Nick St. Nicholas
Encyclopedia
Nick St. Nicholas is a bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

, and is best known for his membership in 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...

 from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

 and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist. He also has a younger brother, Gary who went into the Merchant Marine.

Early career

Nick spent a brief period as bassist with the Epics, then Shirley Matthews and the Big Town Boys before joining a set of musicians who eventually coalesced as the Mynah Birds, featuring singers 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...

 and Jimmy Livingston. In 1965, he replaced 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...

 as bassist with Jack London and the Sparrows, and played on most of the tracks on their only LP, which was released in 1965. In the space of the next year or so, the group lost Jack London and became the Sparrows. Nick then added new German-born frontman John Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

 and became The Sparrow, and moved south to New York, then Nick drove them non-stop to California.

Steppenwolf

In 1967, The Sparrow folded and St. Nicholas joined a Los Angeles-based group called The Hardtimes, who soon renamed themselves T.I.M.E., which supposedly stood for Trust In Men Everywhere. After only one album, St. Nicholas left T.I.M.E. and rejoined his former Sparrow bandmates (vocalist/guitarist John Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of 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...

 and organist Goldy McJohn
Goldy McJohn
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...

), by replacing original bassist Rushton Moreve
Rushton Moreve
Rushton Moreve was an American bass guitarist best known for his work with the rock band Steppenwolf from 1967–68 and again in 1978...

 in 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...

 at the height of the band's popularity.

St. Nicholas has several Gold and Platinum records to his credit playing and contributing on four 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...

 albums: At Your Birthday Party
At Your Birthday Party
At Your Birthday Party is the third studio album by Steppenwolf, released in 1969 on the label ABC Dunhill Records. It was the first Steppenwolf album to feature bass player Nick St. Nicholas...

, Early Steppenwolf
Early Steppenwolf
Early Steppenwolf is a collection of live recordings by the band Steppenwolf when they were still known as "The Sparrow" [nee: "The Sparrows"]. It was released in 1969 under the label ABC Dunhill Records...

, Monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...

, and Live. He performed on many television shows as a member of Steppenwolf, including appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers, American Bandstand, Playboy After Dark, Beat Club, Della, Upbeat, and The Steve Allen Show. St. Nicholas was fired from 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...

 in 1970 and was replaced by new bassist George Biondo
George Biondo
George Michael Biondo was the bass guitarist of the American rock band, Steppenwolf, from April 1970 to October 1976...

.

John Kay's autobiography, Magic Carpet Ride largely attributes St. Nicholas' firing to sneaking on stage in nothing but bunny ears and a jockstrap at a show at the Fillmore East
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...

 on Easter weekend 1970, and Kay writes that this was St. Nicholas' final show with the band. Subsequently, many articles and documentaries have propagated the myth that the Fillmore "bunny ears" gig was Nick's last. In truth, the Fillmore gig where St. Nicholas appeared with the bunny ears occurred Easter weekend of 1969 and Nick was in the band for a full year after that incident. St. Nicholas found out about his firing in mid-1970 when he discovered the band rehearsing with their new bassist, George Biondo
George Biondo
George Michael Biondo was the bass guitarist of the American rock band, Steppenwolf, from April 1970 to October 1976...

, while Nick was still with the group.

According to Steppenwolf keyboardist Goldy McJohn
Goldy McJohn
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...

, St. Nicholas was dismissed for a number of reasons:
The fuehrer (Kay) fired him [for] wearing dresses in Steppenwolf with that bleached blonde hair, being out of tune at gigs ... lots of reasons. I liked the bunny ears, but John made such a stink about it at the Fillmore East, you'd think he was in charge. Everyone else was on acid in the audience and this great big guy got up and told Kay to let Nick tune up and everybody cheered. Stealing John Kay's limelight has and always will be his modus operandi, in other words.


During St. Nicholas' hiatus from Steppenwolf, he replaced Dickie Peterson in Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...

 alongside Ruben De Fuentes on guitar and Terry Rae on drums. The band both toured and recorded during this time, but the songs weren't released until Live & Unreleased '68/'74 was released in 1996.

After Kay and Edmonton's version of Steppenwolf disbanded in 1976, St. Nicholas reformed the group with McJohn and guitarist Kent Henry, who had recorded the guitar tracks on the For Ladies Only album in 1971. There were several versions of this band touring at the same time for which St. Nicholas was not responsible. During this turn, St. Nicholas' Steppenwolf included drummers such as Steve Riley and Frankie Banali
Frankie Banali
Frankie Banali is an American rock drummer, best known for his work with multi-platinum heavy metal band Quiet Riot. He has been the band's manager during since 1994. He played drums in the heavy metal band W.A.S.P., as well as with Billy Idol...

. St. Nicholas stopped touring with Steppenwolf when his lease on the band's name expired in 1980.

Post-Steppenwolf

After St. Nicholas' second tour with Steppenwolf ended, he formed a band called "Starwolf" in 1980 with keyboardist Steve Stewart. Stewart left in the late 1980s to be replaced by Randy Carr
Randy Carr
Randy Carr was born in Santa Monica, California and started playing drums at the age of 12 years old. Over the years he played drums in many rock music groups in the Orange County area of Southern California including 7th Grade, Silicone Silos, 16 Tons, and Social Distortion. Randy also played...

 about the same time guitarist Dave Olsen joined the band. At this point, "Starwolf" became "Lone Wolf". In 1988, Kurt Griffey was added as a second guitarist and Chris Sweeney joined as the band's drummer. After "Lone Wolf" became "The Wolf", Sweeney was replaced by Ronnie Carson and Olsen was fired, leading to the band's dissolution in 1989. In the early 1990s, St. Nicholas formed a new "Lone Wolf" with Griffey, singer Richard Ward, and drummer Daryl Johnson, which played bike rallies and clubs. In 1997, the band split as St. Nicholas launched the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....

 World Classic Rockers
World Classic Rockers
World Classic Rockers is a rock supergroup that was founded by Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf in 1995. St. Nicholas has toured with the band for a dozen years, which, in similar fashion to Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, rotates its lineup depending on the contributing musicians' projects at a...

, bringing Griffey with him into the new venture along with former Steppenwolf bandmate Michael Monarch
Michael Monarch
Michael Monarch is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf....

. St. Nicholas has two sons, Jesse and Devin.

World Classic Rockers

World Classic Rockers (website) is a supergroup formed in 1997. Members include former members of 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...

, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...

, Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...

, Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...

, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...

, Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...

 and others.

Studio albums

  • T.I.M.E.
    1968
    Liberty Records
    Liberty Records
    Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...

  • At Your Birthday Party
    At Your Birthday Party
    At Your Birthday Party is the third studio album by Steppenwolf, released in 1969 on the label ABC Dunhill Records. It was the first Steppenwolf album to feature bass player Nick St. Nicholas...


    1969
    U.S. #7
    Gold
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • Monster
    Monster (Steppenwolf album)
    Monster is an album by the band Steppenwolf, released in 1969 and was their first LP with new lead guitarist, Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch...


    1969
    U.S. #17
    U.K. #43
    Gold
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • Live & Unreleased '68/'74
    1996
    Captain Trip Records
  • Country Magic
    1984
    Gold Star Records
    Gold Star Records
    Gold Star Recording Company and Gold Star Sound ServicesGold Star Recording Company originated as a recording studio in Houston, Texas, founded in October 1941 by Bill Quinn under the name Quinn Recording Company...


Live albums

  • Early Steppenwolf
    Early Steppenwolf
    Early Steppenwolf is a collection of live recordings by the band Steppenwolf when they were still known as "The Sparrow" [nee: "The Sparrows"]. It was released in 1969 under the label ABC Dunhill Records...


    1969 (recorded in 1967 as The Sparrow
    The Sparrow
    The Sparrow is the first novel by science fiction author Mary Doria Russell.It won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, James Tiptree, Jr. Award, Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis and the British Science Fiction Association Award. It was followed by a sequel, Children of God, in 1998...

    )
    U.S. #29
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • Steppenwolf Live
    Steppenwolf Live
    Steppenwolf Live is primarily a collection of recordings from various concerts by Steppenwolf staged in support of their 1969 album Monster. It was released in 1970 by ABC Dunhill Records...


    1970
    U.S. #7
    U.K. #16
    Gold
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • World Classic Rockers: Live (1st edition)
    WCR Records
  • World Classic Rockers: Live (2nd edition)
    WCR Records
  • World Classic Rockers: Live (3rd edition)
    WCR Records
  • World Classic Rockers: Live (4th edition)
    WCR Records
  • World Classic Rockers: Live (5th edition)
    WCR Records
  • World Classic Rockers: Live (6th edition)
    WCR Records

Compilations

  • Gold: Their Great Hits
    Gold: Their Great Hits
    Gold: Their Great Hits was the first greatest hits collection released by Canadian rock band Steppenwolf. The album, released in 1971, charted at #24 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts. The album certified "gold" by the RIAA on April 12, 1971...


    1971
    U.S. #24
    Gold
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • Rest In Peace
    1972
    U.S. #62
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • 16 Greatest Hits
    16 Greatest Hits
    - Personnel :* John Kay – lead vocals, guitar* Jerry Edmonton – drums, vocals* Goldy McJohn – organ, vocals* Michael Monarch – guitar, vocals* Rushton Moreve – bass, vocals* Nick St...


    1973
    U.S. #152
    Gold
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records
    Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...

  • The ABC Collection
    The ABC Collection (Steppenwolf album)
    The ABC Collection is a 1976 greatest hits album by Steppenwolf, released after the band's second breakup by ABC Records, who owned the band's early back catalog after acquiring Dunhill Records. This collection was released the same year as Reborn To Be Wild, a compilation album of the band's Epic...


    1976
    ABC Records
    ABC Records
    ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....

  • Born to Be Wild - A Retrospective
    Born to Be Wild - A Retrospective
    Born to Be Wild – A Retrospective is a 1991 greatest hits album by Steppenwolf.-Track listing:Disc 1#"Twisted" - 03:14#"Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" - 03:43#"Sookie Sookie" - 03:15#"Everbody's Next One" - 02:57...


    1991
    MCA Records
    MCA Records
    MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...

  • All Time Greatest Hits
    1999
    MCA Records
    MCA Records
    MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...

  • 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf
    20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf
    -Personnel:*John Kay – lead vocals, guitar*Jerry Edmonton – drums, vocals*Goldy McJohn – organ, vocals*Michael Monarch – guitar, vocals*Rushton Moreve – bass, vocals*Nick St. Nicholas – bass, vocals...


    2000
    Gold
    Universal Music Group
    Universal Music Group
    Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...

  • Steppenwolf Gold
    2005
    Geffen Records
    Geffen Records
    Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...


Singles

Release date A-side B-side US Chart Peak UK Chart Peak
1968 "Make It Alright "Take Me Along"
"What Would Life Be Without It" "Tripping Into Sunshine"
1969 "Rock Me" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

)
"Jupiter Child" (Monarch
Michael Monarch
Michael Monarch is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf....

/Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

/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...

)
10
"It's Never Too Late" (St. Nicholas/Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

)
"Happy Birthday" (Mekler
Gabriel Mekler
Gabriel Mekler was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who attained fame in the 1960s, helming classic albums for Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, and Janis Joplin...

)
51
"Move Over" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

/Mekler
Gabriel Mekler
Gabriel Mekler was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who attained fame in the 1960s, helming classic albums for Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, and Janis Joplin...

)
"Power Play" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

)
31
"Monster" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

/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...

/St. Nicholas/Byrom
Larry Byrom
Larry Byrom is an American guitarist who has written, recorded, and toured with acts like Steppenwolf, Ratchell, Neil Young, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton, Eddie Rabbit and Tanya Tucker.- References :...

)
"Berry Rides Again" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

)
39
1970 "Hey Lawdy Mama" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

/Byrom
Larry Byrom
Larry Byrom is an American guitarist who has written, recorded, and toured with acts like Steppenwolf, Ratchell, Neil Young, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton, Eddie Rabbit and Tanya Tucker.- References :...

/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...

)
"Twisted" (Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...

)
35
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