September 19, 1968: Steppenwolf earn a Gold record for their US #2 hit, "Born to be Wild". It reached #18 in the UK….

 Although "Born To Be Wild" is often used in films about biker gangs (like in Easy Rider )  …

 It was originally written by Steppenwolf band member Mars Bonfire as a slow ballad, but he did it mid-tempo as a solo act in 1969…

So, who is this Mars Bonfire cat?

Mars Bonfire

Dennis Edmonton (born 21 April 1943 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada), also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf...


Born Dennis Eugene McCrohan, he and his brother Jerry changed their surnames to Edmonton in the early 1960s. The brothers were part of a band called The Sparrows which later evolved into Steppenwolf. Another member of The Sparrows was Bruce Palmer who later became a member of Buffalo Springfield…


A "few" more tunes written by Mars Bonfire and recorded by John Kay and STEPPENWOLF...

"Faster Than The Speed of Life" (’68) 

 

“Ride with Me" (’71) 

 

"Tenderness" (’71) 

 

"The Night Time's for You" --co-write w/Morgan Cavett (’71)

Plus a tune titled "Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World)" in 1975 which, unfortunately I can’t find in digital…

Mars Bonfire

YEP,  John Kay’s STEPPENWOLF got a bit of action out of tunes written by Mars Bonfire…

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