played this song and other "underground," not on daytime radio. Protest song, but I love the guitar better than the lyrics.

SAD has the best patrons

So cool to hear this old Stephen wolf... I played it myself at 10 or 11 years of age on our family turntable ... careful with the needle AMERICA WHERE ARE YOU NOW

Too long for radio,there was a radio edit but they have to cut out a lot of the lyrics and it loses the flow.The single from the album that was pushed for radio airplay was the much shorter "Move Over" which is another great song

There was a local radio edit that was pretty great.....it only cut the first verse of the 'Suicide' part as far as I can tell.

🔥🇺🇸💛

They were to young to understand the sixties and the Vietnam war. It's ridiculous.

American Icons i guess. Musically not that hot, even from the era it was released, but with the lyrics, it becomes quite powerful. There were loads of protest songs in this era what with the Vietnam war ongoing, lots from pathetic hippy types but this was different for me. It's words are probably more real today than ever.

They did not play this song on the radio back then. You have to find songs like this on the albums!!! It was a 2 or 3 minute time slot on the radio in the 60's 70's and 80's.....Long songs like this were o the albums. The song wasn't something that would sell to Companies.

Monster wasn't played on the radio. You would hear Magic Carpet Ride and Born To Be Wild. It was more about albums back then.

It is the song that kinda killed Steppenwolf. After it was released there was a ton of conservative backlash. The original cancel culture.

I curse Landau for not putting them along with others like GFR in to the HOF!

Are you even listening to it? Just shenanigans. No clue. Totally lost. Seems to be.more about you than the song.

your review seems to miss the social relevance of the song...then...and now....if the maga movement gains power ya´ll will feel the sentiment of this anthem of the 60´s more deeply. I hope you dont have to feel that fear....but it lurks.

Absolutely hate these cringeworthy reaction videos. What is the point? But Steppenwolf? Vastly underrated, lyrically fearless. Check our Draft Resister and From Here To There Eventually.

Same sh*t in America...different era!!! And this generation NEEDS to speak up about injustice issues like George Floyd and Biana issues and AIDS and Covid-19 and White Supremacy issues in their songs today...but they aren;t doing this in their music, art, or literature....a very "Lame" generation....the U.S. Capital being rioted by extremist needs to be express in songs.....young folks are afraid to speak out in their art....because they want to be famous and popular...and get lots of money...that is why the quality of music today has drastically declined!!! Bands like Steppenwolf were not afraid to speak out about things not right in America!!! And those bands became "Legendary"

The song strikes a very right-wing chord today. Pro-Christian. Pro-Manifest Destiny. Mentions Slavery almost as an afterthought. Cities that have turned into "Jungles." "But still"...is a phrase that kind of White Washes" (pun intended) all of the conquest that created "America." The Monster metaphor is powerful.

Stupid autocorrect

America The Big Joke

This day sucks

It just keeps on going on. You are missing the point

Are you even listening to it? Just shenanigans. No clue. Totally lost. Seems to be.more about you than the song.