Gerald Michael Edmonton (born Gerald McCrohan, October 24, 1946 – November 28, 1993) was a Canadian musician who was the drummer and secondary lead vocalist for the rock band Steppenwolf.[1][2]
Jerry Edmonton | |
|---|---|
.png) Edmonton with Steppenwolf | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gerald McCrohan |
| Born | October 24, 1946 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | November 28, 1993 (aged 47) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1964–1993 |
Early life and career
editEdmonton was born in Oshawa, Ontario.[1] Both his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, and he changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows.[3] John Kay and Goldy McJohn joined this group in Toronto in 1965 and, after some more changes in personnel and relocating to California, the group was renamed Steppenwolf.[4]
When Steppenwolf temporarily broke up on February 14, 1972, Edmonton and Steppenwolf organist Goldy McJohn formed the band Seven with singer Lance Gullickson and guitarist Robin Huff. After Seven, Edmonton, and McJohn formed Manbeast with Rod Prince and Roy Cox of Bubble Puppy before Steppenwolf reconvened in 1974 for three albums before breaking up again in 1976.[1]
Personal life
editEdmonton married former Steppenwolf bandmate Andy Chapin's widow in the 1980s.[1] Edmonton died in a car accident, crashing into a tree after failing to manoeuvre a turn, in Santa Ynez, California, on November 28, 1993.[1]
Discography
edit| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Presenting Jack London & The Sparrows | 1965 |
| Steppenwolf | 1968 |
| The Second | 1968 |
| John Kay & The Sparrow | 1969 |
| At Your Birthday Party | 1969 |
| Monster | 1969 |
| Steppenwolf 7 | 1970 |
| For Ladies Only | 1971 |
| Slow Flux | 1974 |
| Hour of the Wolf | 1975 |
| Skullduggery | 1976 |
| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Early Steppenwolf | 1969 |
| Steppenwolf Live | 1970 |
| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Gold: Their Great Hits | 1971 |
| Rest In Peace | 1972 |
| 16 Greatest Hits | 1973 |
| The ABC Collection | 1976 |
| Reborn To Be Wild | 1976 |
| Born to be Wild – A Retrospective | 1991 |
| All Time Greatest Hits | 1999 |
| 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf | 2000 |
| Steppenwolf Gold | 2005 |
Singles
| Release date | A-side | B-side | US Billboard Hot 100 peak | UK Singles Chart peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "A Girl I Knew" (Kay/Cavett) | "The Ostrich" (Kay) | ||
| 1968 | "Born to Be Wild" (Bonfire) | "Everybody's Next One" (Kay/Mekler) | #2 | #30 |
| 1968 | "Sookie Sookie" (Covay/Cropper) | "Take What You Need" (Kay/Mekler) | ||
| 1968 | "Magic Carpet Ride" (Moreve/Kay) | "Sookie Sookie" (Covay/Cropper) | #3 | |
| 1969 | "Rock Me" (Kay) | "Jupiter Child" (Monarch/Kay/Edmonton) | #10 | |
| 1969 | "It's Never Too Late" (St. Nicholas/Kay) | "Happy Birthday" (Mekler) | #51 | |
| 1969 | "Move Over" (Kay/Mekler) | "Power Play" (Kay) | #31 | |
| 1969 | "Monster" (Kay/Edmonton/St. Nicholas/Byrom) | "Berry Rides Again" (Kay) | #39 | |
| 1970 | "Hey Lawdy Mama" (Kay/Byrom/Edmonton) | "Twisted" (Kay) | #35 | |
| 1970 | "Screaming Night Hog" (Kay) | "Spiritual Fantasy" (Kay) | #62 | |
| 1970 | "Who Needs Ya" (Byrom/Kay) | "Earschplittenloudenboomer" (Byrom) | #54 | |
| 1970 | "Snowblind Friend" (Axton) | "Hippo Stomp" (Byrom/Kay) | ||
| 1971 | "Ride With Me" (Bonfire) | "For Madmen Only" | #52 | |
| 1971 | "For Ladies Only" (Edmonton/Henry/Kay/McJohn) | "Sparkle Eyes" (Biondo/Kay) | #64 | |
| 1974 | "Straight Shootin' Woman" (Edmonton) | "Justice Don't Be Slow" (Kay/Richie) | #29 | |
| 1975 | "Get Into The Wind" (Cochran/Van Beek) | "Morning Blue" (Biondo) | ||
| 1975 | "Smokey Factory Blues" (Hammond/Hazlewood) | "A Fool's Fantasy" (McJohn) | ||
| 1975 | "Caroline (Are You Ready)" (Bonfire) | "Angeldrawers" | ||
| 1979 | "Brand New Key" | |||
| 1984 | "Good That You're Gone" |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Talevski, Nick. (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 151. ISBN 1-84609-091-1.
- ^ "Canadian Goldy McJohn, founding member of Steppenwolf, has died at 72". National Post. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ "After 40 years, song still gets your motor running". The Star. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ "The Story Behind Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
External links
edit- Jerry Edmonton discography at Discogs
- Jerry Edmonton at IMDb