Born To Be Wild with John Kay of Steppenwolf

"The Jeff Ward Show” is for those who are unafraid to be intellectually challenged. With no political, social, or moral agenda, snarky Austin-based host, Jeff Ward, consistently challenges his audience to examine relevant issues and situations in alternative ways. Ward, who is known for his bold, irreverent commentary on stuff that matters, never leaves listeners without their curiosity piqued, their beliefs challenged, or their minds reeling. If you crave more of those “whoa” moments in your life, then you need “The Jeff Ward Show.”

[@philbrown1474]

If ever a rock star deserved a biopic, it’s John Kay. I’ve been a huge fan for over 50 years. Respect. Listen to the Steppenwolf song “The Wall”. Epic.

[@lahaza6515]

He's far too underrated in the "classic rock" conversations in the US. They were incredible, raw & had self possession & swagger like no one. And he's still handsome!

[@bobdudy7177]

My first concert, 1978, have John Kay as my voice mail message- "today, I have good news...."

[@John-zn4lp]

John Kay is so much more than the great music he made. Everytime I hear him speak, he comes off as very intellectual, caring, and understanding of the world around him.

[@supertal6074]

John Kay is The Steppenwolf! He is a very interesting, intelligent, and articulate man. He really created a persona that will last a very long time. Like him a lot and enjoyed this interview! Thanks so much!

[@simp2662]

He seems to be in good shape for his age.

[@thegoldenlog]

Great interview, John Kay is a great songwriter, vocalist and guitarist too, you can hear his playing clearly on Steppenwolf Live along with lead guitarist Larry Byrom who added so much to their sound, thanks Jeff for letting him speak without being interrupted, so many interviewers walk all over their guests and constantly interupt, Well done!

[@markurbanczyk8331]

As a huge John Kay and Steppenwolf fan, I've seen a lot of John Kay interviews along with the documentaries. This was one of the best to really see the personality and human side of John Kay. Well done 👍👍

[@edstein5642]

Every John Kay interview since FOREVER becomes a lesson in blues artists & political dichotomy. He’s brilliant.

[@carlosperazalive9162]

STEPPENWOLF GREAT!! THANK YOU JOHN KAY FOR THE INCREDIBLE SONGS!! I WAS IN UNFORGETTABLE CONCERT IN WASHINGTON DC IN 1975! IM SALVADOREAN, BUT ROCKER MUSICIAN!! LONG LIFE JOHN KAY!!!! 👍🙏👊!!

[@akca00]

John Kay had so much to say. His bio was a great read!!

[@ventues9751]

John Kay is the Man !!! I was lucky enough to see John Kay & Steppenwolf 7 times, 1980-1987

[@MarshallAnderson-if8yx]

Mr. Kay, you are a musical genius and thanks for all the talent and music you’ve shared with our world!

[@stevescrews447]

John kay such an interesting life he has my favorite rock. Singer of all time .

[@franneep]

Such a wonderful, kind soul and awesome musician.

[@kentbeery4941]

Met him year's ago in chicago a Great guy...... Legend

[@EmilioGarcia-fr5po]

How fitting is the song. MONSTER. America where are you now,don't forget about your son's and daughters

[@nigelbarton-smith6764]

Excellent informative interview. Thank you for sharing.

[@thomasmorris2245]

Hello John Kay - We did a show together - Rocking In The Hill on July 18 th 1981 - at Grandview Park - outside of Moundsville WV - Great Show ! [ I was the young promoter ]

[@thomasmorris2245]

The local Musicians Union threaten to strike when one of the opening bands did not pay their dues - so I paid them for the band - and more - but Great Show!

[@VangeliRock]

The memory recall John Kay has incedible.

[@John-zn4lp]

My older brother grew up in rhe sixties and brought home all kinds of albums, but I distinctly remember playing the crap out of the first albums by Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly. My friends always wondered what decade I was trying to live in, but I'm certainly glad my brother introduced me to all the great music of the 60's and 70's.

[@josephd5715]

Excellent interview, thank-you.

[@b.w.barbee2269]

Such a Great interview!....John seemed like a Great and Personable Guy!.....From time in the Wild 60's/70's....The Best Music Ever!

[@pattiamaya4671]

That was incredible. Please have him on again. It reminded me of the old days of hanging out at The Palomino, Troubadour and Sunset Blvd and Hoyt Axton that brought back memories. Thanks Jeff

[@lesschoenberger3070]

Wow, you are lucky to have lived those great memories! Did you ever see the "Sparrow"?

[@maxvaldez6987]

Speaking of Hoyt Axton, his dad was my coach in 10th & 11th grade football & then he retired in 72. His parents lived a block from my house in the little town of Broken Bow, Oklahoma

[@maxvaldez6987]

Also, Hoyt wrote The Pusher and Snowblind Friend for them. His mom, Mae, wrote Heartbreak Hotel for Elvis as well as other songs that both Mae and Hoyt wrote together. Hoyt also wrote Never been to Spain & Joy to the World for Three Dog Night

[@erlinglea4122]

when i was a teen i watched easy rider and i will never forget the pusher and born to the wild i was hooked on steppenwolf

[@movid]

❤❤ one of the best bands ever. One of the best Rock voices and musicians, John Kay & Steppenwolf are true legends ❤ from Montreal

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

A funny coincidence; one of my very good friends' Dad, the infamous 60s counter-culture author Terry Southern, was deeply involved in both the films that John Kay references here as being perhaps the major part of breaking Steppenwolf to international audiences. Terry Southern wrote the novel 'Candy', and then was called in by actor/writer/producer/directors Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda to be a 'script doctor' - co writer for Easy Rider, of which a great deal of that film's success was directly attributed to the contributions of Terry Southern, who also was a screenwriter for the infamous films "Dr Strangelove", and "The Magic Christian; and who was also one of the people whom the Beatles chose to be in the crowd-collage of the Sgt Pepper album cover!. I find it interesting that the fortunes of Steppenwolf just happened to be so inextricably linked with the work of writer Terry Southern! So many odd little coincidences that make the world go 'round!

[@wassupdoc2780]

What a cool dude. Someone I'd enjoy meeting big time.

[@nellymoriarty_5783]

German, that explains his genius WOW thank you for your service Love you

[@frankstared]

Lithuainian-French, but all nationalism is propagandist nonsense.

[@lauratimares462]

Not German, Lithuanian / Prussian

[@jc6594]

Happy 80th Birthday John Kay

[@CaptainGanja]

Love this interview so much. Learned a lot from John. Great stuff!

[@JWirtel]

I very much appreciate this interview. I think however this interview highlights a sort of Catch-22 problem that Steppenwolf has faced since, say, 1969, which is too much attention is paid to the big hits at the expense of 98% of the band's music. The interviewer seems like a nice guy, and I don’t want a bad rap anybody, but please when you’re going to interview a heavyweight icon like John K, carve out an hour man and read the cliff notes version of the band. Know the who what where and when. know who wrote what. Not knowing that Hoyt Axton and not John Kay wrote The Pusher and thinking John Kay wrote BTBW is just not up to the standard. And I love BTBW and MCR as much as anybody, but the incessant focus on those two songs has sort of crowded out all the rest of an amazing amazing discography. Please check it out.

[@nevillede-hoedt6520]

That's what makes him the interviewer. He probably did know who wrote 'The Pusher', but as an interviewer, it is his job to ask the question, not already know the answer, and not ask the question, so John Kay could answer it, which he did, and said himself who wrote the song. Most interviewer's have their questions in order, Jeff Ward and John Kay would have put the format together before the interview, so they were ready for the program. John Kay's time and privacy is important, and personal, and he does talk quite candidly about his career and times as a Muso. John would have screened the question's before going to air, so he was OK with the personal stuff. Besides, he has nothing to hide or be ashamed of, especially in today's world, where most things are accepted, tolerated, where at the time of some of these events taking place back in those time's, a lot of things weren't tolerated or accepted. We have come a long way since those times, and John Kay and people of those times, have changed the world to be more outspoken, and upfront, society to the one he grew up in. People like him, have helped tame the world and given all us the opportunity to have and experience a freedom that didn't exist. Don't forget the powers to be, at the time, would lock people up for freedom of speech. Something that was spoken about behind closed doors back in the day, was considered as being communism, and goal it was, heavy fines, and looked apon as criminal. That is how it was in Martin Kings time, John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, the human rights movement, all came under scrutiny as being wrong. In accual fact, none of it was, or is wrong. We call it freedom of speech, most post their comments on all forums, opinions about all things, but back in those times, it was considered as a criminal act, or causing war's, which it did. The Beatles, each of them, John Kay, Jim Morrison, The Who, Fleetwood Mac's (Peter Green). Elvis Presley, Cassius Clay, A lot of actors and actresses, and a lot of African American people, were prosecuted for absolutely nothing, because of the conditions under which we all had to live. If one had an opinion, Make sure you kept it to yourself, or it could reach the ears of some Government body. Opinion's, comment's, being out spoken, standing up for one's rights, can start a fight, a war, a situation that ends up in Kaos. So Sad. People in bands have lowered the walls and barriers that confine us. As Lennon said, "won't it be good when we can all live as one". Martin King said the same, The Beatles refused to play a US concert because of the barriers put in place to segregate between the racial tension, which they don't have in the UK, or didn't at the time, they said we are all equal. So they brought down the barriers, and the concert went ahead. So they did their bit towards a better humanity. We still have a long way to go, but due to our ignorance, it will take a lot more time, than it needs to. Peace is for all mankind, not a chosen few.!

[@tedingram516]

One of the first albums I ever bought back in the early 70s was the Steppenwolf live wore it out loved it. Rock on my friends. 😊👍✌

[@drumhd1]

I know John wrote Magic Carpet Ride. One of the most well crafted rock songs of all time.

[@j.tshark3313]

looks for good for 77

[@jchristianhamilton1816]

John Kay is intelligent and great to listen to. But that radio host did NOT do his homework lol

[@JWirtel]

The interviewer is probably 29 years old, but still, if you're in this business, you've got to know which songs Hoyt Axton wrote...

[@AtTheBomb]

Just want to give him a hug, so awesome guy

[@simba30]

What very engaging person John Kay is. I saw them in 1969 Legend

[@daviddow7803]

Love u John!

[@wolftracks9010]

Outstanding interview. John Kay has such a rich history and is a wonderful man. Point of interest: John recruited an excellent lead guitarist named Kent Henry, who had been with a band called Genesis: In The Beginning (1968). Nobody knows about this album because it is so rare. Anyone ever hear this album? I have a copy on Vinyl and CD and it's a must for anyone to hear.

[@CaptainGanja]

I have that album on vinyl and a CD version with extra tracks called "From Genesis to Revealation" (the original album title). Of course I also have my collection of Steppenwolf records and CDs which I liked first and still get into a lot. Been into Steppenwolf since first hearing them as a kid in 1968 or 1969. Love it!

[@wolftracks9010]

I love Steppenwolf also...great band. The "Genesis: In the Beginning" that I'm talking about is a totally different band than the Genesis with Peter Gabriel. It's an LA band featuring Sue Richman on vocals, Jack Tianna on vocals, Kent Henry on searing lead guitar, etc. and was released in 1968.

[@CaptainGanja]

Thanks for that correction. I was not aware of it as a band name. I guess that I have not heard of that album either but now am curious to hear it. Nice to learn something new. Again I thank you.

[@CaptainGanja]

@@wolftracks9010 Update, I just found a copy on KZbin and am listening right now. Cool man! 😎👍

[@wolftracks9010]

I'm glad you like it. The last track "World Without You" is where Kent Henry really gets to show off his chops. The CD has included a bonus track called "The Long Road", which can also be found on KZbin (check it out).

[@datruth9872]

Being a former military guard , (Holinfeild) in the early 70s , the wall was close and intensity even closer. So I know the John Kay story and I understand the story. Carry On John ! Great Job.

[@drewk1955]

Renegade still my favorite...

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Monster is my favorite album.

[@frankstared]

What's with cutting off Kay? Interviewer is going on about Wild when Kay gave him the meaning of life just seconds before. Forget hot sauce shilling, listen and think.

[@johnkuthe1]

Legend. :-)

[@worldismyoyster]

Fantastic interview!

[@jwagner1993]

Amazing man and soul.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Very interesting 🤔 and introspective.

[@dean828]

John Kay will be 80 in less than 3 weeks... as of the time of my comment... John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat; April 12, 1944)

[@toneyisaiah3556]

John Kay was talking about his early influences.

[@MrGunPilot]

Fascinating human. Brilliant mind.

[@simp2662]

He is an East Prussian.

[@519djw6]

*To be more specific, the part of East Prussia where John Kay was born is now part of Russia--although it is an exclave separated from the rest of Russia by Lithuania and Belarus. What "a magic carpet ride" he took!*

[@lesschoenberger3070]

This was awesome, thanks for this!!! But John is wrong, it was a Ford Falcon not a Matador that Mars bought!

[@tuleebird4637]

YES, a used white Ford Falcon. We didn't get the Matador 'til after Dennis/Mars got some of his first royalties from Born to Be Wild, when he bought a used '64 or '65 red Mustang convertible which we totaled hitting a cow dead-on on I-10 outside San Antonio. We had a family by then, and back in L.A., that's when we got the 4-door Matador . . . get it? . . . a Matador just in case we ran into any more cows or bulls on the highway. Heh.

[@lesschoenberger3070]

@@tuleebird4637 There is a movie about Steppenwolf coming out this month and on the trailer Mars said something like "I took LSD and to this day I'm not 100% sure that I'm not just dreaming all this!" I LOVE IT!!!

[@tuleebird4637]

@@lesschoenberger3070 Thank you. Yes! I saw that mentioned on the Einarson page yesterday (July 5) while he was in Facebook jail. lol Mars/Dennis is (and so was his brother Jerry, too) really very quick-witted with a very dry scathingly funny sense of humor. But Dennis really got the gift and knows how to turn a phrase. He often says the thing you can't forget.

[@lesschoenberger3070]

@@tuleebird4637 Please tell him I thought the Sparrow were great, and I always wondered if they had released some of their hard rock/blues songs as singles if they would've been successful before becoming Steppenwolf. And his song "Ride with me" should've been a huge hit, I still can't understand why it wasn't, it was great!!

[@harrybrooks8514]

“Monster/America” is a timeless song.

[@movid]

With Morrison, Fogerty, Ian Anderson, Daltrey... the strongest vocalists of the Golden age ❤❤ John Kay

[@toneyisaiah3556]

The album is now a collector 's item.

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

Monster was a great album

[@harrybrooks8514]

Anachronism alert: Mars Bonfire (aka Dennis Edmonton/McCrohan) couldn’t have had an AMC Matador in 1968. The car didn’t begin production until 1971. John probably had Dennis’s car mistaken for something else.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

He mentioned Larry Byrom.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

That was when stereo systems were huge.

[@frankstared]

It wasn't the drugs that killed them; it was systems that killed them

[@toneyisaiah3556]

He mentioned Cream and Jimi Hendrix.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Especially with the huge speakers.

[@tylerthompson1842]

What’s the name of the doc?

[@kevindick7485]

As many commenters have written all that can be stated with John Kay, my sentiments are of the same understanding . Kay has survived many ups and downs of the perils of the music entertainment industry. Aside of the band members that have filled various rolls of the Steppenwolf Pack , we still have a remarkable front man that this interview has broaden the playing field of the how's and the how nots of a volatile industry that still can be exploiters of musical talent . Though many things were not brought up because of time restraints one of the greatest interviews I have seen and heard with John Kay .

[@toneyisaiah3556]

John was influenced by the blues.

[@lesschoenberger3070]

He liked and listened to all kinds of music, all styles...

[@toneyisaiah3556]

He even mentioned Led Zeppelin!

[@frankstared]

What it takes 3:36

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Egos get in way.

[@ct1216]

The last Prussian.

[@Lucky-ou4vz]

Great Interview !!!