From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #27 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Friday, 28 March 1997 Volume 01 : Number 027 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: GRUN91A@prodigy.com (MR DAVID M BOBECK) Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 19:54:16, -0500 Subject: [none] To: Subject: The Palace Hello To All! I joined this list a short while ago but have been slightly preoccupied with a new Grand Funk fan! (My forth is now 2 weeks old and has decided his favorite Funk album is 'Caught In The Act'.) Anyway, I feel like a kid in a candy store myself cuz I got tickets to the Palace. Fortunately I didn't have trouble like Donna and Phil, Ticketmaster is a block or two from the house and I was there right for 10AM so I got my tix. Now comes the real adventure...finding the Palace. Anybody out there been to the Palace? If I spin around three times can you point me in the right direction? I've been a 'Railroad' fan since the day I was born. (I'm such the fanatic the I've got several copies of each of their albums just to make sure I will have their music for eternity!). Unfortunately, the closest I've ever gotten to seeing them live is the Japanese Import video so this is definitely a 'Grand' occasion! Grand Funk Lives! .....evaD (.....I gotta have an 'E' string for that spare axe.....) By the way..... Here are my Top 10 Live Albums ============================ 1 Grand Funk - Live Album 2 Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act 3 Robin Trower - Live 4 Sammy Hagar - All Nite Long 5 Rush - All The World's A Stage 6 R.E.O. Speedwagon - You Get What You Play For 7 The Guess Who - Live At The Paramount 8 Deep Purple - Made In Japan 9 Rainbow - On Stage 10 Todd Rundgren - Back To The Bars ------------------------------ From: WHIRLEGREG@aol.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 09:56:42 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: No Subject well hi ya all just a couple of thoughts for this fine weds am! i am certain you will have no trouble finding the palace of auburn hills it is but a 40 or so minute drive north from the i-75 and 94 interchange near downtown detroit another marker when heading north is m-59 (you are getting warmer) then university drive and then another 2-3 miles and you will see lapeer road/m24 exit and once you hit the exit ramp you WILL see it!! enjoy! next a comment re: mark and his religious beliefs he has much to share with people, a great personality a wonderful sense of humour and a keen knack for keying in on you and your thoughts and being able to lock in helping you to feel at ease and walk away as tho you had known him always! he at least with me didnt preach one bit only asides were things like god bless etc. but when you see him and talk to him he is one of those people that exudes a vibe that speaks volumns he doesnt need to preach for he has a magic about him and it conveys those teachings!! now last for today i promise! (jim you can just hit alt shift delete now!) i am counting the days till next wed when i will be attending the first rock n roll fantasy camp! so i will catch some rays from the sun as well as from our favorite r n r heros!! details to come!! cya g ------------------------------ From: thesonics@earthlink.net (Jay Siekierski) Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 12:35:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: FUNKOLA HEY FUNKOLA! LOST YOUR ADDRESS! SEND ME IT! JAYOLA! The Sonics The All Music Related Site! Music Editor: Jay'Sonics'Siekierski http://home.earthlink.net/~thesonics/ ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 19:08:34 +0100 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR RICHE wrote: >I WAS WONDERING HOW ALL YOU PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE JESUS FACTOR IN THIS >GRAND FUNK THING? Me, I love to listen to Mark's christian CD's. 'So you won't have to die' (Phoenix) is one of the songs I love to sing and play on guitar. I wonder when did Mark become a witness of Jehovah. I hope JDG will tell us more about this. Nico. ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:07:01 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Closer to Home ... Hi David, Welcome to the list and thanks for adding to the discussion. On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, you wrote: > ... I am in awe of the number of true and die hard > Grand Funk fans there are out here on the internet ... Yep, there do seem to be a core bunch of us out here. And, of course, that's why I worked so long and hard to find a site to host this list -- so that us Funk Fan-atics could have a forum to talk and share. Isn't it great to be able to talk Funk with people who care?!? > ... > The Web Pages are awesome ... Well, I don't know if you mean mine or not, but ... awww, gosh ... ... thanks! :-) Both Jeff and Donna are subscribers to this list as well so I'm sure they appreciate the compliment too. > ... > I am having a hard time finding people in my generation, not living > near an auto factory, who enjoy Grand Funk as much as I do ... Isn't that just the most amazing thing? As wildly successful as the band was in their heyday, as many albums as they sold to millions of people, there are still folks out there who "don't get it." When I teach a class -- especially a class with Web ac- cess -- I almost always mention my Web site. Some people say things like "Oh, I remember them. They're still around?" or "Aren't they the group who did Some Kind Of Wonderful?" It can get *very* frustrating. > ... At least > now I can rest knowing there are at least 50+ I can share it with !!! ... 68 at last count ... and still growing! At least 1 new sub- scriber every other day or so!! Isn't it just too cool to be able to talk Funk and be understood!?! > ... > One of my fondest child-hood memories was riding my "big-wheel" around > the block and seeing, the now famous Flint landmark, The Grand Trunk > Railroad bridge overhanging Fenton Road .... > ... It still stands exactly the same to this day ... Is this true? It still stands exactly the same to this day? What would I have to do to get you to get someone to snail-mail me a picture of this "landmark?" This picture *must* be on my Web site! Jeff and Donna -- I asked first! :-) :-) :-) :-) > ... > I thought I would never get the chance to see them live ... > Now it looks like I might get the chance to see them AGAIN !!! > I'm looking to do the same for the Palace show on April 20 ... Hey! We'll see you there!! BTW, I don't remember putting your name on the Contact List for the Palace (http://w3.one.net/~wap/GFR_WEB/gfrConcertContacts.html) Should I add you? Thanks again for writing David. Welcome to the list. Now, everybody, come on, clap your hands. Yeah, let's get this whole damn place in the groove. Yeah! Take care and grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who says if you think education is expensive -- try ignorance. (42) __, \ -==<' `\ +--------------------------+--------------------------+- \ --- ) / ------+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | / (_, | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| | ,-,`\ | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | \\ \ \ | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+------- `\, \ \ --+ ||\ \`|, _|| `=`-' ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:12:13 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Old tour dates and such Hi all, On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, Phil Catalano wrote: > > > ... but what i wante= d to > > > propose just now is this:just an idea to help "pump you up" i have to= ur > > > dates from 70, 71, 74 & 75 i would like to > > > post them ... > > What do *I* think? Well I think it is a *great* idea! ... > Well, I too think this is a great idea. One thing that I'd also like to s= ee > are songlists from shows from each year. I can give you input on both the= '74 > Shinin' On Tour and '75 All The Girls... Tour. Whataya think? Great idea Phil. Please mail me with info on which show you saw where and any other input you may have. Thanks, grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who knows that a hammer sometimes misses its mark -- a bouquet, never. +--------------------------+--------------------------+- (42-mew) -------+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | \ /\_/\ | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| ____/ o o \ | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | /~____ =3D=F8=3D= / | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+- (______)__m_m) -+ ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:23:56 -0800 Subject: L.A. Hotels For anyone who is interested in meeting up with Phil & Mick Catalano, Mike Butler & his wife, and me and my husband Allen, we will be staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel at the Los Angeles Airport (310) 215-1000. Because there is a huge convention going on that same weekend, it is recommended that you get your reservations asap! See ya all there! Donna ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 20:38:23 -0800 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR Hi Richie, Jesus and rock, what an interesting combination. While you may think GFR only writes about peace and love just remember "there won't be nobody takin' over our land, if everybodies brother has a gun in his hand!" While Mark may have become "Jesufied" it should be important to note that he does not share in the glory seaking that some of the other christian rock people do. That is one of the reasons he has come back to his rock and roll roots. He found out that many of them were just using Jesus to make a buck (sound familiar?). So, if your going to earn a buck, why not do it honestly? There is nothing wrong with a rock and roll band and I think Mark has realized this. There is also the possibility of "unfinished business" that GFR has come back to complete. That is just my opinion. Take it for what it is worth. Jim Maijala ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 20:50:56 -0800 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR Hi Nico, My old man said "Never discuss religon and politics". However this is a really interesting topic. Let's speculate (I promise not to get any on me). I think Mark has always, and I mean always been a highly sensitive christian. You can see it in many songs, ie: "So you won't have to die", "I can feel him in the morning", "He let me love". I also think that tunes that are highly religous are "Someone" and "Memories". Now I know you can sometimes read too much into some of this stuff, but there you have it. Now I know it's blasfemy but I would love to see GFR cover "Stairway to Heaven" I think Mark would put some real juice into those lyrics! Later, Jim ------------------------------ From: Slashdash@aol.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 23:51:03 -0500 (EST) Subject: Who took pix You asked.... who took the photos for the Closer to Home album. Is this a test? The pic. on the GFRR web site and the one on the inside of the Closer to Home vinyl album are the same. Some one has to have taken credit for it. ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 20:52:47 -0800 Subject: Re: Another GFR Show I called the Hard Rock today. The box office doesn't know anything yet and does not have them listed. They suggested calling back periodically because they have no set lead time on the various acts they have coming in. Jim ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 21:34:22 -0800 Subject: Re: Who took pix Yes this is a test. The Web site creators in your area, along with Federal, state, and local authorities, have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of a Trivia emergency. Had this been actual trivia, you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for news or official information. The attention signal you just heard would have been followed by erie silence as no one knows the answer. This concludes this test of the emergency trivia system. ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 23:40:57 -0600 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR jmaijala@sprynet.com wrote: > > Now I know it's blasfemy but I would love to see GFR cover "Stairway to Heaven" I think Mark would put some real juice into those lyrics! Hi Jim, I agree with the "Stairway" comment. Actually, Grand Funk could play a polka and I would probably get off on it. Interestingly enough, the girl friend of my college roomie swears she heard The Mighty Funk cover Stairway when she saw them in either '68 or '69. I still don't know if she was shooting straight with me or if it just the drugs. Mark made the statement when I caught his Godrockers act in '88, "I didn't find religion, I found Jesus!" If one person, through their admiration of Grand Funk Railroad, starts considering their immortal soul, and gives their life to Jesus, then I say Mark has done his Job. I believe God has a plan for all of us, and Mr. Farner's activities in Grand Funk Railroad, or in rock & roll in general, is not in contradiction with that plan. Many religious people (including us Christians) tend to be a little to quick to judge others, and by doing so, drive people further away from God. Who are we to judge anybody? That's the Good Lord's job. As for me, I love Jesus and rock music, especially, Grand Funk Railroad. Later, Randy ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 00:03:56 -0600 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR Jay Siekierski wrote: > > how could she hear stairway to heaven in '68 or '69? it wasn't released until '71. Good point! > i think she heard them doing a spirit song that was out in '68 > and randy california stated in print that ZEP lifted the intro! > jayola Hmmm ... could be. Frankly, I think it was the drugs. Later, Randy ------------------------------ From: "Michael Catalano" Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 6:04:37 EST Subject: Re: Closer to Home ... Yeah Dave! Welcome to the club. Great Funk--Flint story. If you have a picture of that "Bridge over Fenton Road" get it to the web people (Bill, Donna and Jeff). I think I speak for all of us that have never been to Flint: We wanna see it! Mick - ------------- Original Text From: "William A. Parrette" , on 3/26/97 6:07 PM: Hi David, Welcome to the list and thanks for adding to the discussion. On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, you wrote: > ... I am in awe of the number of true and die hard > Grand Funk fans there are out here on the internet ... Yep, there do seem to be a core bunch of us out here. And, of course, that's why I worked so long and hard to find a site to host this list -- so that us Funk Fan-atics could have a forum to talk and share. Isn't it great to be able to talk Funk with people who care?!? > ... > The Web Pages are awesome ... Well, I don't know if you mean mine or not, but ... awww, gosh ... ... thanks! :-) Both Jeff and Donna are subscribers to this list as well so I'm sure they appreciate the compliment too. > ... > I am having a hard time finding people in my generation, not living > near an auto factory, who enjoy Grand Funk as much as I do ... Isn't that just the most amazing thing? As wildly successful as the band was in their heyday, as many albums as they sold to millions of people, there are still folks out there who "don't get it." When I teach a class -- especially a class with Web ac- cess -- I almost always mention my Web site. Some people say things like "Oh, I remember them. They're still around?" or "Aren't they the group who did Some Kind Of Wonderful?" It can get *very* frustrating. > ... At least > now I can rest knowing there are at least 50+ I can share it with !!! ... 68 at last count ... and still growing! At least 1 new sub- scriber every other day or so!! Isn't it just too cool to be able to talk Funk and be understood!?! > ... > One of my fondest child-hood memories was riding my "big-wheel" around > the block and seeing, the now famous Flint landmark, The Grand Trunk > Railroad bridge overhanging Fenton Road .... > ... It still stands exactly the same to this day ... Is this true? It still stands exactly the same to this day? What would I have to do to get you to get someone to snail-mail me a picture of this "landmark?" This picture *must* be on my Web site! Jeff and Donna -- I asked first! :-) :-) :-) :-) > ... > I thought I would never get the chance to see them live ... > Now it looks like I might get the chance to see them AGAIN !!! > I'm looking to do the same for the Palace show on April 20 ... Hey! We'll see you there!! BTW, I don't remember putting your name on the Contact List for the Palace (http://w3.one.net/~wap/GFR_WEB/gfrConcertContacts.html) Should I add you? Thanks again for writing David. Welcome to the list. Now, everybody, come on, clap your hands. Yeah, let's get this whole damn place in the groove. Yeah! Take care and grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who says if you think education is expensive -- try ignorance. (42) __, \ -==<' `\ +--------------------------+--------------------------+- \ --- ) / ------+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | / (_, | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| | ,-,`\ | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | \\ \ \ | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+------- `\, \ \ --+ ||\ \`|, _|| `=`-' ------------------------------ From: Mike Butler <1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 08:04:50 -0700 Subject: Vegas GFR show Hi Jim - I got the same thing the other day from the Hard Rock box office people. Got me wondering, especially since the boys are supposed to be in Japan the last two weeks of June. The classic rock radio station that announced it rarely plays Grand Funk - - that's what really floored me when I heard it. I guess Bill Silva Presents is firm that books for the Hard Rock. I went to their web site and it's also listed there. It says 'tickets on sale soon'. The address is http://www.billsilvapresents.com I'm going to Detroit and LA shows so I'll not concerned one way or the other - but, seeing them in such a small venue (the acoustics are killer) would really be special. Jim, you're going to the LA show aren't you? Look forward to meeting you. - -=Mike=- ------------------------------ From: steelhorse Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 11:59:22 -0800 Subject: Figgitty like a flea on a hot brick Driving home from work yesterday, I was listening to the local classic rock radio station, KZPS 92.5, and they came on with... "...I have two tickets to give away to the 9th caller. This is for a concert that has not been announced yet, but it's going to be bigger than Shea Stadium..." Needless to say, I didn't win, but I did talk with the DJ. Ringo is going to be at Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth sometime in April. Woopie-doo. Knowing what I know about GFR and Shea Stadium in the good ol' days, whose crowd WAS bigger than the Beatles, I thought 'big', and imagined GFR actually coming to Dallas. The DJ asked me who I thought it was, and when I guessed the band as GFR, the DJ was like 'uh, hmm, -------, no,no,no, its Ringo. GFR broke up years ago.' and I said, 'and you guys call yourselves a classic rock station? Bub, I'm going to be listening to you closely for the next couple of days. Tell me on the air what you find out about GFR's reunion.' and he's, like 'really, oh wow'. From now on, I'm going to be doing all I can to get the word out. Maybe, just maybe, if there is a huge popularity involved with GFR, the powers that schedule might book more locations, Capitol might see it to re-release all those great GFR albums of old, and the train just might run a little longer. And that is goodness. Grok on. ------------------------------ From: Mike Butler <1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 12:18:17 -0700 Subject: Re: Figgitty like a flea on a hot brick steelhorse wrote: >From now on, I'm going to be doing all I can to get the word out. Maybe, just maybe, if there is a huge popularity involved with GFR, the powers that schedule might book more locations, Capitol might see it to re-release all those great GFR albums of old, and the train just might run a little longer. And that is goodness. Grok on. Great idea man. Everyone on this list should be calling their local classic rock station and tell them the band is back together and request a funk song. Most stations have a web site or internet access - I'd give them one of the grand funk web site URL's and let them check it out if they're interested. I'll bet most, if not all the DJ's are totally unaware the bands back - and better then ever! How many platinum albums did they have - 10? - -=Mike=- ------------------------------ From: HCRRock@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 16:18:43 -0500 (EST) Subject: RIGHT ON...CLASSIC ROT!!!!! In response to the "non-availability" of radio programming....I had a little discussion with the two major classic rock stations in Atlanta....Z-93 and 96 ROCK both got a earful from me when I let them have it about Led Zep and The Stones getting on twice an hour and Grand Funk once a month... An American radio station reliving over and over the British Invasion like these were the bench mark groups that put this type of music on the map... Grand Funk Railroad was filling up stadiums long before these groups were leaving the Pop Festival formats to build an audience...The tour schedules that Bill put up is proof that this group earned every red cent it got and the popularity it received.... Z-93 has scheduled me to talk about the reunion on the air the first week in April and believe me the word is getting out in this part of the country...I'm also trying to get a promoter to bring the group to Athens, Ga where a sure sellout would happen.... See you in Detroit... CRASH TEST CHRIS ------------------------------ From: Rzberf@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 18:58:23 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: RIGHT ON...CLASSIC ROT!!!!! Hurray, for letting them know how it is . I have pelted our classic rock station , rocket 101. All they replied was that they have alot of grand funk, so i replied back that the band put out alot more than four songs, I bet we can guess what four that they play . This is the reason people forget all the great songs this band did , The newspaper still doesn't list any reunion news yet . If your not in a band from another country and re-uniting than you better forget any publicity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well screw, them the best band in the land can do it without it.The only press they got in the 70's was bad anyways. SOMEONE IS WAITING JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR TO TAKE YOU AWAY ! ------------------------------ From: riche@1USA.COM Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 22:24:44 -0500 Subject: CAMERAS AT THE BEACON HAS ANYONE CONFIRMED IF YOU CAN TAKE CAMERAS INTO THE BEACON? ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 21:10:19 -0800 Subject: Re: Vegas GFR show Mike, No, I ain't goin' to the L.A. show . . quit rubbing it in!!!!! I gotta work. Maybe I should take early retirement for a day and go. Jim ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 08:36:46 +0100 Subject: Athens Chris, you wrote: >to get a promoter to bring the group to Athens.... Is Athens a concert place in America, or is it Athens in Greece? >Z-93 has scheduled me to talk about the reunion on the air the >first week in April... Great. A pitty I can't catch Z-93. Is it also on shortwave? Coming to talk of it, in the Netherlands there isn't any Rock Radio. Or they play all dance / house / rap music, or all Dutch music, or Elevator music. Or that death metal / metal-rap. No Hard Rock anywhere. Hard rock is not where the big money is. They don't sell out like those crazy house party's do, over here. I wish I was a millionair, then I would start my own Hard Rock Radio Station...... Nico. ------------------------------ From: "Michael Catalano" Date: Fri, 28 Mar 97 6:19:31 EST Subject: re: CAMERAS AT THE BEACON The Beacon told me that: "...some acts allow cameras into the theatre. If the act you are going to see is permitting cameras then it will be printed on your ticket." Well, I'm holding my ticket in one hand and typing with the other and I see no mention of cameras. They do tell us what to do if we get hit by a puck though!?*#?! The Beacon's phone number is (212) 496-7070 if you want to call and ask. Mick ps -- If you do get hit by that puck, "Notify Usher for directions to medical station." - ------------- Original Text From: riche@1USA.COM, on 3/27/97 10:24 PM: HAS ANYONE CONFIRMED IF YOU CAN TAKE CAMERAS INTO THE BEACON? ------------------------------ From: steelhorse Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 08:32:46 -0800 Subject: Blind radio Your experiences with your local radio stations brought back a memory or two of "the good ol days". In my neck of the woods (North Texas) in the '70s , there were only a handful of radio stations, locally. I could always catch 'skip' in the wintertime and listen to WLS in Chicago on the AM dial ('skip' is a radio term where radio waves bounce off ions in the atmosphere and/or the earth due to solar activity resulting in a huge increase in distance transmitted/received, hence the term, like skipping a rock on a pond). Back then, GFR didn't get airplay either. The albums were like a rock and roll underground, almost taboo in nature, but like treasured gems to a few of us rockers (no pun intended). In the song Please Don't Worry, because of the grace of garbled lyrics and poor quality equipment in those days (ie, 8 track), the word 'bust' in the line 'if somebody tries to bust you' got translated to the 'f' word. Give it a listen and you'll see what I mean. "Oh, man. That's worse than the Pusher!!!" we all used to say. My, how times have changed. The reason for this lack of airplay was because nearly all their songs were "radio unfriendly". They were too long in duration, reducing the number of advertisements the station could air = less income for the station. I did a little research to prove my point. Here is a short, editted list of my favorite cuts and their length: Inside Looking Out 9:29 Got This Thing on the Move 4:35 Footstompin Music 3:45 Upsetter 4:09 Save the Land 4:12 Aimless Lady 3:25 Heartbreaker 6:30 Country Road 4:20 Railroad 6:07 Goin for the Pastor 5:25 For comparison, here are the (only) four songs played by the local classic rock station in Dallas, "ninety-two-five-KZPS" (and I had to listen about a month before I heard them all...): Locomotion 2:45 Closer to Home 9:47 (studio duration) American Band 3:25 Some Kind of Wonderful 3:46 Note the duration of the common four. The Closer to Home is editted to fall under 3 minutes in the ordinary FM radio version. I thought the fast turntables went out with vinyl, but I've noted songs still sound higher in pitch than on my machine. Again, less song time, more ads = money. At one ad every 3 minutes, two plays a day of Inside Looking Out would cost the station 6 advertisement spots. My math's not too good, but that would add up to a large chunk of change. Same thing was happening to Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, and Santana at that time, to name a few. And have any of you ever heard In Na Godda Vida on the radio during the day??? I always dreamed of owning and operation my own radio station. This station would be AM with 2M watts, based on top of Pikes Peak. Because I would have previously won the lottery, I wouldn't need to advertise, and I could play GFR all funkin day long. Lolli-pop mic in one hand and a beer in the other :-). I think I'll give KZPS a call right now.......... ------------------------------ From: "Michael Catalano" Date: Fri, 28 Mar 97 6:38:45 EST Subject: A Sunny Response Hey everybody, check this out. I just received this from a long-time GFR-buddy of mine named Al. You just have to love the part about the Beacon selling out in one day! >The attached is an e-mail I sent to Don Brewer's significant other and her response. Unbelieveable! It's gonna be a great show & tour. Subject: Message From A Fan Dear Sunny Quinn, I hope you don't mind me e-mailing you but I'm so excited about the upcoming GFR Bosnian Relief Fund Benefit Tour (great cause by the way). My close friend for many years and fellow die hard GFR fan, Phil Catalano, forwarded me your response to his e-mail. "And that's the power of e-mail" is a phase that certainly be applied to your response. Phil, myself and our circle of friends from Long Island are totally psyched for the GFR NYC Beacon theatre show on 4/25/97. I got on line at the Beacon Box office real early this past Monday to get seats for Phil and the boys. Had a great time on line sharing stories and facts about the band, discussing GFR web sites, and exchanging e-mail addresses with other fans. I got Row P orchestra, YES! We are there! I'm a drummer who grew up idolizing Don. To this day, Don is still the most powerful and electrifying drummer I've ever seen. I've been pounding away to all the GFR albums since I was 13 (I'm 38). In '76 I purchased a Ludwig Mach 5 set (same as Don's back then except the color of mine is blue silk) which I still use (love that 24" bass & 16" & 18" floor Toms). Currently, I play in a blues band called the Smokin' Guns on Long Island. In 10/81, I was lucky enough to get back stage in Columbus, OH during the Grand Funk Lives Tour where I met Mark, Don and Dennis Berenger. Well, enough about me. To sum it all up, while the band may feel that they are sticking their necks out with this tour, we fans thank them for taking this chance and we will be there to support them. We also want to thank them for bringing back to us the music we grew up with. It hasn't been easy finding their music on CD or cassette (screw Capitol & MCA but would love to see a box set). I'm as excited about this concert as I was for my first concert which happened to be Grand Funk at MSG in NYC during the Shinnin' On Tour. Bottom Line: "Just can't wait" for the show and we'll be there with our "Rock & Roll Souls". Grand Funk Lives! Al Henneborn Subject: Re: Message From A Fan Wow...Al! Great letter, Man! I've printed it out to show to Don and GFR's manager. You have no idea how encouraging this feedback is! Thank you! I'm greatly looking forward to these shows...and I think NY will be especially good...the tix sold out in one day...much to everyone's surprise. So, all I can say is..thanks for the support and I hope you enjoy the show!!!SEE YA THERE! Sunny > I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did! GFR in '97 Mick ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 08:52:21 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Old tour dates and such > > Great idea Phil. Please mail me with info on which show you > saw where and any other input you may have. Thanks, grok in > fullness ... > Bill, here are the two Grand Funk shows that I had the privilege to see! Grand Funk "Shinin' On" Tour Madison Square Garden, NY, NY April 22, 1974 1. Footstompin' Music 2. Rock and Roll Soul 3. Closer To Home 4. Heartbreaker 5. Shinin' On 6. The Locomotion 7. Black Licorice 8. The Railroad 9. We're An American Band 10. T.N.U.C. 11. Inside Lookin' Out 12. Gimme Shelter (Encore) Grand Funk "All The Girls In The World Beware!!!" Tour Hershey Sports Arena, Hershey, PA March 14, 1975 1. Footstompin' Music 2. Rock and Roll Soul 3. Closer To Home 4. Heartbreaker 5. All The Girls In The World Beware!!! 6. Some Kind Of Wonderful 7. Shinin' On 8. Black Licorice 9. We're An American Band 10. T.N.U.C. 11. Inside Lookin' Out 12. Gimme Shelter (Encore) Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 09:06:45 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR > I agree with the "Stairway" comment. Actually, Grand Funk could play > a polka and I would probably get off on it. Interestingly enough, the > girl friend of my college roomie swears she heard The Mighty Funk cover > Stairway when she saw them in either '68 or '69. I still don't know if > she was shooting straight with me or if it just the drugs. Well now, it couldn't have been in '68 or '69 now could it! Unless the song was written in '68 and not release until like '71 or '72. I don't know the exact year it was released but it was from their 4th album, ZOSO, so it's gotta be around '71-'72. So, either she wasn't "shooting straight" or she's got the timeframe all wrong. And, just in my opinion, I thing Grand Funk would've ever played Stairway to Heaven at one of their concerts. Phil ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 09:08:22 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Closer to Home ... On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, Michael Catalano wrote: > Yeah Dave! Welcome to the club. Great Funk--Flint story. If you have a > picture of that "Bridge over Fenton Road" get it to the web people (Bill, > Donna and Jeff). I think I speak for all of us that have never been to > Flint: We wanna see it! I SECOND THE MOTION! Phil ------------------------------ From: steelhorse Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 10:09:53 -0800 Subject: Re: A Sunny Response > > Subject: Re: Message From A Fan > > Wow...Al! > Great letter, Man! I've printed it out to show to Don and GFR's > manager. You have no idea how encouraging this feedback is! Thank > you! I'm greatly looking forward to these shows...and I think NY will > be especially good...the tix sold out in one day...much to everyone's > surprise. Hey, I'm not surprised. Weeks ago I wondered (and e-mailed the roadkill list) that the Beacon was going to be too small. I figured a sell out, but not in one day! People, this is the strongest message we can send to the band and the organizers of the tour. Mark was the master of feedback (ie Heartbreaker), the best on the planet IMO. I think we should return some in kind. Maybe if we 'encourage' enough, there'll be more concerts in this phase of reunion. ------------------------------ From: Ira Cohen Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:36:04 -0400 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR Phil Catalano wrote: > > > I agree with the "Stairway" comment. Actually, Grand Funk could play > > a polka and I would probably get off on it. Interestingly enough, the > > girl friend of my college roomie swears she heard The Mighty Funk cover > > Stairway when she saw them in either '68 or '69. I still don't know if > > she was shooting straight with me or if it just the drugs. > > Well now, it couldn't have been in '68 or '69 now could it! Unless the song was > written in '68 and not release until like '71 or '72. I don't know the exact > year it was released but it was from their 4th album, ZOSO, so it's gotta be > around '71-'72. So, either she wasn't "shooting straight" or she's got the > timeframe all wrong. And, just in my opinion, I thing Grand Funk would've ever > played Stairway to Heaven at one of their concerts. > > Phil I agree-Unless GFR wrote it and Zep stole it, which I do not believe. But if you think about it, what if?????........... Ira - -- ================================================================= | Ira R. Cohen | "I might be movin to | | ircohen@earthlink.net | Montana soon, to | | Voice: 516-582-6699 x225 | raise me up a crop of | | Fax:516-582-8182 | dental floss..." | | Custom Computer Specialists Inc.| | | 1775 Express Dr. North | --Frank Zappa | | Hauppauge, NY 11788 | *Movin to Montana* | ================================================================= ------------------------------ From: HCRRock@aol.com Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:43:34 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Athens GA...NICO NICO That's Athens Georgia, USA...Where groups like R.E.M. and The B-52's come from....College town where my band back in the early 80's played and I ended up staying...We've just built a city civic center that holds around 2100...and would be a great setting for Mark, Don, and Mel....Got to know the local promoter real well and he says if he can't handle it he'll get Alex Cooley of Concert Southern Promotions to work on it...A long shot since Atlanta is just 60 miles away...But worth a try for all the suburbians up this way who remember the great ole days... CRASH TEST CHRIS ------------------------------ From: Ira Cohen Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:47:32 -0400 Subject: Re: A Sunny Response steelhorse wrote: > > > > > Subject: Re: Message From A Fan > > > > Wow...Al! > > Great letter, Man! I've printed it out to show to Don and GFR's > > manager. You have no idea how encouraging this feedback is! Thank > > you! I'm greatly looking forward to these shows...and I think NY will > > be especially good...the tix sold out in one day...much to everyone's > > surprise. > > Hey, I'm not surprised. Weeks ago I wondered (and e-mailed the roadkill > list) that the Beacon was going to be too small. I figured a sell out, > but not in one day! > > People, this is the strongest message we can send to the band and the > organizers of the tour. Mark was the master of feedback (ie > Heartbreaker), the best on the planet IMO. I think we should return some > in kind. Maybe if we 'encourage' enough, there'll be more concerts in > this phase of reunion. I tried to get tickets to the Beacon the day of the announcement, and I could NOT get through, either by phone or www. I hope that GFR will maybe play Jones Beach Theater in the summer. Ira - -- ================================================================= | Ira R. Cohen | "I might be movin to | | ircohen@earthlink.net | Montana soon, to | | Voice: 516-582-6699 x225 | raise me up a crop of | | Fax:516-582-8182 | dental floss..." | | Custom Computer Specialists Inc.| | | 1775 Express Dr. North | --Frank Zappa | | Hauppauge, NY 11788 | *Movin to Montana* | ================================================================= ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 10:58:22 -0600 Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR Phil Catalano wrote: > Well now, it couldn't have been in '68 or '69 now could it! Unless the song was > written in '68 and not release until like '71 or '72. I don't know the exact > year it was released but it was from their 4th album, ZOSO, so it's gotta be > around '71-'72. So, either she wasn't "shooting straight" or she's got the > timeframe all wrong. And, just in my opinion, I thing Grand Funk would've ever > played Stairway to Heaven at one of their concerts. > > Phil Hi Phil, I agree ... I believe the woman was dreaming. Did GFR do any cover tunes in concert that wasn't previously released on a Grand Funk album? My apologies for not checking my facts more carefully. Cordially, Randy ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 09:59:40 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: RIGHT ON...CLASSIC ROT!!!!! On Thu, 27 Mar 1997 HCRRock@aol.com wrote: > In response to the "non-availability" of radio programming....I had a little > discussion with the two major classic rock stations in Atlanta....Z-93 and > 96 ROCK both got a earful from me when I let them have it about Led Zep > and The Stones getting on twice an hour and Grand Funk once a month... > > An American radio station reliving over and over the British Invasion like > these were the bench mark groups that put this type of music on the map... > > Grand Funk Railroad was filling up stadiums long before these groups were > leaving the Pop Festival formats to build an audience...The tour schedules > that > Bill put up is proof that this group earned every red cent it got and the > popularity > it received.... > > Z-93 has scheduled me to talk about the reunion on the air the first week in > April > and believe me the word is getting out in this part of the country...I'm also > trying > to get a promoter to bring the group to Athens, Ga where a sure sellout would > happen.... > > See you in Detroit... > > CRASH TEST CHRIS Great stuff Chris!!!! Keep on 'em!!!!!!! Phil ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 10:15:55 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= On Fri, 28 Mar 1997, Ira Cohen wrote: > Phil Catalano wrote: > > > > > I agree with the "Stairway" comment. Actually, Grand Funk could play > > > a polka and I would probably get off on it. Interestingly enough, the > > > girl friend of my college roomie swears she heard The Mighty Funk cover > > > Stairway when she saw them in either '68 or '69. I still don't know if > > > she was shooting straight with me or if it just the drugs. > > > > Well now, it couldn't have been in '68 or '69 now could it! Unless the song was > > written in '68 and not release until like '71 or '72. I don't know the exact > > year it was released but it was from their 4th album, ZOSO, so it's gotta be > > around '71-'72. So, either she wasn't "shooting straight" or she's got the > > timeframe all wrong. And, just in my opinion, I thing Grand Funk would've ever > > played Stairway to Heaven at one of their concerts. > > > > Phil > I agree-Unless GFR wrote it and Zep stole it, which I do not believe. > But if you think about it, what if?????........... > Thanks Ira! And by the way, after reading my message, of course after I sent it out, I noticed the typos. The word "ever" in the last sentence should've been "never" So, it should've read "And, just in my opinion, I think Grand Funk would've never played Stairway to Heaven at one of their concerts." Sorry for the illiteracy! I'm sure you guys figured it out though. Phil ps I noticed you're from Happauge! Real close to where I grew up in Islip Terrace! I'm in Colorado now. ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 10:18:45 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR > > Hi Phil, > I agree ... I believe the woman was dreaming. Did GFR do any cover > tunes in concert that wasn't previously released on a Grand Funk album? Not to my knowledge! Phil ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:10:45 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: THE JESUS FACTOR On Wed, 26 Mar 1997 riche@1USA.COM wrote: > I WAS WONDERING HOW ALL YOU PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE JESUS FACTOR IN THIS > GRAND FUNK THING? NOT TO MUCH IS MENTIONED ABOUT THIS ON THE DISCUSSION > GROUP. AS YOU NO MARK IS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN, AS SHOWN IN A LOT OF THE > GFR TUNES. I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW ALL YOU FUNKSTERS FEEL ABOUT THIS > SUBJECT. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT MARK IS A GREAT INSPIRATION TO ME FOR > PEACE, AND LOVING YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER, AND ONE THING THAT STICKS IN > MY MIND IS THAT WE NEED TO CONTROL OUR BIRTH RATE ON THIS EARTH BECAUSE > THIS IS THE ROOT OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS (POLLUTION, GREED , HATE, WAR , > FAMINE, GRAFT,PESTILENCE, DISEASE, HUNGER, FROGS RAINING FROM THE > SKIES,). I'm finally getting around to responding to this... Let me say right up front that I am an atheist! OK, now that the Cat's out of the bag so to speak, let me respond to the issue. Mark's lyrics and messages have never influenced my way of life, one way or the other. I agree with some of the stuff he says and I disagree with some of the stuff he says. But that's not the point. I am, and always will be, a true die-hard Grand Funk fan. Grand Funk is alot more than Mark Farner's words. I have always loved their tunes as a whole. To be honest with you, sometimes his words are a little too much for me, but that's ok. And as far as Mark becoming a Born Again Christian or whatever else he's into, as long as he doesn't preach to me and try to push it on me, I'm ok with it. To each his own! I've been attending Mark's shows all through his solo career because of his Grand Funk roots, his guitar playing, his singing, and his just his pure entertainment, not because of his religious/Jesus beliefs. And he always puts on a GREAT show. And his guitar playing has improved tremendously. I was disappointed only once, and that was at the last show I saw him do here in Colorado a couple of years ago. They were playing Some Kind of Wonderful and he put a religous spin on that. It was something like "Well my Savior, he's alright" instead of "Well my baby, she's alright" and a bunch of other stuff that I can't really recall. But that was kind of disappointing to me. But, do I hold it agains him, NO! Did I still have a great time at the show, YES! So that's just my two cents! I hope nobody holds it against me as I won't hold anything against anybody else based on their religious beliefs. And by the way, I totally agree with you about the population control. It is out of control and is definitely the root of all evil, in my opinion. I actually just had a lengthy discussion with my buddy the other day about this very topic. And yes, Mark hit it right on the head with several songs (Freedom is for children, etc...) when he mentions this problem. Phil ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #27 *******************************