Alpha Wolf Archives

Greetings everyone

A couple of days ago we played our first 2006 concert in Lancaster, PA. Everything went quite well I thought: we had a fine and appreciative crowd and met with some Wolf Packers afterwards, one of whom is our friend Raymond who’s fighting the fight of his life right now and to whom we send our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

          During the show I mentioned that next summer will be our 40^th anniversary and that it would also be our last year of touring. With hindsight, I should have said “2007 will be our last year of touring” because apparently some took my remarks to mean that this year would be out last on the road, which is not the case. I wanted the audience in Lancaster to know, that because it was most likely the last time we’d see many of them; it was also our last opportunity to thank them publicly for their loyalty and support through the years.

          It occurred to me that we should also announce our touring intentions here, so that if you wish to see us perform this year, or in 2007, you can plan accordingly. Most of this year’s dates are already posted on the “2006 Tour” page, with more to follow, however the 2007 dates probably won’t be known until this time next year. If our travels in the coming months bring us close enough to your home towns for you to be part of one or more of our concerts please come and join us. Those of you who came to cheer us on in the funky clubs and dives we played during the rebuilding years of the early ‘80s, as well as those who took part in our “Wolf Fest” celebrations, would be particularly welcome. We plan to make every one of our remaining performances a memorable one and it would be great if you could be a part of that effort.

          Lastly I want to thank everyone who bought Wolf Memorabilia at the ebay “Steppenwolf Collectables” store. We hope you enjoy your acquired Wolf treasures and the knowledge that your money will enable the foundation to make a greater contribution to the various entities and projects it supports. Hope to see you down the road.

Stay wild.

 

I like to believe that most of us take time to give thanks for the good things in our lives, particularly during the Holiday season.

With that in mind, I’d like to thank everyone who came to our shows in 2005. I hope you felt it was time well spent and that we sent you home, smiling. I’m also grateful for the continued dedication of our Wolf team. Whether musician, technician, tour manager or agent: each of you made the past touring season enjoyable and rewarding once again. The enduring loyalty of our supporters and the camaraderie and professionalism of our team, are a combination rarely found in the world of rock, especially after all these years.

        As a personal note, I’d like to say I’m also grateful that so many Americans and others, responded to the need created by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. At a time when there seems to be so much division in our country, it was heartening to see that we haven’t lost our capacity to care about the victims of misfortune. Now that 2006 has arrived, I hope that we will not forget them as they struggle to rebuild their lives.  

 

        In my last couple of notes I mentioned that Jutta and I have formed “The Maue Kay Foundation” a charitable non-profit entity that supports individuals and organizations engaged in the protection of wild life, the environment and human rights, and that much of our Steppenwolf memorabilia will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the foundation. Well the time has finally come. If you’d like to see what we have to offer, click www.ebaylinktobeplacedhere.com and you’ll find various items for sale. Right now we are in the midst of our third auction of collectables, with more to follow in the coming weeks. The response so far has been excellent. Charlie Wolf will continue to send E-blasts to those on his Wolf Pack list, to announce each auction. If you acquire any of the items for sale, you may wish to know where your money will be put to use.
Click www.mauekay.org  and you can view video clips, images and information about our school projects in Cambodia and Tanzania, the Elephant orphans in Kenya and several other entities the foundation supports. Jutta and I feel ourselves drawn more and more towards the positive life forces whose efforts on behalf of the greater good are an inspiration for us, and for that I’m profoundly grateful. Something said by a boy named Nkosi Johnson, who died of Aids in South Africa at age 12, has become a daily reminder for me. When asked how he could manage to smile or find joy in life when he knew he would die soon he replied:

“Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have in the place you are”

Until we see you once again.

Stay wild

Greetings everyone

First off a “Thank You” to everyone who sent me birthday cards and emails once again. I find it astounding that any of you, who I’m sure have busy lives like most of us, remember and find the time to send me your good wishes. Frankly, if no one reminded me, I might easily forget the birthday myself. In any event, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

            As I mentioned in my last note, Jutta and I flew to California in early March to be part of “In Celebration of Morgan Cavett”. It was quite an uplifting and memorable event. Morgan’s wife Mary, who planned the whole thing, as well as his ex-wife Kathy and his daughter Christina were joined by many of Morgan’s friends, from his school days right up to his most recent acquaintances. It was a diverse and interesting group. Most got up to speak about Morgan and we all celebrated his life. There were faces from the Wolf’s past in the crowd as well, among them Ritchie Podolor, Bill Cooper, Steve & Michael Palmer, also Jerry Sloan and Bob Tomasso, who were part of the Wolf Crew in the mid 70’s. Finally several of Morgan’s musician friends, with whom he had recorded many a project, got up and played some inspired rock n soul. All in all, I think Morgan must have been most pleased.

            Years ago Morgan had written some lyrics that I later set to music. The result was called “Captain Of Your Destiny” Somehow those lyrics have greater meaning for me now, perhaps because they seem to reflect how Morgan viewed life and how to live it. It’s somewhat ironic that this month the song will be released as part of the re-issued “The Lost Heritage Tapes” CD, which Morgan also co-produced.

            Speaking of releases, Michael Wilk is applying his fine engineering talents to a new concert DVD, shot in High Definition, at the Ichycoo Park Festival. A couple of cuts were previously released on a compilation DVD but this one will feature the entire show we played that night and should sound and certainly look, excellent. According to the Passport label, it will be released this summer.

            As most of you know, the Wolf will only play 25 dates this year, one of the reasons is that Jutta and I will move much of our household to Vancouver, BC at the end of the year and preparations for the move are complex and time consuming. Wolf World, by the way, will continue and operate as always in spite of my flying more often as a consequence. As with any move some things will be left behind but because the proceeds will go to the benefit of The Maue Kay Foundation, I find it easier to part with much of my collection of Wolf memorabilia, certain personal things and instruments. Charlie Wolf will post notes when these items are available through auctions in case any of you are interested in acquiring some of these. Every dollar paid will go to people and organizations that fight the good fight on behalf of the oppressed, betrayed or forgotten or work to protect what remains of Mother Nature and her creatures.

            That’s it for now, in 48 hours we’re off to Lilehammer, Norway and Michael, Ron, Danny and I are looking forward to playing some Blues as well as rock for our Scandinavian friends there because they always make us feel welcome.

Stay Wild

May you all have enjoyed a fine Holiday Season with your good credit still intact.

First I’d like to express my appreciation to everyone who posted some kind words about Morgan Cavett’s passing. He made many friends among the Pack and it was good to read your recollections and thoughts about him. Morgan was one of the most good hearted and “can do” guys I’ve ever known, always ready to tackle a new challenge. Sometime in February there will be a celebration of Morgan’s life in California, which Jutta & I plan to attend of course.

To be sure 2004 was a year to remember. Jutta & I traveled more then ever. In January we were off to Kenya and Tanzania, in February to Brazil with the Wolf. In April to Germany for the “50^th Birthday Of Rock n Roll” TV show and in July to Portugal for the Faro Festival. Afterwards Jutta & I then went to Barcelona, Spain from there and later, in October visited Cambodia and Viet Nam. In June I was inducted into the “Canadian Walk Of Fame” which was a blast and Jutta & I got to hang out in our old hometown Toronto once again.

Also in June, and in October respectively, we finally released the video projects: “John Kay & Friends – Live At The Renaissance Center” and “John Kay & Steppenwolf – Live In Louisville”. Some of our recordings of recent years were re-issued on Rainman Records this year as well. In 2005 several more CDs will follow suit and the “The Last Wolf Fest” may also become available on DVD for the first time. As far as touring is concerned, we will be playing about 25 dates in 2005. One of these will take place at the Lilliehammer Blues Festival in Norway. I look forward to seeing some of our Scandinavian friends there, besides, ever since the Winter Olympics were held there I’ve been had a desire to visit the place. Most of the remaining 2005 dates will be scattered around the US and Canada as usual. Sometime in March we should appear on a PBS TV show about the music of the 60s during a PBS pledge drive. As a long time supporter of PBS I was pleased that we took part in a program that will help raise badly needed funds for quality television.

Speaking of raising funds, Jutta & I have established  “The Maue Kay Foundation” a charitable non-profit entity that will support various conservation, wild life protection and human rights organizations. We will sell most of our Steppenwolf memorabilia at web auction sites etc. with the proceeds going to the foundation. I think some of you may be interested in the items for sale, that’s why I mention all this. Charlie Wolf will post information regarding auctions of the above when the time comes.    

Lastly, still on the subject of charity, I’d like to urge all our supporters to consider giving, as best they can, to the relief agencies that are valiantly struggling to bring relief to the surviving victims in the countries devastated by the earthquake/Tsunami disaster. I have traveled much in that part of the world and have become quite fond of its people, who generally are very gracious, hospitable and generous. Americans have a proud history of lending a hand to those in great need, let us hope that we will also rise to this occasion and it’s magnitude. It may seem overwhelming and daunting due to its sheer enormity but we can all do something, not only for the victims but also for our own humanity. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote:

 

“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived - - - that is to have succeeded”

Stay wild

Holiday Greetings to all our friends:

At this time of year I usually post a note thanking our supporters for another successful touring season and their continued loyalty, Likewise, I customarily express my appreciation to everyone in “Wolf World” for their fine efforts, professionalism and dedication during the past year. Though I certainly wish to do the above once again, I am distracted at the moment because I’m trying to come to terms with a loss that has left a hole in my life, the departure of my oldest friend, Morgan Cavett. Those who met Morgan at past Wolf Fests, where he screened his “work in progress” video about The Wolf, or who read about him in the “Magic Carpet Ride” bio book, know that he and I have been the best of friends for 40 years and how great a role he played in my life. A couple of days ago he finally lost his battle with Cancer. I try to console myself, knowing he died peacefully in his sleep and that he seemed prepared for his last journey, the last time we talked. Jutta and I will celebrate his life and honor his memory of course, but still, we will miss one of the best friends our family ever had. Those who wish to learn more about Morgan, the kind of man he was and the remarkable life he lived, can do so by reading the article below. It happens to express my recollections and sentiments as well.

The Holiday Season is a time that is supposed to be full of cheer and celebration and so with that in mind I will close for now. I wish you all the very best of times with family and friends in the coming days. May we all have a better, more peaceful and safe 2005.

Stay wild

###

Morgan Cavett,  1944 - 2004

Morgan Cavett, a fifteen year resident of Pinon Hills, died of cancer, peacefully in his sleep, on Thursday, December 9, 2004.  He was a music and film producer, a newspaper writer for the Mountaineer Progress and funny man who made people laugh.  He was 60 years old.  Morgan was born into the Hollywood home of Frank and Mary Cavett.  Morgan's father Frank won screenwriting Oscars for "Going My Way" and "The Greatest Show on Earth."  Morgan's mother, Mary Oakes Cavett was a famous Vogue fashion model.  Morgan grew up hanging around famous personalities such as Ava Gardner, Artie Shaw and Dorothy Parker.

 

In the early 1960s, Morgan made inroads into the music business by managing the New Balladeer coffeehouse.  Here he met John Kay of Steppenwolf and other singers, songwriters and musicians who become lifetime friends and professional colleagues.  He went on to produce records with Johnny Mercer and became a successful producer in his own right discovering the 1970s duo sensation The Captain and Tennille.  From 1977-1988 Morgan and his partner, Bruce Langhorne, owned Blue Dolphin Recording Studios where they wrote the soundtracks for "Melvin and Howard,"  "Swing Shift" and other feature films. 

 

In 1990 Morgan and his wife Mary settled in Pinon Hills and Morgan became active in the community.  He and Yvonne Barton helped spearhead a group of high desert residents who successfully opposed the development of a large strip mine in Llano.  In 1993 he began writing a column for the Mountaineer Progress entitled "Around Town" in which he featured Tri-Community residents and he also joined the Mountaineer Progress Staff as a part-time reporter.  In 1994 Morgan served as president of the Pinon Hills Chamber of Commerce.  He did all this while running a successful video documentary production company specializing in creative artists and historical figures.  Morgan is survived by his wife Mary of Pinon Hills and his daughter Christina of Ukiah, California.

 

Author's note: I met Morgan while I was editor of the Mountaineer Progress in 1972.  He was actively opposing the Owl Rock strip mine project and we crossed paths at several community meetings on the subject.  Following one particular story I had done and with which Morgan did not agree, he wrote a stinging letter to the editor accusing me of being brain dead.  I invited him for a beer and we became instant friends.  When I left the Mountaineer in 1994 and moved to Oklahoma, Morgan and I kept in touch via telephone.  He was very private with regard to his illness and I only learned of it this past September.  He was a wonderful, funny and kind individual who left a warm and happy spot on many people's hearts.  I will miss him dearly.

 

Rick Olderbak      

Greetings everyone:

Charlie Wolf, the band, our crew as well as various family members, threw a surprise birthday party for me on Easter Sunday

(a day before my actual birthday) We all had a fine time, good food and companionship. Amongst the various gifts I received, was a big basket full of birthday cards from Wolfpack members and supporters from far-flung corners of the world. I suspect that Charlie Wolf had a hand in all this, but be that as it may, I would like to thank everyone who was kind enough to send their good wishes and also their thoughts about what the music has meant to them over the years. Tomorrow, Jutta, Charlie and I will fly to Hanover, Germany where I will perform with the German band BAP on a nationwide TV show. The show celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the birth of Rock’n Roll (internationally speaking), namely April 12, 1954 when “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley & The Comets was released and became the first RnR hit to conquer the continent and other parts of the world. On that day, back in 1954, I celebrated my 10^th birthday while living in Hanover and soon thereafter discovered Rock’n Roll on the American Armed Forces Radio Network. To find myself back in my old hometown 50 years later, as part of the aforementioned celebration, will be special experience for me to be sure. Upon my return, Michael and I will finish the

John Kay & Steppenwolf “Live In Louisville” DVD, which will be released early October this year. The John Kay & Friends “Live At The Renaissance Center” DVD is completely done and scheduled for a June 1 release along with the reissue of the “Heretics & Privateers” CD. Hard to believe these projects will finally be available. Due to various circumstances to boring to recount now, there were moments when it seemed it took less time to build the Pyramids then to get these recordings out. On the other hand, in the end I found the wait worthwhile because of the fine job Michael did on the audio mixes, both surround 5.1 and stereo. Despite all the technical difficulties, the new learning curve and a host of other unforeseen hurdles, Michael prevailed and I want to thank him for that right here, right now.

Starting in June it’s back on the road where we, no doubt, will to see many of our friends once again. I hope you will be one of them. Stay wild. JK

A few thoughts on yesterday’s tragedy. As always it brings out the best and the worst in people. While hundreds lined up around the block (here in Nashville as well) to donate blood, (which I will be doing also) others jacked up gas and hotel prices sky high. If we were officially at war, that type of price gouging would be considered war profiteering. In any case, I’m more concerned with how we, as people and our country, respond to what has happened. In that regard I am heartened by the way we seem to be pulling together, putting our differences aside during this crisis. Perhaps we will learn from this to be more tolerant of one another. While I feel that those responsible for these terrorist acts should be sought out and brought to justice, I also believe that for the sake of our own humanity and the honor of our country we do not lower ourselves to their level by compounding this tragedy by killing more innocent people elsewhere. Hate is what is at the root of yesterday’s horror and blind hate on our part will only continue the cycle. Therefore I’m hoping that our public servants and our military will make sure that when we strike, we know that our target is the right one.

Yesterday we called the Red Cross to make a donation, but we will also call The Red (or is it green, I forgot) Crescent, which is the Red Cross’ counterpart in Islamic countries, and make a donation as well. Why? Because it is important to show that we don’t’ hold millions of peace loving Muslims (of which I’ve meet a few in my travels) responsible for the actions of a small group of extremists.

 

Let us join in helping the victims and their families, in honoring the selflessness of all the rescue workers and in showing the world, (which is watching), that we have not lost our courage nor our sense of justice.

Holiday Greetings to all our friends:

            Over the Thanksgiving weekend I had some time to reflect on the many highs (and some lows) of 2003.  A trip to South East Asia in January was certainly a most memorable way to start the year. I’m still editing video footage taken in Burma, Thailand and Cambodia, and reliving some of those special moments. For me the most moving experience of the journey was visiting the glass tower memorial near Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is filled with the skulls and bones of some of the victims of the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge. Our young guide there, lost his entire family during that murderous time and grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand until an older survivor rescued him, brought him back home and taught him what he knew of Cambodia’s history and culture. May he and his ravaged country know a kinder future.

Not long after returning stateside it was time for The Wolf to come out of hibernation and we were pleased to find that our first 2003 engagements were four sold out shows in Missouri. The St. Louis area has always been good to us and the audiences there made us feel very much appreciated. In May, while at a show in Madison, WI, a tornado ripped through my neighborhood in Tennessee.

I’m most grateful that my family was unharmed. While our house and the studio survived intact, the cleanup of downed trees etc. will take a few more weeks to finish. Time and Mother Nature will take care of the rest. During the logging operations following the storm, I spent quite a bit of time in the woods with the timber crews and managed to contract a tick borne illness which resulted in having to cancel a couple of shows in Reno and Camp Verde. I’m glad to say I recovered quickly and that I’m feeling fine.

            As is the case almost every year, in 2003 we shared the stage with some artists we have not seen in a while. We were glad to see and hear that Joe Cocker (at a festival in Quebec) and Jethro Tull (in Sturgis) were in fine form and good as ever. Willie Nelson and his band, which we saw on a night off in Utah, was also a delight to witness. Considering what Willie has done for American music and the farmers, Congress ought to give him medal. One more highlight I should mention was our concert at Harley Davidson’s 100^th Birthday Bash in Milwaukee on August 30. While we often play so-called Biker events, this one had a vibe that is rare. There were TV crews from all over the world taping the event and the huge crowds that visited the various stages, featuring a variety of artists, just seem to be in a great party mood. I for one certainly had an excellent time on stage that night.

            In between all of the above, as well as the rest of our touring. Michael Wilk, valiantly kept chipping away at finishing the audio mixes for our video projects. Yeah, yeah, I know you heard this before, but 2004 really will see the release of at least one of those if not two. Speaking of videos, I don’t know if any of our Canadian friends saw the “John Kay & Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride” documentary on the BRAVO (Canada only) channel, but I thought it turned out quite well. Our thanks to Mark Hall for creating a true and accurate account of our story.

            Before I mention our plans for 2004, I want to thank our supporters, (who keep the faith and show their enthusiasm at our gigs, year in year out) and everyone at “Wolf World” who made the 2003 tour so enjoyable for me. Everyone: Michael Wilk, Ron Hurst, Danny Johnson, Charlie Wolf, Chris Bray, Doug Adams, Mike Connell and Steve Blackburn did their part and sometimes more, to make it so. Professionalism and dedication are often hard to find these days and it’s certainly gratifying when it comes in abundance.

            Finally let me say that in 2004 we may play as many as 25 concerts.

Apparently there was a rumor going round that we would not be touring next year, well that’s not the case. Furthermore we are anticipating the reissue of all our recordings from 1980 on, on Rainman Records. These releases will be spread out over the next 18 months or so. In addition there are a couple of video releases scheduled on Rainman as well. We’ll keep you updated as things develop. In the meantime I wish you and yours all the best for the coming Holidays and Hey; Let’s not be Scrooges out there, dig deep, the need is great.

 

Stay wild