Born to Be Wild: Context

Which reporter observed that travel is a rare activity where we revel in the uncertainty of the outcome?

Eric Weiner

What country singer achieved a No. 1 hit with the 1980 song "On the Road Again"?

Willie Nelson (b. 1933)

What specific percussion technique is used in Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again"?

A "train rhythm" (subtly referencing train travel).

Which blues-rock band released a very different song titled "On the Road Again" in 1967?

Canned Heat

What unique harmonic feature does Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" use to evoke unending pavement?

It is accompanied by just one repeated chord for the entire song.

Which band released "Highway Song" in 1979, and what feeling does its refrain equate to the open road?

Blackfoot; It shows loneliness "It's a highway song / You sing it on and on / On and on/ Highway song / Is as lonely as the road I'm on"

at physical sensation of automobile travel is repeatedly referenced in hits like "Ventura Highway" and "Hotel California"?

The feeling of the wind blowing through one's hair.

Which four tracks are highlighted as major hits that reference the open road or driving sensations?

"Ventura Highway" (1972)

"Hotel California" (1977)

"Freeway of Love" (1985)

"Wild as Her" (2022)

What two-wheeled vehicle is highlighted as a major symbol for seeking new horizons and freedom?

The motorcycle.

Who successfully attached a gasoline engine to a vélocipède frame in 1885?

Gottlieb Daimler (1834-1900).

What are the life dates of German engine pioneer Gottlieb Daimler?

1834-1900

Why did the two motorcycle entrants drop out of the 1895 Illinois vehicle race?

They lacked the power to climb steep grades in icy weather.

What magazine launched in 1906 due to the improved affordability of motorcycles?

Motorcycle Illustrated

What series of books for boys began publication in 1912?

The Motorcycle Chums series

To what active animal-riding tradition did early fans compare the physical demands of motorcycling?

Horseback-riding (contrasting it with sedentary carriage-riding).

What two historical/mythological figures did early motorcyclists see themselves as resembling?

Cowboys and centaurs.

What 1968 song by Steppenwolf is most famously associated with motorcycles?

"Born to Be Wild" (Listening Example 7).

What vehicle actually inspired the composer to write "Born to Be Wild"?

A family car (not a motorcycle).

What was the birth name of Mars Bonfire, the composer of "Born to Be Wild"?

Dennis McCrohan (b. 1943).

What band did Mars Bonfire leave before adopting his new pseudonym and focusing on songwriting?

The Sparrows

Where was Mars Bonfire born?

Canada

Brother of Mars Bonfire

Jerry

What did Dennis McCrohan change his last name as well as his brother when joining Sparrows?

"Edmonton"

Why did Dennis leave the Sparrows?

Because they weren't successful, and so instead he focused on song-writing

What specific car did Mars Bonfire buy that inspired "Born to Be Wild"?

A used Ford Falcon

Where did Mars Bonfire drive his Ford Falcon to find inspiration

The mountains and deserts around LA.

What natural event forced Bonfire to pull over during one of his drives

A ferocious thunderstorm that turned the road into a river

What school subject and tool inspired Bonfire's description of the ominous, lead-colored sky?

Chemistry class (specifically the periodic table of elements)

What specific chemistry term came to Bonfire's mind, inspiring the lyric "I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder!"?

Heavy metals

Who suggested the name "Steppenwolf" to the band after reading the novel?

Gabriel Mekler (1942-77).

What was Gabriel Mekler's role in the music industry?

A producer for Dunhill Records.

In what year did Dunhill Records release Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild"?

1968

What peak position did "Born to Be Wild" reach on the Billboard charts?

No. 2, when Dunhill executives did not believe it would gain success

Who directed the 1969 American counterculture film Easy Rider?

Dennis Hopper (1936-2020)

Who produced Easy Rider and starred alongside Dennis Hopper?

Peter Fonda (1940-2019)

Which film editor placed "Born to Be Wild" into the movie's rough cut to make bike footage more interesting?

Donn Cambern (1929-2023)

Which famous band turned down writing an original soundtrack because they couldn't beat the "temporary" music?

Crosby, Stills, and Nash

How much did the licensing fees for the Easy Rider soundtrack cost compared to the film's production?

Nearly $1 million (about triple the cost of making the film itself).

What vehicle did Bonfire call "not as glamorous as a fire-breathing two-wheeler, but… Nothing's as cool"?

His beat-up Ford Falcon (his first car).

What was Bonfire doing when he first heard "Born to Be Wild" played on the radio?

Driving in his Ford Falcon

What alternative career in Canada does Bonfire guess he would have had without the song's success?

Working at General Motors.

What driving habit did Bonfire keep in his family car that mirrored the open-air freedom of the lyrics?

He always drove with the windows down.