Born to be Wild

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search “Born to be Wild”

Single by Steppenwolf from the album Steppenwolf B-side(s) “Everybody’s Next One” Released 1968 Format 45-single Recorded 1968 Genre Hard rock Length 2:55 Label Dunhill Records #D4138 (promo) Writer(s) Mars Bonfire Producer(s) Gabriel Mekler Peak chart positions #2 (US)

Steppenwolf singles chronology Sookie Sookie (1968) Born to be Wild (1968) Magic Carpet Ride (1968)

“Born to Be Wild” is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or mentality. The song is frequently described as the first heavy metal song ever written and is also said to have inspired the name of the emerging heavy metal genre; although these claims are disputed, the song’s second verse (which refers to “heavy metal thunder”) contains the first recorded reference to “heavy metal”.[1]

Contents [hide] 1 Steppenwolf version 2 Kim Wilde version 3 Other Cover Versions 4 “Born to be Mild” 5 References

[edit] Steppenwolf version Although initially offered to other bands², Born to be Wild was first recorded by the Canadian rock band, Steppenwolf. This is the band’s second and most successful single, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.

This version was initially released in 1968, but it was subsequently included in many compilation albums and soundtracks. The first of these was the soundtrack for the movie Easy Rider (1969). Unlike the album or single version, the song on this soundtrack is accompanied by the sounds of motorcycles as an introduction. Another Steppenwolf song from their first album, “The Pusher” was also used in the film. When the movie was in production, Born to be Wild was used simply as a placeholder, since Peter Fonda had wanted Crosby, Stills and Nash to do the movie’s soundtrack. Eventually, it became clear that the song was well suited for the movie³. At least in part because of its prominence in this movie, Born to be Wild is probably the song that is most closely associated with motorcycles.

Other movies that have used the Steppenwolf version of Born to be Wild include Coming Home, One Crazy Summer, Opportunity Knocks, Dr. Dolittle 2, and Speechless⁴.