Which Steppenwolf song entered the Rock Hall's new singles category in 2018?

Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Singles category in 2018.

Written by Mars Bonfire and recorded by Steppenwolf, the song appeared on the band’s 1968 debut album. John Kay’s gritty vocal and the song’s hard-driving guitar sound helped make it a defining late-1960s rock anthem. Its lyrics also helped popularize the phrase “heavy metal,” although the song itself is usually classified as hard rock.

The recording became inseparable from the counterculture after appearing prominently in the 1969 film Easy Rider. That association cemented its connection with motorcycles, open roads and rebellious freedom, even though the song was not originally written specifically for that film.

The 2018 Singles category recognized influential recordings rather than inducting Steppenwolf as a performer. “Magic Carpet Ride,” “Rock Me” and “The Pusher” are other notable Steppenwolf songs, but none was the 2018 Rock Hall Single. “Born to Be Wild” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.