# List of Steppenwolf members

Steppenwolf was a Canadian-American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1967, the group originally consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Kay, lead guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Nick St. Nicholas, drummer Jerry Edmonton and keyboardist Goldy McJohn. The band's final lineup featured Kay, keyboardist Michael Wilk (since 1982, and bassist between 1984 and 2009), bassist Gary Link (from 1982 to 1984, and since 2009), drummer Ron Hurst (since 1984) and lead guitarist Danny Johnson (since 1996).

## History
### 1967–1976

Steppenwolf evolved from the Sparrows in late 1967 and originally included John Kay, Michael Monarch, Rushton Moreve, Jerry Edmonton and Goldy McJohn. After the release of two studio albums, Moreve was fired in early 1969 for failure to appear at several performances, with former Sparrows bassist Nick St. Nicholas taking his place. Monarch left the group in August, with Larry Byrom taking his place in time for the recording of Monster. St. Nicholas ceased working with Steppenwolf in April 1970, and was formally excluded from the band the following year. He was replaced by George Biondo. Byrom was replaced by Kent Henry for the 1971 release For Ladies Only. In February 1972, Steppenwolf disbanded; Kay, Henry and Biondo continued working together, while Edmonton and McJohn formed a group called Manbeast.
In early 1974 Steppenwolf reformed, with guitarist Bobby Cochran joining returning members Kay, Biondo, Edmonton and McJohn. Kay fired McJohn the following February, with Andy Chapin taking his place. The new keyboardist declined to tour with the group, however, and was replaced by Wayne Cook. The band released three studio albums during its second tenure, before disbanding in late 1976. Following the group's second breakup, former members St. Nicholas and McJohn formed a band dubbed "New Steppenwolf", it was licensed and legit until 1980 at which time the licensing agreement wasn't complied with prompting Kay and Edmonton (who owned the rights to use the name) to take legal action.

### 1980–2018

Kay reformed the band as "John Kay and Steppenwolf" in January 1980, rebuilding the group with brothers Michael (lead guitar) and Steve Palmer (drums), bassist Kurtis Teel and keyboardist Danny Ironstone (Teel and Ironstone were soon replaced by Chad Peery and Brett Tuggle, respectively). Peery and Tuggle performed on the 1981 live album Live in London, but were replaced for the recording of the following year's studio return Wolftracks by Welton Gite and Michael Wilk, respectively. Gary Link took over on bass for 1984's Paradox but had left alongside the Palmer brothers by the end of the year, with Rocket Ritchotte (lead guitar) and Ron Hurst (drums) joining shortly after, and keyboardist Michael Wilk took the bass. The band released Rock & Roll Rebels in 1987, which was the group's first to feature the four-piece lineup.
Ritchotte left Steppenwolf in 1989 to tour with the David Lee Roth Band, returning the following year and remaining until late 1993. During his time away from the band, he was replaced briefly by Les Dudek, and later by Steve Fister. Following his departure, Fister returned to Steppenwolf for another three-year run. In 1996, Danny Johnson joined Steppenwolf in place of the departed Fister. Bassist Gary Link rejoined the band in 2009. In October 2018, at the end of the band's 50th anniversary tour, Kay announced that the group had officially retired.

## Members

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| John Kay | 1967–19721974–19761980–2018 | lead vocalsrhythm and slide guitarsharmonicakeyboards (2007–2011)bass (2007–2009) | all Steppenwolf releases |
| Jerry Edmonton | 1967–19721974–1976 (died 1993) | drumspercussionbacking and occasional lead vocals | all Steppenwolf releases from Steppenwolf (1968) to Skullduggery (1976) |
| Goldy McJohn | 1967–19721974–1975 (died 2017) | keyboardsbacking vocals | all Steppenwolf releases from Steppenwolf (1968) to Slow Flux (1974) |
| Michael Monarch | 1967–1969 | lead guitarbacking vocals | Steppenwolf (1968)The Second (1968)At Your Birthday Party (1969) |
| Rushton Moreve | 1967–19681978 (died 1981) | bassbacking vocals | Steppenwolf (1968)The Second (1968) |
| Nick St. Nicholas | 1968–1970 | bassbacking and occasional lead vocals | At Your Birthday Party (1969)Early Steppenwolf (1969)Monster (1969)Live (1970) |
| Larry Byrom | 1969–1971 | lead guitarbacking vocals | Monster (1969)Live (1970)Steppenwolf 7 (1970) |
| George Biondo | 1970–19721974–1976 | bassbacking and occasional lead vocals | all Steppenwolf releases from Steppenwolf 7 (1970) to Skullduggery (1976)Wolftracks (1982) – guest backing vocals |
| Kent Henry | 1971–1972 (died 2009) | lead guitar | For Ladies Only (1971) |
| Bobby Cochran | 1974–1976 | lead guitarbacking vocals | Slow Flux (1974)Hour of the Wolf (1975)Skullduggery (1976) |
| Andy Chapin | 1975 (died 1985) | keyboards | Hour of the Wolf (1975) |
| Wayne Cook | 1975–1976 | keyboards | Skullduggery (1976) |
| Michael Palmer | 1980–1985 | lead guitarbacking vocals | Live in London (1981)Wolftracks (1982)Paradox (1984) |
| Steve Palmer | 1980–1985 | drumspercussionbacking vocals | Live in London (1981)Wolftracks (1982)Paradox (1984) |
| Danny Ironstone | 1980 | keyboardsbacking vocals | none |
| Kurtis Teel | 1980 | bassbacking vocals | none |
| Chad Peery | 1980–1981 | bass | Live in London (1981) |
| Brett Tuggle | 1980–1982 (died 2022) | keyboardsbacking vocals | Live in London (1981)Wolftracks (1982) – backing vocals onlyParadox (1984) – backing vocals only |
| Welton Gite | 1981–1982 | bass | Wolftracks (1982) |
| Michael Wilk | 1982–20072011–2018 | keyboardsprogrammingpianobacking vocalsbass (1984–2007) | all Steppenwolf releases from Wolftracks (1982) onwards |
| Gary Link | 1982–19842009–2018 | bassbacking vocals | Paradox (1984) |
| Ron Hurst | 1984–2018 | drumsbacking vocals | all Steppenwolf releases from Rock & Roll Rebels (1987) onwards |
| Rocket Ritchotte | 1985–19891990–1993 | lead guitarbacking vocals | Rock & Roll Rebels (1987)Rise & Shine (1990)Live at 25 (1995)Feed the Fire (1996) |
| Les Dudek | 1989 | lead guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Steve Fister | 1989–19901993–1996 | lead guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Danny Johnson | 1996–2018 | lead guitarmandolinbacking vocals | Feed the Fire (1996)Live in Louisville (2000) |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| Late 1967 – early 1969 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Monarch – lead guitar, backing vocals Rushton Moreve – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Early Steppenwolf (1969) Steppenwolf (1968) The Second (1968) |
| Early – August 1969 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Monarch – lead guitar, backing vocals Nick St. Nicholas – bass, backing and occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | At Your Birthday Party (1969) |
| September 1969 – April 1970 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Larry Byrom – lead guitar, backing vocals Nick St. Nicholas – bass, backing and lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Monster (1969) Steppenwolf Live (1970) |
| May 1970 – early 1971 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Larry Byrom – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing and occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Steppenwolf 7 (1970) |
| Early 1971 – February 1972 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Kent Henry – lead guitar George Biondo – bass, occasional lead vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | For Ladies Only (1971) |
| Band inactive February 1972 – early 1974 |||
| Early 1974 – February 1975 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Goldy McJohn – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Slow Flux (1974) |
| March – August 1975 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Andy Chapin – keyboards | Hour of the Wolf (1975) |
| August 1975 – late 1976 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Bobby Cochran – lead guitar, backing vocals George Biondo – bass, backing vocals Jerry Edmonton – drums, percussion, backing vocals Wayne Cook – keyboards | Skullduggery (1976) |
| Band inactive late 1976 – early 1980 |||
| Early 1980 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Kurtis Teel – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Danny Ironstone – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | none |
| 1980–1981 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Chad Peery – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Brett Tuggle – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Live in London (1981) |
| 1981–1982 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Welton Gite – bass Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Wolftracks (1982) |
| 1982–1984 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Michael Palmer – lead guitar, backing vocals Gary Link – bass, backing vocals Steve Palmer – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | Paradox (1984) |
| 1985–1989 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Rocket Ritchotte – lead guitar, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Rock & Roll Rebels (1987) Rise & Shine (1990) |
| 1989 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Les Dudek – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | none |
| 1989–1990 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Steve Fister – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | none |
| 1990–1993 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Rocket Ritchotte – lead guitar, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Live at 25 (1995) |
| 1993–1996 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Steve Fister – lead guitar Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | none |
| 1996–2009 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Danny Johnson – lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals Michael Wilk – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Feed the Fire (1996) Live in Louisville (2004) |
| 2009 – October 2018 | John Kay – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica Danny Johnson – lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals Gary Link – bass, backing vocals Ron Hurst – drums, percussion, backing vocals Michael Wilk – keyboards, piano, backing vocals | none |