Steppenwolf was a Canadian-American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1967, the group originally consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Kay, lead guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Nick St. Nicholas, drummer Jerry Edmonton and keyboardist Goldy McJohn. The band's final lineup featured Kay, keyboardist Michael Wilk (since 1982, and bassist between 1984 and 2009), bassist Gary Link (from 1982 to 1984, and since 2009), drummer Ron Hurst (since 1984) and lead guitarist Danny Johnson (since 1996).

History 1967–1976 Steppenwolf evolved from the Sparrows in late 1967 and originally included John Kay, Michael Monarch, Rushton Moreve, Jerry Edmonton and Goldy McJohn. After the release of two studio albums, Moreve was fired in early 1969 for failure to appear at several performances, with former Sparrows bassist Nick St. Nicholas taking his place. Monarch left the group in August, with Larry Byrom taking his place in time for the recording of Monster. St. Nicholas ceased working with Steppenwolf in April 1970, and was formally excluded from the band the following year. He was replaced by George Biondo. Byrom was replaced by Kent Henry for the 1971 release For Ladies Only. In February 1972, Steppenwolf disbanded; Kay, Henry and Biondo continued working together, while Edmonton and McJohn formed a group called Manbeast.

In early 1974 Steppenwolf reformed, with guitarist Bobby Cochran joining returning members Kay, Biondo, Edmonton and McJohn. Kay fired McJohn the following February, with Andy Chapin taking his place. The new keyboardist declined to tour with the group, however, and was replaced by Wayne Cook. The band released three studio albums during its second tenure, before disbanding in late 1976. Following the group's second breakup, former members St. Nicholas and McJohn formed a band dubbed "New Steppenwolf", it was licensed and legit until 1980 at which time the licensing agreement wasn't complied with prompting Kay and Edmonton (who owned the rights to use the name) to take legal action.

1980–2018 Kay reformed the band as "John Kay and Steppenwolf" in January 1980, rebuilding the group with brothers Michael (lead guitar) and Steve Palmer (drums), bassist Kurtis Teel and keyboardist Danny Ironstone (Teel and Ironstone were soon replaced by Chad Peery and Brett Tuggle, respectively). Peery and Tuggle performed on the 1981 live album Live in London, but were replaced for the recording of the following year's studio return Wolftracks by Welton Gite and Michael Wilk, respectively. Gary Link took over on bass for 1984's Paradox but had left alongside the Palmer brothers by the end of the year, with Rocket Ritchotte (lead guitar) and Ron Hurst (drums) joining shortly after, and keyboardist Michael Wilk took the bass. The band released Rock & Roll Rebels in 1987, which was the group's first to feature the four-piece lineup.

Ritchotte left Steppenwolf in 1989 to tour with the David Lee Roth Band, returning the following year and remaining until late 1993. During his time away from the band, he was replaced briefly by Les Dudek, and later by Steve Fister. Following his departure, Fister returned to Steppenwolf for another three-year run. In 1996, Danny Johnson joined Steppenwolf in place of the departed Fister. Bassist Gary Link rejoined the band in 2009. In October 2018, at the end of the band's 50th anniversary tour, Kay announced that the group had officially retired.

Members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Kayall Steppenwolf releasesJerry Edmontonall Steppenwolf releases from Steppenwolf (1968) to Skullduggery (1976)Goldy McJohnall Steppenwolf releases from Steppenwolf (1968) to Slow Flux (1974)Michael Monarch1967–1969Rushton MoreveNick St. Nicholas1968–1970Larry Byrom1969–1971George BiondoKent Henry1971–1972 lead guitarFor Ladies Only (1971)Bobby Cochran1974–1976Andy Chapin1975 keyboards, backing vocalsHour of the Wolf (1975)Wayne Cook1975–1976Skullduggery (1976)Michael Palmer1980–1985Steve PalmerDanny Ironstone1980noneKurtis TeelChad Peery1980–1981bassLive in London (1981)Brett Tuggle1980–1982 Welton Gite1981–1982bassWolftracks (1982)Michael Wilkall Steppenwolf releases from Wolftracks (1982) onwardsGary LinkParadox (1984)Ron Hurst1984–2018all Steppenwolf releases from Rock & Roll Rebels (1987) onwardsRocket RitchotteLes Dudek1989noneSteve FisterDanny Johnson 1996–2018

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesLate 1967 – early 1969John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Monarch – lead guitar, backing vocals Rushton Moreve – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsEarly Steppenwolf (1969) Steppenwolf (1968) The Second (1968)Early – August 1969John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Monarch – lead guitar, backing vocals Nick St. Nicholas – bass, backing and occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsAt Your Birthday Party (1969)September 1969 – April 1970John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Larry Byrom – lead guitar, backing vocals Nick St. Nicholas – bass, backing and lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsMonster (1969) Steppenwolf Live (1970)May 1970 – early 1971John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Larry Byrom – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing and occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsSteppenwolf 7 (1970)Early 1971 – February 1972John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Kent Henry – lead guitar George Biondo – bass, occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsFor Ladies Only (1971)Band inactive February 1972 – early 1974Early 1974 – February 1975John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsSlow Flux (1974)March – August 1975John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Andy Chapin – keyboardsHour of the Wolf (1975)August 1975 – late 1976John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Wayne Cook – keyboardsSkullduggery (1976)Band inactive late 1976 – early 1980Early 1980John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Kurtis Teel – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Danny Ironstone – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsnone1980–1981John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Chad Peery – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Brett Tuggle – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsLive in London (1981)1981–1982John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Welton Gite – bass Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsWolftracks (1982)1982–1984John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Gary Link – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsParadox (1984)1985–1989John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Rocket Ritchotte – lead guitar, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocalsRock & Roll Rebels (1987) Rise & Shine (1990)1989John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Les Dudek – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocalsnone1989–1990John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Steve Fister – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals1990–1993John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Rocket Ritchotte – lead guitar, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocalsLive at 25 (1995)1993–1996John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Steve Fister – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocalsnone1996–2009John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Danny Johnson – lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocalsFeed the Fire (1996) Live in Louisville (2004)2009 – October 2018John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Danny Johnson – lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals Gary Link – bass, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocalsnone

References

External links Steppenwolf official website