Jerry Edmonton

Gerald Michael Edmonton (born Gerald McCrohan, October 24, 1946 – November 28, 1993) was the drummer for the rock band Steppenwolf.[1][2]

Jerry Edmonton
Edmonton with Steppenwolf, second from left
Background information
Birth name	Gerald McCrohan
Born	October 24, 1946 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Died	November 28, 1993 (aged 47) Santa Barbara, California
Genres	Hard rock Heavy metal Instrumental rock Blues-rock Funk rock Folk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician Songwriter
Instruments	drums, percussion
Years active	1964–1993
Labels	Dunhill Records MCA Records
Associated acts	Steppenwolf The Sparrows Manbeast Green Wheels Steel Rose

He was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.[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]

Edmonton married former Steppenwolf bandmate Andy Chapin's widow in the 1980s.[1] Edmonton died in a car accident in Santa Ynez, California in 1993.[1]

Studio albums

• Presenting Jack London & The Sparrows
  1965
  Capitol Records
• Steppenwolf
  1968
  U.S. #6[5]
  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[5]
  Gold
  Dunhill Records
• Monster
  1969
  U.S. #17
  U.K. #43
  Gold
  Dunhill Records
• 7
  1970
  U.S. #19[5]
  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"

References

1. Talevski, Nick. (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 151. ISBN 1846090911.
2. "Canadian Goldy McJohn, founding member of Steppenwolf, has died at 72". National Post. National Post. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
3. "After 40 years, song still gets your motor running". The Star. The Star. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
4. "The Story Behind Steppenwolf's 'Magic Carpet Ride'". Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
5. "Billboard 200 - Steppenwolf". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2018.