| This introduced the phrase "Heavy Metal" with
the line "Heavy Metal Thunder." Heavy Metal became a term for hard
rock. |
| This was used in the 1969 movie Easy Rider,
a counterculture classic starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda as
bikers who ride from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Another Steppenwolf
song, "The Pusher," was also used in the film. |
| When the movie was in production, this was
simply a placeholder, since Fonda wanted Crosby, Stills and Nash to
do the soundtrack. It became clear that the song belonged in the
movie, and it stayed. |
| Partly because of it's use in Easy Rider,
this has become the song most associated with motorcycles. |
| This was the second single off their first
album. The first single, "Sookie Sookie," was a flop. |
| Other movies this has been used in include
Coming Home, One Crazy Summer, Opportunity Knocks,
Dr. Dolittle 2, and Speechless. |
| This wasn't released in the UK until 1969. |
| In 1994, Ozzy Osbourne did a duet of this with
Miss Piggy. It was released on an album called Kermit Unpigged,
with featured rock stars singing with Muppets. |
| This has been covered by U2, Blue Oyster Cult,
MC Shan, and The Cult. (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada) |
| In 2004, Paris Hilton asked Steppenwolf to use
this as part of her show, The Simple Life 2. Steppenwolf
adamantly denied. (thanks, Cody - new york city, NY) |
