Michael Monarch (born July 5, 1950) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf.
Monarch was born in Los Angeles. As the original lead guitarist with Steppenwolf (1967 through most of 1969), ("Guitarist Monarch exited in 1969, replaced first by Larry Byrom and subsequently by Kent Henry.") he played on all their hits, including "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", and "Rock Me", all while still a teenager. He also played on Janis Joplin's album I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! and was a member of the Michael Des Barres-fronted band Detective. Monarch also worked with Roger Glover of Deep Purple, Andy Fraser of Free, Chris Hillman of The Byrds and numerous others.
Monarch performs with other 1960s and 1970s rock musicians in the supergroup World Classic Rockers and locally in Florida as "Michael Monarch - an evening of music and conversation".
Discography Steppenwolf - Steppenwolf (1968, Dunhill) U.S. #6, U.K. #59, certified gold Steppenwolf - The Second (1968, Dunhill) U.S. #3, certified gold Steppenwolf - At Your Birthday Party (1969, Dunhill) U.S. #7, certified gold Janis Joplin - I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (1969, Columbia) U.S. #5, certified platinum — uncredited Hokus Pokus - Hokus Pokus (1972, Romar) Detective - Detective (1977, Swan Song) Detective - It Takes One to Know One (1977, Swan Song) Detective - Live from the Atlantic Studios (1978, Swan Song) Michael Monarch - It Feels So Real (2001, MSR) Michael Monarch - Guitar Bazaar (2001, MSR) Michael Monarch - The Other Side of the Tracks (2002, MSR) Michael Monarch - MM3 (2006, MSR) Peyton-Monarch - Lonesome Highway (2021, MSR) Michael Monarch - Playtime (2025, MSR)
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