Mars Bonfire
{{short description|Canadian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mars Bonfire
| image = Dennis Edmonton (Mars Bonfire) of The Sparrows.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = {{circa|early 1967}}
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Dennis Eugene McCrohan
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alias = Dennis Edmonton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|04|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Rock
| occupation = Musician, songwriter
| instrument = guitar
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts = Steppenwolf, The Sparrows
| website =
}}
Dennis Edmonton (born Dennis Eugene McCrohan; 21 April 1943), also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf.{{cite web|title=Mars Bonfire Biography|publisher=Allmusic|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p15999/biography|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=22 January 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Dave Simpson |title=How we made Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild: Interview |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/31/how-we-made-steppenwolf-born-to-be-wild |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=31 July 2018}}
Early career
Born Dennis Eugene McCrohan, his brother Jerry and he changed their surnames to "Edmonton" in the early 1960s. The brothers were part of the band the Sparrows, which later evolved into Steppenwolf. Another member of the Sparrows was Bruce Palmer, who later became a member of Buffalo Springfield.
Solo career
Bonfire embarked on a solo career, while his brother Jerry became the drummer for Steppenwolf. After leaving the band, he often collaborated with Kim Fowley, co-writing and contributing to the recordings of Fowley and artists associated with him.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} On 22 June 2015, Bonfire was awarded the Cultural Impact Award by SOCAN at the 2015 SOCAN Awards in Toronto for "Born to be Wild".{{Cite web |url=http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2015-socan-awards |title=2015 SOCAN Awards |access-date=6 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802041429/http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2015-socan-awards |archive-date=2 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
Bonfire was a prolific hiker in Southern California for many years. He has completed the Hundred Peaks Section list 25 times.[http://www.hundredpeaks.org/emblems/hpscomp25.htm Twenty-Fifth List Completion - Hundred Peaks Section] He was noted by the Los Angeles Times for his "affability and flexibility" as a hike leader.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-28-os-wildwest28-story.html Reynolds, Christopher Been There. Done That. Once Again. Los Angeles Times 2004-09-28]
Discography
Songs by Mars Bonfire that were recorded by Steppenwolf include:
- "Born to Be Wild" (Steppenwolf, 1968)
- "Faster than the Speed of Life" (The Second, 1968)
- "Ride with Me" (For Ladies Only, 1971)
- "Tenderness" (For Ladies Only, 1971)
- "The Night Time's for You" (co-written with Morgan Cavett, For Ladies Only, 1971)
- "Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World)" (Hour of the Wolf, 1975)
Albums:
- Mars Bonfire (1968){{cite web|last=Bonfire |first=Mars|url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=MW0000856088 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Mars Bonfire |publisher=AllMusic |date=1968 |accessdate=11 January 2013}}
- Faster than the Speed of Life (1969){{cite web|last=Bonfire |first=Mars|url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=MW0000735341 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Faster than the Speed of Life |publisher=AllMusic |date=1969 |accessdate=11 January 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0094428|name=Mars Bonfire}}
- {{discogs artist|Mars Bonfire}}
{{Steppenwolf}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mars Bonfire}}
Category:Canadian male songwriters
Category:Canadian rock guitarists
Category:Canadian male guitarists