From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #64 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Tuesday, 20 May 1997 Volume 01 : Number 064 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Lady Jade" Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 22:59:13 -0400 Subject: Re: first experience I grew up in Toronto, Canada and had an older cousin 3 years my senior. When I went over to his house to check out his new Pioneer stereo he had on The Rolling Stones "Get Yer Ya Yas Out" . I was in grade six and wanted to know if he had anything that had more wailing guitar. Well he put on GFR's Red Album, side two and I thought I better put on my seatbelt:-). When Mark screams on Paroniod I was hooked. I thought I had just heard the best album ever and continue to beleive that to this day 23 years later. They are and will always be the best in my books. Over those years I have grabbed all the albums I find at flea markets etc. and have appox. 110 GFR and Mark Farner albums. Including compiliation albums and CD's and cassette tapes, I'm up around the 200 range. THEYRE GRRRREATTTTT!!!!!!!! - ---------- > From: Rolf Claussen > To: grand-funk@roadkill.com > Subject: first experience > Date: Friday, May 16, 1997 7:57 PM > > Growing up in the Detroit area, GFR was everywhere on the airwaves, all > I can remember back was back to 70 & 71 (8th and 9th grade for me), and > listing to them on the radio in school. My first and absolute favorite > album was and is most definatly the Live album which was a gift. I just > plain wore it out playing it. > > Rolf ------------------------------ From: In2theSon@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 09:42:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert I never saw him do backflips off his waw-waw.....but I've seen Farner do things that no other guitarist has ever done. Their music is great, but when you put the show with it, it becomes majestic! I'm looking forward to seeing them again...I know that they are 20-25 years older than when I saw them last, but I won't be disappointed. ------------------------------ From: Tom Roberts Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 01:47:34 -0400 Subject: Re: WAAB James Lichtenberg wrote: > > 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 I remember reading in one of the magazines back then, (probabally Circus) that the song actually came from a drunken party after one of the shows. I'll have to dig back into my old magazines to find that article. If I find it, I will scan and post it. Tigger2 ------------------------------ From: LMcdan1313@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 10:56:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: GFR first experience Mine is easy to remember. I live outside of Fort Smith, Ark. and a radio station called KFDF, which no longer exists, played rock and I remember the DJ announcing "here's the Heartbreaker by a band The Grand, I'm not going to say that word, Railroad" and that caught my attention and I listened closely and was hooked. Larry ------------------------------ From: RV56@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 01:29:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: UNSUBSCRIBE UNSUBSCRIBE PLEASE ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 23:02:53 -0700 Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert NNNooooo, We all know that Mr. Farner is athletic but, doing a backflip off of his Wah-Wah pedal is a little bit to much. I have never, never seen anyone do that. About the strongest thing I ever saw was Ted Nugent jumping off a Four Stack onto the stage one night. Gotta go, Jim ------------------------------ From: EfahsT@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 12:29:19 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Fwd: Grand Funk Railroad Tours Europe In a message dated 97-05-18 11:01:14 EDT, AOL News writes: << c The Associated Press By MARY CAMPBELL NEW YORK (AP) - Grand Funk Railroad, the most commercially successful American rock band of the early 1970s and one of the most critically scorned, is back on track. >> FINALLY!!! AOL users have a feature available to them called News Profiles. You can add a few subjects of interest to your news profile and if the news wires AOL scans EVERY night contains any of those words, then you get that news article sent to you via email. Well, I knew its been working because of the two-four news articles a day I've been getting for Larry Bird, as he's been in the news with his move from Celtics to the Pacers. But today, here's an article on GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. Oh, yeah! I've only included the first paragraph because I do try to respect AOL's terms of services which restrict some uses of their info, so I'm not posting the entire article. Some don't seem to have a problem doing that. More power to you. But, here it is. (Hey, I emailed Fishoff with a suggestion to use this feature, among other suggestions for their publicity. Of course, I'll never know if my suggestion helped. Haven't seen the other suggestions carried out yet, so I guess I can't take credit. Darn.) - --------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Grand Funk Railroad Tours Europe Date: 97-05-18 11:01:14 EDT From: AOL News 
.c The Associated Press
By MARY CAMPBELL NEW YORK (AP) - Grand Funk Railroad, the most commercially successful American rock band of the early 1970s and one of the most critically scorned, is back on track. The original three members of Grand Funk Railroad, two of them now 48 and one 46, begin touring in Japan, June 21 to 25. They'll start across America on June 26. They're not going out with other bands in an oldies package but will play a full evening of their own rocking music. In the spring, Grand Funk Railroad played benefit dates in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles for the Bosnian Relief Fund, which primarily helps orphans. They'll perform in Europe after the summer American tour and on Sept. 19, they'll appear in Sarajevo. Before they cut a record in May, drummer Don Brewer couldn't predict whether the music would be in their old style. In the 1970s it was called hard rock. By today's standards it is the medium-hard rock. ``It's still the chemistry of the same three dudes,'' singer-guitarist Mark Farner adds. ``We're maturer. Hopefully we're better musicians.'' Grand Funk Railroad was named for the Grand Trunk and Western Railroad which went through their native Michigan. The first date was in March 1969. In July that year the trio played at the Atlanta Pop Festival and its career took off like a bullet train. But over all, its ups and downs more resemble a roller coaster. Capitol Records signed Grand Funk Railroad in 1969 and the group started making two LPs a year and touring constantly. In July 1971, they sold out two performances at New York's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles had sold it out. ``I think people identified with us. It could have been them,'' Farner says. ``We were the garage band down the street that made it,'' Brewer adds, explaining why they sold so many recordings and concert tickets. ``We were able to take that feel and sound and make it to the big time.'' They were said to be millionaires. As often happens in the rock business, big money joined with youthful inexperience brought big problems. Manager Terry Knight believed in hype. He rented the world's largest billboard, in Times Square, for Grand Funk Railroad, the first time it ever had advertised a rock act. Farner, Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, two years younger than the other two, thought much of the criticism Grand Funk Railroad received was really aimed at Knight. ``Audiences loved us. Critics loved to hate us,'' Brewer says. ``They objected to his (Terry Knight) taking the posture he was the reason we were big stars. He created the image of three puppets doing what he ordered. ``Mark wrote the music. We were doing the arrangements and recording. How could you complain that `I'm Your Captain' or `Closer to Home' were bad? They were never bad a day in their lives.'' In March 1972, Grand Funk Railroad decided to part ways with Knight. He brought dlrs 60 million in lawsuits. ``It turned our whole career into a mess,'' Brewer says. ``We wanted to get another contract with Capitol. He was suing Capitol, saying he owned the band's name.'' ``We settled out of court. We gave him everything he asked for,'' Farner says. ``Our lawyers told us, you can end up staying off the road for three years or you can settle, pick up your name and career and move on,'' Brewer says. ``We did it. We were broke. Flat broke.'' Farner continues, ``We signed with Capitol again. We did an album, `Phoenix.' Because of all this turmoil, it wasn't our best effort. It sold okay because we were getting publicity about the lawsuits and we toured heavily.'' Then, Brewer says, ``Our new manager kept telling us to write songs about what we were doing, about being an American band.'' Guitarist Todd Rundgren produced the album, ``We're an American Band,'' in 1973 and the title song became the first radio hit by the group, now calling itself Grand Funk. ``It felt great to us, after going through all that stuff and wondering if we were going to pull ourselves out,'' Brewer says. ``It was like a little sweet vengeance.'' The band added a keyboard player in 1972, made more hit records, with its last album produced by Frank Zappa. They asked him what to title it. ``Good Singin', Good Playin','' he told them. After that, in 1976, they stopped, not strung out on dope, not fighting. ``We had a conversation early in our career and said if we don't feel comfortable, we won't push things,'' Schacher says. ``Disco was coming in. We didn't think we should struggle along.'' In the years after they broke up, they kept in touch. Schacher played with his son's band. He says, ``I got involved in an African drum group, too. I've been kind of floating around, allowing these kinds of musics to come in and influence me.'' Brewer toured in Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band as a sideman. ``I stopped in 1988. I figured I knew every stagehand and I'd seen all the coliseums. I started golfing. And I went back to college and got a degree in business. I went to law school for awhile. I was raising my daughter by myself and trying to go to law school. I was in the fortunate position of being able to retire and take care of my 10-year-old and I did.'' Farner made five solo albums between 1977 and 1991. He and Brewer got back together in 1981 with another bassist, made an album, performed in South America and Japan and disbanded again. Farner went on tour with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. Schacher opened a record store. He says, ``It was right at the point of the vinyl transition to CD. I had to close in four months. The sunglasses sold better than the records.'' Then, Schacher, whose father had worked on cars, started buying, working on and selling classic cars. He also designed and built houses, from 1989 to 1993. That's when the three started talking about reuniting Grand Funk Railroad. But, Brewer says, they were wary this time. ``We checked out promoters. We didn't want to get ourselves into a bad situation.'' AP-NY-05-18-97 1055EDT 
 Copyright 1997 The
Associated Press.  The information 
contained in the AP news report may not be published, 
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without 
prior written authority of The Associated Press.
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles. For all of today's news, go to keyword News. ------------------------------ From: bluetuna@webtv.net (Rand Kelly) Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 10:21:17 -0700 Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert Why doesn't someone close to Mark just ask him if he did it at least once? I have been a fan since "RED" and I know I once heard that Mark would do a front flip while soloing off the stage and land on his feet. Couldv'e been a rumour. I know a back flip can be done while playing a BASS 'cause I've seen it, and you can too. There's a great bass player named Victor Wooten who plays in a group by the name of Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. They have a video cassette called Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo; and in the middle of the thing it shows plainly, while Victor is doing one of his amazing solos a complete back flip from flat ground to ground. It really is something to see. So it has been done. You might be able to rent it at a video store. In case your wondering what the music is like it's impossible to describe because of so many eclectic styles. Bela plays banjo, acc. and elec. with a synthesizer hook-up via midi. And the drummer who is the brother of the bass player is "Future Man" And he plays drums on a customized guitar synth that's really cool. They play jazz,rock,fusion,bluegrass,country,funk,soul,pop,space,progressive sometimes all in one song. I love 'em and seen 'em twice. If you ever get the chance, go. Anybody who has; never regrets it. Well, I just had to get in on this. I think we need to push for the bonus track: Destitute And Losin' for the Shinin' On cd, I've never heard it. Peace to all my Funky Bros. And Sisters out there in Cyberfunkspace. Rand Kelly ------------------------------ From: Donna Wightman Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 10:28:20 -0700 Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert I was thinking that if Mark actually did do backflips on stage, then someone besides that one guy would have seen it also. I doubt if he practiced that hard to do acrobatics, he would only do it *once*. Mark doesn't have to do the backflips, he makes me do them ; ) Donna ------------------------------ From: Jumby007@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 15:52:36 -0400 (EDT) Subject: gfr unsubscribe grand-funk ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 22:02:48 +0200 Subject: Mark Farner Hi Kelly, you wrote: >I know I once heard that Mark would do a front flip while >soloing off the stage and land on his feet. I do believe this. This weekend I visited a Dutch die hard fan. He has a real great collection. In the Grand Funk Hits album there is a book with a picture of Mark doing a gigantic karate jump. It would be a piece of cake for him to do a front flip, back then. Now with two disks removed he should be taking it easier than he is doing! Nico. ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 23:16:24 +0200 Subject: Magic is happening Hi it's me again from Europe, Nico, I don't believe it, that channel that was doing rap, dance, house only lately, MTV Europe, is transmitting Kiss LIVE from Ring AM in Germany. Wow. So, there is a some hope for a live transmission in september with GFR in Bosnia????? I hope Mark is right with saying it all goes back to the roots! Nico. ------------------------------ From: John Des Portes Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 16:26:40 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Farner Live in concert At 11:02 PM 5/17/97 -0700, you wrote: >NNNooooo, > >We all know that Mr. Farner is athletic but, doing a backflip off of his Wah-Wah >pedal is a little bit to much. I have never, never seen anyone do that. About >the strongest thing I ever saw was Ted Nugent jumping off a Four Stack onto the >stage one night. > > >Gotta go, > >Jim > > In 1973 on The Midnight Special Nils Lofgren (of Springsteen fame among other things) was playing his most popular song as a solo artist, "Moon Tears". Towards the end he ran across the stage, hit what appeared to be an angled mini-trampoline, did a backflip into sliding splits and never missed a note! ------------------------------ From: "Tim Hanson" Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 19:37:47 -0500 Subject: (no subject) unsubscibe grand-funk - -- "Half the world thinks, while the other half does." - Neil Peart ------------------------------ From: QuoteNotes@aol.com Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 23:52:53 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AP Story on GFR Thought you guys might be interested in this story I got on AP's wire service: .c The Associated Press By MARY CAMPBELL NEW YORK (AP) - Grand Funk Railroad, the most commercially successful American rock band of the early 1970s and one of the most critically scorned, is back on track. The original three members of Grand Funk Railroad, two of them now 48 and one 46, begin touring in Japan, June 21 to 25. They'll start across America on June 26. They're not going out with other bands in an oldies package but will play a full evening of their own rocking music. In the spring, Grand Funk Railroad played benefit dates in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles for the Bosnian Relief Fund, which primarily helps orphans. They'll perform in Europe after the summer American tour and on Sept. 19, they'll appear in Sarajevo. Before they cut a record in May, drummer Don Brewer couldn't predict whether the music would be in their old style. In the 1970s it was called hard rock. By today's standards it is the medium-hard rock. ``It's still the chemistry of the same three dudes,'' singer-guitarist Mark Farner adds. ``We're maturer. Hopefully we're better musicians.'' Grand Funk Railroad was named for the Grand Trunk and Western Railroad which went through their native Michigan. The first date was in March 1969. In July that year the trio played at the Atlanta Pop Festival and its career took off like a bullet train. But over all, its ups and downs more resemble a roller coaster. Capitol Records signed Grand Funk Railroad in 1969 and the group started making two LPs a year and touring constantly. In July 1971, they sold out two performances at New York's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles had sold it out. ``I think people identified with us. It could have been them,'' Farner says. ``We were the garage band down the street that made it,'' Brewer adds, explaining why they sold so many recordings and concert tickets. ``We were able to take that feel and sound and make it to the big time.'' They were said to be millionaires. As often happens in the rock business, big money joined with youthful inexperience brought big problems. Manager Terry Knight believed in hype. He rented the world's largest billboard, in Times Square, for Grand Funk Railroad, the first time it ever had advertised a rock act. Farner, Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, two years younger than the other two, thought much of the criticism Grand Funk Railroad received was really aimed at Knight. ``Audiences loved us. Critics loved to hate us,'' Brewer says. ``They objected to his (Terry Knight) taking the posture he was the reason we were big stars. He created the image of three puppets doing what he ordered. ``Mark wrote the music. We were doing the arrangements and recording. How could you complain that `I'm Your Captain' or `Closer to Home' were bad? They were never bad a day in their lives.'' In March 1972, Grand Funk Railroad decided to part ways with Knight. He brought dlrs 60 million in lawsuits. ``It turned our whole career into a mess,'' Brewer says. ``We wanted to get another contract with Capitol. He was suing Capitol, saying he owned the band's name.'' ``We settled out of court. We gave him everything he asked for,'' Farner says. ``Our lawyers told us, you can end up staying off the road for three years or you can settle, pick up your name and career and move on,'' Brewer says. ``We did it. We were broke. Flat broke.'' Farner continues, ``We signed with Capitol again. We did an album, `Phoenix.' Because of all this turmoil, it wasn't our best effort. It sold okay because we were getting publicity about the lawsuits and we toured heavily.'' Then, Brewer says, ``Our new manager kept telling us to write songs about what we were doing, about being an American band.'' Guitarist Todd Rundgren produced the album, ``We're an American Band,'' in 1973 and the title song became the first radio hit by the group, now calling itself Grand Funk. ``It felt great to us, after going through all that stuff and wondering if we were going to pull ourselves out,'' Brewer says. ``It was like a little sweet vengeance.'' The band added a keyboard player in 1972, made more hit records, with its last album produced by Frank Zappa. They asked him what to title it. ``Good Singin', Good Playin','' he told them. After that, in 1976, they stopped, not strung out on dope, not fighting. ``We had a conversation early in our career and said if we don't feel comfortable, we won't push things,'' Schacher says. ``Disco was coming in. We didn't think we should struggle along.'' In the years after they broke up, they kept in touch. Schacher played with his son's band. He says, ``I got involved in an African drum group, too. I've been kind of floating around, allowing these kinds of musics to come in and influence me.'' Brewer toured in Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band as a sideman. ``I stopped in 1988. I figured I knew every stagehand and I'd seen all the coliseums. I started golfing. And I went back to college and got a degree in business. I went to law school for awhile. I was raising my daughter by myself and trying to go to law school. I was in the fortunate position of being able to retire and take care of my 10-year-old and I did.'' Farner made five solo albums between 1977 and 1991. He and Brewer got back together in 1981 with another bassist, made an album, performed in South America and Japan and disbanded again. Farner went on tour with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. Schacher opened a record store. He says, ``It was right at the point of the vinyl transition to CD. I had to close in four months. The sunglasses sold better than the records.'' Then, Schacher, whose father had worked on cars, started buying, working on and selling classic cars. He also designed and built houses, from 1989 to 1993. That's when the three started talking about reuniting Grand Funk Railroad. But, Brewer says, they were wary this time. ``We checked out promoters. We didn't want to get ourselves into a bad situation.'' AP-NY-05-18-97 1055EDT Copyright 1997 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. ------------------------------ From: Narqualung@worldnet.att.net Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 06:21:09 -0700 Subject: Re: Pollstar dates Stan Pace wrote: > > Gang, > > Does anyone know how Pollstar is updated? I just looked at it for GFRR, and > it only shows the European dates which have been cancelled. > > Pollstart probably can count the number of inquiries for GFRR, but I have to > wonder how many fans are not receiving the correct information regarding > tour info. > > Of course, WE know the real dates. > > Stan > > P.S. This list is getting way too quiet. > Stan Pace > U.S. Atlantic Command > Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center I have had extensive dealings with Pollstar and know that they can not publish what they don't have. GFR management must submit their tour date schedule to Pollstar and they haven't done so at this time. I have been checking regularly and exchanged e-mail with the editor on this matter. Pollstar is still the best organization to watch for upcoming events; 99 times out of 100, they will have a complete listing of events long before tickets go on sale. Combine this with Ticketmaster's "Weekly Onsale" and you can't go wrong. ------------------------------ From: Narqualung@worldnet.att.net Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 06:44:07 -0700 Subject: Re: Live album In2theSon@aol.com wrote: > > .......Listen,....uh,....Brothers and Sisters in the front row....when you > stand up like that.....and uh....uh get on each others shoulders the people > in back can't see....so uh....let's give them a chance too, okay?.... > > YE-E-E-O-O-OW, I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! To the Brothers and Sisters in rows 2 through infinity.......er, uh, why would you be SITTING at a kickass rock and roll show anyway????? As long as my back holds out there is always one extra seat..in any row...... ------------------------------ From: Andrea Porcile Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 14:33:33 +0200 Subject: Europe dates Hi all, can anyone post me the GFR european tour dates ? Thanks in advance. Mauro. P.S. Mick, Mike, Phil, ... How are You ? ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 09:10:19 -0600 (MDT) Subject: From the bowels... From Mick... Hello All, Saw a dead cat on the way to work this morning, reminded me of roadkill. To Joe In2theson -- this "Mick" is not the "Mickey" you're talking about. I'll be visiting Austin in August on business, not San Antonio. To Stan -- I'm still here, drop me a line: catalanomi@ul.com To Backstage Not -- Did you mention '98RKFF to the Smokin' Guns? You gottat talk 'em into this benefit concert! Between you guys, HST and the Funk Jam we should have music all day and all night. To Donna -- I was riding the ol' John Deere yesterday thinking about you doing ILO. Going down one of the trails in the woods I was singing the lead part, imaging you shaking that axe.....I laughed in excitement and said. "YEAH! Can't wait..." '98Roadkill Funkfest -- Still psyched for this party, or should I say EVENT? Well, the wife (Jody) and I are and we cleared a relatively large area and planted grass this weekend in anticipation of the masses. Jody, in her infinate wisdom, noticed that the area we were working on happenes to be a natural ampetheatre, shaped something like a bowl. She's suggesting putting the band(s) down in the middle, said the sound would be perfect! If there's one thing I've learned, it's listen to the girl, she's got some good ideas. I just have to figure out how to get power down there (minor details). I know it's early in the game, but I'd like some preliminary info: 1. Can I get an idea on how many of you want to camp and how many want to stay a motel? 2. Also, estimate how long you'd like to stay and the number of people you'll be bringing (adults/kids). There's a motel about five minutes from my house, The Chalet. It's right at the foot of Centerport Harbor (Mill Pond), nice area. I'll go down there and find out if we can get a group rate. As I said before, you have the option to stay at the haunted mansion also, your call (if you do, no complaints!). Just let me know so we can plan this thing right. I'll get a bunch of LI -- NYC vacation/travel info and send it to whomever needs it. Jody and me have no problem if you want to stay for a week and use our place as a home base. We're going to take vacation at this time, so we'll be available to show you around. Plus, as an extra bonus, ex-LI boy Phil will also be available as a chaperone (sp). There's a local fire department that rents out a large party tent. They come in set it up and then take it down the next day. Gotta do something in case it rains! 3. When, you ask, is this all going to happen? It's narrowed down to next summer, meaning last week in June, anytime in July or August. We're working on a firm date. I realize we won't be able to accomodate everyone's schedule, however we will try. 4. So, what other suggestions do you have for our little get together? Let's get the ideas rolling so I can do the legwork early. We had a blowout like this in '95 and it went off without a hitch do to advanced planning -- love to do it again. Food? Games? Special events? Stuff for kids? After you all respond we can start to ask for volunteers for whatever it is you do best (cook, bake, setup, gofer, security, drink....). Nancy's already doing the cheesecake thing. Keep in Touch, Mick ------------------------------ From: Joe McLean Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 13:03:27 -0400 Subject: GET FUNKED Hi all, GET FUNKED, REUNION TOUR 97 tees for sale. All tees are black with white lettering, $15 + $3 s&h. Anybody know any August dates? Later, Joe Mclean jm@shore.net ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 12:56:23 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: First Funk & the LIVE Album On Sat, 17 May 1997 FRuss80480@aol.com wrote: > 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 > CHEERS to Mom and Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phil ------------------------------ From: WHIRLEGREG@aol.com Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 16:49:33 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: GFR first experience hi y'all! here is my first experience with actually mark and don since this predates gfrr by a short period!! but anyway it still had a huge impact on me!! at any rate my band (and yes yes i know i have told this before but please bare with me!) opened for, up until this day in july 1968 a totally unheard of band called the fabulous pack!! well i mean to tell ya we thought we were rock n rollers!? well back to the drawing board for "the patriots revenge" cuz the fabulous pack was nearly as loud as gfrr was and most impressive!!!!!! mark was shirtless after a few songs long straight hair and a headband and he was wailin with the messenger guitar and don hammered out the rock solid beat that we all know so well now!! this small hall couldnt contain the sound or enthusiasm of the band or the crowd!!! i was amazed and by the end of the evening my ears rang like they did every time i saw them as gfrr!!! the funniest story from that night that i recall was after the gig we were in the dressing room witnessing a steady stream of girls knocking on the door wanting to see mark or don! well it just so happens that our drummers name was mark and when this particularly attractive lady knocked at the door (and if opportunity knocks you better let her in!) so as my drummer mark opens the window she says "mark" he replies "me?" as his eyes lit up! she sourly replies "nooooooooo that mark!" as she points to farner! i'll never forget how rapidly my friend marks face went SADDDDDDDDDDD! i think that they played many of the tunes from "on time" enjoy and cya round!! greg ------------------------------ From: Al Henneborn 595-6669 Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 16:38:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Roadkiller in Santa Fe Hey, any of you roadkillers live in Santa Fe, NM? I'll be there on biz Wed. 5/21 & Thurs. 5/22. I'll be staying at Hotel Santa Fe 1501 Paseo de Peralta at Cerrillos (800-825-9876 or 505-982-1200). If any of the you local roadkillers want to get together to talk Funk in the eve, look me up or e-mail me at ahenneborn@ail.com. Backstage Al Not ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 16:03:50 -0600 (MDT) Subject: From the Cat Cave... Post to roadkill: To Funkola -- Never Invited?!? Are you kidding???? We're practically having this thing in YOUR (and Donna's and Bill's) honor! When I first posted this idea of '98 Roadkill Funkfest it was extended to ALL brother and sister 'kills INCLUDING YOU!!! Now get your butt up to Long Island to hold down a few chairs..... To Andy in Owosso -- I would suggest asking the man himself. Email Sunny Quinn with the question at: In case you don't already know she's Don's honey. And I bet she answers you. To Mickey (Pamuska) -- Most people call me Mick (family, friends) or Mike (business), I can use my regular signature "MCat" instead of "Mick" to avoid confusion. But, I think most hardcore roadkillers know the difference between the two anyway. To Budrock -- Which "Hicksville" are you talking about? Long Island? If so, you gotta drop me a line! To Sam -- Hey Sam, I hope you, Ginger and the crew aren't coming this summer! Ahh, heck if you do show up early we'll feed you anyway. But seriously, we're having Funkfest in the summer of '98. I'll get you directions and the motel info. Your drummer buddy, Mike, doesn't have to bring his kit (unless he really needs to); there should be at least two, if not three, sets waiting for him to pound on (mine included). Thanks for your response. To Mauro -- Hi Mauro, it's been a while. I received your post card and now I can see the picture of the souvenier you gave to Mark Farner! We're doing fine, thanks. I hope to see you next summer at the 1998 Roadkill Funkfest, here, in NY. You must bring your guitar and get ready to play some GFR tunes. To All Musicians Planning to Attend '98RKFF -- compile a list of the Funk songs that you know, want to play, and which instrument you're gonna play it on. I think Bobby (MF clone) and I are gonna open up with the LIVE ALBUM (yeah, the whole thing from beginning to end; I heard him play it the other night, yeah the whole thing). Remeber, Donna has dibs on lead guitar on ILO. If we all know ahead of time which songs we can play, it won't be such a mish--mosh of "what do you know? I don't know. What do you want to play? I don't know, what do YOU want to play?" I hate jamm sessions that go on and on like that. For Those of You That Don't Play -- Listen to the LIVE ALBUM and practice all the audience parts, it may come in handy...... Yours in Funkenness, MCat (Mick) ------------------------------ From: "joieb" Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 19:00:23 -0500 Subject: Phil Catalano No Phil....not Hicksville, Long Island!!!! Hicksville, Ohio!!!! LOL! The true home of the corn-fed buck-eye! I guess there's probably a Hicksville close to everyone!?! There used to be a pretty cool bar there though...years ago it was a Rockin' place! Rock on! Budrock ------------------------------ From: jgiranda@monmouth.com Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 22:27:02 -0400 Subject: MORE LIVE FUNK!! Last year in Raleigh...NOT ENOUGH. Last year in York......NOT ENOUGH!! This year in NYC.......NOT ENOUGH!!!! We want more live funk!! Liz and I are planning a Ohio mini-vacation for the end of July. We'll be at the Cleveland and Toldeo concerts. Jim Giranda ------------------------------ From: MASAAC@aol.com Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 23:20:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: GFR, what else????? Brothers and Sisters in any row!!!! I can't believe the tremendous response to GFR!!!! For a long time, I thought I was the only last GFR fan in the world. Not too many people around these parts (practically 150 miles from Flint) know of the band. This area (Ft. Wayne, IN) was one of there biggest stomping ground(s). They are coming here July 23rd. If any of the road-kill or major domo fans are coming this way, let me know, and we can "Get This Thing On The Move".... Great to see them back, and "I Am Ready"!!!!! MASAAC @ aol.com Joe Nasty @ WMEE.com ------------------------------ From: Tony Cawthorne Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 06:00:12 -0400 Subject: Re: MORE LIVE FUNK!! jgiranda@monmouth.com wrote: > > Last year in Raleigh...NOT ENOUGH. > Last year in York......NOT ENOUGH!! > This year in NYC.......NOT ENOUGH!!!! > > We want more live funk!! > > Liz and I are planning a Ohio mini-vacation for the end of July. We'll > be at the Cleveland and Toldeo concerts. > > Jim Giranda Does anyone know of any dates in Georgia?? Atlanta area maybe??? I would even go over to Alabama or up to Tennessee or the Carolina's?? I NEED SOME FUNK!!!!!!! T.C. (Atlanta) ------------------------------ From: JOHN PETITT Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 07:18:19 -0500 Subject: Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad!!! Dear Modern Drummer Magazine, I am writing this letter on behalf of a 150+ member strong Internet e-mail forum called Roadkill.com, many of which are drummers like myself, in regards to one of the greatest, most talented and defiantly one of the most underated drummers ever, Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad. I am 29 years old, have been playing for 22 years and have been a reader of MD since 1980(still have every issue I ever got!!), and I don't remember ever seeing anything about Don. Don has been a major influence on many guys playing, yet gets no credit where credit is due. Don is a multi-talented musician, song writer and also handles lead vocal on many tracks. I have loved Don's playing ever since I started playing and first heard his killer solo on GFR's "Live Album" and his amazing power, unique style and killer vocals on the album called "E Pluribus Funk", specifically on the track "I Come Tumblin'". In case you guys are not aware, after 20 years, GFR is back together with the 3 original members, Mark, Don & Mel. They performed 3 benefit concerts last month in N.Y.C., L.A. and Detroit for Bosnian Relief, and are going to Japan, Europe and are coming back to the U.S. for a summer tour. I saw the N.Y.C. show, and let me tell ya, they were absolutely amazing!! They never sounded better. It was just like they never broke up 20 years ago!!! Don is just as killer now as he was back in 1971!!!! We would really like to see an article about Don. And NOT just an artist update thing, I mean FULL-BLOWN article with extended interview and photos. Or maybe even a cover story!!! You can contact Don through his wife Sunny Quinn at the following E-Mail address: Sunnyq@wzzr.com. You can also get more info on GFR at the following Internet site: www.meclec.com/grand Thank You for your time and I sincerely hope that you guys will consider Don for a feature in an up-coming issue!! Jay Petitt a.k.a.-Jaypfunk@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Stan Pace Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 10:45:28 -0400 Subject: Re: Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad!!! Jay, Good job! This makes me wonder why the mags for guitarists and bassists haven't done full stories on Mark and Mel. If they have, I haven't seen them. Stan At 07:18 5/20/97 -0500, you wrote: >Dear Modern Drummer Magazine, > I am writing this letter on behalf of a 150+ member strong Internet >e-mail forum called Roadkill.com, many of which are drummers like >myself, in regards to one of the greatest, most talented and defiantly one >of the most underated drummers ever, Don Brewer of Grand Funk >Railroad. I am 29 years old, have been playing for 22 years and have >been a reader of MD since 1980(still have every issue I ever got!!), and I >don't remember ever seeing anything about Don. Don has been a major >influence on many guys playing, yet gets no credit where credit is due. >Don is a multi-talented musician, song writer and also handles lead vocal >on many tracks. I have loved Don's playing ever since I started playing >and first heard his killer solo on GFR's "Live Album" and his amazing >power, unique style and killer vocals on the album called "E Pluribus >Funk", specifically on the track "I Come Tumblin'". > In case you guys are not aware, after 20 years, GFR is back together >with the 3 original members, Mark, Don & Mel. They performed 3 benefit >concerts last month in N.Y.C., L.A. and Detroit for Bosnian Relief, and >are going to Japan, Europe and are coming back to the U.S. for a summer >tour. I saw the N.Y.C. show, and let me tell ya, they were absolutely >amazing!! They never sounded better. It was just like they never broke up >20 years ago!!! Don is just as killer now as he was back in 1971!!!! > We would really like to see an article about Don. And NOT just an artist >update thing, I mean FULL-BLOWN article with extended interview and >photos. Or maybe even a cover story!!! > You can contact Don through his wife Sunny Quinn at the following >E-Mail address: Sunnyq@wzzr.com. > You can also get more info on GFR at the following Internet site: >www.meclec.com/grand > >Thank You for your time and I sincerely hope that you guys will consider >Don for a feature in an up-coming issue!! > >Jay Petitt >a.k.a.-Jaypfunk@aol.com > > Stan Pace U.S. Atlantic Command Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center ------------------------------ From: JOHN PETITT Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 10:12:57 -0500 Subject: Re: Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad!!! -Reply Stan and all, Get this thing on the move and start E-Mailing those mags, so we can spread the funk. GFR Rules and F@#K the Critics!!! Jay a.k.a.-Jaypfunk@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Stan Pace Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 11:34:40 -0400 Subject: Re: Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad!!!& articles We should e-mail the various guitar and bass mags. But before we do that, do we have anyone in our group that is certain that recent articles HAVE NOT been written? Stan At 07:18 5/20/97 -0500, you wrote: >Dear Modern Drummer Magazine, > I am writing this letter on behalf of a 150+ member strong Internet >e-mail forum called Roadkill.com, many of which are drummers like >myself, in regards to one of the greatest, most talented and defiantly one >of the most underated drummers ever, Don Brewer of Grand Funk >Railroad. I am 29 years old, have been playing for 22 years and have >been a reader of MD since 1980(still have every issue I ever got!!), and I >don't remember ever seeing anything about Don. Don has been a major >influence on many guys playing, yet gets no credit where credit is due. >Don is a multi-talented musician, song writer and also handles lead vocal >on many tracks. I have loved Don's playing ever since I started playing >and first heard his killer solo on GFR's "Live Album" and his amazing >power, unique style and killer vocals on the album called "E Pluribus >Funk", specifically on the track "I Come Tumblin'". > In case you guys are not aware, after 20 years, GFR is back together >with the 3 original members, Mark, Don & Mel. They performed 3 benefit >concerts last month in N.Y.C., L.A. and Detroit for Bosnian Relief, and >are going to Japan, Europe and are coming back to the U.S. for a summer >tour. I saw the N.Y.C. show, and let me tell ya, they were absolutely >amazing!! They never sounded better. It was just like they never broke up >20 years ago!!! Don is just as killer now as he was back in 1971!!!! > We would really like to see an article about Don. And NOT just an artist >update thing, I mean FULL-BLOWN article with extended interview and >photos. Or maybe even a cover story!!! > You can contact Don through his wife Sunny Quinn at the following >E-Mail address: Sunnyq@wzzr.com. > You can also get more info on GFR at the following Internet site: >www.meclec.com/grand > >Thank You for your time and I sincerely hope that you guys will consider >Don for a feature in an up-coming issue!! > >Jay Petitt >a.k.a.-Jaypfunk@aol.com > > Stan Pace U.S. Atlantic Command Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center ------------------------------ From: WHIRLEGREG@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 12:41:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: GET FUNKED just a reminder this is not a commercial site!!! "so if they hand you something dont take it!" new and improved (http://www.vegasnet.net/~1kfunkrr) worn and torn with pride at the 3 bosnian relief fund shows!!! DETROIT-NYC-LA!!! ------------------------------ From: "Bruce E. Fairbank" Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 13:17:19 -0500 Subject: OKC concert & tickets Does anyone know who is handling tickets for the July 16 show in Oklahoma City. I was told Ticketmaster, but found they don't have one in OKC and the Ticketmaster web page doesn't list that concert. Any help would be appreciated. Am a long-time fan and haven't seen them since 76 and looking forward to seeing them again. Bruce ------------------------------ From: Bugsy41157@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 15:07:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: MORE LIVE FUNK!! JimmyG wrote: >Last year in Raleigh...NOT ENOUGH. >Last year in York......NOT ENOUGH!! >This year in NYC.......NOT ENOUGH!!!! > >We want more live funk!! > >Liz and I are planning a Ohio mini-vacation for the end of July. We'll >be at the Cleveland and Toldeo concerts. > > Jim Giranda > > Hey Jim, Just got my info. from AAA in the mail yesterday for a possible trip to Ohio. Hope to see you and Liz there! Bugsy...Alrighta! ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 21:31:09 +0200 Subject: Re: GFR first experience Hi Greg, you wrote: >my band opened for, up until this day in july 1968 a totally unheard >of band called the fabulous pack!! Was that the time that you saw them play "Next to your fire"? Nico. ------------------------------ From: Mike Butler <1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net> Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 13:46:16 -0700 Subject: One Proud Roadkiller I was browsing through the local Barnes & Noble 'mega' bookstore the other day looking for a book on the Linux operating system called Redhat. In the computer section I'm looking down through the books and come across one that looked familiar. I pull it out and sure enough it's "Unix for Application Developers" by William A. Parrette. The same book I got from Bill (autographed) in Detroit! It's a great book Bill. Makes me proud to say I know the author. - -=Mike=- ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #64 *******************************