The Untold Story of Born to Be Wild: A Canadian Legacy Behind an American Rock Anthem

Born to Be Wild: The Canadian Roots of an American Rock Anthem

Released in 1968, Born to Be Wild is more than just a song—it is a cultural phenomenon. Its raw energy, defiant spirit, and unforgettable guitar riff have cemented it as one of the most powerful rock anthems ever recorded. It has been featured in countless movies, television shows, commercials, and live performances. But behind its rebellious roar lies an unexpected origin story that intertwines musical evolution with the social and political upheavals of the late 1960s.

Though widely considered an American classic, Born to Be Wild was shaped by Canadian influences. Four of Steppenwolf’s five band members were Canadian, and two—frontman John Kay and bassist Nick St. Nicholas—were German immigrants who found their musical voice in Toronto’s vibrant music scene.

Steppenwolf’s Beginnings in Toronto’s Yorkville Scene

John Kay, born Joachim Krauledat in 1944 in East Prussia, was the son of a soldier who died before his birth. His early years were shaped by the turmoil of World War II, as he and his mother escaped to West Germany before eventually immigrating to Canada in the late 1950s. Settling in Toronto, Kay faced an additional challenge—he was born with achromatopsia, a rare visual impairment that left him legally blind and highly sensitive to light. His signature dark sunglasses were not a fashion statement but a necessity.

Around the same time, Nick St. Nicholas, born Klaus Kassbaum, also relocated to Canada from post-war Germany. Both musicians found themselves drawn to Toronto’s burgeoning music scene in the early 1960s. Yorkville, once a quiet residential neighborhood, had transformed into Canada’s version of Haight-Ashbury or Greenwich Village—a magnet for folk musicians, artists, and countercultural thinkers. The scene produced legendary artists like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Gordon Lightfoot.

It was in this vibrant atmosphere that John Kay honed his blues-infused singing and guitar playing, performing in coffeehouses that served as incubators for rising talent. Meanwhile, just a few streets away, Yonge Street’s clubs pulsed with rock and R&B sounds, drawing musicians like Ronnie Hawkins and his young guitarist, Robbie Robertson. The fusion of these musical worlds helped shape the foundation of what would become Steppenwolf.

The Formation of Steppenwolf

Through a mutual friend, John Kay was introduced to Nick St. Nicholas, who was playing bass in a band called Jack London and the Sparrows. When lead singer Jack London departed, the band—now simply The Sparrows—was in need of a new frontman. Kay joined, and the lineup began to take shape with Jerry Edmonton on drums, his brother Dennis Edmonton (later known as Mars Bonfire) on guitar, and Goldy McJohn on keyboards.

The Sparrows eventually left Toronto, heading first to New York and then to Los Angeles in pursuit of success. Nick St. Nicholas, the only member with a driver’s license, drove the band across North America. The L.A. music scene of the time was gritty and raw, and it had a profound impact on their evolving sound. The band shared stages with acts like The Doors, while San Francisco’s counterculture movement introduced them to an audience of bikers and free-spirited rock fans.

Tensions within the group eventually led to its dissolution, but John Kay reassembled most of the original members under a new name: Steppenwolf. Mars Bonfire left to pursue a solo career but left behind something invaluable—a demo recording of a song that would define their legacy.

The Birth of Born to Be Wild

Mars Bonfire had written Born to Be Wild in a small L.A. apartment, recording an early version that was hushed and unplugged due to noise restrictions. When John Kay and Steppenwolf got hold of the song, they transformed it into the electrifying, hard-hitting anthem the world knows today.

With lyrics like “Get your motor runnin’ / Head out on the highway,” the song resonated deeply with the biker subculture, capturing a spirit of rebellion and freedom. The track’s heavy guitar riffs and explosive sound also set the stage for the emergence of hard rock and heavy metal. In fact, Born to Be Wild is credited with coining the term “heavy metal thunder” in its lyrics, marking one of the earliest references to the genre.

A Song That Defined a Generation

The song’s cultural significance was cemented when it was featured in Easy Rider (1969), the groundbreaking film starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. The movie, which followed two bikers on a cross-country journey through an America grappling with social change, became a countercultural touchstone. The inclusion of Born to Be Wild in the soundtrack elevated Steppenwolf’s status and forever linked them to the image of open-road freedom and defiance.

A Lasting Legacy

Decades later, Born to Be Wild remains an enduring classic, celebrated by musicians and fans alike. The new documentary, Born to Be Wild: The Story of Steppenwolf, directed by Oliver Schwehm, sheds light on the band’s journey, exploring their Canadian roots and global impact. Featuring interviews with legendary artists like Alice Cooper, Cameron Crowe, and Bob Ezrin, as well as archival footage and unseen material from Nick St. Nicholas’ personal collection, the film presents a fresh perspective on a song that has become a part of rock history.

John Kay and Nick St. Nicholas, who had not seen each other in over 50 years, reunited at the film’s premiere in Munich in July 2024, standing arm-in-arm as they presented the documentary to a new generation of fans.

Reflecting on Steppenwolf’s lasting influence, Rolling Stone critic Cameron Crowe sums it up best: “There’s a lot of love for Steppenwolf out there, and I think why their music remains present is because it’s authentic. It’s not a toy band with toy emotions. They’re actually sincere.”