Steppenwolf

bjabass · #1 12-08-2011, 02:59 PM

Just went to Youtube for a link to an old Steppenwolf song and spent some time on memory lane. It occurred to me that I got a high percentage of my bass licks off their bass player and don't even know his name. 'Desperation' was a school for me at age 13.

All people think of is 'Born to be Wild' and 'the Pusher' but I liked the 'b' side and AOR stuff like 'Renegade', 'Monster', 'Rock Me', and 'Snowblind Friend'.

Not known for their virtuosity but were a very musical band just the same.

OldDog52 · #2 12-08-2011, 03:26 PM

Agreed. Steppenwolf did a lot of interesting and ambitious stuff. Worth seeking out.

Lee H · #3 12-08-2011, 03:30 PM

one of the most notable "biker" bands...
We used to have a joke about the RUBs (Rich Urban Bikers) listening to "Born to be Wild" while sitting on their bikes, in a garage, with a fan blowing wind in their faces...

Wow, I feel old now

fjadams · #4 12-08-2011, 03:46 PM

Nick St Nicholas on most of the early stuff. He was a friend of my wife before I met her. She always had a thing for bass players.

longfinger · #5 12-08-2011, 03:48 PM

Like most, I've heard the famous tunes a lot in the background, and never noticed the bass. But now, when I actively listen to them, there is some very tasty + melodic bass playing there. There seems to have been 3 different bassists during their important recording years.

List of Steppenwolf band members - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re: "Born To Be Wild", yeah that was recorded before the 'overdubbing to click track' method was the standard way to record rock. Those tempos sure do move around. Sounds good.

**Staccato** · #6 12-08-2011, 03:59 PM

Magic Carpet Ride (second album) features bassist Rushton Moreve. There's a page about him on Wiki,
however, don't bother with the Steppenwolf page on that site. It only lists one musician with the group-
before the 80's (John Kay).

Lazylion · #7 12-08-2011, 04:03 PM

I used to listen to them all the time. Still think of "Born To Be Wild" every time I hear a bike rev up! One of my bands has "Who Needs Ya" on our to-learn list.

**ExaltBass** · #8 12-08-2011, 04:16 PM

Nick St Nicholas - great guy! (and humble!) Loved his energy and melodic sense!

pbassnut · #9 12-08-2011, 04:19 PM

Nothin' says the 60's to me like some of the big Steppenwolf hits ... great band.

ksandvik · #10 12-08-2011, 04:21 PM

They really pawed way for the 'big rock band' sound.

mellowinman · #11 12-08-2011, 09:08 PM

I just forgot to mention them on the "bands you've seen" thread. I saw the early eighties version, in a bar called the Cabooze, with a guy who screamed, "PLAY THE PUSHER" for most of the show, until they did, and then he just screamed and howled. He drank a lot.

They were fantastic.

bassplayer8953 · #12 12-08-2011, 09:18 PM

Here's a little something to let the wind out of the sails of bass-playing Steppenwolf fans: John Kay didn't feel the need to employ a "real" bass player from 1984 through 2009. They midi'd up the bass parts instead.

I'm told they went back to using a live bassist, but I haven't seen them live since 2009.

FWIW, I was a great fan of Steppenwolf back in the day. I remember seeing them, all playing Ric's.

MysticMichael · #13 12-09-2011, 02:22 AM

When I was in college around 30 years ago, I had a classmate who was a complete superfan of John Kay. Had all of JK's recorded works. Maybe a book or two as well, as I recall. I got the impression that he thought of JK in the same way that many Doors fans think of Jim Morrison - as a creative visionary of a sort...

Some 10 years later, I happen to have seen John Kay perform with one of the variations of Steppenwolf at a rock 'n' roll club in Winston-Salem, NC. The band was actually OK. But when JK came out, he assumed complete control of that stage - and everything that happened on it.

I've been to a LOT of rock shows in my life - before and since that night. Never have I seen a more charismatic performer than John Kay: it was truly a mesmerizing experience. The guy simply oozed with charisma, poise, self-confidence - and stagecraft. Just wow...

MM

Lee H · #14 12-09-2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazylion

I used to listen to them all the time. Still think of "Born To Be Wild" every time I hear a bike rev up! One of my bands has "Who Needs Ya" on our to-learn list.

Got that song on the MP3 player I use on longer bike trips... Sometimes it is difficult to hear it, and not bring the RPMs up on the bike... The song just needs a bike engine to accompany it

bjabass · #15 12-09-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longfinger

Re: "Born To Be Wild", yeah that was recorded before the 'overdubbing to click track' method was the standard way to record rock. Those tempos sure do move around. Sounds good.

I also noticed the tuning of the guitars on some songs is a bit 'edgy'...

Thats the stuff a producer would catch and fix I suppose, and I also suppose John Kay produced the early stuff himself. You have to ask yourself if some of it was intentional.

Listening to 'Snowblind Friend' from SW 7 and noted the use of steel guitar and sitar on that track, unusual instruments to put together and pretty avant garde for a 'biker band' back then.

Pilgrim · #16 12-09-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjabass

I also noticed the tuning of the guitars on some songs is a bit 'edgy'...

Thats the stuff a producer would catch and fix I suppose...

And that's one reason the music of the 60's and 70's is so much fun to listen to. It is NOT over-produced, over-corrected, over-massaged and multitracked like most of today's music.

It's real music, played by guys who didn't have technology tricks to fix every mistake.

OldDog52 · #17 12-09-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

And that's one reason the music of the 60's and 70's is so much fun to listen to. It is NOT over-produced, over-corrected, over-massaged and multitracked like most of today's music.

It's real music, played by guys who didn't have technology tricks to fix every mistake.

This x 1000.

JimK · #18 12-09-2011, 01:48 PM

Cannot recall where I read this-
"Sookie Sookie" was Steppenwolf's 1st radio "hit"...and, at the time, a lot of listeners assumed they were a black R&B band. I guess the album finally was released & that was that.

jumbodbassman · #19 12-09-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

And that's one reason the music of the 60's and 70's is so much fun to listen to. It is NOT over-produced, over-corrected, over-massaged and multitracked like most of today's music.

It's real music, played by guys who didn't have technology tricks to fix every mistake.

right on, not tuning wise...

jumbodbassman · #20 12-09-2011, 02:07 PM

can't remember what thread but JimmyM had a great link to them with the bass player, Nick i think, rocking an ampeg bass thru the ampeg SBT head with the powered spaekers like the acoustics.