John Kay

Inducted in 1996

He may be best known for the rock scorcher and biker anthem “Born to Be Wild,” which his band Steppenwolf unveiled to great acclaim in 1968, serendipitously coining the term “heavy metal” along the way. But there is much, much more to Canadian Music Hall of Fame great John Kay than that evergreen anthem. Not that claiming a connection to the classic 1969 American road movie Easy Rider featuring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper – which featured the song prominently – is a legacy to sniff at.

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Videos

Quick Fact

Hits include “Born To Be Wild,” “Magic Carpet Ride” and “The Pusher.”