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He's turning 75 today: John Kay, of The Sparrows and Steppenwolf
Hat tip, This Day in Rock:
1944 – John Kaye (Steppenwolf) is born this day in Rock History! John Kay (Joachim Krauledat) of Steppenwolf is born in Tilsit, Germany. The group’s biggest hit is the 1968 No. 2 song “Born to Be Wild.” Later, “Magic Carpet Ride” would gain notoriety in the movies; Star Trek – First Contact… and Austin Powers – The Spy who Shagged me.
John Kay (musician)
Birth name: Joachim Fritz Krauledat
Born: 12 April 1944 (age 74), Tilsit, East Prussia, Nazi Germany
Years active: 1964–present
Associated acts: The Sparrows, Steppenwolf, The John Kay Band,
Website: www.steppenwolf.com
John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, 12 April 1944) is a German-Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf. His father Fritz was killed a month before he was born. When Kay was a baby in early 1945, his mother fled with him from the advancing Soviet troops during the Evacuation of East Prussia in harsh winter conditions. Their train got stuck near Arnstadt, which was first occupied by Americans, but then became part of the East German Soviet occupation zone. In 1949, they crossed the already fortified border to resettle in Hanover, West Germany (as recounted in his song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf 7). Now living in the British occupation zone, the young Joachim, who suffered from eye problems, listened to broadcasts by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, like the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany. He also saw a news reel about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, shot and smuggled out by László Kovács of later Easy Rider fame. His family moved to Canada in 1958.
Musical career
Kay joined a blues rock and folk music group known as The Sparrows in 1965, which had moderate success in Canada before moving to California, augmenting its line-up and changing its name to Steppenwolf in 1967. With music that pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, Kay's Steppenwolf had international success with songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", "Monster", "The Pusher", and "Rock Me".
....
Awards and recognition
In 2004, although never becoming a Canadian citizen, Kay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in recognition of the beginning of his musical career in Toronto. Kay was present at the induction ceremony in Toronto, and reiterated his strong affection for Canada.
Personal life
Kay is married to Jutta Maue, whom he met in 1965 in Canada while she was working in a coffeehouse where Kay's band, The Sparrows, was playing. They have one daughter, Shawn. The couple founded the Maue-Kay Foundation, which supports human rights and the protection of wildlife and the environment.
Discography
Main article: Steppenwolf discography
Birth name: Joachim Fritz Krauledat
Born: 12 April 1944 (age 74), Tilsit, East Prussia, Nazi Germany
Years active: 1964–present
Associated acts: The Sparrows, Steppenwolf, The John Kay Band,
Website: www.steppenwolf.com
John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, 12 April 1944) is a German-Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf. His father Fritz was killed a month before he was born. When Kay was a baby in early 1945, his mother fled with him from the advancing Soviet troops during the Evacuation of East Prussia in harsh winter conditions. Their train got stuck near Arnstadt, which was first occupied by Americans, but then became part of the East German Soviet occupation zone. In 1949, they crossed the already fortified border to resettle in Hanover, West Germany (as recounted in his song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf 7). Now living in the British occupation zone, the young Joachim, who suffered from eye problems, listened to broadcasts by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, like the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany. He also saw a news reel about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, shot and smuggled out by László Kovács of later Easy Rider fame. His family moved to Canada in 1958.
Musical career
Kay joined a blues rock and folk music group known as The Sparrows in 1965, which had moderate success in Canada before moving to California, augmenting its line-up and changing its name to Steppenwolf in 1967. With music that pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, Kay's Steppenwolf had international success with songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", "Monster", "The Pusher", and "Rock Me".
....
Awards and recognition
In 2004, although never becoming a Canadian citizen, Kay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in recognition of the beginning of his musical career in Toronto. Kay was present at the induction ceremony in Toronto, and reiterated his strong affection for Canada.
Personal life
Kay is married to Jutta Maue, whom he met in 1965 in Canada while she was working in a coffeehouse where Kay's band, The Sparrows, was playing. They have one daughter, Shawn. The couple founded the Maue-Kay Foundation, which supports human rights and the protection of wildlife and the environment.
Discography
Main article: Steppenwolf discography
Let's go right to my favorite Steppenwolf tune. I posted this just before the election of 2016. I still think about it all the time.
Hoyt Axton, whose birthday we celebrated a few weeks ago, wrote this tune:
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+pusher+lyrics
The Pusher
Steppenwolf
You know I've smoked a lot of grass
O'Lord, I've popped a lot of pills
But I mever touched nothin'
That my spirit could kill
You know, I've seen a lot of people walkin' 'round
With tombstones in their eyes
But the pusher don't care
Ah, if you live or if you die
God damn, the pusher
God damn, I say the pusher
I said God damn, God damn the pusher man
You know the dealer, the dealer is a man
With the love grass in his hand
Oh but the pusher is a monster
Good God, he's not a natural man
The dealer for a nickel
Lord, will sell you lots of sweet dreams
Ah, but the pusher ruin your body
Lord, he'll leave your, he'll leave your mind to scream
God damn, the pusher
God damn, I say the pusher
I said…
1 replies
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