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 music|Rock]] | occupation = Musician, songwriter | instrument = [[guitar]] | years_active =  | label = | associated_acts = [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]], [[The Sparrows (band)|The Sparrows]] | website =  }}

'''Dennis Edmonton''' (born '''Dennis Eugene McCrohan'''; 21 April 1943), also known by the stage name '''Mars Bonfire''', is a Canadian [[rock music|rock]] musician and songwriter, best known for writing the [[chart-topper|hit]] song "[[Born to Be Wild]]" for [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf]].<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|title=Mars Bonfire Biography|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p15999/biography|pure_url=yes}}|accessdate=22 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Grdn">{{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}}</ref>

==Early career== Born Dennis Eugene McCrohan, his brother [[Jerry Edmonton|Jerry]] and he changed their surnames to "Edmonton" in the early 1960s. The brothers were part of the band [[The Sparrows (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 (music)|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".<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==Personal life== Bonfire was a prolific hiker in [[Southern California]] for many years. He has completed the [[Hundred Peaks Section]] list 25 times.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hundredpeaks.org/emblems/hpscomp25.htm |title=Twenty-Fifth List Completion - Hundred Peaks Section |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241013205658/https://hundredpeaks.org/emblems/hpscomp25.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was noted by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' for his "affability and flexibility" as a hike leader.<ref>[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]</ref>

==Discography== Songs by Mars Bonfire that were recorded by Steppenwolf include: *"[[Born to Be Wild]]" ([[Steppenwolf (Steppenwolf album)|''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 (album)|''Hour of the Wolf'']], 1975)

Albums: * ''Mars Bonfire'' (1968)<ref>{{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}}</ref> * ''Faster than the Speed of Life'' (1969)<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0094428|name=Mars Bonfire}} * {{discogs artist|Mars Bonfire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mars Bonfire}} [[Category:Canadian male songwriters]] [[Category:Canadian rock guitarists]] [[Category:Canadian male guitarists]] [[Category:1943 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Musicians from Oshawa]] [[Category:Steppenwolf (band)]]