STEPPENWOLF Artpark, Lewiston NY

Steppenwolf burst onto the music scene from the ashes of Psychedelia in 1968. Originally formed in Toronto as The Sparrow, John Kay and company paid their musical dues in Canada, New York City and San Francisco before settling in Los Angeles in late 1967. Tired of the Hippie “Flower Power” scene, The Sparrow changed their name to Steppenwolf and began to develop a heavier, harder edge to their Blues based music.

The formula worked and Steppenwolf topped the charts with hits like “Born To Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride.” After a series of personnel changes and internal strife the group broke up in 1972. John Kay continued as a solo act until reforming the band as “John Kay and Steppenwolf.” I’ve been waiting to see Steppenwolf since I was 13 years old and I wasn’t disappointed when I finally got the chance as part of Artpark’s free “Tuesday Night at the Park Concert Series.” Steppenwolf rocked the crowd with all their major hits including “Born To Be Wild,” “Magic Carpet Ride,” “Rock Me Baby,” “Hey Lawdy Mama,” “Monster,” “Snowblind Friend” and “Screaming Night Hog.” John Kay also acknowledged his love of the Blues with a searing rendition of the Muddy Waters’song “Hootchie Cootche Man.” Steppenwolf’s encore of “The Pusher” was greeted with thunderous applause and it’s safe to say that the crowd of 5000 or more went home satisfied that night. My only regret is that John Kay refuses to tour with any of the remaining original members of the classic 1960’s lineup of Steppenwolf.

It’s interesting to note that John Kay mentioned that his family moved to Buffalo NY from Toronto in the early 1960’s. While in Buffalo, Kay played Folk music as  a solo artist in nightclubs and bars until the family moved back to Toronto around 1965. Another fascinating aspect of John Kay’s life is the fact that his first public performance occurred at an AM radio station once located in the Carillion Bell Tower of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Canada when the future Steppenwolf front man was only a teen. Kay also told the Artpark audience that this is a combined “40^th Anniversary” and “Farwell Tour" as he wants to give up public performance and retire. Let’s all hope that he follows in the footsteps of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Ozzy Osbourne who came back to live performance after a couple years of retirement. I’m sure many folks will agree that we’d love to see him come back to the Niagara Falls area in concert!!!