We’ll never know how many late ’60s garage band bassists learned his passages to rock the high-school dances, block parties, to all night stoner jam sessions…

Behold the bassist born Klaus Karl Kassbaum, aka Nick St. Nicholas who, early in his career, worked the pocket for such ensembles as The Mynah Birds (Rick James, Neil Young), and Jack London and The Sparrows, among others.

However it was his tenure anchoring Steppenwolf which cemented his legend, replaced bassist Rushton Moreve in late ’68.

Nick on the live version of “Sookie Sookie” https://youtu.be/LilKJnEnH_M

Dig Nick, nattily adorned in a robe, on “Rock Me” from The Smothers Brothers Show https://youtu.be/x0l4p12bMK4

A groove player given to adventurous harmonic extensions during Steppenwolf’s more improvisatory forays on stage and in the studio, Nick split from the band in 1971.

Among his post-Wolf ensembles include World Class Rockers wherein former members of major bands band together and play the hits.