(L-R John Kay, Steve Palmer, Michael Palmer, Brett Tuggle, Chad Peery)

 

Damned if I can remember why the grins.  Maybe it was Herbie Worthington with his Jesus robe and Nikon cameras.

 

On the right we're wearing our badass expressions. I think it was the same photo shoot.

 

 

It was 1979, and I’d been out of the Bob Welch Band since the tour’s end in the fall of ‘78.  During this time, I was a member of the James Barry Band (son of Gene Barry) working up original material and doing countless showcases for record company dinks and anyone else we thought could get us that golden record deal.  We played the usual circuit of clubs at the time-- the Whisky, the Roxy, Madam Wongs, the Troubador, and even appeared in a movie that never got released (“We’re All Crazy Now,” starring Joan Jett).  We were a pretty good band, and we even had the financial backing of one of James’ friends, Ross Bagdasarian of the Chipmunks fame (he was the voice of Alvin), but alas, no record deal came our way and the band just kind of fell apart.  Around Thanksgiving of ‘79, I got a call (never could remember who the tip came from, but thanks, dude!) tipping me off that Steppenwolf was auditioning for a bass player.  Woo Hoo!  Steppenwolf! 

 

I’d seen the band play in the 1969 in London at the Marquee Club (King Crimson opened), owned all the early albums, loved “Don’t Step on the Grass” and “the Pusher”, and was floored like everyone else when Peter Fonda’s and Dennis Hopper’s Harleys thundered across the screen as “Born to be Wild” ripped from those Voice-of-the-Theater speakers.  No more sleazy clubs for me!  This was MY gig, the BIG ONE!  I auditioned in John Kay’s home studio in the Hollywood Hills, playing with John and two guys known as the Palmer Brothers-- Michael on guitar, and Steve on drums.  These cats were top-notch musicians, they liked me, I liked them, everything was cool, so we rehearsed, (Danny Ironstone was on keyboards back then), 

 

So, in January of 1980, it was the "Return of the Wolf" as the John Kay & Steppenwolf band that later came to be known as “the 80’s Club,” hit the road.  Literally.  What I came to learn was that the name Steppenwolf had been run into the ground during the previous years by a number of “bogus wolf’s”-- bands calling themselves Steppenwolf and playing Steppenwolf songs, but without legal rights to the name.  Later, a drummer friend of mine recounted playing in one of those bands.  He told me they tried to pass the singer off as John Kay, and on one occasion a PO’ed  fan shot at the band, chasing them off the stage.  Luckily for him, he quit, and has since had a long, productive run with a quality, name band. 

 

The mission of this early John Kay & Steppenwolf was to go out and play anywhere and everywhere, and town by town, city by city, state by state, rebuild the name and reputation of Steppenwolf.  At the time, we could only afford one roadie, who doubled as the sound man.  The drummer let us use his old Ford van nicknamed “The Crippler” because, given time, with its bone-crushing suspension and cruel seats it could wreck the back of any man.  The roadie drove that van loaded with our gear, while the band had it better-- we rode in John Kay’s family RV (after what we put it though, it should be in a museum).  It was a Dodge Ram van with an extended roof, and had a couch, table, captains chairs, and a toilet that we were forbidden to use, ever, never.  We all took turns driving, except John Kay, who is legally blind, and so we made him the navigator. 

 

I was used to setting up my own gear and tearing down after a set, and for the first six months or so, we were the real deal-- road warriors driving ourselves, setting up our gear, playing, and tearing down.  And you know, we had a blast.  Everywhere we played we put on a great show, and town by town, state by state, we won it back.  From there, we went on to take our rightful place, touring the world and playing concert venues that befit the name Steppenwolf.

 

By the way, don't let me forget to tell you about some of the places we played, the things we did, and all that  went down!