Gabriel Mekler, A Heavy Metal Thunder 3 Reasons Why
Gabriel Mekler has a long list of historic credits available at AllMusic.
by Walter Price
The late 1960’s and far into the 70’s music was spreading its wings. It was becoming more acceptable to hear sounds outside of what your station in life probably would have dictated. If you take my household, for example, we (my mom) had a vinyl collection that traveled from Patsy Cline and Dr. Hook to Haggard and Rolling Stones. With varied and eclectic stops along the way.
You knew the historic names from the popular genres at the time, Etta James, Three Dog Night, Janis Joplin, Nolan Porter, Steppenwolf, and Donovan. To name just a few. But did you know there was a guy whose name is widely unknown, that helped shape these mentioned artists and changed the way we hear music? His name was Gabriel Mekler and without him, we would be a different world.
Mekler, a Palestinian piano virtuoso, moved to America in the 60’s with a dream. A dream to become a record producer. Regardless of any former training or know how. But what did have was the gumption to give it a go. And that is how America used to work. If you wanted something, you went for it. The American dream was real.
For all you Metal-heads, Mekler was behind the song that introduced the world to the term ‘heavy metal”. The song was “Born To Be Wild” and the band was Steppenwolf. Bet you didn’t know that and if you had, you’re smart and obviously a music nerd. Welcome my friend.
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin’ with the wind
And the feelin’ that I’m under
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Unfortunately, Gabriel Mekler died in a motorcycle accident in 1977 at a young age. But his indelible mark on music and pop cultures will live on. Let’s check out three tracks that this unsung sonic hero left us all to love and soundtrack our road trips for decades past and future.
Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
Janis Joplin – Kozmic Blues
Three Dog Night – One
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He did an amazing job producing Hedge & Donna in an album titled Capers & Carson
Had dinner tonight with Adam Mekler… Gabriel’s Brother. An equally talented Artist, Concert Pianist and Author and Lecturer and foremost expert on Art of the Native Tribes of the Amazon. A most amazing Family indeed.
Gabriel signed, recorded and produced our band, Firewind, in 1971. We recorded the tracks at Dave Hassinger’s Sound Factory in Hollywood. His record company, Lizard Records, went out of business in 1972 and our tracks were lost/tied up with the company closing. Bottom line. Gabriel was a beautiful soul and a world class record producer. John Hendrix, Firewind Manager.
Gabriel was a dear friend and producer of some my recordings. I met him while I was a member of Paul Revere and the Raiders and was sharing a house with Fred Olsen, a member of the Lamp of Childhood. They were recording some amazing beautiful songs, Morning Misty Eyes, I Look For Your Smile in a Thousand Faces. At one point, Gabriel and James Hendricks came to me to ask if I would leave the Raiders to join the Lamp. I did a recording session with them playing acoustic guitar. Later Gabriel asked me to coproduce Steppenwolf. I couldn’t at the time but did help out on Born To Be Wild. Suggesting John Kaye sing with a little less rasp in his voice. The rest is history!