How John Kay Battled the Fake 'Steppenwolf' Acts

In this clip, I discuss how a series of bogus "Steppenwolf" bands started touring in the late '70s while John Kay was inactive. In response to this skullduggery, John launched a legal battle against these groups (including his ex-bandmates) and went out on the road as "John Kay and Steppenwolf" in the early '80s to salvage Steppenwolf's reputation which had been ruined by the bogus bands.

To learn more about those imposter acts, check out this site:

This is a clip from the Steppenwolf episode of podcast, "Play That Rock'n'Roll". Full episode here:

[briankorbelik]

My late best friend and I went to see "Steppenwolf" in some dive bar. It was one of the bogus Wolfs. This was in the late '70's. Not long after that we went to see The John Kay Band in another not very top flight bar. However, that band *was* Steppenwolf because the singer was John Kay. My friend and I were just 21, and we went a number of times and would buy a pitcher of beer and sat about 10 feet away from John on stage. Lo and behold not too long after that, that band became John Kay and Steppenwolf and they had to dig the name out of the toilet that the bogus Wolf's put it in, and finally do well and prosper. We were and I am very happy that John and Steppenwolf finally and deservedly did well for themselves.

[electrochubb]

I can still remember seeing John Kay & Steppenwolf at the Center Stage in Canton, Mich. circa 1980.

Great show.! they opened with 'From here to there eventually.'

[ventues]

I saw John Kay & Steppenwolf at E.M. Loews Theatre in Worcester, Ma on Halloween Night 1980. Tickets were $ 8.00. They blew the roof of the place !!! OMG !!! My 16 year ears were ringing for days !!!

[raymondpuckett]

I saw Steppenwolf in 1966 at the "Sound Factory" on Alahambra Blvd.Sacramento, Ca. The Band that played in Front of Steppenwolf "Countrey Lighting"(?) broke Steppenwolf's Keyboard. I still HAVE my "glossy 8x10 photo" of John Kay! Also, I still have my Program from the Steppenwolf Concert in Oakland in approx. 1969. "Three Dog Night" was the second act.

[neil]

I had the pleasure of seeing John Kay and Steppenwolf, when all this fake Steppenwolf was going on, he was so good, and I thought that these bands were going to ruin Steppenwolf's legacy.Until I saw Mr.Kay and his band, and knew he would be alright, what a legend!

[markjamesmeli]

GREAT!! There's many a story about several fake Zombies acts from the early 1970s as well.

[RobHollanderMusic]

If it don't got John Kay, it ain't Steppenwolf! And for God's sake put them in the RRHOF already!

[stevescrews]

John kay was the.greatest lead singer not to be imitated by any one nobody have even came close to his voice.

[JWirtel]

one editing point: I saw the so called Bogus Wolf in Hollywood, Florida in August of 1977..Nick and Goldy were the only members from back in the day...On that bill were acts like, Jan Hammer and Elvin Bishop...It was a horrible show, and the Steppenwolf singer caught unrelenting hell from the audience, but it def was 1977 not 1979...I saw them again in Ft. Lauderdale on Super Bowl night of Jan..1978..At that point, it was only kent henry and nick from the old lineup....The singer, again, got yelled and screamed at for the entire set

[lesschoenberger]

They worked their asses off touring to rebuild the name, saw them many times in little places in the early 80's and 600 people would sound like 6, 000, cheering, screaming, standing on chairs and tables, just going crazy!!

[alwilson]

John Kay had 3 solo albums in the 70's. The first 2, 'Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes', with the hit, 'Movin' On', and 'My Sportin' Life' were actually far better than the last one you refer to.

[stephanpayne]

Check out the horrible grift of Blue Cheer. A series of managers ripped them off and turned them over to the cops whenever they surfaced.

[memesurrectionist]

Me and my cousin started a NEW band, it’s called GUNS N’ROSES.

[georgevincent]

I saw John kay many times at "My Father's Place" back in the 80's. It was a really great place for a show.