O grupo foi o intérprete de um dos maiores hinos do rock'n'roll, dos motociclistas de todo o mundo, e de uma atitude durante aquele período musical "Born to be Wild", a canção de maior sucesso da banda, que foi usada como tema do filme Sem Destino (Easy Rider).
Born to be Wild também recebe o crédito com a frase, "Heavy Metal Thunder", contido no segundo verso da terceira estrofe da letra do clássico, o qual serviria mais tarde para denominar o estilo heavy metal. A canção foi escrita por Mars Bonfire (Dennis Edmonton), antigo membro da Sparrow e irmão de de Jerry.
Esta foi a primeira menção do termo heavy metal associado com a música rock. A mesma canção é considerada por muitos críticos a primeira canção Heavy Metal de todos os tempos. "Magic Carpet Rider", outro sucesso do grupo, também faz apologia aos grupos de motociclistas.
Aos 4 anos de idade, John Kay fundador da banda, depois de ter fugido de Prussia com sua mãe, rumou para Alemanha Oriental e Alemanha Ocidental (de onde surgiram os temas "Renegade" de Steppenwolf 7 e "The Wall" de Rise and Shine), se instalou com sua família em Hanóver. Em seguida, mudou-se para o Canadá em 1958.
Steppenwolf tem suas origens em uma banda de blues de Toronto chamada Sparrow, formada em 1964 e que tocava em café do bairro de Yorkville. Em 1967 a banda se estabeleceu em São Francisco, Califórnia, onde começaram a tocar música folk. Foi lá onde o produtor Gabriel Mekler, da Dunhill Records (Los Angeles) propôs para a banda, deixar o som mais pesado, saindo do folk a caminho do Hard rock e convertendo-a para Steppenwolf. Sua formação original foi John Kay (voz e guitarra), Jerry Edmonton (bateria), Michael Monarch (guitarra), Goldie McJohn (teclados) e Rushton Moreve (baixo).
Em 1968, Nick St. Nicholas, que já havia tocado com o Sparrow, substitui Rushton Moreve no baixo.
Seu êxito após Born to be Wild continuou com "Magic Carpet Ride" de Steppenwolf the Second (1968) e "Rock Me" de At Your Birthday Party (1969). Em 1970, declararam que seu melhor disco lançado foi um duplo LP Steppenwolf Live. O disco foi editado entre Monster (1969) e Steppenwolf 7 (1970), que foi o álbum mais crítico da banda, pois trazia em suas letras, muitas críticas a política e ao governo Nixon.
A banda se separou em 1971, depois de publicarem For Ladies Only, iniciando John Kay em sua carreira solo, junto a Kent Henry (guitarra), George Biondo (baixo), Hugh O'Sullivan (teclados) e Penti "Whitey" Glan (bateria), que foram substituídos por Danny Kortchmar, Lee Sklar, Mike Utley e Russ Kunkel, respectivamente. Steppenwolf se reformulou em 1974 e editaram o LP Slow Flux, mas voltaram a se dissolver em 1976. Durante o período compreendido entre 1977 e 1980, a banda se reuniu para uma formação fixa, desta vez sem Kay. Chegaram a gravar um disco de estúdio, Night of the Wolf em 1979, que permanece inédito. John Kay formou uma nova versão da banda no início da década de 1980, chamada John Kay and Steppenwolf com quem gravou quatro discos (Wolf Tracks, 1982; Paradox, 1984; Rock & Roll Rebels, 1987 e Rise & Shine, 1990). Texto: Wikipédia. Site Oficial.
Steppenwolf.
Steppenwolf (1968)01. Sookie Sookie
02. Everybody’s Next One
03. Berry Rides Again
04. Hoochie Coochie Man
05. Born To Be Wild
06. Your Wall’s Too High
07. Desperation
08. The Pusher
09. A Girl I Knew
10. Take What You Need
11. The Ostrich
02. Everybody’s Next One
03. Berry Rides Again
04. Hoochie Coochie Man
05. Born To Be Wild
06. Your Wall’s Too High
07. Desperation
08. The Pusher
09. A Girl I Knew
10. Take What You Need
11. The Ostrich
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions).
12. Sookie Sookie
13. Take What You Need
14. Born To Be Wild
15. Everybody's Next One
13. Take What You Need
14. Born To Be Wild
15. Everybody's Next One
The Second (1968)01. Faster Than The Speed Of Life
02. Tighten Up Your Wig
03. None Of Your Doing
04. Spiritual Fantasy
05. Don't Step On The Grass, Sam
06. 28
07. Magic Carpet Ride
08. Disappointment Number (Unknown)
09. Lost And Found By Trial And Error
10. Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie
11. Resurrection
12. Reflections
13. Magic Carpet Ride (Mono Single Version-Bonus Track)
02. Tighten Up Your Wig
03. None Of Your Doing
04. Spiritual Fantasy
05. Don't Step On The Grass, Sam
06. 28
07. Magic Carpet Ride
08. Disappointment Number (Unknown)
09. Lost And Found By Trial And Error
10. Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie
11. Resurrection
12. Reflections
13. Magic Carpet Ride (Mono Single Version-Bonus Track)
At Your Birthday Party (1969)01. Don’t Cry
02. Chicken Wolf
03. Lovely Meter
04. Round And Down
05. It’s Never Too Late
06. Sleeping Dreaming
07. Jupiter Child
08. She’ll Be Better
09. Cat Killer
10. Rock Me
11. God Fearing Man
12. Mango Juice
13. Happy Birthday
02. Chicken Wolf
03. Lovely Meter
04. Round And Down
05. It’s Never Too Late
06. Sleeping Dreaming
07. Jupiter Child
08. She’ll Be Better
09. Cat Killer
10. Rock Me
11. God Fearing Man
12. Mango Juice
13. Happy Birthday
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions).
14. Rock Me
15. Jupiter Child
16. It's Never Too Late
17. Hapy Birthday
15. Jupiter Child
16. It's Never Too Late
17. Hapy Birthday
Early Steppenwolf, Live 1967 (1969)01. Power Play
02. Howlin’ For My Darlin’
03. I’m Goin’ Upstairs
04. Corina Corina
05. Tighten Up Your Wig
06. The Pusher
02. Howlin’ For My Darlin’
03. I’m Goin’ Upstairs
04. Corina Corina
05. Tighten Up Your Wig
06. The Pusher
Monster (1969)01. Monster, Suicide, America
02. Draft Resister
03. Power Play
04. Move Over
05. Fag
06. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You)
07. From Here To There Eventually
02. Draft Resister
03. Power Play
04. Move Over
05. Fag
06. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You)
07. From Here To There Eventually
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions).
08. Move Over
09. Power Play
10. Monster
09. Power Play
10. Monster
Live (1970)01. Sookie Sookie
02. Don’t Step On The Grass Sam
03. Tighten Up Your Wig
04. Monster
05. Draft Register
06. Power Play
07. Corina Corina
08. Twisted
09. From Here To There Eventually
10. Hey Lawdy Mama
11. Magic Carpet Ride
12. The Pusher
13. Born To Be Wild
02. Don’t Step On The Grass Sam
03. Tighten Up Your Wig
04. Monster
05. Draft Register
06. Power Play
07. Corina Corina
08. Twisted
09. From Here To There Eventually
10. Hey Lawdy Mama
11. Magic Carpet Ride
12. The Pusher
13. Born To Be Wild
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions).
14. Hey Lawdy Mama
15. Twisted
15. Twisted
Steppenwolf 7 (1970)01. Ball Crusher
02. Forty Days And Forty Nights
03. Fat Jack
04. Rengade
05. Foggy Mental Breakdown
06. Snow Blind Friend
07. Who Needs Ya
08. Earschplittenloudenboomer
09. Hippo Stomp
02. Forty Days And Forty Nights
03. Fat Jack
04. Rengade
05. Foggy Mental Breakdown
06. Snow Blind Friend
07. Who Needs Ya
08. Earschplittenloudenboomer
09. Hippo Stomp
Bonus Tracks.
10. Screaming Night Hog
11. Snow Blind Friend (Mono Single Version)
12. Hipop Stomp (Mono Single Version)
11. Snow Blind Friend (Mono Single Version)
12. Hipop Stomp (Mono Single Version)
For Ladies Only (1971)01. For Ladies Only
02. I’m Asking
03. Shackles And Chains
04. Tenderness
05. The Night Time’s For You
06. Jaded Strumpet
07. Sparkle Eyes
08. Black Pitt
09. Ride With Me
10. In Hopes Of A Garden
02. I’m Asking
03. Shackles And Chains
04. Tenderness
05. The Night Time’s For You
06. Jaded Strumpet
07. Sparkle Eyes
08. Black Pitt
09. Ride With Me
10. In Hopes Of A Garden
Bonus Tracks.
11. For Madmen Only
12. For Ladies Only (Single Version)
12. For Ladies Only (Single Version)
Slow Flux (1974)01. Gang War Blues
02. Children Of The Night
03. Justice Don’t Be Slow
04. Get Into The Wind
05. Jeraboah
06. Straight Shootin’ Woman
07. Smokey Factory Blues
08. Morning Blue
09. Fool’s Fantasy
10. Fishin’ In The Dark
02. Children Of The Night
03. Justice Don’t Be Slow
04. Get Into The Wind
05. Jeraboah
06. Straight Shootin’ Woman
07. Smokey Factory Blues
08. Morning Blue
09. Fool’s Fantasy
10. Fishin’ In The Dark
Hour Of The Wolf (1975)01. Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World)
02. Annie, Annie Over
03. Two for the Love of One
04. Just for Tonight
05. Hard Rock Road
06. Someone Told a Lie
07. Another’s Lifetime
08. Mr. Penny Pincher
02. Annie, Annie Over
03. Two for the Love of One
04. Just for Tonight
05. Hard Rock Road
06. Someone Told a Lie
07. Another’s Lifetime
08. Mr. Penny Pincher
Skullduggery (1976)01. Skullduggery
02. I’m A Road Runner
03. Rock ‘N’ Roll Song
04. Train Of Thought
05. Life Is A Gamble
06. Pass It On
07. Sleep
08. Lip Service
02. I’m A Road Runner
03. Rock ‘N’ Roll Song
04. Train Of Thought
05. Life Is A Gamble
06. Pass It On
07. Sleep
08. Lip Service
John Kay & Steppenwolf.
Wolftracks (1982)01. All I Want Is All You Got
02. Time
03. None Of The Above
04. You
05. Every Man For Himself
06. Five Finger Discount
07. Hold Your Head Up
08. Hot Night In A Cold Town
09. Down To Earth
10. For Rock-N-Roll
11. The Balance
02. Time
03. None Of The Above
04. You
05. Every Man For Himself
06. Five Finger Discount
07. Hold Your Head Up
08. Hot Night In A Cold Town
09. Down To Earth
10. For Rock-N-Roll
11. The Balance
02. Nothin’ Is Forever
03. You’re The Only One
04. The Fixer
05. Give Me News I Can Use
06. Only The Strong Survive
07. Ain’t Nothin’ Like It Used To Be
08. Slender Thread Of Hope
09. Tell Me It’s All Right
10. Circles Of Confusion
03. You’re The Only One
04. The Fixer
05. Give Me News I Can Use
06. Only The Strong Survive
07. Ain’t Nothin’ Like It Used To Be
08. Slender Thread Of Hope
09. Tell Me It’s All Right
10. Circles Of Confusion
Rock & Roll Rebels (1987)01. Give Me Life
02. Rock & Roll Rebels
03. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
04. Man On A Mission
05. Everybody Knows You
06. Rock Steady (I'm Rough And Ready)
07. Replace The Face
08. Turn Out The Lights
09. Give Me The News I Can Use
10. Rage
02. Rock & Roll Rebels
03. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
04. Man On A Mission
05. Everybody Knows You
06. Rock Steady (I'm Rough And Ready)
07. Replace The Face
08. Turn Out The Lights
09. Give Me The News I Can Use
10. Rage
Rise & Shine (1990)01. Let’s Do It All
02. Time Out
03. Do or Die
04. Rise and Shine
05. The Wall
06. The Daily Blues
07. Keep Rockin’
08. Rock ‘N Roll War
09. Sign on the Line
10. We Like It, We Love It (We Want More of It)
11. Lonely Dreamers
12. Now and Forever
02. Time Out
03. Do or Die
04. Rise and Shine
05. The Wall
06. The Daily Blues
07. Keep Rockin’
08. Rock ‘N Roll War
09. Sign on the Line
10. We Like It, We Love It (We Want More of It)
11. Lonely Dreamers
12. Now and Forever
01. Twisted
02. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
03. Sookie Sookie
04. Everybody’s Next One
05. Born To Be Wild
06. Your Wall’s Too High
07. Desperation
08. The Pusher
09. The Ostrich
10. Don’t Step On The Grass, Sam
11. Magic Carpet Ride
12. Rock Me
13. Jupiter’s Child
14. It’s Never Too Late
15. Monster, Suicide, America
16. Move Over
17. Hey Lawdy Mama
02. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
03. Sookie Sookie
04. Everybody’s Next One
05. Born To Be Wild
06. Your Wall’s Too High
07. Desperation
08. The Pusher
09. The Ostrich
10. Don’t Step On The Grass, Sam
11. Magic Carpet Ride
12. Rock Me
13. Jupiter’s Child
14. It’s Never Too Late
15. Monster, Suicide, America
16. Move Over
17. Hey Lawdy Mama
CD 2.
01. Snowblind Friend
02. Who Needs Ya
03. Screaming Night Hog
04. For Ladies Only (Edit)
05. Tenderness
06. Ride With Me
07. I’m Movin’ On
08. My Sportin’ Life
09. Children Of The Night
10. Straight Shootin’ Woman
11. Caroline
12. Live Your Life
13. Ain’t Nothing Like It Used To Be
14. Born To Be Wild (Live)
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Rebels
16. Give Me News I Can Use
17. The Wall
02. Who Needs Ya
03. Screaming Night Hog
04. For Ladies Only (Edit)
05. Tenderness
06. Ride With Me
07. I’m Movin’ On
08. My Sportin’ Life
09. Children Of The Night
10. Straight Shootin’ Woman
11. Caroline
12. Live Your Life
13. Ain’t Nothing Like It Used To Be
14. Born To Be Wild (Live)
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Rebels
16. Give Me News I Can Use
17. The Wall
01. Move Over
02. Who Needs Ya
03. Rocket Ship
04. Rock Me
05. I’m Movin’ On
06. Sookie Sookie
07. Sign On The Line
08. Hootchie Kootchie Man
09. Let’s Do It All
10. Hey Lawdy Mama
11. Do Or Die
12. Desperation
13. Hold On
14. Best Of What You Got
02. Who Needs Ya
03. Rocket Ship
04. Rock Me
05. I’m Movin’ On
06. Sookie Sookie
07. Sign On The Line
08. Hootchie Kootchie Man
09. Let’s Do It All
10. Hey Lawdy Mama
11. Do Or Die
12. Desperation
13. Hold On
14. Best Of What You Got
CD 2.
01. Ride With Me
02. Rock ‘N Roll War
03. Snowblind Friend
04. Monster
05. Rise & Shine
06. Magic Carpet Ride
07. Born To Be Wild
08. The Pusher
09. Rock & Roll Rebels
02. Rock ‘N Roll War
03. Snowblind Friend
04. Monster
05. Rise & Shine
06. Magic Carpet Ride
07. Born To Be Wild
08. The Pusher
09. Rock & Roll Rebels
Feed The Fire (1996)01. Rock’roll Rebels
02. Rock Steady (I’m Rough and Ready)
03. Hold on (Never Give up Never Give in)
04. Everybody Knows You
05. Give Me News I can Use
06. Replace the Face
07. Bad Attitude
08. Man on a Mission
09. Rage
10. Feed the Fire
02. Rock Steady (I’m Rough and Ready)
03. Hold on (Never Give up Never Give in)
04. Everybody Knows You
05. Give Me News I can Use
06. Replace the Face
07. Bad Attitude
08. Man on a Mission
09. Rage
10. Feed the Fire
Live! In Louisville (2004)01. Intro
02. Sookie Sookie
03. Rock & Roll Rebels
04. Rock Me
05. I'm Movin' On
06. Endless Commercial
07. Hey Lawdy Mama
08. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
09. Ride With Me
10. She's Got The Goods
11. Hoochie Coochie Man
12. Snowblind Friend
13. Monster
14. Magic Carpet Ride
15. Born To Be Wild
16. The Pusher
02. Sookie Sookie
03. Rock & Roll Rebels
04. Rock Me
05. I'm Movin' On
06. Endless Commercial
07. Hey Lawdy Mama
08. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
09. Ride With Me
10. She's Got The Goods
11. Hoochie Coochie Man
12. Snowblind Friend
13. Monster
14. Magic Carpet Ride
15. Born To Be Wild
16. The Pusher
Live In London (2006)01. Sookie Sookie
02. Give Me News I Can Use
03. You
04. Hot Night in a Cold Town
05. Ain't Nothin' Like It Used to Be
06. Magic Carpet Ride
07. Five Finger Discount
08. Hey Lawdy Mamma
09. Business Is Business
10. Born to Be Wild
11. The Pusher
02. Give Me News I Can Use
03. You
04. Hot Night in a Cold Town
05. Ain't Nothin' Like It Used to Be
06. Magic Carpet Ride
07. Five Finger Discount
08. Hey Lawdy Mamma
09. Business Is Business
10. Born to Be Wild
11. The Pusher
Steppenwolf At 50 (2018)CD 1.
01. Screaming Night Hog (Single Version)
02. From Here To There Eventually (Alternate Version)
03. Angel Drawers (Previously Unreleased)
04. For Ladies Only
05. You Win Again
06. My Sportin' Life
07. Drift Away
08. Straight Shootin' Woman
09. Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)
10. Skullduggery
11. Hold Your Head Up
12. Hot Night In A Cold Town
13. Give Me News I Can Use
14. Ain't Nothin' Like It Used To Be
15. Magic Carpet Ride
CD 2.
01. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
02. Rock & Roll Rebels
03. Give Me Life
04. Rise & Shine
05. The Wall
06. Rock 'n Roll War
07. Feed The Fire
08. Rock Steady
09. Down In New Orleans
10. Business Is Business
11. Compared To What (Previously Unreleased)
12. Labor Of Love (Previously Unreleased)
13. For The Women In My Life
CD 3: All Tracks Recorded Live 1992-1995.
01. Screaming Night Hog (Single Version)
02. From Here To There Eventually (Alternate Version)
03. Angel Drawers (Previously Unreleased)
04. For Ladies Only
05. You Win Again
06. My Sportin' Life
07. Drift Away
08. Straight Shootin' Woman
09. Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)
10. Skullduggery
11. Hold Your Head Up
12. Hot Night In A Cold Town
13. Give Me News I Can Use
14. Ain't Nothin' Like It Used To Be
15. Magic Carpet Ride
CD 2.
01. Hold On (Never Give Up, Never Give In)
02. Rock & Roll Rebels
03. Give Me Life
04. Rise & Shine
05. The Wall
06. Rock 'n Roll War
07. Feed The Fire
08. Rock Steady
09. Down In New Orleans
10. Business Is Business
11. Compared To What (Previously Unreleased)
12. Labor Of Love (Previously Unreleased)
13. For The Women In My Life
CD 3: All Tracks Recorded Live 1992-1995.