Introduction
Gerald Michael Edmonton (born Gerald McCrohan, October 24, 1946 – November 28, 1993) was the drummer for the rock band Steppenwolf.
He was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. 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. 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.
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.
Edmonton married former Steppenwolf bandmate Andy Chapin's widow in the 1980s. Edmonton died in a car accident in Santa Ynez, California in 1993.
Studio albums
- Presenting Jack London & The Sparrows
1965
Capitol Records - Steppenwolf
1968
U.S. #6
U.K. #59
Gold
Dunhill Records - The Second
1968
U.S. #3
Gold
Dunhill Records - John Kay & The Sparrow
1969
Capitol Records - At Your Birthday Party
1969
U.S. #7
Gold
Dunhill Records - Monster
1969
U.S. #17
U.K. #43
Gold
Dunhill Records - 7
1970
U.S. #19
Gold
Dunhill Records
- For Ladies Only
1971
U.S. #54
Dunhill Records - Slow Flux
1974
U.S. #47
Mums Records - Hour of the Wolf
1975
U.S. #155
Epic Records - Skullduggery
1976
Epic Records
Live albums
- Early Steppenwolf
1969 (recorded in 1967 as The Sparrow)
U.S. #29
Dunhill Records - Steppenwolf Live
1970
U.S. #7
U.K. #16
Gold
Dunhill Records
Compilations
- Gold: Their Great Hits
1971
U.S. #24
Gold
Dunhill Records - Rest In Peace
1972
U.S. #62
Dunhill Records - 16 Greatest Hits
1973
U.S. #152
Gold
Dunhill Records - The ABC Collection
1976
ABC Records - Reborn To Be Wild
1976
Epic Records - Born to Be Wild - A Retrospective
1991
MCA Records - All Time Greatest Hits
1999
MCA Records - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf
2000
Gold
Universal Music Group - Steppenwolf Gold
2005
Geffen Records
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" |