John Kay & Steppenwolf Magic Carpet Ride / Born To Be Wild Live 2017

Steppenwolf 1968 timeless rock classics Magic Carpet Ride and Born To Be Wild (4:38) is performed by John Kay (only original member) on lead vocals/guitar, Ron Hurst on drums, Danny Johnson on lead guitar, Gary Link on bass and Michael Wilk on keyboards. John Kay & Steppenwolf were live in concert on their 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Saban Theater, Beverly Hills, CA on March 3, 2017. Steppenwolf was founded in 1967.

John Kay wears his Save The Elephants t-shirt in support of the Maue Kay Foundation’s Wild Life conservation and human rights projects, involved in animal protection in Africa and elsewhere.

The quintessential Mars Bonfire rock anthem Born To Be Wild was popularized in the 1969 motorcycle biker film Easy Rider starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. Many consider Born to Be Wild to be the first "heavy metal" song. The lyric line "I like smoke and lightning. Heavy metal thunder" is the first use of this term in rock music.

Steppenwolf was among the first-time nominees for the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If Steppenwolf was selected as one of the inductees at April 2017 ceremony, John Kay knows who he would have liked honored. “It will be the holograms of the original lineup, including the deceased members." Finalists were announced in December 2016, determined by a committee with consideration to a fan vote. Unfortunately, Rock Hall did not select Steppenwolf.