Mars Bonfire

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.^[1][2]

Mars Bonfire
c. early 1967
Background information
Birth name	Dennis Eugene McCrohan
Also known as	Dennis Edmonton
Born	(1943-04-21) 21 April 1943 (age 82) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument	guitar

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]} 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".^[3]

Personal life

Bonfire was a prolific hiker in Southern California for many years. He has completed the Hundred Peaks Section list 25 times.^[4] He was noted by the Los Angeles Times for his "affability and flexibility" as a hike leader.^[5]

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)^[6]
• Faster than the Speed of Life (1969)^[7]