On this day in 1950, Michael Monarch, guitarist for hard-rock band
Steppenwolf during their late '60s heyday, was born in Los Angeles.
The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist John Kay, an East
German immigrant, in Los Angeles in 1967.
In addition to Monarch on guitar,
the band featured Goldy McJohn on organ, Rushton Moreve on bass and Jerry
Edmonton on drums. A producer named them after the Herman Hesse novel of
the same name.
Steppenwolf's eponymous debut album, issued in 1968 on Dunhill Records,
contained the classic road anthem "Born To Be Wild," which was a #2 smash.
The song featured the line "heavy metal thunder," which popularized the term
"heavy metal" to describe hard-rock music. Featuring the sunglasses-wearing
Kay's gruff vocals, "Born To Be Wild" became a counterculture anthem and was
used in the infamous biker/drug film "Easy Rider," along with another
Steppenwolf track, "The Pusher."
In 1968, The Second spawned another huge hit, "Magic Carpet Ride."
Steppenwolf also had a #10 hit with "Rock Me," from the film "Candy."
Before the release of the album At Your Birthday Party (1969),
Monarch quit the band to work with Janis Joplin and Deep Purple's Roger
Glover.
In 1972, the rest of the group disbanded, later re-forming in 1974
for a few years. Monarch played in the heavy-metal band Detective -- with
Michael DesBarres -- in the second half of the '70s. In the meantime, Kay
re-formed Steppenwolf as John Kay and Steppenwolf and toured the oldies
circuit.
Monarch recently has played guitar in Denny Laine and His World
Classic Rockers, the band formed by ex-Moody Blues and Wings guitarist
Denny Laine. Monarch also is touring the West Coast as a solo act this year.
Despite this lower profile, Monarch's guitar will always remain a key
ingredient in one of the signature rock anthems from the '60s.
Other birthdays: Robbie Robertson (the Band), 54, and Huey Lewis, 48.
|
