Just read a good article in a music magazine (Mojo?) that John Kay will officially lay Steppenwolf to rest after this years world tour. As much as I love this band I think they have lost a little something over the years and maybe it IS time to hang it up. John says he will do some solo/blues type shows when the occasion arises but if you've never seen Steppenwolf this may be your last chance. I always thought they would have been a great opening band for The Stones on ANY of their last tours. They are VERY popular to us old timers here in the States.

one less...

Didnt eeven know they were still around...one of my favs in my "younger" years...always loves that Live double album!...many of the original band members still with them or only John Kay?

thor Wrote:
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> Didnt eeven know they were still around...one of
> my favs in my "younger" years...always loves that
> Live double album!...many of the original band
> members still with them or only John Kay?



Steppenwolf has always been around. John Kay is the only original member and has been since the mid-70s or maybe even earlier than that. Even so, his bands always sounded like Steppenwolf and he always put on a good show.

Did a little research on this. Steppenwolf had numerous lineup changes right from the beginning and they did officially break up in 1972. They reformed in 1974 with a lineup that included three original members (Kay, drummer Jerry Edmonton, and organist Goldy McJohn). By the time they broke up again, in 1976, Kay and Edmonton were the only remaining original members. Kay reformed Steppenwolf again in 1980 as an entirely new band with himself as the only original member. I believe the current lineup DOES feature the same guy he's had on drums for at least the last 15 years or so.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-26 16:37 by tatters.

Uh, I thought these guys wrapped it up about 35 years ago.

No more nights at the Holiday Inn I guess.

the 5 first album s great..,,try to download the wolfgang vault ,,
a great concert fillmore 1968,,,better than the live dbl album,,

Yep, one of the GREAT 60's bands - really top notch albums and performances....

...... herman hess wrote several interesting/entertaining books, one was

called 'steppenwolf'..

soundcheck Wrote:
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> ...... herman hess wrote several
> interesting/entertaining books, one was
>
> called 'steppenwolf'..


Yeah, Hesse was a big fan. He had all their albums.

much greater studio band then live imo , seen them feb. 6 , 1970 & they were barely ok , but maybe they were just havin a bad day ,they opened with " foggy mental breakdown " only played about 50 min. & no encore ,1st time i seen a clear plexiglass guitar in concert , Kay used it on most songs that show , my next time to see a glass guitar was Billy Wymans durin 72 tour

I saw that same tour in Shippensburg. Pa. USA. I thought it was a FANTASTIC show. They blew me away. I remember John dressed all in black with a red/orange symbol on the front of his t-shirt (a bit like Jagger in '69) playing that clear-bodied guitar on Magic Carpet Ride (if I recall correctly) That was one of those mind-blowing, indellible concert memories if you know what I mean. Thank GOD I wasn't trippin that night, I might still be up there.

Just saw Steppenwolf (end of July)...sounded very good.


IORR............but I like it!

ok...in summary: John Kay announced the end of Steppenwolf. Kay is the only original Steppenwolf member in the band today. He will do some solo gigs in the future.

So, when John Kay performs his "solo" gigs in the future, what songs will he play?
If he doesn't perform any Steppenwolf songs alone in the forest would he make a sound?

tatters Wrote:
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> soundcheck Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ...... herman hess wrote several
> > interesting/entertaining books, one was
> >
> > called 'steppenwolf'..
>
>
> Yeah, Hesse was a big fan. He had all their
> albums.

.... illiterate??? or enjoy trying to pass on misinformation..

soundcheck Wrote:
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> tatters Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > soundcheck Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > ...... herman hess wrote several
> > > interesting/entertaining books, one was
> > >
> > > called 'steppenwolf'..
> >
> >
> > Yeah, Hesse was a big fan. He had all their
> > albums.
>
> .... illiterate??? or enjoy trying to pass on
> misinformation..



Even a slightly educated person would know that I was just having a laugh.

I saw them once back in '81 or '82, pretty good, but Spirit opened for them, and they were even better!

John Kay has stayed an interesting and viable talent: i've seen him in Nashville a number of times; sometimes solo or with a very small ensemble. WHen I was living there, he was local and i believe still is.
Still writing and looks extremely athletic, young and fit; voice very strong; attitude and presence very engaging, and rocks it with real soul anytime he feels like it. Intimate performances at Bluebird Cafe's annual "1st Amendment Night" have been a treasure.
So, i haven't seen this version of steppenwolf, or ever seen them live except on tv many times back in the day; but i have seen Kay recently without them, and he's got a lot going on for himself; very involved and putting out great work.

on their double live album from 1970 their version of ' Corina Corina ' is the best ive ever heard til this day