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.
Early life and career Edmonton was born in Oshawa, Ontario. 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.
Personal life Edmonton married former Steppenwolf bandmate Andy Chapin's widow in the 1980s.
Edmonton died in a car accident in Santa Ynez, California, on November 28, 1993. His car failed to negotiate a curve on Baseline Avenue, striking a dirt bank before flipping over, ejecting him through the rear window. (Two passengers in the car survived.)
Discography +Studio albumsNameYearPresenting Jack London & The Sparrows1965Steppenwolf1968The Second1968John Kay & The Sparrow1969At Your Birthday Party1969Monster1969Steppenwolf 71970For Ladies Only1971Slow Flux1974Hour of the Wolf1975Skullduggery1976 +Live albumsNameYearEarly Steppenwolf1969Steppenwolf Live1970 +CompilationsNameYearGold: Their Great Hits1971Rest In Peace197216 Greatest Hits1973The ABC Collection1976Reborn To Be Wild1976Born to be Wild – A Retrospective1991All Time Greatest Hits199920th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf2000Steppenwolf Gold2005 Singles Release dateA-sideB-sideUS Billboard Hot 100 peakUK 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"
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