This is one of my favorite protest songs, written in the ‘60’s & still relevant today. Love the lyrics, & it’s a banger! Great one to begin with. ✌️❤️🎶
John I have to say that seeing a reaction to a deep cut like this is impressive. Many channels do Born to be wild, Magic carpet ride as they were hits, but never do deep album cuts that were not hits. This was the opening track to their fourth album titled "Monster". It's a very political song. Amazingly it is as relevant today as it was then. I was lucky enough to see their last tour in 1974 with most of the original band members. It was at the Commodore ballroom in Vancouver. A small dancehall with about 4,000 people. We got right up to the stage as it was only about 6 feet high. You could get up close to rock and roll hero's then. John Kay the singer walked out all dressed in cool leathers. The band did all their hits and lots of deep cuts. They played "Monster" and did an extended version of it that lasted 20 minutes!!! Absolutely fantastic concert!!!
I had lost track of this song, buried in my mind under all the years of music since. Hearing it again, it's almost shocking how relevant it is to current times and politics, written over a half-century ago as it was.
I grew up on this band. Surprisingly, they made more music besides "Born to be Wild", "The Pusher", and "Magic Carpet Ride", but most people have no idea what the rest of their very extensive catalog consists of. Listen to Steppenwolf 7. I believe it is their BEST album, and it was produced in 1970!
This is what we used to call a "protest" song back in the late'60s, and this is one of the very few hard rock ones. It's super prophetic and could have easily been written today. When I took drama class as a senior in high school in 1971, (I heard a bunch of good looking girls were taking it) I read the lyrics to Monster as my choice for a poetic presentation, then played the song for the class from my vinyl record album. Needless to say, it was a big hit, and yes, one of the girls dated me for awhile. So Monster holds a special place in my heart for being so awesome and getting me some!
There are half a dozen Steppenwolf songs from 1968 to like 1972 where the lyrics are still completely relevant today. John Kay, writer/lead singer/guitarist, came from East Germany! Escaped with his father through the Wall and made it to America. He knows what a security state looks like. When the Wall came down in 1989, Kay wrote and recorded a song with a version of Steppenwolf band about it. Great song. Other excellent 60s/70's Steppenwolf songs: Hey Lawdy Mama, The Ostrich, Hippo Stomp, Snowblind Friend, Foggy Mental Breakdown, Ride With Me, Don't Step on the Grass Sam. Oh, and Sookie, Sookie -- a wonderful first track from a debut album.
Yes, all the religions are the same. However for me I took the kennel of truth to be corn and after collecting as many as I could find from all religions and made popcorn for my mind. Semper Fi.
Thank you John, funny how history repeats itself, eh? The rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist, John Kay, wrote almost all their songs and has a very interesting life story I will tell you over on the Patreon page when I request Steppenwolf again. I hope you channel grows to many thousands.
One of the regrets in my life happened when my wife took me on my birthday to see Steppenwolf in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, 1996 I believe and 48 years old. Small Venue, but with a dance floor. Great music of course and fun atmosphrere. In hindsight I could have walked up and requested one of my favorite songs of all time. But this great anthology was not on the playlist that night. If it would have been played, I would have cried, as I always do when I hear this song.
I was a Infantry Training NCO in the US Army during the Vietnam War... we had this massive black board in the front of the mess hall for daily training notices. In the Night I was on CQ duty and went down there and wrote the words to Monster ... the next morning everyone in line for breakfast read it... finally TOP went down for his coffee and saw it, called me down to have a look. I acted shocked! Oh my GOD, who the hell wrote this??? I played it well and said I'd do what I could to find out who did it. Mate, it's about the Vietnam war and he's a Canadian... all these guys were being train to go to that war... be safe
The Pusher written by Hoyt Axton great blues song with relevant lyrics sung expertly by John Kay is fantastic. Also, Hoochie Koochie Man written by Willie Dixon for Muddy Waters is covered brilliantly by Steppenwolf.
I was in the 4th grade the first time i heard this in 1968. You want another one huh? Try '' Justice Don't be Slow'' . And for a change of pace you will be amazed if you listen to ''Anti Establishment Man'' by REO Speedwagon. I guarantee it. One more then im gone. ''Sky Pilot'' by the Animals. You won't regret it. [ Poof ]
