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
Edmonton with Steppenwolf
Edmonton with Steppenwolf
Background information
Birth nameGerald McCrohan
Born(1946-10-24)October 24, 1946
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedNovember 28, 1993(1993-11-28) (aged 47)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • vocals
Years active1964–1993

Early life and career

edit

Edmonton 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

edit

Edmonton 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
Studio albums
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
Live albums
Name Year
Early Steppenwolf 1969
Steppenwolf Live 1970
Compilations
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
  1. ^ a b c d e Talevski, Nick. (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 151. ISBN 1-84609-091-1.
  2. ^ "Canadian Goldy McJohn, founding member of Steppenwolf, has died at 72". National Post. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "After 40 years, song still gets your motor running". The Star. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  4. ^ "The Story Behind Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
edit