"Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first released as a single by Steppenwolf. Although the lyrics do not specifically mention motorcycles, the song is often invoked in both popular and counterculture to denote a biker appearance or attitude since being featured in the 1969 film Easy Rider. Sometimes, "Born to Be Wild" is described as the first heavy metal song, and the second-verse lyric "heavy metal thunder" marks the first use of this term in rock music (although not as a description of a musical style, but rather a motorcycle).

Music and lyrics

Mars Bonfire wrote "Born to Be Wild" as a ballad. Bonfire was previously a member of the Sparrows, the predecessor band to Steppenwolf, and his brother was Steppenwolf's drummer. Although he initially offered the song to other bands — The Human Expression, for one — "Born to Be Wild" was first recorded by Steppenwolf in a sped-up and rearranged version that AllMusic's Hal Horowitz described as "a roaring anthem of turbo-charged riff rock" and "a timeless radio classic as well as a slice of '60s revolt that at once defines Steppenwolf's sound and provided them with their shot at AM immortality".

Release and commercial performance

"Born to Be Wild" was Steppenwolf's third single off their self-titled debut album, and became their signature song, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot100 singles charts. It was kept from the number-one spot by "People Got to Be Free" by the Rascals.

Reception and legacy

In 2004, Rolling Stone placed "Born to Be Wild" at number129 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Also in 2004, it finished at number29 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In 2009, it was named the 53rd-best hard rock song of all time by VH1 (It had ranked 40th in the 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll by VH1 nine years earlier.). In 2018, the song was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a new category for singles.

In 2021, staff writers at Classic Rock Magazine expressed the belief that "Born to Be Wild" is "probably the first real metal track."

Personnel

Personnel taken from Mixonline.

  • John Kay – vocals
  • Michael Monarch – guitar
  • Goldy McJohn – Lowrey organ
  • Rushton Moreve – bass
  • Jerry Edmonton – drums

Charts

Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1968–1969)

!Peak <br/>position

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|New Zealand (Listener)

|align="center"|13

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|US Billboard Hot 100

|align="center"|2

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!Chart (1973)

!Peak<br />position

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{|class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1990–1991)

!Peak <br/>position

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|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)

|align="center"|79

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{|class="wikitable"

!Chart (1999)

!Peak <br/>position

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Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable"

!Chart (1968)

!Position

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|Canada (RPM Top Singles)

|align="center"|14

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|US Billboard Hot 100

|align="center"|31

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{|class="wikitable"

!Chart (1990)

!Position

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|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

|align="center"|47

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|Netherlands (Single Top 100)

|align="center"|57

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Certifications

Cover versions

In 1985, the song was covered by Australian band Rose Tattoo. Their version peaked at number 25 in Australia. Etta James, Slade, The Cult, INXS, Bruce Springsteen, Blue Öyster Cult, Krokus, Wilson Pickett,

Charts

Rose Tattoo version

{|class="wikitable"

!Chart (1985)

!Peak <br/>position

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|Australia (Kent Music Report)

|align="center"|25

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Kim Wilde version

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!Chart (2002)

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Tanja Dexters version

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!Chart (2002)

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See also

  • List of number-one singles of 1968 (Canada)

References