From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #53 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Tuesday, 6 May 1997 Volume 01 : Number 053 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bluetuna@webtv.net (Rand Kelly) Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 21:14:50 -0700 Subject: GFR on AM Radio! Hi there everybody I haven't seen anything on this subject yet but before you think to yourself yeah! we know Locomotion, SKOW, WAAB and that's it. No mention of the reunion and probably the same thing like in SPINAL TAP where the AM dj says" currently in the where are they now file" Well that's what I thought too but lo and behold to my surprise the dj says after WAAB gets played for the 1000000th time , He says "ALL RIGHT GRAND FUNK RAILROAD(and I'm thinki'n here we go again gone but not forgotten and he just blows my mind with) THEY WERE SOOO TIGHT, THEY WERE SOOO GOOD ON THE TONIGHT SHOW ON FRIDAY. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THESE GUYS TOGETHER AGAIN." I was at work and almost cried I was so happy 'cause I realized this was on that AM station that AMERICA hears all at the same time. There are probably 1000's of fans of the band who missed GMA and Leno. Do you realize how much good for Mark,Don&Mel that little comment might have done. The Train is rolling, jump on or get out of the way. God Bless You all. esp. the mystery DJ you came through at the perfect time. Rand Kelly ------------------------------ From: Tom Roberts Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 23:20:10 -0400 Subject: GFR Bootlegs I agree that bootleg tapes among the hard-core fans will not hurt ANY artist. I used to spend countless dollars on legitimate David Bowie releases as a result of listening to a bootleg album I borrowed from a friend. Before that, I NEVER listened to Bowie, and didn't even care who he was. (Unfortunately, now I have a giant collection I am trying to get rid of. Maybe I can find someone who want to trade for a little GFR.) Has anyone ever asked Mark, Don, or Mel for their opinions? Enough of us have seen them after their shows, so just a quick question shouldn't be much of an intrusion. Maybe they will set aside a section just for tapers. I wouldn't mind being allowed a chance to take my cassette recorder or video recorder to one of their shows. I must admit that I never got into the Grateful Dead, but I have always respected them for their commitment to their fans. Taping their concerts was not only good for their fans, but it seemed to make the Dead fans the most loyal of any rock band ever. Once a 'dead-head' always a 'dead-head.' The Dead proved to be one of the longest lasting and most profitable chapters in the book of rock history. After all, it took the death of Jerry Garcia to break up the band. Concert tapes are being traded and bought at record paces, and their fans are still buying every CD that gets released. The old fans are even keeping the Dead alive by making the newest Dead fans have easy access to almost every concert their heroes ever performed. More fans, more CDs sold, and more incentive for the band to do another studio album. Sounds like a win/win situation for everyone. If anyone has a list of concert tapes available of any of GFR's or Mark's concerts I would love to be able to trade for my meager list. I would also be interested in any radio performances or interviews, as well as any videos. Thanks, Tom Roberts ------------------------------ From: bluetuna@webtv.net (Rand Kelly) Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 21:25:34 -0700 Subject: Re: GFR die hard fan Live Album-Quality? God Bless You all. import? Rand Kelly ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 21:33:13 -0700 Subject: Re: bootlegs Interesting comment. "They would still make music if they were'nt paid" The first Three concerts are the Charity events. Most of the others are money makers. Remember, even if they don't need the money, everyone else connected with the tour does! The bootleg question can certainly bring about considerable debate. Alot of people show there support by "buying a ticket". Be it a concert ticket, a CD, or band related merchandise. The official line, I'm sure, is "Bootleg, bad, Record label, good". However, rules are made to be broken and I too have non official stuff. The Funkengruven T's may be a good example of this. Not neccessarily endorsed by the band, but not discouraged either. Just a thought, rambling though it is, Jim Maijala ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 21:34:28 -0700 Subject: L.A. PART 2 PART 2: Get to the Derby, roadkill folks waiting for us. We need a bigger table. Everybody's excited. I'm a little bummed because all the VIP passes are spoken for, so not everyone there will be able to get in. Everyone is buying Allen and I drinks, so I figure forget about it, there's nothing more I can do. We're all acting like high school kids again and having a great time. We take a group picture just like we're old friends getting together for some kind of reunion. More people walk in. I think we had around 20+ of us there before we left for the show. 6:45ish: We head out for our cars to head for the Greek. Some guy pulls up on a motorcycle and asks Mike Butler "Hey, do you know Mike Butler?" (I swear I'm not making this up) I think he was someone wanting a T-shirt. We head for the show, and get good parking right out front. I go over to Will Call, and as you all read in earlier e-mails, I go through the same 4 versus 10 VIP passes thing. I'm not going to lose faith though, something inside tells me it's all gonna work out. I tell everybody don't worry. We go inside and talk with David Fishof, and he has a girl write my name down on a list as Donna Wightman +9. It dawns on me that we still have the 4 VIP patches also. So now we have 14! We can get just about everyone in now. We go sit down and wait for the show. Allen and I had didn't have very good seats, but I brought my binoculars, plus I know I'm getting backstage later, so I'm happy. The show starts just as other's described in Detroit and New York, with the Orchestra. The boys come out and the whole place goes crazy! I suddenly realize I didn't bring any paper or pen to take notes. I tell Allen I hope one of the other guys remembered. One thing I noticed was that I thought Don Brewer looked the happiest of the 3. Don't get me wrong, Mark and Mel were having a great time too, but Don was actually *glowing*. I don't know if anyone else noticed this too, or if it was that contact buzz I was getting from the reeferholics sitting next to us! Forgive me, but it did smell good. (Ah, the old days.) Ushers running around like nazi's with flashlights trying to catch the pot smokers....hahaha Steve Lisuk comes up during Intermission and tells us that Carol almost got her camera taken away. Panic, the group shots at the Derby were on it. Not to worry, Steve got the camera and they didn't throw her out. The beer consumed at the Derby wants out so I make my way to the little girl's room. When I come back, I stand at the side to see Mark singing and playing Mean Mistreater on the grand piano. What a site! Very classy and sounded wonderful. I wasn't impressed with Slash's guitar playing, but was thinking "Yes, now they'll make MTV news." Billy Preston and Alto Reed were great. Mark was all over the place! That man must have run 10 miles or more on that stage. The crowd was great and knew a lot of the words to the songs, especially Inside looking out. The crowd sang the whole song! Also the end chorus part to I'm your captain/closer to home. In fact, Mark let the audience sing the first few bars of "I'm get-ting clos-er to my ho-me" before he came in, and the laser show was fantastic with green colored ocean waves lighting the sky above the stage. I bet we got the best view of the light show since we were farther back. The show ended with the most incredible rendition of "Loneliness" (Nico, I was thinking about you) with the Orchestra. They played it perfect! It dawned on me that we may never get to see them play that song with a full orchestra again. I felt very fortunate. Continued in PART 3.... ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 21:38:08 -0700 Subject: Re: Fave Funkheads Bands "Hard Meat" geee, that will be "tough to beat" I GOTTA LOVE IT. ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 21:48:14 -0700 Subject: Re: GFR in the 80's Phil, I have GFR Lives and it is a pretty good album. Queen Bee is a butting kicking number. I love you man. Jim ------------------------------ From: WHIRLEGREG@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 00:49:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Fave Bands of This Funkhead yup i temember faith!!!!!!!!! the mccccc ................ ah dang!!!!!!!!!!!!!! millington sisters thats it!!!!!!!! i saw em ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 01:15:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Stanley Mieses Review Here's a review...for better or worse. If you read it, the guy's actually a pretty good writer, just don't share his opinions. SINGING FOR SATAN vs. THE STATUS QUO NEWSDAY QUEENS Wednesday Oct30, l996 by Stanley Mieses SUICIDE, RAPE, the AIDS epidemic, schizophrenia, demonic possession and the Bible are all subjects for dissection by the unclassifiable but always intense vocalist Diamanda Galas, who is making her Carnegie Hall debut tomorrow. Halloween night, apporpriately. "It's time to bring the Devil uptown," she says with a laugh. "I'm trying to reclaim Halloween as a holy day," says Galas, whose body of perfromance-art work often blurs the line between church and experimental,"and that can only be done in a serious place like Carnegie Hall." And so Galas, sho has performed pieces with such titles as "Wild Women With Steak Knives" and "Plague Mass,"is going to unveil her "Malediction and Prayer"--as part of a program that's been subtitled "Concert for the Damned"--on the eve of All Saints Day. For thoses who seek truly alternative music, this show may be just the ticket. Galas' wild, startling and genre-piercing bovals are an alternative to what most of the Western world calls singing. Her unearthly shrieking, tortured braying and melismatic incantations jump through a hoop four octaves wide. Galas will sometimes obliterate a lyric with her powerful vibrato and replace it with sounds from her interior universe. "Any time I've proposed pop music, it's been edgy," she says. "I'm not in pop music." The way the San Diego-raised and current East Village resident defines it,"If there are a lot of people at my show, it becomes poular music that day." What Galas is not--contrary to the Christian Coalition, which probably has given her more "exposure" than her samll-label recordings and the worldwide festival appearances since l979--is the auteur of music that might inspire a coven of suburban kids to trance out and deposit a dead animal's head pnm their neighbor's lawn. Her mood and music is not "naively Satanic," as she puts it,"but much more in keeping with the idea of Satan as the enemy of the status quo." The damned who populate Galas' music are characters who, through their torture and suffering on earth, have earned their sainthood, but go without formal recognition--or government assistance, or even public sympathy. Her Halloween show is dedicated to a New York City public-school teacher and good friend who succumbed to the HIV virus not long ago, and for whom her original composition,"Last Man Down," will be performed tomorrow. But people coming to hear more music from her most accessible recording, "The Sporting Life," with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, might be disappointed that little of that music is on the bill.People coming hear something like "Schrei X" (both are available on Mute Records), a nearly unlistenable solo voice piece that still manages to sound like Sybil (shw of 17 personalities), might hear spurts of that, but can also expect a modicum of tunefulness as well. "It;s just the kisss of death not to sing what you hear," says Galas, who acknowledges some of her repertoire is "raw" for a lot of people. Sometimes it seems that the damned are among those sitting in Galas' audience. More than once I have seen people fleeing from the concert hall during one of her performances. Just as often, however, I've witnessed a Galas show that broadened my own boundaries of what's pleasureable. Either way, she remains as unforgettable as a scar. "You have a job to do," she says, herself the subject. "The only thing I can say is that I keep doing it. I don't see that I've exhibited any cleverness whatsoever about getting an audience." ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 01:16:30 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Another Stanley Mieses Review SINGING FOR SATAN vs. THE STATUS QUO NEWSDAY QUEENS Wednesday Oct30, l996 by Stanley Mieses SUICIDE, RAPE, the AIDS epidemic, schizophrenia, demonic possession and the Bible are all subjects for dissection by the unclassifiable but always intense vocalist Diamanda Galas, who is making her Carnegie Hall debut tomorrow. Halloween night, apporpriately. "It's time to bring the Devil uptown," she says with a laugh. "I'm trying to reclaim Halloween as a holy day," says Galas, whose body of perfromance-art work often blurs the line between church and experimental,"and that can only be done in a serious place like Carnegie Hall." And so Galas, sho has performed pieces with such titles as "Wild Women With Steak Knives" and "Plague Mass,"is going to unveil her "Malediction and Prayer"--as part of a program that's been subtitled "Concert for the Damned"--on the eve of All Saints Day. For thoses who seek truly alternative music, this show may be just the ticket. Galas' wild, startling and genre-piercing bovals are an alternative to what most of the Western world calls singing. Her unearthly shrieking, tortured braying and melismatic incantations jump through a hoop four octaves wide. Galas will sometimes obliterate a lyric with her powerful vibrato and replace it with sounds from her interior universe. "Any time I've proposed pop music, it's been edgy," she says. "I'm not in pop music." The way the San Diego-raised and current East Village resident defines it,"If there are a lot of people at my show, it becomes poular music that day." What Galas is not--contrary to the Christian Coalition, which probably has given her more "exposure" than her samll-label recordings and the worldwide festival appearances since l979--is the auteur of music that might inspire a coven of suburban kids to trance out and deposit a dead animal's head pnm their neighbor's lawn. Her mood and music is not "naively Satanic," as she puts it,"but much more in keeping with the idea of Satan as the enemy of the status quo." The damned who populate Galas' music are characters who, through their torture and suffering on earth, have earned their sainthood, but go without formal recognition--or government assistance, or even public sympathy. Her Halloween show is dedicated to a New York City public-school teacher and good friend who succumbed to the HIV virus not long ago, and for whom her original composition,"Last Man Down," will be performed tomorrow. But people coming to hear more music from her most accessible recording, "The Sporting Life," with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, might be disappointed that little of that music is on the bill.People coming hear something like "Schrei X" (both are available on Mute Records), a nearly unlistenable solo voice piece that still manages to sound like Sybil (shw of 17 personalities), might hear spurts of that, but can also expect a modicum of tunefulness as well. "It;s just the kisss of death not to sing what you hear," says Galas, who acknowledges some of her repertoire is "raw" for a lot of people. Sometimes it seems that the damned are among those sitting in Galas' audience. More than once I have seen people fleeing from the concert hall during one of her performances. Just as often, however, I've witnessed a Galas show that broadened my own boundaries of what's pleasureable. Either way, she remains as unforgettable as a scar. "You have a job to do," she says, herself the subject. "The only thing I can say is that I keep doing it. I don't see that I've exhibited any cleverness whatsoever about getting an audience." ------------------------------ From: bluetuna@webtv.net (Rand Kelly) Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 22:18:35 -0700 Subject: Re: Fave Bands of This Funkhead Faith or Fanny? June Millington was the guitar player for the all-girl band Fanny. I don't know anything about Faith. (the band) God Bless You all. Rand Kelly NP=now playing: CHICAGO/25 or 6 to 4 live from the Terry Kath years. God I miss this great player. ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 01:20:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Thanks/wait-a-minute] Here are a couple more threesomes: Mountain and West, Bruce & Lang. ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 01:27:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Stanley Mieses According to a Net search, the following was found: Stanley Mieses 141 W. Broadway New York, NY 10013-3305 212/587-1050 104213.624@Compuserve.Com Have not confirmed that this is THE Stanley Mieses. ------------------------------ From: bluetuna@webtv.net (Rand Kelly) Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 22:28:13 -0700 Subject: TRIOS of the past&present In the Midsummer Rock video I have Mountain has a Hammond Organ player but don't know his name and he's somewhat out of the mainshot. Let's not forget Mahogany Rush and Robin Trower(Bridge of Sighs) BLT,also. God Bless You all. Rand Kelly ------------------------------ From: thesonics@earthlink.net (Jay Siekierski) Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 22:42:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: 3 somes >Here are a couple more threesomes: Mountain and West, Bruce & Lang. from Jayola RORY GALLAGHER BAND! KILLER BAND! Johnny Winter still a 3 some as of today! The Sonics:The All Music Site! Closer To Home & Shinin' On! Music Editor: Jay'Sonics'Siekierski http://home.earthlink.net/~thesonics/ ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 23:23:46 -0700 Subject: L.A. PART 3 Are you all still with me? This is the BEST part... PART 3: After the show, we all met in front of this side room near the entrance. This is where the after-show parties are held. I'm pushed forward in this line as I forget that it's my name on the list, and I have to get everybody else in (In normal life, I'm really not such an airhead). We all get in with the list and the extra patches. I can't remember what I did at first, I think I just stood there in some kind of daze, and then Phil rescue's me by bringing me something to drink. Mike Butler introduces me to a Japanese guy named Tyson Soong (?) He tells Tyson that I am the Internet woman, and Tyson nods his head and smiles. Tyson has his girlfriend take a couple of pictures of us together, and I'm not sure what is going on, but I remember Greg Wereley asked me to say something to Tyson about getting ahold of him. Tyson gives me one of the pictures, so I figure maybe it's for the Internet site. Mike then tells me that he is a world famous photographer. Mick and Phil take me out toward the balcony (actually, they are leading me along because I'm totally brain-dead by now) and show me the garden patio below. Allen and I start talking computers and GFR with some people and after awhile, Mick grabs me and says, "Hey, Mel just walked past you, come on..." We go downstairs and I wait in line to get my T-shirt signed. Mel's niece (who I later referred to as a blond bimbo I'm embarrassed to say---forgive me---I didn't know who she was) was handing her uncle tons of stuff to autograph. Mel's wife Deena is there and tells her niece, "That's the last one". I look at Deena and say "You're his personal manager, aren't you?" She laughs and says, "Yeah, and all I did was marry him." I finally shook Mel's hand and he signed the Tee. Mick got pictures. Then Phil, I think, comes and gets me and Allen and says "Sunny's upstairs". So we go back up and we meet her and talk for quite awhile. Let me say this about Sunny Quinn-Brewer. She is one of the most down to earth, beautiful, sweet, and funny woman I have ever met. No wonder Don loves her so much. I told her how I noticed that her husband seemed to be glowing on stage, and that he seemed to be having more fun than the other guys. She says, "Funny that you say that" and tells us how it took her 3 years to get him out of the house to do this reunion, and now that he finally did it, she agreed that he is the happiest she has seen him in years. She also said that he supported her career for 12 years, staying at home mowing the lawn and changing the cat litter box, and that she was ready to support his career now. I thanked her for everything, blah, blah, blah (I'm sure that's what I sounded like : ) and then Don appears in the doorway and motions to her that it's time to go. She says "Wait, you have to meet Donna" and takes me over to meet her husband. Don shook my hand and was very gracious and thanked me (and all of us) for everything that we were doing for the band. (No, that really didn't happen, did it????) She tells him to sign my T-shirt, and my personal photographer (by this time) Mick is taking more pics. Another thing I noticed about Don, in the publicity photos, he looks like he has aged quite a bit, but in person, he still looks very young, with smooth skin and glowing (there's that word again) complexion. Then Sunny grabs me by the hand and drags me over to Mark Farner. There are swarms of people surrounding him, and she basically shoves them out of the way (okay, I'm exaggerating now) and introduces me to Mark. So now I'm standing there in front of this legend, this rock god hunk of a man, who woman (including myself) all over the world would kill to get close too, and I'm blabbing on about something and I have no idea what I am saying to him. He just stands there and smiles at me, not saying a word. Then he puts his arm around me and hugs me very tightly too him (alright, maybe not real tight) and just holds me for a couple of seconds. Then he swoops me into his arms, and, ah, oh, sorry, I keep getting this part mixed up with my dream that night (sorry Allen). Anyway, he says not one word to me, but just signs my T-shirt with "Thanks Donna, Mark Farner". He look totally exhausted. I don't think I have ever seen a person that looked that spent. I realized then that he gives every bit of his heart and soul to his fans when he is on stage. What an incredible human being! When he hugged me, I really felt genuine affection from him, like a brother to a sister. I stood back, and they were gone. Allen told me later that right then, he shared a special moment with Sunny. He worded to her the words "thank you" and she just smiled and nodded her head like "I know". My wonderful husband, who has been a Funk fan many years longer than I have been, was content to step aside and let me be in the spotlight. I can never thank him enough. And to everyone else there, you really made me feel special and I thank you with all my heart. I also got a chance to talk with David Fishof and let him know that he helped bring quite a few "dreams come true" that night. He was very kind and funny, and treated us like we were special. I must say that I have never met famous people before, so maybe everyone feels this way about it, but I was so impressed by these extraordinary people, not just because they were famous, but that they were kind and friendly and very down to earth. There was not one bit of "rock star" air about them at all, but more like "special." continued in PART 4..... ------------------------------ From: fam11@juno.com Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 22:23:46 -0400 Subject: Re: Available CD's On Mon, 5 May 1997 17:47:07 -0400 (EDT) JMiller744@aol.com writes: >I just received the Grand Funk Live CD and am disappointed in it's >sound >quality. Also, the inside of the booklet is not like the 5 copies of >the >original LP I have. I got it from CDNow and it's an import. Does >anyone >have a source for a better sound quality CD? It's a Heartbreaker. > J Does your LIVE ALBUM CD have Japanese writing on it? I have the CD and I don't think it's an import and it sound great. I hope Sam thinks so too. Tony ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 23:56:41 -0700 Subject: L.A. PART 4 Okay, I promise this is the last of it. PART 4: After we watched them drive off, we went back to the Derby. I was still trying to convince my brain that what just happened, really happened. At this point my head was in a whirl-wind, and I couldn't really remember anything. Suddenly, I realized that Mark Farner hugged me, and for the next 3 hours my total vocabulary consisted of 4 words, "Mark Farner hugged me." I remembered seeing the look on Greg Newton's face (the guitar professor) when he got his red album signed by all the guys at the party, he had the face of a innocent and excited child, almost with tears in his eyes, and I'm sure the rest of us looked the same. The next day, Allen and I ate breakfast with the Butler's and the Catalano brothers. Then Mike and Carol headed for home. Allen and I spent the day with Mick and Phil before they had to fly home at 6pm. We went down to Venice beach, and I assured them that "all California's" are *not* like that. We had an incredible day talking music and Grand Funk (of course) and life, etc. My vocabulary increased a few words to , "Did you see Mark Farner hug me?" and Mick kept assuring me "Yes, Donna, I got it on film." We checked out all the girls in their bikini's, and in fact I helped point a few out to the guys. Phil said "I knew we brought you along for something." The day was almost gone, and so we drove the cats to the airport to have one last beer together before saying good-bye. I hugged them as they left for their flight and actually found myself feeling a little emotional at seeing them go. I had found 2 new brothers and I didn't want to see them leave yet. Allen and I went back to the hotel alone, feeling a little sad that it was over. In closing, I just want to say that even if we hadn't got to meet the band, that this still would have been the best weekend of our lives. I just can't get over how we all "clicked" like Phil said, and how it felt like we were all old friends. And we have to give Grand Funk Railroad the credit for bringing us all together. So maybe *some* of the people do listen after all Mark...... Love to you all, Donna ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 00:13:27 -0700 Subject: Correction to Part 4 Sorry, Mike and Sharon, not Carol. Carol is Steve's wife. See, I'm already swapping couples : ) ------------------------------ From: Bass6plyr@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 06:35:28 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Cover version of American Band? In a message dated 97-05-05 07:55:02 EDT, ak424@lafn.ORG (Robin) writes: << Sounds like its Joe Lynn Turner's (ex-Rainbow vocalist) new CD titled Undercover. It's all cover versions, including Hendrix, Bad Co., Creedence, Cream and Deep Purple songs. I've heard about it but haven't actually heard it myself. Robin >> That's the one! Thanks. By the way, didn't he used to sing for Yingwe Malmstein? Paul, Bass6plyr@aol.com ------------------------------ From: "Lady Jade" Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 19:41:52 -0400 Subject: Re: Available CD's Hi fans of GFR. I didn't know there was that many of us out there. I'm from the great white north (Canada) and its tough hunting down the imports etc..I've accumulated 24 cd's, though some are doubles or from Japan. I have two GFR Live, one is a single fromHolland #0777 7 91899 2 2 and the other from Japan is a double with reprinted album artwork and lyrics on the Past Masters collection # CP19-6040-41 along with my 8 albums. I love these guys, but there so hard to track down!!!!! - ---------- > From: JMiller744@aol.com > To: Grand-Funk@roadkill.com > Subject: Available CD's > Date: Monday, May 05, 1997 5:47 PM > > I just received the Grand Funk Live CD and am disappointed in it's sound > quality. Also, the inside of the booklet is not like the 5 copies of the > original LP I have. I got it from CDNow and it's an import. Does anyone > have a source for a better sound quality CD? It's a Heartbreaker. ------------------------------ From: LOGICR@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 08:26:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Fave Bands of This Funkhead/Starcastle Rand, What a surprise to see someone mention STARCASTLE here on the Grand Funk mailing list. I am part of a 5 piece contemporary Christian band with Starcastle's Steve Hagler. He was their most prolific songwriter. He, is also, not part of the reunion cd being made. Except that "Returning Delirium" is a song he wrote that they are going to use. They have also been talking with him on occasion about the music. They still have a great relationship. But, I got to tell you, we have the greatest times playing Christian music around Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas. Steve told me that his memory of GFR is that his sister was in a band that opened for GFR in the mid-seventies at an Illinois concert, and he hung around with her band, and therefore was hanging around backstage etc. He said all he can remember is that they were INCREDIBLY loud. He doesn't remember much about their music. Too bad. He IS a great songwriter and we do a lot of his original compositions. He is a great guy, too. Kevin DeSain LogicR@aol.com ------------------------------ From: "Michael Catalano" Date: Mon, 5 May 97 9:58:53 EDT Subject: MCat: LA Greek Report Hi Everyone, {This has been edited after reading Phil's post} Just when I thought things couldn't get any better after the Beacon gig...... My flight to Phil's was delayed 4 1/2 hours so I got in at 3:30 am Friday, CO time. Luckily, Phil had an ice cold one waiting for me in his truck. Phil and I flew to LA by way of Pheonix a few hours later. Sleep was not a major factor here; the anticipation of the show kept us awake. Got into LA at around 3:30 pm and hooked up with the Wightman's and Butler's at the hotel. Let the party begin! Mr. Limosine Driver (Allen) fought his way through the freeway jam to get us to the Derby on time (Donna and Allen make a great navigational team: amid incessant blabbing and interruptions Donna calls out the roads and Allen finds them. I was amazed.) I suspected Donna was on the natural high of her life, even though I never met her before. The Derby gathering mimicked the Beacon -- individual Funk fans meeting for the first time, associating email names with real faces and trading stories. Greg Newton, Robert Bodily and buddy (?) , Tom Minero, Steve & Carol Lisuk along with Dave Lisuk comprised most of the list not already mentioned (I know I'm forgetting someone or someon'e wife, please excuse) Hands down Steve Lisuk held attention for the longest time. Like Greg Wereley, Steve is from the Flint area and knew the BOYS from way back when. What a resource! Equally as interesting was his wife, Carol, who had some stories of her own. We only had about a hour and a half to hang at the Derby. Too much to talk about in too little time. We documented the event by snapping partial and group shots. At least one of us had to capture this. Mr. Limo took us up to the show, flashed his ID and parked us right in front of the main entrance. Donna was definately connected for this one. She went over to the "will" window to pick up her VIP passes and came back looking quite upset. Instead of the ten passes promised she was only given four. I could understand the dilemma she faced. Well, I said to myself, I met Mark, Don and Mel last week at the Beacon so I won't be needing a VIP tonight. And besides Donna is the one who deserves these passes not some alley CAT. Ahh, but not to worry... As soon as Mr. T-Shirt Vendor himself (Mike Butler) passed through the gates he spots David Fishof. Of course Fishof recognizes the Funkengrueven instantly (thanks to whirley greg?). After a brief introduction, Mike pushes Donna into Fishof's face. And David is pleased to meet the live web-page person. Donna immediately eludes to the problem at hand: get more passes. No problem, Davey walks over to the guestlist and adds: "Donna Wightman plus nine." Now we're cookin'! This had to be one of the smoothest transactions I ever witnessed. Absent from the scene were GFR Ts and hats at the other shows. Seemed like everyone there was asking where we got ours. Very briefly, just before the show started, they opened up a tee shirt stand and sold out before intermission. Strange. Roadkill was a big hit. People sitting behind and next to us asked all kinds of questions. I know at least one guy wrote down the URLs. We met "Brother Kelly" while on the way the (real) men's room. The show itself had much better sound quality than the Beacon, especially the orchestra and horns. Mark's guitar cut like a knife, Brewer's drums were perfect and Mel could have been a lot louder, but it was still OK. I think the overall show should have been 6 dB louder (that's double the volume and double again, 4X). The vocals were great; Farner--Brewer harmonies right on. Songlist order was that of the Beacon (again no "Are You Ready"). Even though we knew what was coming it was still incredibly exciting. Footstompin' opened the show quickly followed by Rockin' Roll Soul. Phil and I toasted Bugsy during Paranoid as requseted. Farner introduced Slash before Time Machine and then Billy Preston on Heartbreaker. Alto Reed came out for a wailing solo on Aimless Lady. Next Farner asked the crowd, "Since we're on a first name basis here, how would you like to see Donnie go to work?" Of course he was talking about TNUC. Now this was the second time I saw Brewer throw his right stick into the air and I believe he purposely missed catching the first two before grabbing the third! He was working the crowd!!! Inside Lookin' Out was again my favorite song of the show. An increase in "smog" was quite evident during this number. Shinin' On followed and then Slash, Alto and Billy joined in for the Locomotion. And then the horns were brought out for WAAB to close the set. During intermission awards were given out to the band and guests for their efforts in the Bosnian Relief. (Phil covered the Deanna -- Sunny thing, not that I'm blowin' it off by any stretch!) The second set started with Mark at the grand piano doing Mean Mistreater. Mel was just too cool with his black hat and shades. I think this was the best rendition of MM I've ever heard. Mark was just a virtuoso, glancing at the keyboard and then out to the crowd. Man, was he ever happy. He knew we all couldn't stand it. After Farner stole the show, Donnie followed right up with SKOW. He came right out in front from behind his kit and started singing, "I don't need a whole lotsa money...." while keeping time by clicking his sticks together. May I say that although this is not my favorite GFR tune (like you don't know that already), Brewer presented it in such a way that you not only had to like it, you had to stand and scream the words along with him. Alright, I LOVED IT! I said it, now let me wallow in shame. To Get Back In really grooved. The horns were perferct and Farner's lead crisp and clear. Alto was playing some Contra--Baritone sax that was about six feet tall (how much does that thing weigh?) At this time I noticed Brewer wearing headphones, he didn't during the first set!?! Maybe some of the harmonies were tougher to pick out during the second set songlist. Bad Time was followed by the rearranged finale I'm Yo Captain. And the encore, Loneliness was astounding, the dynamics of a single guitar being gently picked to a 32-piece orchestra plus Brewer, Schacher and Reed entering with "DAHM, DAHM....DAHM" brought you into a frenzie. What a show, WHAT A SHOW!!!! Backstage Al Not can skip the next few paragraphs. Since Phil covered the Party quite well I'll only add a tidbit or two. Mr. Limo enjoyed this so much I just have to tell it. At one point Mel was walking by and I said (according to Allen), "Hey Mel, buddy, Comon over here for a minute I want you to sign my brother's shirt. Come here buddy, how about a picture?" Of course you have to add several layers of Brooklynese (accent) to convey the true feeling here. Hearing Allen immitate me was better than actually saying it to Mel the first time! Phil's Funkengrueven was ironically missing Mel's autograph. At the Beacon Mel was wisked away while Phil stood there with only (ONLY!) Mark and Don's hancocks. And as Phil always says, "It ain't Grand Funk if Mel's not there." So it had to be done, YO! There it was, still Shinin' On. What a beauty! I too, got my grubby little CAT paws on that Valeno. Fumbling, I strummed an open F and then a D before I had to let go. The neck really felt good (I'm not a guitarist) compared to other guitars I've held. But the weight of this thing! I can see why Mark had back surgery, after two tours with this boat anchor. Unbelievable was the fact that the owner of this classic let everyone who wanted to hold and/or play it! I snapped off a few shots of Phil doing his best Inside Lookin' Out (NOT). I had to ask Mel, "How do you look so young?" Without missing a beat he replied, "It's the Dick Clark thing. I take prescription medicine." Another irony that just gets to me is the Robert Bodily story. After the Beacon report he asked me "what size my wrists were so (he) could get the right size handcuffs" to chain himself to me (and Phil). Well, Robert should have brought those cuffs. Somehow he missed us waiting outside the VIP area after the show (something about his buddy going to talk with Ralph and Earl) and never got in. Robert, Robert, Robert!!! You should have let him have a private conversation because, well you know, I'm not gonna say it...... In closing I must say that the highlight of this weekend was meeting the roadkillers. We had breakfast Saturday morning at the hotel and reviewed the show. Special thanks goes out to Allen and Donna who so graciously hauled our butts around LA. Without these two people, I venture to guess, none of this would have been possible. On Saturday the Wightman's offered to chauffer Phil and I any where we wanted. We opted to go to Venice Beach (I always wanted to see Muscle Beach). It was a really enjoyable time strolling through the freakshows, drinking beers in the CA sun and getting to know each other. They finally brought us to the airport where we had to end the weekend. I guess we all didn't want it end. Donna, in her adoptive way, now has two long distance pet CATS. Where do we go from here? Well, Phil and I have something in the works that will probably interest a number of you, if not all. More on that later... Any questions? Sincerely wishing that all of you could have enjoyed the show with us..... Mick ------------------------------ From: fam11@juno.com Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 09:27:23 EDT Subject: LIVE ALBUM CD Bingo I guess my LIVE ALBUM is from Holland. I did see were is said the cover was printed in Holland but didn't think they did the CD there also. Tony ------------------------------ From: Al Henneborn 595-6669 Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 09:35:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: RE: LA!!!!!!!! Phil, First backstage at the Beacon then the after show party at the Greek. You're killin' me man, your killin' me. Backstage Al Not ------------------------------ From: jgiranda@monmouth.com Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 09:51:23 -0400 Subject: Web Pages Fellow Funk Fans: I've updated my web pages to include more Grand Funk stuff. There's some photos from the Leno show and other concerts, etc. There's some other non-funk stuff listed also, but feel free to browse as you like. http://www.monmouth.com/~jgiranda/ Jim Giranda ------------------------------ From: WHIRLEGREG@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 10:11:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: bootlegs you are absolutely right!!! i have asked mark, don and david fishof this question with nary a clear answer!! i told david i would give the cash (for the funkengrueven shirts) to the bosnian fund or whomever he preferred but he didnt reply and mark and don both were not opposed in fact mine (funkengruven shirt) is autographed by all of them and i think they realize in the end the roadkill/gfrr fans will be the unified masses they will wish to appeal to!! but at this point they DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL! till they do i think they feel good that we will back their every move!! they have seen that thus far!! rave on! and part 1 is awesome donna!! im glad you guys enjoyed it!! mick, phil, mike & all the other greek funkengrueven's way to go!! ciao4now greg ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 07:18:11 -0700 Subject: Re: L.A. PART 4 Donna, That had to be the most heartfelt recollection I have ever read. You are one tremendous humanbeing (not to mention person). I hope you are going to the Vegas show, my wife and I would love to meet you. Thanks for the detailed and entertaining report. Jim Maijala ------------------------------ From: Al Henneborn 595-6669 Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 10:02:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Donna's Review Donna, What a wonderful review! I'm truly happy for you. Nice job with the VIP passes. You obviously have a big heart. For all you have brought to us Funk fans with your site, we are truly grateful. It seems GFR is grateful to you too. I'm a firm believer that good things (& Good Times) happen to good people. I wish I was there with my Funkengroovin' family. Backstage Al Not (formerly Row K Al) ------------------------------ From: Jimmy Karlsson Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 17:15:37 +0200 Subject: Summer tour confirmation Hi everybody! Good news for the japanese: GFR will go to Japan for a weekly tour this summer, BUT: no concerts in Europe, this time. This is confirmed by Sunny Quinn! (I will ofcourse update my site with this info) http://hem1.passagen.se/railroad/index.htm - -- - ----------------------------------------------- | Jimmy K of Sweden | lpartiet@geocities.com | - ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: "Michael Catalano" Date: Tue, 6 May 97 9:42:43 EDT Subject: '98 Roadkill Funkfest We're Having a Party....And Everybody's Invited......... As the hysteria from the first three concerts winds down (yeah right!) we've got to do something to keep our Funk interest peeked. How about this? Phil and I have been discussing a party of sorts for quite some time. After meeting quite a few roadkills at the Beacon and LA shows we would like to know if any (or all) of you would be interested in a Roadkill Funkfest? We've already asked a "pilot" group of you and have had a very positive response. So, hear us out before deleting! Theoretically, this would be the ultimate party, centrally located on the globe so all could attend, with live music and jam seesions with anyone who plays--brings an instrument and the BOYS as special guests. Realistically, I'm offering my house as the site for this mini--Woodstock. I have four and a half acres of party paradise on Long Island. Relative to Nico, Jimmy K and Down Under this is centrally located. Relative to we here in the US of A and upper US it's definately a right coast thing. To lure all you I-can't-make-it-it's-too-fars out there I'll tell you that LI is a great place for a vacation. Lot's to do and see and NYC is only a traffic jam away. I'm offering camping space to all that wish to camp and for those of you that do not wish the company of bugs and poison ivy there are plenty of hotels--motels nearby. (I'd glady offer you my house, but that's worse than the camping thing -- ask Phil. Remeber the Munsters and the Addams Family houses? Well, Spot lives under our stairs and Lerch is our butler. We're planning on major renovations, but they won't be complete by spring--summer '98.) We'll have a house band (the band I used to play in), HST. HST will supply the PA and amps you supply the instruments. I'll have at least my drums if not two or three sets, so all you drummers just need you sticks. I can't volunteer the keyboardist's equipment, but I'm sure we'll work something out. Hopefully by this time Bobby and me will have some GFR tunes worked out. My wife and I have had a party of this magnitude back in '95. We rented a porta-potty, barbeque spit, volleyball net, etc. It was a real hit, and the neighbors didn't complain (I invited them too). Does this sound good yet? Well if LI NY is not your thing, Phil has graciously offered his residence in Colorado Springs, CO. It doesn't matter to me where this event takes place. Phil is used to having 200 of his closest friends over for darts and chips so it's no problem for him. He can't offer the camping though. Although I have seen people sleeping in his back yard under the stars. This should be enough to whet the appetite. Let me know what you all think. I'll keep a log of your responses. Hope you guys are into it, we sure are!!! Oh, and one last question: Should we invite Backstage Al Not? Mick ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 10:24:55 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: L.A. PART 4 Donna, GREAT STORY!!! I had tears in my eyes reading it! Thanks for the memories! Cat Bro' Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 10:35:19 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: GFR in the 80's On Mon, 5 May 1997 jmaijala@sprynet.com wrote: > Phil, > > I have GFR Lives and it is a pretty good album. Queen Bee is a butting > kicking number. I love you man. Jim, I've got "Lives" and "What's Funk?" and "Flint" also. And Farner's first two solo albums, before he went totally religious. I'll buy just about anything the boys put out! All I'm saying is that it aint the same without Mel...It's NOT Grand Funk! Yes, It's Farner and Brewer but it aint the Funk. Love you too man, Phil ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 12:39:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Fave Funkheads Bands Try the site below...they have an awful lot of old LP's, etc.: GEMM http://volcano.flashpoint.com/gemm/GEMM/cgi-bin/quickgemm.pl ------------------------------ From: James Lichtenberg Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 12:49:22 -0700 Subject: Re: '98 Roadkill Funkfest Dear Mick, I will definitely attend this party if held on Long Island and if I'm invited. Thanks. Later. Regards Jim ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #53 *******************************