Michael Monarch (born July 5, 1950) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with the band Steppenwolf. Monarch was born in Los Angeles. As the original lead guitarist with Steppenwolf (1967 through most of 1969),
("Guitarist Monarch exited in 1969, replaced first by Larry Byrom and subsequently by Kent Henry.") he played on all their hits, including "

Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first performed by the band Steppenwolf. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is most notably featured in the 1969 fi ...

", " Magic Carpet Ride", and "Rock Me", while still a teenager. He also played on

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...

's album ''

I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! ''I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!'' is the debut solo and third studio album overall by American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin, released on September 11, 1969. It was the first album which Joplin recorded after leaving her former band, Big ...

'' and was a member of the

Michael Des Barres Michael Philip Des Barres (born 24 January 1948), the 26th Marquis Des Barres, is an English actor and rock singer. He appeared as Murdoc in the original ''MacGyver'', Nicholas Helman, Murdoc's mentor, on the new reboot of ''MacGyver'' (2016) ...

-fronted band

Detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...

. Monarch also worked with Roger Glover of Deep Purple, Andy Fraser of Free, Chris Hillman of the Byrds and others including many recording projects throughout the years. Monarch performs with other 1960s and 1970s rockers in the

supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...

World Classic Rockers World Classic Rockers (or WCR) is a rock supergroup band that was founded based from Las Vegas in 1995 by Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf. St. Nicholas has toured with the band since its inception, which, in similar fashion to Ringo Starr ...

and locally in Florida with the Peyton Monarch Band.

Discography

* Steppenwolf - '' Steppenwolf'' (1968, Dunhill) U.S. #6, U.K. #59, certified gold * Steppenwolf - ''

The Second ''The Second'' is the second studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf, released in October 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records. The album contains one of Steppenwolf's most famous songs, " Magic Carpet Ride". The background of the origin ...

'' (1968, Dunhill) U.S. #3, certified gold * Steppenwolf - ''

At Your Birthday Party ''At Your Birthday Party'' is the third studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in March 1969, by ABC Dunhill Records. Background It was the first Steppenwolf album to feature bass player Nick St. Nichol ...

'' (1969, Dunhill) U.S. #7, certified gold *

- ''

'' (1969, Columbia) U.S. #5, certified platinum — uncredited * Hokus Pokus - ''Hokus Pokus'' (1972, Romar) *

- ''Detective'' (1977,

Swan Song The swan song ( grc, κύκνειον ᾆσμα; la, carmen cygni) is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful so ...

) * Detective - ''It Takes One to Know One'' (1977, Swan Song) * Detective - ''Live from the Atlantic Studios'' (1978, Swan Song) * Michael Monarch - ''It Feels So Real'' (2001, MSR) * Michael Monarch - ''Guitar Bazaar'' (2001, MSR) * Michael Monarch - ''The Other Side of the Tracks'' (2002, MSR) * Michael Monarch - ''MM3'' (2006, MSR) * Peyton-Monarch - Lonesome Highway (2021, MSR)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Monarch, Michael 1950 births Living people American rock guitarists American male guitarists Lead guitarists Steppenwolf (band) members Guitarists from Los Angeles 20th-century American guitarists World Classic Rockers members