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All Music Guide:
Dennis Edmonton changed his name to Mars Bonfire when Jack London and the Sparrows split up in 1967. His only hits as a solo performer were "Ride with Me Baby" and "Faster than the Speed of Life." However, as a writer he penned Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," one of the first heavy metal anthems.
Wikipedia:
Dennis Edmonton (born 21 April 1943 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada), 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.
Born Dennis Eugene McCrohan, he and his brother Jerry changed their surnames to Edmonton in the early 1960s. The brothers were part of a band called The Sparrows which later evolved into Steppenwolf. Another member of The Sparrows was Bruce Palmer who later became a member of Buffalo Springfield.
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 recording on the recordings of Fowley and artists associated with Fowley.
Songs by Mars Bonfire recorded by Steppenwolf include:
"Born To Be Wild" (Steppenwolf, 1968)"Faster Than The Speed Of Life" (Steppenwolf The Second, 1968)"Ride with Me" (For Ladies Only, 1971)"Tenderness" (For Ladies Only, 1971)"The Night Time's For You" (co-write w/Morgan Cavett, For Ladies Only, 1971)"Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)" (Steppenwolf Hour Of The Wolf, 1975)