John Kay and his Mom are superheroes, think about it and your fluffy ass life. John Kay rocks in more ways than one.

John Kay..Steppenwolf.. was the first concert I ever went to… I think it was in 69.. at the old original Electric Factory in Philly.. I was in HS… it was the start of many shows..by many bands..! John.. you were my Little Richard..! The inspiration..! Since then I’ve been playing bass in a lot of bands….Thanks John..! 👍🏼❤️

I bought Steppenwolf Live when it came out in 1970. Two of the songs, Don't Step on the Grass, Sam and From Here to There Eventually irritated Mom and she confiscated my new double album and unsuccessfully hid it from me. Neither she nor I ever knew that John Kay had escaped communism. What an amazing story.

One of my favorite bands. Love his voice and songwriting. It never gets old.

When somebody would ask me "The Doors" or the "Rolling Stones"? Lol I'd answer "STEPPENWOLF" of course! 😘

I engineered one of John Kay's solo albums long after Steppenwolfe broke up, and was privileged to work with him in the studio for about a month. He took me aside one day and taught me how to get the Leslie organ sound that Steppenwolfe had. A real highlight moment! (But I am sworn to secrecy!)

Such an articulate, thoughtful man. And, a great musician!

John's Mother was a truly Brave person. Completely responsible for her Son's future and success.

I don't know if John Kay reads these comments? But, I worked as a mechanic at the Beverly Hills bicycle shop on Robertson Boulevard and I sold John Kay and his entire band some 10-speed road bikes. John invited me to their practice which I believe was in the Hollywood Hills? I kind of wish I had accepted, but I heard some stories about the band and heavy drug use. Anyway, I wanted to stop and say hi. Glad you survived all those tough years.

The eldest son (Danny Johnson) of my north Louisiana neighbors was the Steppenwolf guitarist for 20+ years. Rode the school bus with his younger brother in the mid 70s. In interviews he always speaks highly of the way John treated the band members.

this is one of the few documentaries about a rock star that i found intriguing from beginning to end. very impressed with John Kay and feel kind of privilidged to have seen him live.

Damn he sings amazing Voice got way better as he's aged!

"Easy Rider" was filmed in the first-half of 1968. When the music was added in post-production (Summer 1968), "Born To Be Wild" had just been released, and was a big hit right out of the box. It fit perfectly for the movie. Hence, its iconic inclusion. By the time Easy Rider was released (July 1969), Steppenwolf was by then one of the biggest American bands.

John Kay...🎸 With fogerty, dylan, Morrison, Beatles....one of rock's top, very top vocalists

They really should make a movie about him hell of a story

He never looks older. He will be sexy at 90. I love this man. I've seen them 4 times.

My wife, deceased in 2011,was glorious to have an original picture of John, autographed to her in person on the boardwalk, I had to sit down and get out of the 🌞 after Steppenwolf played, I found some at the corner of the wall and bandshell,sit down and his drummer walked by and said,"there they are" and she couldn't resist to talk to him and get the autograph picture.He's definitely a legend.He had his sunglasses on, definitely didn't act blind,he was moving fast up the boardwalk.Awesome.Bless her heart.

If any band should be in the Hall of Fame..when Steppenwolf first came out their music was perfect for the times. It spoke to us young people . I was in jr.high school my older brother was in college. Glad the sparrow came to California. Glad everything worked out. What a great story !

Saw John Kay in 94 downtown West Palm Beach, FOR FREE, just stumbled upon the stage with no idea he was performing....so cool, he was the nicest. Thank you for the bio on him wow ❤️

I met John in Daytona Beach Bike Week in 2000, after the concert at The Band Shell,he stopped took pictures and signed an autograph on the picture.

The Pusher made such an impression on me when I was young. The meter, the guitar, the dirty aspect of the whole thing. Steppenwold aren't forgotten, but they are more than 2 songs....

His mom was the best. He is a very lucky man. Good for him.😀👍

saw them twice in the late 70s early 80s. really good show

Steppenwolf rules !!! John Kay IS a rock god ! "Monster" is the best song by 'Wolf because it tells it like is.....rock on !

He just got better and better over time. John sounds as good as he did in 69. He is the personification of born to be wild.

Fantastic! I have been waiting about 50 years for this great film. Love John Kay and the Wolf!

I have always loved John Kay and his music remains for eternity on my playlist!

He has got a unique voice my favorite band of all time

What a fascinating, cool guy. I've always been a big fan of Steppenwolf, never knew anything about the band or the man behind them. Thanks for this great little documentary. Interesting that you can still hear traces of his German accent when he speaks. Considering the life he has led, he looks incredible.

This guy is an icon of 60's music.

So glad to see this! John and his cohorts in Steppenwolf created the soundtrack to my adolescence and I will never forget the inspiration I felt listening to The Ostrich, Draft Resister and Power Play, Don't Step on the Grass, among so many others. Wonderful man, wonderful values. Thank you so much, John. Bless you.

Intelligent, clear-minded and well-spoken. John Kay is fluent in the German language and has great historic and cultural knowledge about his homeland. He is also wonderfully North- American. He has been very fortunate in this life and he is fully aware of it. This man is one of the most impressive survivors of the 60's rock scene. John and his band, Steppenwolf belong in the rock hall of fame more than many whom have already been inducted. This man is a genuine rockstar and quite a gentleman to boot. AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY !!! THANK YOU !

Huge Steppenwolf fan. One of my all time favourite groups! So much great music. Monster is one example of the genius of John Kay. A masterpiece. One of the BEST rock groups EVER!♥️🎶

I never knew about Johns background until now...Amazing!

Mr. Kay, You were my first crush as a young girl. I had no idea all the struggles you've endured. You certainly deserved every drop of fame. I hope you and your family are living in peace, and I pray God blesses you dearly.

He is absolutely awesome. What a biography! The obstacles he had to overcome is astounding. Makes my struggles seem like nothing. Yet he developed into the incredible person that he is today. I finally got to see my favorite band, Steppenwolf, several years ago and John Kay still had it together. He was the only original member, needless to say, and I don't believe anyone on stage was younger than 50. Rock on John. Love ya!

Steppenwolf fans, What incredible obstacles John Kay had to overcome!!! What resilience! I have a deep respect and admiration for Kay! John Kay's success in America proves the old saying of America being the land of opportunity! One of my all-time favorite Guitarists is Michael Monarch! Noticibly, Monarch's time with the band was Steppenwolf's most fruitful! Michael had a Great sound and was very charismatic. Sadly, the crazy sex, drugs and Rock And Roll lifestyle caused Monarch's departure in '69. My all-time.favorite Steppenwolf track is "Rock Me"!

When I was a kid around 10 I was really sick. My sister was 7 years older than me and she asked me if there was anything that would help me feel better. I said yes, the only thing that would make me happy right now is if I had the Steppenwolf album with magic carpet ride on it. I think this was around 68. I played it constantly and still have it today at 61 years of age. Still listen to it.

John is a real treasure, was my go to guy late 60's to now

Seeing this blew me away! As a young teenager kids my age were to young to be real hippies, instead we were the second wave of that movement, but we really dug the same music. It was the Easy Rider soundtrack record that introduced us to Steppenwolf. Wow what a story this documentary. Saw them at the Boathouse in Norfolk Va. Great show !

Loving his rendition of "walkin blues" here.. missed the part of how he was introduced to his first guitar. Thanks for this video .!

This gentleman is really a german export to be proud of: immortal figure in Rock history, charismatic frontman - and still in my top five of Rock singers. Thank you, Elsbeth Krauledat, for being such a brave and giving mother!

Terrific I didn't know any of this.. very interesting bought their first album in 1968

Steppenwolf should be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

I grew up listening to steppenwolf they were one of my favorites

My first Concert, Steppenwolf, 1967- Duluth Minnesota; while my Brother was in Vietnam, my sister in law, took me see them. They saw the Monster, the rest just nurtured.

A great talent who was way ahead of his time then,and still is! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

What an incredible documentary about one of the greatest, if not THE greatest songwriter/musicians of our times. Thanks so much for posting this. Cheers.

I must say that I shed a tear over his Christmas story.

Best rockumentry I have ever seen. Thanks for posting

Wow I never knew. Timeless definitive, classic rock and roll. His music will live on. Had a chance to see him back in their hey day. I missed out big time. I wonder what happened to his father.

THANK YOU for posting! Great!

What a story! What a life! To come here and share his voice with us in a time we needed exactly what he had to say! Even now, his lyrics are nearly prophetic! Plus the fact that his voice is incomparable. Nobody ever has sounded like John Kay and never will. His songs will live forever. I came to rock music with my brother trying to learn guitar to Steppenwolf songs. Anyway thanks for sharing these docs and music. Just very grateful to you for doing this. ❤

He was leading the birth of Hard Rock! My respect for John has gone up a few notches!

This is an amazing story ,I would have never guessed his past in a million years

love john kay...hes awesome......................

I just found now out who John Kay was from this video. Thank you. Of course I've heard the music, which is great. The second I saw him on the screen I thought, is that a movie star that I never heard of? Apparently in addition to being talented, he's a good person who moved in with his wife on the first date and are still together til this day. This story is uplifting. Thanks.

John Kay doing Delta Blues and killing it … trip . Saw Steppenwolf in the 80's John owned the place just by walking on stage .

Always cool to see John sing on TV back in the day.

This is one of the best and most enlightening interviews I've ever seen. It must be difficult for him to have imagined that a simple phrase that HE SANG AND MADE FAMOUS, as a simple (but incredibly precise and poetic) line in a song, would, as one of the commentators said, come to define an entire genre of music. I count myself seriously fortunate to have heard Steppenwolf on one of their tours after they'd "reunited", there may have been some band-member changes but as long as they had John Kay singing, any other personnel changes, while regrettable, were certainly understandable, given the span of years. (This concert would have been in the early 90's I think). I remember the night as incredible, and thinking that Kay had not lost even a micron off his 'edge'. His delivery was powerful and perfectly timed, his passion undiminished. The venue was "Star Lake" a relatively new outdoor amphitheater built outside Pittsburgh (like...WAY...outside...past Imperial, PA... damn near the WVa. border.) But a great concert and a great night regardless. To hear the personal obstacles he's overcome helps one understand the power and the drive behind his voice, (and MASSIVE kudos to his mother) and yet listening to him speak, he seems like a perfectly down-to-Earth guy, who could care less about his status as a true living legend of rock music. I wish you continued health, a good life and peace, John.

One of the most inspiring stories I've heard.

The real deal...John Kay. Can't believe how good this documentary is. Very revealing.

John Kay & Steppenwolf.. One of the greats.

When I was a young teen back in the late 60s I was with my dad at a drive-in restaurant in his old Dodge . We were sitting in the car waiting on the food while Born to be Wild was playing on the loud speakers outside. My dad said no wonder this generation of young people are going crazy listen to that music! I remember thinking yes listen to that band's sound I love it...lol I've got to find that album and buy it!! After that I have been a big fan of John Kay and Steppenwolf for decades. So much so that I consider them being part of the building blocks of my musical taste.

My first concert 1972, Stepenwolf, opening act, James Gang, Jacksonville coluseam. Great concert, Great documentary!

Thanks John for your openness

Big fan John Kay is a very well spoken intelligent guy If love to see them perform again.

I had bought Kay's solo album on a clearance album rack, years ago. Its called Forgotten songs and Heroes. It was released in 1972. I still have the LP. He plays his favs of who musically influenced him. Very nice record. Always a keeper in my collection.

Never seen this biography, Big Steppenwolf fan.

John is a very well spoken and intelligent man. It’s a pleasure to listen to him tell his story.

I was hooked on John Kay and Steppenwolf since the 60s, and now so more than ever. He is an awesome person

I was in my early teens during his hey day and thought he was the epitome of "cool".

Thank you so much for this. I've admired this man and his poetic music for many years and love to see his history! Again....THANK YOU!

Brilliant recap, and so apropos for 2023. I hope more folks get to see this the life of John K and his band and what it takes to survive in this world and make a difference. Thank you.

If i have any " heroes " left, ( IF), then John Kay is on that list. Much love and admiration.

Wow, what a life story.. Thanks for posting! What an impressive guy.

This is brilliant! I remember seeing the Steppenwolf documentary on MTVs Behind the Music but this blows that documentary away by far! So glad i found this on KZfaq!

He definitely has one of the best voices in rock history . Great voice and great songs

John Kay had a powerful testimony one night at the Last Chance in Poughkeepsie. He found the Lord! Amen.

Saw them about 6 times. They would play lulu's roadhouse in kitchener Ontario Canada. They would play there once or twice a year. The 90's were awesome they still had it.

He never aged he looks 30 years old

I was 11 in 1969.My mother and father belonged to the Columbia Record Club,we were getting all the rock n' roll albums.When they were working I had the stereo on full blast and tapping on a metal stool for a drum and it was on.The old man next door played guitar on his front porch and drank dandelion wine,he paid me 25 cents for each star chocolate basket full of dandelion flowers.

John Kay- Champion and Legend

Steppenwolf 7 is my favorite album by them . Every song is great ! Of course, they had a lot of other great songs too !!

He's got a German accent but he can sings the blues like an old blues man!

Great Band 🎵🎼🎶🎸😎👊

My favorite band growing up. Seen John perform a dozen times over the years.

Was introduced to John Kay’s music back in the 1970’s. When I was in school

Als junger Mann war ich all Ihrer Musik ausgesetzt, mein Vater arbeitete für RCA und ABC Dunhill. Schön, einen Überblick darüber zu bekommen, warum Ihre Musik den Test der Zeit bestanden hat.

This is beyond awesome, I can't say thank you strong enough!!!!

He looks pretty damn good for 75.

Born to be wild🦁🦊 his mom made the right choice 🐣

I was lucky enough to see Steppenwolf in Bangor Maine on their "For Ladies Only" tour, 1971 I believe.Tickets were $3 or $4.00 I think, was a long time ago.Fantastic show, I do remember that !

Saw them live back in the 90s ,they were fantastic, one of my favorites,

My mom lived very close to where John is from. She was 16 when her farm was blown apart by the Russian army and left on a train also, she made it to West Germany and eventually her parents escaped around the same time John did. The weird thing is she married a GI and ended up in Buffalo. Johns mom and John also lived in Buffalo for a short time. Wish I would have known this when I met John once at NAMM show he was promoting his Rickenbacker signature model. I was too stunned to really talk much because Steppenwolf were like Gods to me. Easily one of the greatest bands ever.

JOHN KAY I LOVE YOUR HISTORY FAMILY BOOKING, YOU ARE VERY GOOD PERSON, WONDERFUL ARTIST, MERVEILLOUS VOICE😅AND PERFECT GUITARIST😊😂❤😂🎉❤😂🎉I LOVE YOUR GROUP, MANY SONGS.......IT'S TO MUCH FOR ME❤😂🎉❤😂🎉❤😂🎉❤😂🎉😊😅SEE YOU 😅😊

This is the best documentary!

I think I can safely say that John Kay has to be one of the top five East-German born, immigrants to Canada then America who innovated a new genre of Rock music ever! Seriously, I have always loved watching his rare interviews, where you see the real man. He is a very intelligent, considerate person.

John Kay is a legend

Rock Hall of Fame is a scam..cause Steppenwolf ain’t in it