Remembering Doug Adams
Steppenwolf News
From John Kay:
On February 4, 2026 we lost our dear friend and sound man Doug Adams. For 30 years (from 1988 to 2018) he made us sound our best, more than 1,400 times. Whether in the US, Canada, Europe, Brazil, Japan, knowing he was at the mixing board always made us feel “No worries”, Doug has got this and we can concentrate on our playing.
A congenial traveling companion and good company on the road, he was always curious about the far-flung places – like Guam and Saipan - we visited to play and was always learning from these new experiences. Over the years we – Jutta, our daughter Shawn and I – became close to Doug, his wife Terri and their son Ryan and considered them our dear friends. Doug’s kindness and generosity of spirit endeared him to us, for as Jutta said, “Doug has a big heart, he cares about others and it shows”. Every time I heard Doug talking to Ryan on the phone, I heard him end the call by saying ,“I love you Son”, and I learned from hearing him say those words. Therefore I will end this tribute note by saying, “We love you Doug, you were a special bright spot in our lives and we will not forget you, nor the fond memories of our comradeship - Farewell dear friend.” - Jutta, Shawn & John
While coming to grips of Doug's passing the song "Dance to My Song" came to me. I wrote it many years ago but it seems fitting for this occasion.
DANCE TO MY SONG
And we carried him down the hollow
Where we laid his kind soul down to rest
Then we sang until the dawn just to him memory
And found these words to be his last request…
“When my time draws nigh stay near me
And when I die will you dance to my song
When I’m gone won’t you come and cheer me
On my journey back home where I belong”
Now how could he know
Just where he would go
And what did he see that made him run so free
And why do I feel,
That’s he’s far away and right beside me still
In the night somebody touched me
As the sea roared out his name
And while I thought of all our times together
His echo keeps calling back again…
“When my time draws nigh stay near me
And when I die will you dance to my song
When I’m gone won’t you come and cheer me
On my journey back home where I belong”
1973 – Nichols Canyon Rd
