It was a shock to see Steppenwolf in 71, play in this then small town of 20,000 inhabitants. My buddy was a newbie writer for the local paper, and got 2 tickets, and stage passes to sit dead front and center, for the shows duration. Great Show with no raised stage. I kept thinking John Kay was going to swing his mic stand a bit wild and knock me out of my chair. It was the last place on earth I ever expected to see Steppenwolf play, in a 1 Horse Town......
Back to the OP, what ever happened at the Lil' dickhead's estate? Hopefully he took a bullet to the head???
Michael you can't mention Steppinwolf without mentioning there great 60s drug anthem "The Pusher" One of the best lines I've ever heard was............ "You know I've seen a lot of people walking round with tombstones in there eyes". Enjoy,
Yep, the Pusher was a good track, ditto my favorite Steppenwolf song Snow Blind Friend. Heard this Twenty Something say after a play of "Magic Carpet Ride" that "those guys must have been on drugs. I informed the twit that Steppenwolf liked a little love grass but were strongly anti-drug and cited the Pusher and Snow Blind Friend as examples. There is a so called "Classic Rock Station" in Tampa Bay and if you listen for about a week you can predict what will be played on a daily basis. And Matty is right, what tops the charts is not necessarily for all. John Cougar Mellonhead, are you shitting me "classic rock, but you hear him daily on "Tampas Classic Rock". An old favorite of mine was Signs by the Five Man Electrical Band, got a lot of airplay but when I bought the album found there was much better stuff on board.
...if you like Steppenwolf, you need to listen to the lyrics of "Monster"....it was true in the 70's, and it still rings true today. Once the religious, the hunted and weary Chasing the promise of freedom and hope Came to this country to build a new vision Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope Like good Christians, some would burn the witches Later some got slaves to gather riches But still from near and far to seek America They came by thousands to court the wild But she just patiently smiled and bore a child To be their spirit and guiding light And once the ties with the crown had been broken Westward in saddle and wagon it went And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean Many the lives which had come to an end While we bullied, stole and bought our homeland We began the slaughter of the red man But still from near and far to seek America They came by thousands to court the wild But she just patiently smiled and bore a child To be their spirit and guiding light The blue and gray they stomped it They kicked it just like a dog And when the war was over They stuffed it just like a hog And though the past has it's share of injustice Kind was the spirit in many a way But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping Now it's a monster and will not obey The spirit was freedom and justice And it's keepers seem friendly and kind It's leaders were supposed to serve the country But now they won't pay it no mind 'Cause the people got fat and grew lazy Now their vote is like a meaningless joke You know they talk about law, about order But it's all just an echo of what they've been told 'Cause there's a monster on the loose It's got our heads into a noose And it just sits there watchin' Our cities have turned into jungles And corruption is stranglin' the land The police force is watching the people And the people just can't understand We don't know how to mind our own business 'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us Now we are fighting a war over there No matter who's the winner, we can't pay the cost 'Cause there's a monster on the loose It's got our heads into the noose And it just sits there watching America where are you now? Don't you care about your sons and daughters? Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster America where are you now? Don't you care about your sons and daughters? Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster Read more: Steppenwolf - Monster Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Yep have that one as well, still play those Steppenwolf tunes when I can get to them. My problem with music is that I like most the rhythm base formats and American Pop of the Forties and Fifties . Respect the abilities of Broadway Jazz, and Classical Musicians and singers but don't go out of my way in support them. I'm as likely to listen to Peter, Paul, and Mary or the Kingston Trio , Sinatra, or Bennett as well as Joe Walsh or Peter Frampton. Strange how things happen in music and how we relate to the artists. I always respected Willie Nelson for his songwriting and guitar playing abilities. I also view him as a disgrace because he always looks like he crawled out of a Dipsy Dumpster. Don't think he's that great of a singer but to me the man owns "Always On My Mind' . I've heard singer with "better" voices do it but Nelson just flat out owns it and has come to be one of my favorite Country tunes ever.
Wow, I have not heard Signs in ages, I loved that tune and band. There were a shit load of great Musicians, Bands, and tunes in this time frame.....seems like James Taylor's Sweet Baby James, "Fire and Sky" were both big hits around that same time frame.
I knew a guy in Orlando who could hit any of Louie Armstrongs tunes note for note and oddly enough the guy was white and in his mid -sixties at the time. I heard him do Kiss To Build a Dream on, Cabaret, Wonderful World using karaoke backing tracks but with the words removed he had all his stuff memorized. Normally I dislike imitators but to see this guy sing those tunes was amazing. He could also do Matin & Lweis Tunes imitationg both men to a T. None the less though Armstrong had that unique voice and delivery. When you hear records from Nelson & Armstrong you know immediately who they are. I've always said that if Cash had not come up with the boom chicka boom sound he may have not made it. I heard him sing with conventional Country Bands and not good at all. But he came up with a way to frame his voice and was successful. Good songwriter but if you look at Folsom Prison Blues and Crescent City Blues you'll plainly see why Cash had to pay Gordon Jenkins some big bucks. Liked Cashs rhythm style on the acoustic guitar as well. Dylan to me had a terrible voice but again damn good songwriter. And again unique, any one of those 4 were immediately recognizable voice wise.
I've been to tons of Concerts, at about every "type" of venue. From small nightclubs, that barely hold 300 people up to 500. Amphitheaters, both outdoors and Indoors, Civic Centers, Auditoriums, and NBA/NHL Indoor Stadiums, approx: 18, to 20K Fans. To outdoor Stadiums jam packed. Of all the concerts/shows I've been to, only one Musician (Dylan), had the drawing power of people, to see approximately 20K Fans in the Great Western Forum; where all Fans (other than myself) left their seats, and made a standing room only circle around the stage, and stayed standing there for the duration of Dylan's Concerts.
