Goldy McJohn
Encyclopedia
Goldy McJohn is a Canadian
keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for rock
group Steppenwolf
. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ
in heavy metal. He is an avid golfer.
In 1964, he played with local band, Little John & The Friars before moving on later that year to become a member of the Mynah Birds
, which also included Rick James
, Bruce Palmer
and (after McJohn left) Neil Young
. In March 1965, he briefly joined The Diplomats before joining The Sparrows
in September of that year. John Kay
asked him if he could be known as "Goldy" while riding the bus to Willowdale. Goldy felt "Goldy Goadsby" would not be right, so in honor of his mother, Dorothy (née) McIntyre, Goldy added the "Mc" to his legal first name, creating his stage name. The band (with various changes) went on to become Steppenwolf
and he remained with the group from 1967 to early 1975 when he was fired by Kay. Goldy used heavy drugs and was extremely violent shooting at band members over a drum set, this and many other violent outbursts took place before and after Goldy was fired.
During Steppenwolf's hiatus in the early 1970s, he and Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton
formed Manbeast with Rod Prince and Roy Cox of Bubble Puppy
, during which time the band penned at least one song that would appear on Steppenwolf's 1974 release, Slow Flux
, Goldy's last with the band.
McJohn helped reform Steppenwolf in 1977 with Nick St. Nicholas
and Kent Henry
and played in several incarnations of the band before defaulting (along with St. Nicholas) on his payments to use the Steppenwolf name. He also played with Steve Marriott in a reconstituted version of Humble Pie
.
McJohn lives in West Seattle, Washington where he performs and records locally. His solo releases include New Visions, Fugue in D, Goldy McJohn & Friendz, Rat City
in Blue, Set the World on Fire and Osmosis. In 2010 Goldy was given a second chance by John Kay to perform under the Steppenwolf Trademark, however Goldy opted to engage in a coffee business calling it Steppenwolf Coffee which in turn upset John Kay which lead to the end of Goldy's second and last chance to be part of Steppenwolf. Goldy and his wife continue to harass John Kay and others who have been involved in Steppenwolf, Goldy has been hospitalized several times in 2010-2011 for heavy drug use and mental issues.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
keyboard player best known as the original keyboardist for rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
in heavy metal. He is an avid golfer.
In 1964, he played with local band, Little John & The Friars before moving on later that year to become a member of the Mynah Birds
The Mynah Birds
The Mynah Birds were a Canadian R&B band formed in Toronto, Ontario active from 1964 to 1967. Although the band never released an album, it is notable as featuring a number of musicians who went on to have successful careers in rock, folk rock and funk....
, which also included Rick James
Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
, Bruce Palmer
Bruce Palmer
Bruce Palmer was a Canadian musician notable for playing bass guitar in the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.-Early years:Palmer was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada...
and (after McJohn left) Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. In March 1965, he briefly joined The Diplomats before joining The Sparrows
The Sparrows
The Sparrow was a Canadian blues-rock band that existed in the 1960s, and which evolved out of Jack London & The Sparrow and later morphed into heavy rock group, Steppenwolf.-Early years:...
in September of that year. John Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...
asked him if he could be known as "Goldy" while riding the bus to Willowdale. Goldy felt "Goldy Goadsby" would not be right, so in honor of his mother, Dorothy (née) McIntyre, Goldy added the "Mc" to his legal first name, creating his stage name. The band (with various changes) went on to become Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
and he remained with the group from 1967 to early 1975 when he was fired by Kay. Goldy used heavy drugs and was extremely violent shooting at band members over a drum set, this and many other violent outbursts took place before and after Goldy was fired.
During Steppenwolf's hiatus in the early 1970s, he and Steppenwolf drummer Jerry Edmonton
Jerry Edmonton
Jerry Edmonton was the drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf.He was born Gerald McCrohan in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Both he and his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows...
formed Manbeast with Rod Prince and Roy Cox of Bubble Puppy
Bubble Puppy
-Origins:The group was formed in 1966 in San Antonio, Texas by Rod Prince and Roy Cox. Looking to form a "top gun rock band" based on the concept of dual lead guitars, a staple of southern rock that was highly unusual on the psychedelic music scene, Prince and Cox recruited Todd Potter: a gymnast,...
, during which time the band penned at least one song that would appear on Steppenwolf's 1974 release, Slow Flux
Slow Flux
Slow Flux is an album released by the band Steppenwolf in 1974 , under the label Epic. In the U.S. it was released on the Mums Records label, a short-lived CBS Records subsidiary. It was the first of three albums the band created after reforming in 1974 before they disbanded again in 1976...
, Goldy's last with the band.
McJohn helped reform Steppenwolf in 1977 with Nick St. Nicholas
Nick St. Nicholas
Nick St. Nicholas is a bassist, and is best known for his membership in Steppenwolf from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist...
and Kent Henry
Kent Henry
Kent Henry was an American guitarist and songwriter best known for his contributions to Steppenwolf and Blues Image.-Blues Image:...
and played in several incarnations of the band before defaulting (along with St. Nicholas) on his payments to use the Steppenwolf name. He also played with Steve Marriott in a reconstituted version of Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
.
McJohn lives in West Seattle, Washington where he performs and records locally. His solo releases include New Visions, Fugue in D, Goldy McJohn & Friendz, Rat City
Rat City
Rat City, also known as Mice City, is a colloquialism for the area of White Center, Washington, a small, low income suburb of West Seattle. White Center garnered a poor reputation due to its high crime rates and small homes. An alternate scenario for the moniker is that the name refers to the "rink...
in Blue, Set the World on Fire and Osmosis. In 2010 Goldy was given a second chance by John Kay to perform under the Steppenwolf Trademark, however Goldy opted to engage in a coffee business calling it Steppenwolf Coffee which in turn upset John Kay which lead to the end of Goldy's second and last chance to be part of Steppenwolf. Goldy and his wife continue to harass John Kay and others who have been involved in Steppenwolf, Goldy has been hospitalized several times in 2010-2011 for heavy drug use and mental issues.