From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #63 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Saturday, 17 May 1997 Volume 01 : Number 063 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: STAATS Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 19:58:08 -0400 Subject: Re: new screen name( formerly rzberf) GRANDFUNKR@aol.com wrote: > > Well I just had to do for the occasion, a reunion and all I LOVE IT ------------------------------ From: frankbauer@thevine.net Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 16:59:04 -0800 Subject: GFR first experience nico sez: >I would like to know about everybody's first experience with GFR. >Think back.... >Mine: >I had to think real hard to remember. But here it is. My Grandfather >once give me one of his tube radios. In the afternoon, age 9 or 10 ... mine: about the same age. we had a really cool babysitter who introduced us to lots of good music. (i specifically remember hearing zep's "emigrant song" for the first time!) i also remember hearing live and survival many times. gfr soon became my favorite band. a few years later, after earning money from my own babysitting jobs, i bought my first album, gfr live. april 21, 1973 to be exact. cost me 4 bucks and change at caldor in poughkeepsie, ny. frank to: IN:nborger@worldonline.nl cc: IN:grand-funk@roadkill.com ------------------------------ From: Jumby007@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 20:23:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: gfr unsuscribe grand-funk ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 18:56:56 -0700 Subject: Re: GFR first experience Okay, here's mine: As everyone knows by now, I've only been a GFR "fanatic" for about 5-6 years, but I absolutely remember when WAAB was a hit on the radio. I was in the 8th grade, and this girlfriend of mine had this little house out in her backyard. We used to go in there and smoke cigarettes and talk about boys and try to act real cool. We had a radio out there, and I remember this one time in particular, that WAAB came on the radio, as soon as we heard that cow bell intro, we really cranked it up! That song still reminds me of that time... Donna ------------------------------ From: Jay Siekierski Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 19:23:33 +0000 Subject: LATEST LABEL UP DATE! Hey Funkers & Funkettes! got some interesting gossip to share regarding GSGP! I spoke with my Big Monkey Media Rep who handles Hippo Records who is a HUGE Funk fan and she saw them at the L.A. show. Hippo is a division of MCA and are handling the reissues from MCA. She is very interested in trying to get out GSGP! She handles the press for Hippo/MCA reissues. She is a gem. I told her to view my guest book and see the FUNK support out there and I recommended her to see the other Funk sites. Billola's, Donnaola's and I told her that Bro' Funkster Jeff Funkola compiled a petion to get the Capitol stuff out and sent it to them. Hey Donnaola or Billola or Funkola...Maybe since this label FUNKETTE is hot on getting GSGP out a petition should be started and forward to her at Big Monkey Media Attn: Susan Clary 7958 Beverly BLVD. LA, Ca. 90048 jayola just spreading the FUNK! ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 19:03:24 -0700 Subject: Re: Letting Donna Have It In2theSon@aol.com wrote: > > Do you talk like a Californian? ON this end of the line you sound like you > talk with the East Texas Draw. > The only flaw I've notice is : ) you don't have a nose.... here > let me help: > > :o) ....wait that's a little to piggy.... > > :- ) ...wait that almost alien... > > :@ ) ...wait that just gross.... > > : J) ....hows that smell...... > > Hey, I'm just kidding around. ...Would've like to have been in LA with you > guys (I mean You ALL) / : > TheOl'GumbyHead Joe Now don't you start talking about noses, or texas drawls. I make my smilely faces just like Mark Farner does his, so there! : ) (Check out the Prodigy transcript on my site) And even though I am a true-blue California girl, my mom's an okie, and my dad is an arkie, so I learnt to talk laike a reaaal person does! Donna ------------------------------ From: Renraft@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 22:20:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: unsubscribe grand-funk unsubscribe grand-funfk ------------------------------ From: HCRRock@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 22:25:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Live album Yep...I was there ....My first Grand Funk experience in 1970 at the 2nd Atlanta International Pop Festival....Mark was doing the tossing the guitar around routine, high in the air and catching it...Kind of a Hendrix/Townsound thing that got the crowd going... If and when the Detroit cd/video comes out, it will mean that I have been on every official Live show on record...It was sure worth it to make the 1789 mile trek from Athens, Ga to Auburn Hills and back to keep the tradition intact... For all of you guys dissecting the WAAB song and when it was written...The concept was thought of by Don in 1971 when GFR and Humble Pie were at a bar in Arkansas....The argument was was between Brewer and Steve Marriott over who made the best beer and rock n roll music....As Mark wrote on WHAT'S FUNK... "...I don't know what you have heard...Rock N Roll are American words!!!!! CRASH TEST CHRIS ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 19:59:14 -0700 Subject: Mel's Birthdate Someone e-mailed me and said that Mel's birthday was April 8th, not 3rd. Can anyone confirm this. I found 2 sources that tell me it is the 3rd. Donna ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 20:29:37 -0700 Subject: [Fwd: don brewer first drums] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------145B63B360A4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thought you guys might be able to him.... - --------------145B63B360A4 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from tir.com (sun.tir.com [205.138.41.6]) by iota.pair.com (8.8.5/8.6.12) with ESMTP id VAA10272 for ; Fri, 16 May 1997 21:36:15 -0400 (EDT) From: aelford@alpha.shianet.org X-Envelope-To: Received: from alpha (alpha.shianet.org [205.138.41.9]) by tir.com (8.7.5/8.7) with SMTP id VAA09396 for ; Fri, 16 May 1997 21:35:56 -0400 (EDT) Received: from ow158.tir.com by alpha (5.x/SMI-SVR4) id AA17224; Fri, 16 May 1997 21:34:41 -0400 Message-Id: <9705170134.AA17224@alpha> Date: Fri, 16 May 97 21:37:11 -0700 X-Mailer: Mozilla 1.1N (Windows; I; 16bit) Mime-Version: 1.0 To: donna@meclec.com Subject: don brewer first drums Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I was lucky enough to buy a set of drums a while ago. when I bought them the guy told me that they were Don's first set that he learned on. How would I find out for sure. The drums are a set of Pro Meistro's. Its highly possible because G.F.R.R. is from around my home town of Owosso Mi.The guy that sold them to me also said that he has A picture of Don playing on them. So if you know anything on how I could find out it would be much appreciated. Thank You. Andy in Owosso - --------------145B63B360A4-- ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 20:30:43 -0700 Subject: Re: NO FRILLS Tony, I have a copy of "No Frills" someplace. If I can dig it up (and find a turntable) would you like a tape of it? I think it is a great album. Jim ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 22:36:58 -0500 Subject: Re: GFR first experience Howdy Folks! My first experience with Grand Funk Railroad was Don Kirshner's IN CONCERT when they aired a concert from the Phoenix tour. I was thirteen years old and staying over at my best friends house one weekend when the show aired. MAN! I was completely blown away by what I saw and heard. The songs were great, of course, but it was their stage presence that really set the hook. I'd never seen anyone do what Mark and Don did on that stage. As soon as I could, I went to a mall and blew every cent I had buying GFR albums. There have many bands that I have come to enjoy very much, but NOBODY has grabbed me the way Mark, Don, and Mel did back on that January weekend in 1973. I sure do wish someone would release a video-cassette of the show. It would truly be a classic. Waitin' for July 15, Randy Stowe Rockin' in Little Rock ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 20:50:45 -0700 Subject: Phoenix confirmation Today I heard confirmation of GFR appearing at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, June 28. Mark Farner, himself, called our local "classic Rock" station KSLX to anounce the event. I heard it myself while working on the lot at the car dealership I work at. Tickets go on sale Tomorrow. 5-17-97 It is very strange that I am going to see them in Vegas on the 27th when I could have stayed home and seen them on the 28th!!! Oh well, any excuse to go to Vegas is a good excuse. Anyone wishing to get tickets can call the Celebrity Theater Box office at 602-267-9373. Everybody, ROCK N' ROLL, Jim ------------------------------ From: James Lichtenberg Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 00:59:47 -0700 Subject: WAAB Dear Phil Cat & guys, It looks like I stand corrected(at least partially) on the origin of WAAB. According to Don's comments in Rolling Stone, it didn't sound as if Knight knew about the tune. According to CT Chris, Brewer was arguing with Marriott and not Frampton. I'll have to give my source a kick in the pants. Later. Regards, Jim ------------------------------ From: FRuss80480@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 01:40:59 -0400 (EDT) Subject: First Funk & the LIVE Album I was fourteen and had just started playing drums when my mom bought me (she says on the recommendation of a sales clerk) the E Pluribus Funk LP!! My parents listened to that record and the live record constantly almost every afternoon until I left home for college. Now it might not be so bad to just have to listen to it at a high volume (ha) but I was beating the hell out of a used set of Polaris drums as it played! - --Have you ever heard a beginning drummer play??? If you have, a thing you git my point... (Lots on enthusiasm...very litte talent..) Anyway, I really do owe my love of GFR to Mom & Dad..(tearing upp..) And just one final point... The LIVE Album..it doesn't get any better than that!!!!! Freddy ------------------------------ From: FRuss80480@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 01:57:30 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Farner Live in concert since I never seen them live (at least until July 16!!) I was talking to a friend about GFR in concert and what it was like- and he claims that he saw GFR in concert several times and was always freaked out because (and I think this may be BS) He claimes that Mark could and did do backflips off his WaWa pedel!! I seen plenty of live concerts and have NEVER seen anyone even try this soooo.... a little feedback please... Fred ------------------------------ From: EfahsT@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 07:16:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Farner still with Ringo? Ringo and his band is touring again (see www.ticketmaster.com). He's coming to Texas May 23. Anyone know FOR SURE that Farner is NOT performing with Ringo on this date or other dates this summer? ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 08:01:17 -0500 Subject: Re: Farner still with Ringo? Hi Tim, It is my understanding that the current lineup in Ringo's All-Star Band is made up of British musicians only. Randy EfahsT@aol.com wrote: > > Ringo and his band is touring again (see www.ticketmaster.com). He's > coming to Texas May 23. Anyone know FOR SURE that Farner is NOT performing > with Ringo on this date or other dates this summer? ------------------------------ From: Bill Parrette Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 09:22:06 -0500 (CDT) Subject: GFR in Rolling Stone Hi all, This message bounced back from the list. It had an attachment that was too long. There is an 80K limit on message sizes to the list. There was another message that bounced in a similar way about a shrink-wrapped copy of Survival, but I saw that the author had already resent it without the attachment. - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Those of you who are America Online members, if you go the newstand and search Rolling Stone magazine for Grand Funk Railroad there is a very nice article about the reunion tour and a good picture of Mark and I believe Leslie West of Mountain. LARRY ------------------------------ From: Bill Parrette Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 09:29:07 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Here is the Rolling Stone article and photo from AOL Hi all, Another bounced message due to being too long. - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 17:40:54 -0500 From: owner-grand-funk@topquark.roadkill.com To: owner-grand-funk@topquark.roadkill.com Subject: BOUNCE grand-funk: Message too long (>80000) >From wap@roadkill.com Thu May 15 17:40:53 1997 Received: from emout07.mail.aol.com (emout07.mx.aol.com [198.81.11.22]) by roadkill.com (8.7.4/8.7.3) with ESMTP id RAA02065 for ; Thu, 15 May 1997 17:40:38 -0500 From: JAYPFUNK@aol.com Received: (from root@localhost) by emout07.mail.aol.com (8.7.6/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0) id SAA07207 for grand-funk@roadkill.com; Thu, 15 May 1997 18:41:40 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 18:41:40 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970515184027_-1967994205@emout07.mail.aol.com> To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Subject: Here is the Rolling Stone article and photo from AOL MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="PART.BOUNDARY.0.21600.emout07.mail.aol.com.863736027" - --PART.BOUNDARY.0.21600.emout07.mail.aol.com.863736027 Content-ID: <0_21600_863736027@emout07.mail.aol.com.7879> Content-type: text/plain Brothers and sisters in the front row, Here ya go kiddies!!! ENJOY! Great story from DON about the origin of WAAB. This subject has been debated here before. Mark, Don & Mel RULE!! F@#K the critics!! BTW, my Beacon show review is still comin'. Been real busy. Jay aka-jpetitt@compucom.com ****************************************************************************** ********************* Pin the Tale on the Funky An American band gets back on track!! After breaking up 20 years ago, a reunited Grand Funk Railroad plays a sold-out show at New York's Beacon Theatre Friday and at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre May 2. Together again, vocalist and guitarist Mark Farner, bassist Mel Schacher and drummer Don Brewer will perform as the power trio they once were, and as a power trio plus 40-piece orchestra for new arrangements of hits like "Mean Mistreater," "Bad Time," "Loneliness" and "I'm Your Captain." Formed under the influence of Jimi Hendrix, Cream and the Vanilla Fudge, Grand Funk in their day had eight Top 40 hits, two million-selling singles -- "Locomotion" and "We're An American Band" -- and, in 1971, sold out New York's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles had a few years prior. But as loved as they were by legions of fans, Grand Funk was the band the critics loved to hate. Ten platinum and 12 gold records later, and with 14 million records sold worldwide, does it still hurt? "Well, the critics in New York and Los Angeles panned us, but not in the rest of the country," Brewer said during an interview in New York earlier this month. "And, yes, I thought it was very unfair." "We'd see the reaction, with the crowd going nuts, people swinging from the rafters -- just an incredible energy level," added Farner. "And then we'd get slammed, and we'd think, What show was this guy at?" Certainly, Grand Funk was a rock & roll band to its core -- sweaty, hard-driving, direct and elemental. But this is also a band that produced two Top 10 hits with "We're An American Band" and "Locomotion," songs that benefited from the band's strong groove and the production of Todd Rundgren, who worked with the band for two albums, starting in 1973. "The idea for 'American Band' came from our manager at that time," said Brewer, who wrote the song. "We had just gone through a lawsuit with our previous manager and producer, Terry Knight, and we ended up without a pot to piss in after having six gold albums and traveling around the world. So we were in a depression, but still had to come up with another album for Capitol. Our manager said to us, 'Just write songs about what you do. You're an American band, just write about that.' So that was my inspiration for that song." For those unfamiliar, or who don't recall, "American Band" is a classic first-person tale of sex, drugs and rock & roll. Not that the guys remember it that way ... "The stories?" Don asked, feigning confusion. "You mean, did we ever trash a hotel room? Okay, yes." "No, not really," counters Mel. "But we did trash a ballroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel during an awards presentation attended by all of the media on the West Coast." "See, they wheeled in this huge cake, like a multi-tiered wedding cake with Uncle Sam on top, for 'We're An American Band,'" Farner said. "And just as we were cutting it with this massive knife, somebody yelled 'Food fight!,' and we dove into that cake and started slinging it. And the press came up, and they were grabbing cake and throwing it, and we had frosting on the chandeliers, on the ceiling. The velvet curtains were just frosted. It cost $14,000 worth of damage, and they banned us from ever coming back." "We got paranoid the next morning, thinking Capitol was going to fire us or that we were going to get in a lot of trouble," Schacher added. "So we called them up, and they loved it. We couldn't afford to buy that kind of publicity. They had to pay for the damage, and they still thought it was great." "And that's the only thing we ever did," Don said, to laughs all around. With their reunion, the band is playing three concerts to benefit the Bosnian Relief Fund, a charitable organization that provides food and supplies to victims of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tonight's New York concert is to include special guests Peter Frampton and Leslie West. All three shows, including the kick-off performance that took place in their hometown of Detroit on April 20, feature appearances by a 40-piece orchestra that includes members of the Sarajevo Symphony. The band also plans to tour Europe and Japan in June and July, the United States in August and September, play a benefit performance in Sarajevo in September and record new songs with producer Ron Nevison. "We started talking seriously about this tour in 1994," Brewer said. "We had lots of different offers, but if we were going to do a reunion, we wanted to be true to our fans, to what their memories of the band are." "So many bands have come back and maybe they've got the brother of an original band member, certainly not all the original members, and they team up with other groups. They call them 'heritage acts.' But we didn't want to do that. This is the three real guys. And we felt like this organization, which benefits Bosnian children and other victims of the war, was something we wanted to be associated with." And so, two decades after they rocked teens across the country -- and fluttered the hearts of so many female fans -- Grand Funk is back on the road, same as it ever was. Well, sort of. "It's easier now because of our experience," Farner said. "And we all agreed that if we couldn't have fun, we wouldn't do it." "What's harder for me is that we all have other things going on in our lives," Brewer said. "When we were doing this as kids, in our early 20s, this was our life and everything else came second. Now everybody has family and homes, and you have to work this in." SUZANNE McELFRESH (April 25, 1997) ------------------------------ From: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 08:45:15 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: GFR first experience My first experience was a fluke. I was in grade eight (way back when) just after , I think ,m the Red Album had come out. I had a membership withva record club at the time, and was a big MC5 fan. A friend of mine had told me that Grand Funk sounded like the MC5. In the club catalogue was "On Time", so I bought it on spec. THought it was great! A while later (around Christmas the year after), I remember buying teh newly released Live album. I still remember putting it on and being absolutly blown away as soon as "Are You Ready" came on. All my friends hated GFR,but I loved 'em. Still do. Obviousely! See Ya! - ----- Ken KEN BLACKLEY email: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca ------------------------------ From: GRANDFUNKR@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 11:21:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: GFR first experience I was listening to my Dads band do "Time Machine ",when it first came out ! Very vague memories I was pretty young. ------------------------------ From: Tony Cawthorne Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 11:32:31 -0400 Subject: Re: Farner still with Ringo? EfahsT@aol.com wrote: > > Ringo and his band is touring again (see www.ticketmaster.com). He's > coming to Texas May 23. Anyone know FOR SURE that Farner is NOT performing > with Ringo on this date or other dates this summer? Sorry guys but the Ringo show is here in Atlanta soon and I can confirm that Mark will NOT be there. I saw the Ringo show on last years tour at the Starplex in Dallas Texas and Mark absolutly stole the show... How ya gonna keep em don on the farm when they've seen GRAND FUNK RAILROAD....(stole that from Rolling Stone) T.C. ------------------------------ From: GRANDFUNKR@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 11:32:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert Mark is pretty energetic, but I don't know about that , (what ever he was on I want some!!!!) ------------------------------ From: steve lisuk Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 08:44:56 +0100 Subject: LA Times Review Here is the review from the LA Times 5/5/97. I'm not sure if this guy quite "gets" it, but it's a step up from Stanley. He should also take better notes if he's goning to report on an event. "High Energy Powers Grand Funk Reunion by Chuck Crisafulli Concert season at the Greek Theatre kicked off Friday with a bill that seemed like something sprung from a fever dream: a reunited Grand Funk Railroad--augmented with guest turns from Slash, Billy Preston, and Bob Seger saxman Alto Reed--shared the stage with members of the Sarajevo Symphony in a benefit show for Bosnian orphans. Improbable, yes, but originals Funksters Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Mel Schacher, together for the first time in 20 years, put in a yeoman effort to crank up their bloozy stomp-rock and the results, if not enlightening, were highly entertaining. Grand Funk is something close to America's Spinal Tap, but at this show the band was in on its own joke, having a blast as it powered through the chunky, Neanderthal riffs of "Rock 'n' Roll Soul," "Heartbreaker" and the Railroad-ed version of "Locomotion," all to flickering laser-lights and belching smoke machines. The barely audible orchestra joined the band for a second set that featured marginally subtler works such as "Shinin' On" and "Closer to Home." The songs aren't classic gems, and the playing was sometimes clumsy, but the spirit was infectious. During the high-energy charge at the band's biggest hit,"Were an American Band," drummer Brewer belted out the group's long-standing statement of purpose: "We're coming to your town, we'll help you party down." Not much of a credo in the grand scheme of things, but this night the band lived up to it fully." ------------------------------ From: TNUCFred@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 13:10:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: subscribe me please add me and remove FRED80480@aol.com I changed my screen name! ------------------------------ From: Dale Chavez Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 11:33:04 -0600 Subject: Re: Farner still with Ringo? I saw Ringo's current tour in Denver last week and in spite of Mark Farner not participating, it still was an incredible show! Peter Frampton (who I've never cared for) stole the show this year. He's a much better musician than I've given him credit for. The current lineup is Ringo, Jack Bruce, Peter Frampton, Gary Brooker and Simon Kirk. The other very cool thing that happened is that Ginger Baker came on stage (he lives just outside of Denver in Parker) and played with the band on "White Room". It was fantatastic!! In fact, Ringo joked that it was "2 percent Cream!". My wife and I took our 15 and 16 year olds (male/female) and they had a great time also. This was my first time seeing Ringo's show and it is definitely worth the price. It was a *fun* show. Dale ------------------------------ From: Pamuska@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 14:05:54 -0400 (EDT) Subject: almost GFR Hi gang, Got a tape in the mail the other day with GFR's greatest hits on it. My friend then taped a group I didn't remember from the 70's called BLACKFOOT. Let me tell you they rock!! They had one song on there that made in the same style as FREEBIRD!! Then the song TRAINS TRAINS came on and the light bulb went off. I guess I did listen to them back in the old days..Too many brain cells missing from those days!! If you get a chance to pickup a BLACKFOOT then I highly recommend them. Mickey ------------------------------ From: Bill Cook Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 15:09:47 -0700 Subject: AMG History Lesson For the Day... If case you haven't seen it already, here's All Music Guide's look at GFR... ************************************************************************************************************** One of the 1970s' most successful hard rock bands in spite of critical pans and somewhat reluctant radio airplay (at first), Grand Funk Railroad built a devoted fan base with constant touring, a loud, simple take on the blues-rock power trio sound, and strong working-class appeal. The band was formed by Flint, Michigan guitarist/songwriter Mark Farner and drummer Don Brewer, both former members of a local band called Terry Knight and the Pack. They recruited former ? and the Mysterians bassist Mel Schacher in 1968, and Knight retired from performing to become their manager, naming the group after Michigan's well-known Grand Trunk Railroad. They performed for free at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, and their energetic, if not technically proficient, show led Capitol Records to sign them at once. While radio shied away from Grand Funk Railroad, the group's strong work ethic and commitment to touring produced a series of big-selling albums over the next few years; five of their eight releases from 1969 to 1972 went platinum, and the others all went gold. Meanwhile, Knight promoted the band aggressively, going so far as to rent a Times Square billboard to advertise Closer to Home, which turned out to be the band's first multi-platinum album in spite of a backlash from the rock press. However, Grand Funk Railroad fired Knight in March of 1972, who promptly sued; the band spent most of the year in a court battle that ended when they bought Knight out. Keyboardist Craig Frost joined the group for the Phoenix LP at the end of 1972. Following that album, the band's name was officially shortened to Grand Funk, and the group finally scored a big hit single (number one, in fact) with the title track of the Todd Rundgren-produced We're an American Band. The follow-up, Shinin' On, contained another number one hit in a remake of Little Eva's "The Loco-Motion." However, following Grand Funk's next album, All the Girls in the World Beware!!, interest in the group began to wane. Reverting back to Grand Funk Railroad, they remained together in 1976 solely to work with producer Frank Zappa on Good Singin', Good Playin'. Farner left for a solo career, and the remainder of the band released an album as Flint with guitarist Billy Elworthy. Grand Funk Railroad re-formed in 1981 with Dennis Bellinger on bass and released two albums; only Grand Funk Lives even managed to scrape the bottom of the charts. The group disbanded again, with Brewer and Frost joining Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band and Farner embarking on a new career as a contemporary Christian artist; his "Isn't It Amazing" was a number two gospel hit in 1988. -- Steve Huey *************************************************************************************************************** RELATED ARTISTS Similar Artists: Bad Company Foghat Free James Gang Led Zeppelin Montrose Nazareth Steppenwolf Nirvana [US] Mark Farner Savoy Brown Blue Cheer Alice Cooper Firm Guess Who Sammy Hagar Kiss Bob Seger Thin Lizzy Bachman Turner Overdrive Roots and Influences: Cream Who Jimi Hendrix Rolling Stones Performed Songs by: Keith Richards Mick Jagger Dave Mason Mark Farner Don Brewer Chas Chandler Eric Burdon Gerry Goffin Carole King Worked with: Question mark & the Mysterians DISCOGRAPHY (albums) On Time 1969 Capitol Grand Funk 1970 Capitol Live Album 1970 Capitol Closer to Home 1970 Capitol E Pluribus Funk 1971 Capitol Survival 1971 Capitol Mark, Don & Mel: 1969-71 1972 Capitol Phoenix 1972 Capitol Granicus (obviously a mistake) 1973 RCA We're an American Band 1973 Collector's All the Girls in The World Beware 1974 Capitol Shinin' On 1974 Collector's Pi Caught in the Act 1975 Capitol Masters of Rock 1975 EMI Born to Die 1976 Capitol Good Singin', Good Playin' 1976 EMI Grand Funk Lives 1981 Full Moon What's Funk? 1983 Full Moon Heavy Hitters 1992 Pair Footstompin' Music 1992 CEMA City Baby Attacked by Rats (obviously another mistake) Combat Great Pair Live in Concert CEMA Grand Funk Railroad Collector's DISCOGRAPHY (compilations, boxes) Grand Funk/Hits 1976 Capitol Hits 1977 Capitol Best of Grand Funk 1990 CEMA More of the Best 1991 Rhino Capitol Collectors Series 1991 Capitol Grand Funk Hits 1991 Capitol Collection 1993 Castle OTHER APPEARANCES Hard Rockin' 70s Rock Classics, Vol. 3 I guess we knew all of this anyway, but it's still brings back memories (and deafness!!!)... Bill Cook ------------------------------ From: STAATS Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 15:11:54 -0400 Subject: Re: Farner still with Ringo? EfahsT@aol.com wrote: > > Ringo and his band is touring again (see www.ticketmaster.com). He's > coming to Texas May 23. Anyone know FOR SURE that Farner is NOT performing > with Ringo on this date or other dates this summer? I don't think so Ringo is here in Pittsburgh next week - no mention of MARK. DAVID ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 14:46:55 -0500 Subject: Re: almost GFR Hey Mick, Yeah man, Blackfoot put out a healthy dish of rock-n-roll. Served it up southern style. Their album "Strikes" came out in '79 on the heals of Molly Hatchet, Point Blank, 38 Special, and other successful southern bands. "Highway Song" was a great anthem song, and "Train Train" really cooked. Their follow up album "Tomcattin'" was also quite good. All of these southern groups, talented as they were, owed everything to Lynyrd Skynyrd. They led the way and opened the doors for the rest of these great guitar bands from below the Mason-Dixon Line. Randy Pamuska@aol.com wrote: > > Hi gang, Got a tape in the mail the other day with GFR's greatest hits on it. > My friend then taped a group I didn't remember from the 70's called > BLACKFOOT. Let me tell you they rock!! They had one song on there that made > in the same style as FREEBIRD!! Then the song TRAINS TRAINS came on and the > light bulb went off. I guess I did listen to them back in the old days..Too > many brain cells missing from those days!! If you get a chance to pickup a > BLACKFOOT then I highly recommend them. > Mickey ------------------------------ From: tom fagan Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 13:04:28 -0700 Subject: Vegas concert Hey Funksters, I will be going to the Vegas concert on June 27th. I am flying out of Ontario, CA on South West Air @ 11:00 and ariving at 11:50, staying at the Sahara. Is anyone else going to be on that Flight?? Please contact me if so. Or if you want to contact me at the Sahara please do call! I will be staying there under my name, Tom Fagan See You all then! Can't wait!!!! tom tom-span@pacbell.net ------------------------------ From: ktut@ix.netcom.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 15:26:12 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: LA Times Review On 05/17/97 08:44:56 Steve wrote: > >(intro snipped to save band width) >by Chuck Crisafulli > >Concert season at the Greek Theatre kicked off Friday with a bill that >seemed like something sprung from a fever dream: Mine anyway a reunited Grand Funk Railroad--augmented with guest turns from Slash, Billy Preston, and Bob Seger saxman Alto Reed--shared the stage with members of the Sarajevo Symphony in a benefit show for Bosnian orphans. Improbable, yes, Why is this improbable? but originals Funksters Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Mel Schacher, together for the first time in 20 years, put in a yeoman effort to crank up their bloozy stomp-rock and the results, if not enlightening, Neither is this article were highly entertaining. Unlike this article. Grand Funk is something close to America's Spinal Tap, Okay, just how the hell is Grand Funk like a fictional band made up of actors who can barely play (but are funny as all get out)? Just another ignorant analogy by a hack writer who is probably still trying to write a "great novel" while the truth is he couldn't write his own obituary not to mention a Barney book. but at this show the band was in on its own joke, The only joke I see here is this guy's lame-a$$ career!!!!! having a blast as it powered through the chunky, Neanderthal riffs If I like GFR, does this mean I'm a Neanderthal? Of course, I am chunky, but how the hell did he know that? Oh well, guess I'll change my name to Ally Oop. of "Rock 'n' Roll Soul," "Heartbreaker" and the Railroad-ed version of "Locomotion," all to flickering laser-lights and belching smoke machines. Ever hear a smoke machine belch? It is not a pretty sound. The barely audible orchestra joined the band for a second set that featured marginally subtler works such as "Shinin' On" and "Closer to Home." Grand Funk Railroad are not now, nor have they ever been, about being subtle. You want subtlety, listen to John Tesh.(which Mr. Crissafulli probably does.) The songs aren't classic gems, I beg to differ, this article isn't a classic gem, but GFR songs damn sure are. This article is more like a classic gym. It looks pretty, is supposed to serve a valid purpose, but deep down it just stinks. and the playing was sometimes clumsy, So is this guys' writing. but the spirit was infectious. This may be the only lucid point in this whole pile of babbling bullshot. Finally, a point I can agree on. This is what Grand Funk is all about for me. There may be better musicians in other bands, (technically proficient),other acts may have sold more records, more concert tickets, and get tons more airplay, but as Whirlegreg once so eloquently put it, GFR has a power about them that is unlike any other band I know. And you either feel it, or you don't. This guy obviously doesn't. During the high-energy charge at the band's biggest hit,"Were an American Band," drummer Brewer belted out the group's long-standing statement of purpose: "We're coming to your town, we'll help you party down." Not much of a credo in the grand scheme of things, but this night the band lived up to it fully." In this day and age of corrupt governments, starving children, gangs, drugs, Barry Manilow, Chuck Crissafulli writings, terrorist bombings, etc,etc, I can't think of too many better credo's than GFR coming to my town and partying. It don't get much better than that(unless the roadkill gang comes with them). Sorry for rambling, but thanks for letting me vent. I should be used to the so-called press dogging out my favorite band, but sometimes it just chaps my.......... Ally Oop uh,,,,, King Tut ------------------------------ From: hommie357@juno.com (BRETT C BOWERMAN) Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 17:02:56 -0500 Subject: FIRST CONTACT I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I HEARD GRAND FUNK RAILROAD.... IT WAS IN THE EARLY 70'S ,, OUR FRIEND JOE WAS A REAL GFRR. FAN AND HE WOULD PLAY THESE RECORDS EVERY TIME WE WENT OVER TO HIS HOUSE... IN EARLLY '73 I BOUGHT THE RED ALBUM... I FELL IN LOVE... AND THE REST IS HISTORY...... ------------------------------ From: WScarano@iSGA.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 18:18:11 -0400 Subject: unsubscribe Need to drop out for a while (on the road). ------------------------------ From: frankbauer@thevine.net Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 15:16:52 -0800 Subject: Re: LA Times Review >Grand Funk Railroad are not now, nor have they ever been, about being >subtle. You want subtlety, listen to John Tesh.(which Mr. Crissafulli >probably does.) in case you're interested, john tesh is also on the greek schedule this summer. included in the listing for that date, (and i swear to god i am not making this up!), is a statement that "wine and cheese fair starts at 4:30." this is 3 hours before show time! i told my wife they must have gotten it wrong. i think the whine starts at 4:30 and the cheese starts at 7:30... frank to: IN:ktut@ix.netcom.com cc: IN:grand-funk@roadkill.com ------------------------------ From: "joieb" Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 19:26:14 -0500 Subject: Re: Fort Wayne, In!!!!!! Hey Joe Nasty! What were you doing in the 80's???? If you remember Gentry's....or The Palace in Hicksville, my band Tempest played there very often! That would be neat if we could open for Grand Funk!!!! We did at Gentry's (or actually Mark Farner)..... Yeah, we could get everyone together from the list and meet before the concert....I'll be helping to set up the show with the stage hands.....and then probably running a spot light during the show. When did YOU first get into Grand Funk? I was probably one of the first people in my area to have the Red Album. I play guitar, so I know every one of Mark's licks....not as well as him though....laughing. Right now, our band Tempest, is working up a GFR tribute. The thing is, if we don't play for GFR fans, they won't know who it is!!!! Oh well, their loss!! Rock on... Budrock - ---------- > From: MASAAC@aol.com > To: joieb@concentric.net > Subject: Re: Fort Wayne, In!!!!!! > Date: Saturday, May 17, 1997 10:00 AM > > Hey Man!!!!! > > You are not alone in FT. Wayne!!!! I'm gonna be there partying with all the > GFR > fans!!!!! We should get together and talk about all the GFR stuff. It would > be GREAT! > > Keep me abreast of stuff since you are the stage hand, let me know anything > that comes up!!! > > MASAAC @ aol.com > Joe Nasty @ WMEE.com ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 23:21:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: GFR/Rolling Stone magazine (fwd) Hi all, I received this in private e-mail while I was out of town last week. I have no idea who this fellow is or how trustworthy he may be. But, I am completely tapped out and unable to afford much of anything extra right now (especially if I want to go to the Cleveland concert!) so I thought I would pass it on to the list for others who might be interested. If anybody finds out that this guy is okay, and buys something from him, and would like to photocopy the article for me, ... well, let's just say that I wouldn't complain! ;-) Anyway I hope you find it useful ... - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 02:07:45 -0400 From: Howard Fields To: wap@one.net Subject: GFR/Rolling Stone magazine Howard Fields 25 South First St.=20 Bergenfield NJ 07621 USA Tel/Fax 201-387-8781 E-mail: rockpapr@ix.netcom.com Web Site: http://www.netcom.com/~rockpapr/ 5/15/97 Hi. I'mm the best source of Rolling Stone magazine in the world. Following is a list, including the year of publication, of EVERY cover appearance, article, record review, concert review, and advertisement EVER published in Rolling Stone magazine having to do with Grand Funk Railroad. All articles before 1991 are a full page or less unless otherwise indicated. The lengths of articles from October 1991 to the present are indicated along with pic info if any. All ads are less than a full page unless otherwise indicated. You can purchase any of the mags containing these items from me at the stated prices OR if you=92d prefer, I can provide you with photocopies of ANY of these items for a $3.50 per item search/service fee ($6 for cover appearance articles & articles longer than 3 pgs).=20 All the mags listed here, unless otherwise indicated, ARE available at the time of this E-mail so if you E-mail back to me and inform me that you are about to send in an order, I=92ll be sure to put those particular magazines aside and on reserve for you. When ordering, it would be helpful to return this list (or a copy of) with your choices clearly marked. PLEASE MAKE CHECKS/MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO HOWARD FIELDS, NOT TO ROCK PAPER. Postal Money Orders are preferred if ordering from the US; International Money Orders or US currency if ordering from outside the US. PLEASE BE SURE TO CLEARLY INDICATE WHICH ITEMS YOU=92RE ORDERING WHEN YOU SEND PAYMENT. =09ARTICLES "Knight & Funk: The Bleat Goes On"; 7/74; $20 "Faces, Grand Funk Frolic In Hotels"; 11/73; $20 "Knight Vs. Funk: An End To `Brotherhood'" (3 pgs); 10/72; $25 "Funk Sues Knight: Knight Sues Flack"; 6/72; $25 "Grand Funk: 1+1+1=3D4?"; 4/72; $25 "Knight Hauls Off Some GFR Gear"; 2/73; $20 "Where Are They Now?: Grand Funk Railroad"; 9/85; $12 "Who's Litigating: Some New Figures In GFR Hassle"; 9/72; $25 "Fifty Arrests At Grand Funk Show"; 11/70; $40 "World's Biggest Car Radio Perfrorms In NY" (3 pgs); 8/71; $40 "Grand Funk: It's a Funny Thing"; 2/71; $40=20 "GFR & Rundgren: Florida Sun Shines On The Unlikely Alliance"; 8/73; $20 "Loco-Motion"; 6/74; $20 "Where Are They Now?: Mark Farner"; 8/89; $10 "Knight Suit Ruling"; =9273; $20 "Suits Dept.: Brown Bag Sues Terry Knight"; =9272; $25 =09RECORD REVIEWS "All The Girls In The World Beware"; 3/75; $20 "Caught In The Act"; 11/75; $20 "E Pluribus Funk"; 1/72; $25 "Good Singin', Good Playin'"; 10/76; $20 "Grand Funk Lives"; 3/82; $12 "Hits"; 1/77; $15 "Live Album"; 1/71; $40=20 "Mark, Don & Mel 1969-1971"; 6/72; $25 "On Time"; 2/70; $40=20 "Phoenix"; 11/72; $25 "Shinin' On"; 5/74; $20 "Survival"; 6/71; $40 "We're An American Band"; 9/73; $20 Mark Farner, "Mark Farner"; =9278; $15 Mark Farner, "Track On! The Best Of Mark Farner, Terry Knight & Donnie Brewer"; =9272; $25 =09ADS "On Time" LP (full pg); 11/69; $50 Strawberry Fields Festival, Moncton NB, Delaney & Bonnie, Cactus, Leonard Cohen, Eric Burdon, Grand Funk Railroad, many others; 8/70; $75 (Joplin cover) "Grand Funk Live Album" LP (full pg); 2/71; $30 "Survival" LP (full pg); 5/71; $30 "E Pluribus Funk" LP (full pg); 12/71; $40 "Mark Don & Mel" LP incl. article on rock music/deafness relationship (full pg); 5/72; $30 (none currently) "Mark Don & Mel" LP (full pg-diferent than one above); 5/72; $30 "Phoenix" LP (full pg); 10/72; $25 Grand Funk Railroad tour (full pg); 10/72; $25 "Phoenix" LP (full pg-different than one above); 10/72; $25 In Concert TV show w/Grand Funk Railroad & Freddie King; 2/73; $20 "We're An American Band" LP & tour; 8/73; $20 "We're An American Band" LP & tour (different than one above); 8/73; $20 "Shinin' On" LP & tour (full pg); 3/74; $20 "Shinin' On" LP & tour (full pg-different than one above); 4/74; $20 "All The Girls In The World Beware" LP & tour (full pg); 1/75; $20 "All The Girls In The World Beware" LP & tour (full pg-different than one above); 1/75; $20 "Caught In The Act" LP (full pg); 9/75; $20 "Born To Die" LP (full pg); 2/76; $20 "Good Singin' Good Playin'" LP (full pg); 9/76; $20 "Mark Farner" LP; 12/77; $15 Mark Farner Band, "No Frills" LP; 10/78; $15 ALSO: Circus; 2/74; Jan Akkerman cover w/Grand Funk Railroad article (4 pgs, 4 pics); $20 Circus; 9/29/77; Keith Richard cover w/Grand Funk Railroad article (1 pg, 2 pics); $12 Hit Parader Yearbook; Winter =9173-=9274; Led Zeppelin cover w/Grand Funk Railroad article (2 pgs, 4 pics); $15 Hit Parader; 7/83; Ozzy Osbourne cover w/Grand Funk Railroad article(1 pg, pic); $10 TICKET STUB- Grand Funk Railroad/Humble Pie; Shea Stadium; 7/9/71 (bands not indicated on stub); 2 stubs available; $25 each =09Please include the appropriate amount for shipping: USA: $3 shipping for the first 4 mags/books and $1 additional for each additional mag/book. =20 Canada: $5 shipping for the first 4 mags/books and $1 additional for each additional mag/book. Europe: AIR MAIL; $6 for the first 3 mags and $3 additional for each additional mag=20 Japan, Australia, all other countries: AIR MAIL; $8 for the first 3 mags and $4 additional for each additional mag PLEASE MAKE CHECKS/MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO HOWARD FIELDS. Regards: Howard Fields PS-Also=851986 reprint of Rolling Stone #1 from 11/9/67 with John Lennon on the cover. An exact duplicate of the original . A great collector=92s item; $25 PPS-COMPLETE collection of Rolling Stone magazine from issue #1 to the present (or to the issue of your choice). Please inquire for details. - -------- End Forwarded message -------- Take care, keep Shinin' On, and always grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who can resist anything but temptation. (42?) (__=3D=3D__) +--------------------------+--------------------------+---- \ -- (oo) ---+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | /-------\/ | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| / | || | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | * ||----|| | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+--- ^^ -- ^^ -----+ ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #63 *******************************