From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #82 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Thursday, 3 July 1997 Volume 01 : Number 082 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 12:46:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Grand Funk questions - help needed! I believe its good that funk dosent have an opening act,very similiar too the beatles and zeppelin days.funk,very well could fill that empty space the beatles left,if we just keep on helping out and being dedicated too them.sincerly steven. ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 12:49:28 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Grand Funk questions - help needed! Im not sure of a lot of knowledge i have about theyre new management,but if the guys make it back too the top....i sure hope theyre new management knows how too deal with the stardom in action! ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 13:02:39 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: In Need... along with general comment! question;why wasnt mel on funks last two records? ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 13:06:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: [Fwd: Crash Test videos] Please let me know where i can obtain audio of 72-garden show.sincerely steven ------------------------------ From: James Lichtenberg Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 13:19:23 -0700 Subject: Re: In Need... along with general comment! Bass6plyr@aol.com wrote: > > I was listening to "In Need" earlier, and was paying VERY close attention to > Mel's Bass playing. I think the bassline to that song is funking incredible! > The bass and drums really lock in crisp and clean! Mel is all over the place > with his fills. AAAGGGHHHHH!!! Getting goose bumps just thinking about it! > Which brings me to my next point. > > We need to discuss more Mel. I consider myself a solid bassist, but man, this > guy is a genious! I sit there baffled as to how he comes up with half the > sh!t he plays! A lot of talk is Mark this, Mark that. Don't get me wrong... Dear Paul, Mel is a great bass player, but I don't believe that "he comes up with half the sh!t he plays." If a song is written by Mark, I believe that Mark wrote the bass lines too. Mark Farner was 95% responsible for GFRR's success. I think that this list pretty much ignores Mark's songwriting ability. I've seen many more posts on Knight and Brewer than Mark. I too have noticed Mark ignoring Mel(on TV). I couldn't even guess why. I spoke to Mark one night in '91 up in Hadley, Mass. on his bus and he was speaking fondly of Mel and his auto restoration business. Mark also said that he gets together with Mel quite often as Mel lives in Traverse City, Mi. Talk soon. Regards, Jim ------------------------------ From: James Lichtenberg Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 13:33:32 -0700 Subject: Last 2 GFRR albums Creamx5@aol.com wrote: > > question;why wasnt mel on funks last two records? Dear Creamx5, I had heard that it was Mel's fear of flying. I don't know if this is bologna or not. Later. Regards, Jim ------------------------------ From: Mike Adair Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 12:38:12 -0700 Subject: Re: Nonsense michael.demattei@milliman.com wrote: > > > Does anyone else hear similarities between GFR and Rare Earth, and GFR > and Three Dog Night? Rare Earth are a more soulful GFR, and Three Dog > Night are a pop-slop GFR. Both bands did some of the best GFR songs > never written. > > No, I'm not stoned, > > Deemo Yeah, except for Heartbreaker, don't they all play in 4/4 time??? ;-) ------------------------------ From: Mike Butler <1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net> Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 11:18:14 -0700 Subject: Mel IS the Man I agree with all that's been said about Mel. When I had 'my moment' with Mel after the Vegas show. My first question was about the opening to "Feelin Alright" - what a bass line. I told Mel I had a tape from the 1971 Boston Garden concert and his opening to that song just rumbles with power, I asked him if he loosened a few rafters that night, he got the biggest grin on his face I've ever seen. (the guy smiles all the time). I also have the live tape from the 1982 "Grand Funk Lives" tour with Dennis Ballinger on bass. Although he's pretty good - there is no comparison to Mel. Grand Funk without Mel is not Grand Funk, period. I know that Michael Anthony, Van Halen's bassist was at the LA show and met with the guys backstage. He must of been influenced by Mel. The last thing, and please hold the laughter, I bought a bass and amp Monday. Although in the olden days I played the drums, I'm now a 41 year old budding bass player and boy do I suck. But I'm pumped up about it. Hey Stan can you come out and give me some lessons? Mel IS the Man, baby. - -=Mike=- ------------------------------ From: frankbauer@thevine.net Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 11:30:48 -0800 Subject: Mel..... >I would just like to say, concerning Mel, (and how do you pronounce his >last name?!!!) i think it's pronounced "shocker"... frank to: IN:ngraves@ibm.net cc: IN:grand-funk@roadkill.com ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 13:01:23 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: My site, the list, and stuff Well Bill, you've certainly been quite "chatty" lately. Glad to have you back. Not that you were ever gone but I think you were busy with other stuff there for a while. Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 13:05:03 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: In Need... along with general comment! > Mel is a great bass player, but I don't believe that "he comes up > with half the sh!t he plays." Well Jim, sorry but I've got to disagree with you 100%! Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 13:09:28 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man > > I know that Michael Anthony, Van Halen's bassist was at the LA show and > met with the guys backstage. He must of been influenced by Mel. I have an article somewhere that said something like Grand Funk was Michael Anthony's favorite band. So I would say he was probably influenced. On a related subject, I also read (only about a year ago) in one of the guitar mags that before Van Halen was Van Halen they were playing some GFR cover tunes in the bar scene. I believe that was a direct quote from Eddy. So I would say that he was probably influenced by Mark also. Although he took it 10 levels higher! Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Stan Pace Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 15:27:30 -0400 Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man Mike, No problem!!! Welcome to the exclusive group of individuals that lay down a rock hard foundation for everyone else to build upon. Let's see - I think we can start with Got This Thing On The Move. Yea, that's the ticket. It's one of those driving tunes where the bass rocks the house by itself for a few moments. Might as well make you a star right out the box!! If you can cover the airfare, I'll be there. However, I'd think that your T-shirt efforts would earn you a couple of lessons from The Man, Mel, himself!!! What kind of bass and amp did you get? Stan At 11:18 7/3/97 -0700, you wrote: >I agree with all that's been said about Mel. > >When I had 'my moment' with Mel after the Vegas show. My first question >was about the opening to "Feelin Alright" - what a bass line. I told Mel >I had a tape from the 1971 Boston Garden concert and his opening to that >song just rumbles with power, I asked him if he loosened a few rafters >that night, he got the biggest grin on his face I've ever seen. (the guy >smiles all the time). > >I also have the live tape from the 1982 "Grand Funk Lives" tour with >Dennis Ballinger on bass. Although he's pretty good - there is no >comparison to Mel. Grand Funk without Mel is not Grand Funk, period. > >I know that Michael Anthony, Van Halen's bassist was at the LA show and >met with the guys backstage. He must of been influenced by Mel. > >The last thing, and please hold the laughter, I bought a bass and amp >Monday. Although in the olden days I played the drums, I'm now a 41 year >old budding bass player and boy do I suck. But I'm pumped up about it. >Hey Stan can you come out and give me some lessons? > >Mel IS the Man, baby. > >-=Mike=- > > > Stan Pace U.S. Atlantic Command Joint Training, Analysis and Simulation Center ------------------------------ From: "Pat" Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 16:15:45 -0700 Subject: Mel I have to agree with you guys about Mel that he is the most underrated bass player of today.I am an accomplished drummer and I owe it to GFR mostly of course Don,Mel is the main reason GFR sounds so full .Listen to Aimless lady,that is bass playing.I play with 2 different bands and now I am looking to start a GFR tribute band .I need a bass player that can fill Mels shoes. Pat Funkin eh ------------------------------ From: Roverpick@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 19:15:33 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Grand Funk questions - help needed! I too was initially hesitant about getting into the import game, but since Capitol seems to be falling apart, and continues to ignore the GFR catalog, I decided to go ahead and go for it. Closer to Home has been re-done beautifully, Shinin On has the fine addition of Destitute n Losin on it, and All the Girls is, well, All the Girls. All kidding aside, ATGITW sounds much better than I remembered, and it is especially nice to have it on CD. Even though I have bought these as Japanese imports, I will also not hesitate to buy these titles again if Capitol should ever feel the urge to release them in the states. It is just hard for me feel positive about this at this time ------------------------------ From: Roverpick@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 19:20:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: old mags I had two B&W 8mm films that were probably about 10 minutes each. One was of the American promo that has shown up on many of the lists, and the other I believe was from the elusive 1973 ABC show, or was certainly from the 72-73 time frame. I really do not think that I tossed them, but I will have to dig real deep into the attic to try and locate them. ------------------------------ From: Leo Bartoli Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 18:44:59 -0400 Subject: RE: Mark? Mel? What's up??? Say Paul. You've raised an interesting point. I wonder if Mark is aware he does that. Leo - -----Original Message----- From: Bass6plyr@aol.com [SMTP:Bass6plyr@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 1997 4:34 AM To: Ljb Subject: Mark? Mel? What's up??? I was just wondering. In the very little footage I've seen of GFR on video or TV appearences, why does Mark seem to ignore Mel? I notice that Mel always looks for oportunities to get close to Mark, but it never happens. Here's an example. Remember the Jay Leno appearence? Well, when they cut into We're An American Band, Mel is up towards the foot of the stage, then backs up and see's Mark facing him. Mel turns to Mark abruptly so he can jam it out with him, but Mark pays no mind and looks the other way. In the LA '74 video, Mark is always going up to Don and Craig and EVEN the back-up singers in Locomotion. Never really saw him go near Mel. There was even one time that I've noticed in that same concert that Mel thought Mark was on his way over to him to jam side by side. Mel was in position, but Mark again ignores him and Mel kinda has to play it off and turn to Don or Craig. Let me tell you something. I was just wondering, I have never seen them live yet... Has anyone else noticed that Mark does this? Later, Paul Bass6plyr@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Leo Bartoli Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 19:05:29 -0400 Subject: RE: More Vegas II I did the same thing in Providence some years back. Just stared at Mark practically speechless. Your story had me in stiches! Thanks for sharing it. And TGFGFR........Leo - -----Original Message----- From: jmaijala@juno.com [SMTP:jmaijala@juno.com] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 1997 9:37 AM To: Ljb Subject: Re: More Vegas II All right Mike, Now here is the REAL version of what happened in Vegas . . . after Don was bit on the ear by Mel, Mark deducted two point from . . er . . Oh . . .wrong day. ACTUALLY, My wife and I arrived at the Monte Carlo at about 5 o'clock. As we went around the table shaking hands it was amazing how many people I could identify by the way they talked. And I had never met them before. Alot of our personalities come across on the Internet. Anyway, after drinking a beer that tasted like a loaf of whole wheat bread, I began talking Funk, geography, tribe, trivia and anything else anyone wanted to talk about. I even met some Braves' Fans(now my journey to the dark side is complete). After many pictures, pitchers, and pointers everyone headed over to the Hard Rock at about 7 pm. As we entered the JOINT, Mike threatened me with bodily harm!! He wanted my front row tickets (back unholy one!) . Let me tell you, the front row is mighty close to the action. When the 2001 theme started a chill ran down the length of my back and the hair on my neck stood straight out! Their shadowy forms materialized on stage and Mark pointed at someone to my right. With the first CRACK of Mel's bass my entire life force was energized!! He was right in front of me pounding away with a reckless abandon that I had not seen him display before. Man, I gotta tell ya', it was intense. During Footstompin' music Mark came right over to our position during that great guitar solo. He actually looked me in the eye as his hands moved in a blur on the neck of his Parker Fly. That was repeated several times as he tortured that axe with gyration after gyration. At the end of Footstompin' I pointed at Mel and screamed "YOU'RE THE MAN, MEL, YOU'RE THE MAN!!" He pointed right back at me and said "NO, YOU"RE THE MAN" and he was grinning ear to ear. When Don was throwing his drum sticks in the air during TNUC on of them rolled out to within 5 feet of the end of the stage, right in front of me!! It was up against some equipment and the end of it stuck out. It was just out of my reach . . it was HAUNTING me . . . here I am Jim, come and get me!! . . please Jim, Don is beating the hell out of me, you have to save me, Jim (help me, spock). I thought about crawling on stage and nabbing it, but I figured I would become meat if I did that. So I waited for an opportunity. Then, opportunity came knocking. They had a short intermission and all the lights were off!! I climbed up on stage and grabbed the drum stick. I showed it to my wife, who high fived me, and I then shoved it down my pants(talk about stiff wood!). After the light came back on they performed "Mean Mistreater". I was singing along with Mark at the top of my lungs and the guy next to me looks over and says "Hey man, you sing really good!" I guess wonders will never cease. I loved the look on Marks' face when the crowd started singing "Closer to Home" for him. He just beamed. The audience really responded on that one, it was a cosmic experience. Although the show lasted almost 2 hours it was too short for me. I could have gone on for another two, but, it was not to be . . . but, wait, there's more! After the show the other Funkheads called me over and I showed them my woody . . .er . . I mean the drum stick. Everyone thought it was great that I grabbed it. It is a Don Brewer signature stick. As we were standing around, Sunny Quinn stopped by and began chatting with Donna and the rest of us. The Hotel security has us completely surrounded and were asking us to leave but Sunny told us to hang on. She asked one of the more "customer friendly" rent-a-cops to clear the way for us to go upstairs. And then BAM! I was walking out of an elevator on the second floor and turning left down a hall way and I see Don and Mark. Holy S___!!, there is a God!! I work my way down the hall, with my wife in tow, and shake Don's hand and show him the drum stick. He smiles and says something like "nice job". Now came the moment I had been waiting for for over 27 years. I was standing in front of Mark Farner, my personal Rock and Roll hero. All of the things I wanted to ask him, all the accolades I wanted to lay on him, all of the kisses I wanted to plant on him . . . so what do I do? . . . I stick out my hand and he takes it as I say, "Hi Mark, I'm Jim from Phoenix." (I WAS TOTALLY LAME!!!!!) My brain was going numb and I didn't know what to say or do. Thankfully, Mark bailed me out. He goes "HI, Jim from Phoenix." Everyone who heard it laughed. We talked about Jet lag or Jet RAG as he called it and about his recent trip to Japan. Shortly after that everyone was ordered by the rent-a-cops to move to the main lounge and out of the hall. It was there that I got Mel and Don to sign our T-shirts and stick. also pictures were taken that I hope to get copies of. (I'll pay money for them!) Everyone kind of hung out after that for about another hour. The guys turned out to be just regular people. No pretense of SuperStardum. It is to their credit as far as I'm concerned. Sunny was outstanding as she chatted with everyone and seemed to make a special friend in Donna. Sadly, It all ended too soon. Don and Mel had to catch a Plane to Phoenix. We all went downstairs, and after a few tearful goodbyes we went our separate ways. I will always treasure this experience. It was a dream come true. NOW, for the next time . . . hhhhmmmm. PS. Mike, Matt Williams has woke up!! ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 17:35:57 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Vegas Recap - Part II OK we're back... 7:00 Around 7:00 or so my chauffers (Mike and Sharon) started informing me that it was time to head over to the Hard Rock. So we all slammed our remaining beer and headed on out. Once again, I wish we could've stayed longer and chatted some more with the roadkillers! We got to the Hard Rock and got in the small line that was leading into The Joint. While waiting on line somebody says "Hey, there's Sunny". So I turn around and sure enough here she comes and who's right with her...Don! So I said "Hey, there's Don too, Hi Don" so he says hello to us. He was carrying a garment bag so I asked him if he needed help with his luggage but he just laughed and kept on going. What a rush that was. I was thinking, man this day is just getting better and better! So, we finally get into the Joint and we headed straight for the stage so we could check out their equipment. The first thing that I noticed was Brewer's drums...they were black, obviously different from anything else he'd been using. And then I noticed the DW (Drummer's Workshop) on the front of the bass drum. So I was thinking these were his "real" drums. DWs are suppose to be good drums and very expensive. It was a 6 piece kit, with two rack toms and two floor toms. Looked like the same cymbal setup he normally uses. Then we just kind of commented on Mel's basses and Mark's guitars sitting on the sides and headed over to our seats. I can't remember much about what we did and talked about from now until showtime...it's all a blur. The only thing I remember is waiting on the line to get a T shirt for our roadkill brother Dono (Don O'Dell). Oh yeah, and going to buy another beer...Duh! 8:00 Showtime was 8:00 and needless to say to crowd was ready to blow through the roof by now. We were psyched! I believe the lights went out about 8:10, the crowd went nuts, and the 2001 theme started and drove us over the edge! They came out on stage and you could see their silouhettes and they immediately ripped into Are You Ready! This was a treat for me because I had never seen them do this before. I'm not gonna try and review the show here because several people have done that over the last few days and their reviews were awesome, they said it all. Needless to say, the show was great. Here is the songlist and the approximate times. The Joint at the Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, NV, Fri, June 27, 1997 1. Are You Ready 2. Rock And Roll Soul 3. Footstompin' Music 4. Time Machine 5. Paranoid/Sins/Limo 6. Heartbreaker 7. Aimless Lady 8. T.N.U.C. 9. Inside Looking Out 10. Shinin' On 11. Locomotion 12. American Band - ------------------ 1:05 13. Mean Mistreater 14. Some Kind Of Wonderful 15. Bad Time 16. Closer To Home - ------------------ 1:35 17. Gimme Shelter - ------------------ 1:40 (End of show) Some highlights of the show for me were #1 Time Machine! This was a bonus to see because at the previous two shows Farner didn't play the lead, the special guests did. Well, this time he played the lead all throughout the whole song and I remember Donna, Allen, and I watching the video screen in awe. He was tearing this song up. And we just looked at each other and said what the he|| is he doing. I must say, Mark has a unique style of playing that axe. He was great! #2 T.N.U.C is always a highlight for me because I love Brewer so much. He has shortened his solo considerably but he's still a wild man! And yes he still has that devious look in his eye when he's slowly scanning the crowd, what an animal! He dropped his stick at least one time when he through it up. Or should I say he through it way out of his reach (more on that later from the man himself). And thanks to him tossing that stick, Jumbalaya got his souvenir! Good job Jim! Man when Jim showed us that stick after the show it was so beat up!!! That's the first thing I noticed. You could tell he just absolutely pounds those skins! #3 Inside Looking Out was certainly another highlight as it had been at the other two shows two. Man they just jam on this tune! Farner's guitar sounded great, Mel's pounding bass sounded great and of course Don's drumming and his "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi"!! What a great version of ILO! #4 And yes once again, SKOW was great just because of the way Don comes out front and bangs his sticks and pounds out those vocals just as hard as he pounds his drums. What a great entertainer!!! Is it a little too obvious that I love this guy? Some highlights all throughout the show were the video screens, all three guys' energy level, and Mel just prancing all over the stage. We were to the left of the stage in about the 10th row. Pretty close but a part of the stage was cut off. It happened to be the Howard Eddy part so all we could see was THE TRIO! Not so bad. Anyway, we were right in front of the PA! Gotta love that! And there was a huge video screen right above us. There was also one on the other side too. And let me tell you they did a great job of filming this thing. When Farner was singing they'd be showing him, when Brewer was singing they'd be showing him, when Farner was soloing they'd show him, they had the whole Brewer solo right there too. They didn't show too much of Mel which would be my only complaint. They did show him but not nearly often enough. But they did a superb job! I want that video!!! And all three of their energy levels were really high! I though they'd be toast after the Japan tour but man they were pumped and it showed throughout the whole show. Mel was great! He was all over the place, smiling all the time, and of course his fingers were all over that fretboard. The guy is a god!!! And let me tell you, being right in front of the PA was great!! Especially after the NY and LA shows where the sound was not nearly loud enough. Some people said it was loud. I didn't think so, I thought it was just right. Am I deaf? probably! It has nothing to do with all these years of cranking my albums and CDs, playing guitar, playing drums, and going to see about a thousand shows! Nah! One thing I did notice about the sound though was that they were messing with it during the show! I hate when they do that. Get the sound right and leave it alone! The sound man screwed up a couple of places but not too bad. And oh, while we're talking about the crew. I guess that Japanese guy (please forgive me I can't remember his name) got to be Farner's guitar tech for this show...awesome! Well, in the middle of the show, can't remember what song, Farner's out there singing and playing and this guy walks right out on stage with a guitar and he's standing there right behing Farner for what seemed like an eternity. I don't think Farner ever knew he was there? But Farner's guitar sounded fine, he hadn't broken a string or anything? So Donna looks at me and says "So, you think he's fired?". And we just laughed. But to this day I don't anyone of us knows what that was all about? It was good for a laugh though! The length of the show was a bit shorter than the Benefits. The whole show was about an hour and 40 minutes. I was thinking how could they play 17 songs (counting medley as one tune) in an 1:40 minutes. But you divide 100 minutes by 17 and it comes out close to 6 minutes per tune. I guess that's about right! In the old days it seems like they always played 12 songs, which last about an hour and 20 minutes. So 17 songs is a bonus! 9:50 So now the show is over and we're all standing there in a fog having just been blown away by the best band in the land! I couldn't even talk because my voice was gone from singing along and screaming and stuff. It's great to be a kid again! The only difference now is that I can drink beer (legally) while doing it! I thought this was the best show of the 3 I saw for several reasons. Had better seats, the sound was better, their energy level was unbelievable, and the video screens were great! The only thing I wish would've been different is I wish my bro' Mick were there! Sorry Mick! Anyway, now a bunch of the roadkillers start to gather around and talk (hack, hack) about the show and what not and then Sunny comes strolling over. Like I said before the night just keeps getting better and better. So we're all chatting with Sunny and each other and I decided to go up near the stage one more time just to check things out. So I go up there and one of the security dweebs says "Can I help you" so I said "no thanks, I'm just looking around". So he says "Well you need to get out of here, we're moving everybody out". SO I looked around and there were security people all over the place and there weren't too many people left in the place except for the raodkill mob. So I started to feel threatened and I said to him "yeah, I'm going, but I'm friends of the band anyway!" (yeah, right!) So then I walked back over to the roadkill posse. And then I noticed that we were totally surounded by security people and they were trying to herd us out. But Sunny took care of that! She did her magic and took a roadkill headcount of which I think was 14 at the time? So this security lady goes to talk to Kooch or whoever and comes back in a few minutes and says ok, let's go! Once again, major rush! So they round us up and start walking us over to the elevator and I notice Tom Fagan comes walking up and says what's going on. And somebody said they took a head count and you missed it. So I just said come on, just come with us. He ended up getting up there like the rest of us so it was never a problem. Afterall he is a roadkiller! So now we get to the elevators and a bunch of us pack into the elevator (by the way I didn't tell this to anyone then but I'm clustraphobic and I don't normally do elevators unless I absolutely have to. Especially when they're crammed with people like that. Well I guess I had to do this. So I just bit my lip and hoped we didn't get stuck. If we would've got stuck nobody would've come out alive...we would've been roadkill for sure). Anyway, Sunny was in the elevator with the first group and I believe she put Donna in charge of the second group. So Sunny turns to me and says ok, since Donna's not here your the spokeperson. Yikes! So I just said ok, what do I do? She just said well I'll introduce you to Kooch and you can thank him and blah, blah, blah. So I said no problem! So, we get out of the elevator and there's a pretty big room and then there's a hallway right off of the room. So they start leading us down the hallway and who's standing there but Brewer. No Kooch! So I just said hi to Don and shook his hand and introduced myself and told him we were the roadkill crew from the internet. He knew exactly what I was talking about. So then we all started chatting with him. What a great guy. About the only thing I remember from that conversation was this. We were talking about him throwing his sticks up in the air during his solo and missing them. So I just looked at him and said "You do that on purpose don't you?". So he just looked at me with this kind of look like "you figured that out, huh" so he said something like yeah, it's all entertainment, it's just part of the show. Or something along those lines. Well, I saw Farner standing up ahead in the hallway and I wanted to give everyone an equal chance so I moved up ahead to Farner with a couple of other people. Same thing, I introduced myself and told him we were the roadkill crew and I asked him if he knew who we were. And he said Oh Yeah, I know who you guys are, Bob Werely keeps me up to date. So a couple of us say, you mean Greg. And he says oh yeah, Greg, I'm sorry. He said something like Greg had faxed him some stuff while they were in Japan. So one of the first things I asked him was how the Japan tour went. And he perked right up and said that it went great and then he started telling us storys of their '71 tour. He had a bunch of us laughing. He had all of these anecdotes and he had a couple of sayings he knew in Japanese and he'd throw those in here and there. You know, he was trying to do the Japanese accent and all. It was pretty funny. Once again, great guy! He was talking about one particular show back in '71 where it was raining like "cats and dogs" and they didn't want to play. Well he said the people were going nuts, rushing the gates and fighting and all that so they ended up playing anyway. Well he said that he stood like a foot away from the Mic cause he didn't want to get shocked and he said they never knew the difference cause they were going so crazy. Well then, Mike Butler pipes up from about 10 feet away and says Hey Mark I've got a message from a buddy of mine, his name is blah, blah and he says he graduated from law school. So Farner said something like oh no, that's scary. And then he says something like, well tell blah, blah that one of his songs will be on the next Grand Funk album. So we all ooohed and ahhhed. we thought that was really cool. About then Mel came out and I asked Mark if he minded us taking some pictures. And he said no, fire it up. So first I took a picture of him with Allen in the background and then I said well why don't you and Mel stand in front of the roadkill gang here and I'll get a picture of that. Brewer was in the back talking with the tailend of the roadkill crew, I think. So anyway, I got that picture which hopefully you'll see posted on Donna's sight one of these days. Right after that, here comes Kooch and I'm thinking Oh man they're gonna kick us out. Quite the contrary! He says, look everyone, it's not over by any means we just want to move everyone out into the large room out there because this is a fire and a security hazard. And it was. We were all just packed into this little hallway. So we all headed back out into the "bar area". There was a bar there but it wasn't open. And this room looked out over into the auditorium of the Joint. So for the next 1 1/2 - 2 hours (really) we just hung out with the boys and Sunny and some of their crew and family and friends. I don't think Mark ever made it out of the hallway into the "room" but Mel and Don did. What a great experience it was to chat with these guys in such a relaxed environment! We were all talking like we were old friends and it wasn't rushed at all. I remember saying to myself a couple of times that man, it's been a 1/2 hour, when are they gonna kick us out? man, it's been an hour, when are they gonna kick us out? man, it's been an hour and a half, when are they gonna kick us out?Then finally around the 2 hour mark they wrapped it all up. It was about midnight at the time. The following are just some tidbits from conversations I was involved in with Mel and Don. I know I'm forgetting alot but this is the best I can do. I had asked all 3 of the boys (Mark in the hallway) separately how the Japan tour went and they all thought it went great! They seemed really pleased! Don kept asking how the sound was tonight. He was really concerned about it. He said they thought they had the sound perfect during the sound check and then once the place filled up with people it muddied all up. I guess it didn't sound too good from where he was sitting but me and one of their 70s sound guys told him that the sound was fine from where we were. So that relieved him a bit. Then I asked him about his DW drums and he said they were rented and that he absolutely hated them! I mean he really hated these things! He had to tune them and everything and he thought they sounded like sh|t. But we assured him once again that they sounded fine. I started talking to him about his drums and he said his current set is the white Peavey. I asked him about all the other ones he was using, like on Leno and Good Morning America, etc... and he says they're all just rented for the particular show. Interesting! He says his favorite drums are Yamaha. I didn't ask him why he doesn't own a set though. It's gotta be because of the Peavey sponsorship or something like that? I did ask him about his red ludwigs and he just said he doesn't have them anymore, he got rid of them. Didn't say when and where. He was talking about the Palace Live CD and said it is scheduled to be released end-of-aug to beginning-of-sep. And according to Sunny, Don's favorite hobby is "mulching". She says that's all he does at home is go out in the yard and play with his mulch. She says this private photographer takes these airial (sp?) pictures of people's houses or neighborhoods or whatever and then trys to sell them to the owners. Well everytime they took pictures of their place you'd see Don's van out there with all the bags of mulch and everything. That was pretty funny! Oh, while we're talking about Don, we got to talk to Dale about what her and her friends thought of the Don and the show. She said her and her friends were totally blown away! Needless to say she was quite proud of her dad! Now, a couple things that Mel said. We were talking to Mel about the Atlanta Pop FestivalS and he said there was only one? So I said what do you mean only one, didn't you do the one in '69 and one in '70? And he said no, just '69. Then he got this confused look on his face and said wait a minute, it's all a blur to me, I could be wrong. He was really funny and he truly could not remember. And then we asked him if LIVE was recorded at the Atlanta Pop Festival. Of course after just hearing what he said this would've been impossible if they didn't play the APF in '70. But his answer was NO, it was recorded at several different shows. So anyway, I'm still confused about the "only 1 APF" comment. I thought they played two and I was always under the impression that LIVE was recorded at the second one. I guess I'm not quite the GFR fan that I thought I was! :-( Oh Well. So, while we're on the subject of the APF, Tom Fagan says something like I saw that show and you were singing then weren't you. And he said yeah, I might've been. Again, he wasn't sure of the time period but I guess at one time he was singing. I think he meant background vocals? Then Mike Butler asks him how old he was at the APF and Mel says 17!! Can you believe that! So I said, Mel, how the he|| did you ever get that good, you are just totally awesome. So he said something like well, It's just what I do, that's how I play. Then he says well, he||, I started playing when I was 7 and by the time I was 12 I was playing in bars and weddings and stuff. Unbelievable! So he was 17 when he joined Grand Funk. And he told us the same story that Mark tells on his "In The Studio with Closer To Hom w/Red Beard" on how he joined Grand Funk. Mark and Don heard him playing through some walls with ? and the Mysterians and they liked him so much they asked him to join in their band. So he quite ? right there on the spot and the rest is history. He was also talking about his son playing bass and that he was better than Mel. I find that hard to believe. I mean c'mon, this is a man talking about his son! But he says he learns stuff from his son. I think that's cool! Mel was saying that ALL of the equipment for this Vegas show was rented, except for their guitars. But the amps, PAs, monitors, and drums were all rented. I guess their stuff was in Phoenix. He didn't particularly care for his bass cabinet either. But believe me he made due with what he had! Then I looked at Mel and said I've got two questions for you, do you mind. And he said no, go right ahead. So I say...Born To Die & Good Singin' Good Playin'...great albums! Alot of us fans absolutely love those albums. How come you don't play anything from those albums, do you not like the stuff or what? He looked kind of uneasy answering this question which to this day I still don't understand. But his first answer was well they're out of print. So I'm thinking, man is he dodging this or what. And I really didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable or anything but I had to follow up. So I said no, now you didn't answer the question, why don't you play any of that stuff live. SO he said well, eventually they will. I think he was about to elaborate but at that time his wife Deanna came by and grabbed him to take some pictures with some nieces and nephews. And we didn't get to talk to him about it anymore, Bummer! The second question I was going to ask him was about Craig...never got to it. The only other thing I can remember him saying is that they tend to rush their songs. Well, that's all folks. I'm exhausted from typing all of this and I think I've rambled enough. This was an experience that I hope each and everyone gets to have. It was truly incredible. And thanks once again to Sunny, and of course the boys for spending time with us!!! HTDIAS, Funkin' Phil That's (Hope to do it again soon!) - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 17:37:21 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: old mags Start digging man! You need some help? Phil On Thu, 3 Jul 1997 Roverpick@aol.com wrote: > I had two B&W 8mm films that were probably about 10 minutes each. One was of > the American promo that has shown up on many of the lists, and the other I > believe was from the elusive 1973 ABC show, or was certainly from the 72-73 > time frame. I really do not think that I tossed them, but I will have to dig > real deep into the attic to try and locate them. > - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= ------------------------------ From: GHA6001@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:19:44 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: More Vegas II James: I cannot take these Vegas GFR stories anymore. I feel like a pervert reading these "juicy" stories of meeting Mark, Don, Mel, Sunny etc... Sunny emailed me a few weeks ago that she would "try" to get the boys to play here in the Tampa Bay area. I sure do need a dose of some kick a-- GFR. I remember when I saw them in 1972 in St. Petersburg, FL. I had front row tickets for only $6.50. I would today gladly pay 10 times the amount to once again experience the best concert I have ever seen. The chemistry between them all was magic. From your account of the Vegas gig as well as others the magic is still there, and should be seen by all given the opportunity. In short, Mr. Fishof do us, and the world a favor and start planning a huge world tour for when they release there new CD in 1998. Let GFR show the world why they are the best band in the land. George ------------------------------ From: DOdell4280@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:28:40 -0400 (EDT) Subject: backstaggin hey man, while you guys were with the boys any word on fall dates? ------------------------------ From: DOdell4280@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:31:26 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Grand Funk questions - help needed! hey man, I dont think any of this has to do with arenas ------------------------------ From: GHA6001@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:40:59 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Grand Funk questions - help needed! Tom: Great point concerning the management. I would think the Mr. Fishof must have had a business plan completed, and submitted to Mark, Don, and Mel that made sense. I wish I had a copy of the business plan to see just what the heck the next move is. I for one believe they can go back to the top provided they get the correct people in the corner. Maybe they are just testing the water. I just dont know. George ------------------------------ From: DOdell4280@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:52:09 -0400 (EDT) Subject: fishnet 91 hey man, listening to hooked on love fromfisnet. do anybody know who sings backup? sounds very familiar. also is this whole show on tape I just have this one song. help ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 21:27:15 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Nonsense i understand where your coming from deemo,but there is only one don brewer,one bass player like mel,and one soul man like mark.sincerly steve ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@juno.com (James I Maijala) Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 21:42:52 EDT Subject: Re: In Need... along with general comment! Okay Paul, you're on, Mel is indeed great. At the Vegas show, Mark and Mel did jam briefly together. Mark ran over to Mel (surprised him I think) and started to jam. They tried to rock back and forth, but were going in opposite directions! They kind of laughed it off and went on with the song. As far as ignoring each other, after the show I noticed that they never interacted with each other. They would talk to the fans in little groups but they were always separated. Hmmmm. Jim On Thu, 3 Jul 1997 03:30:09 -0400 (EDT) Bass6plyr@aol.com writes: >I was listening to "In Need" earlier, and was paying VERY close >attention to >Mel's Bass playing. I think the bassline to that song is funking >incredible! >The bass and drums really lock in crisp and clean! Mel is all over the >place >with his fills. AAAGGGHHHHH!!! Getting goose bumps just thinking about >it! >Which brings me to my next point. > >We need to discuss more Mel. I consider myself a solid bassist, but >man, this >guy is a genious! I sit there baffled as to how he comes up with half >the >sh!t he plays! A lot of talk is Mark this, Mark that. Don't get me >wrong... >Mark is great and everything, but I think it's time we start >commenting more >on Mel. There's even more talk about Don lately! You guys are so >tapped out >you're trying to figure out what drumset he's using!! I'll give you >something >to discuss. Lets discuss Mel and his contributions as a musician. > >Are you with me on this? More talk about Mel? I mean after all, take >T.N.U.C. >for instance. Mark is just strumming one friggin' chord while Mel >DRIVES the >whole song! And you all know as well as I do that there are plenty of >songs >where Mark can strum that sh!t in his sleep!! It's MEL who brings >those types >of songs to life. We need to be more aware of this for discussion, ok? > >Mel + Bass in hand = PURE GENIOUS!!!!!! >FUNK ON BOYS!!!!! >Paul >Bass6plyr@aol.com > ------------------------------ From: HELLONEWMAN@webtv.net Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 22:02:42 -0400 Subject: WHERE DO THEY GO FROM MONTECILLO hi all ,i agree withtom ,i hpoe mr.fishof has some MAJOR plan whike the band is stating to buzz, alread in one of the posts here it said .no video> the hell with it make a tape of the vegas showwhats the background on fishf?>a ringo starr tour! any more shows scheduled for the summer or rest of year, how about a ppv of sepy bosnian show. could make alot of money with u2 n give new old fans a chance to see/tape them.....steve ps >goin tobuy some zz topp tickets to keep me sane! ------------------------------ From: Roverpick@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 22:09:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: old mags Hey guys, I'll do what I can to find the old movies. ------------------------------ From: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 20:29:24 -0600 (MDT) Subject: RE: Closer to Home > Yes! If someone gets he chance to meet Mark, Don and Mel could they please ask them about teh background voices? I've wondered about it for 25 years. It's right up there with how they got the caramilk in the Caramilk bar . . .> > Hoping to see One of Life's Mysterys solved, Ken Blackley ------------------------------ From: Bill Cook Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 22:36:55 -0700 Subject: Palace Video I'm afraid to ask this one...I've been on vacation for two weeks. Any reliable update on the status of the Detroit Video??? ------------------------------ From: Joe Holewa Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 22:47:24 -0400 Subject: Mel's Bass Playing There are two Bass Players which I consider "the best" for the style in which they played: 1.Mel 2.The Bass Player from the James Gang, can anyone guess his name? I learned 95% of all my technique from listening to many hours of vinyl from those two guys, and I'm only 10% as good! Joe ------------------------------ From: Sue Moore Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 23:39:00 -0400 Subject: Confused I hestitate to bring this up because all you "Mel" fans will probable jump me, but I think Mel is a little off in his memory. According to his bio, Mel was born in April, 1951 and played the APF in July 1969, so he was 18 not 17. I guess he was 17 when he joined the band and that was fairly young to be that good. Sorry, just like to keep the facts straight! Also, I don't understand why Don hates "Connie" and refuses to talk about it. He sure did not feel that way when he wrote about her and imortalized her in a song. I know who she is and I know the whole story about her. Back in the 70's she did a big interview in Cosmopolitian magazine and she told everything you would ever want to know and more. But since it seems to upset Don so much and he won't talk then out of respect for him, I won't tell either. I do understand why he doesn't want to discuss it with "his" daughter. However, there is a picture of her on the "net" somewhere I forget. By the way, Dale must be Don's stepdaughter. Don has a daughter but she is younger than 22 (should be 16-18, I think?). Anybody else know about this???? ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 00:07:52 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Confused Hi all, On Thu, 3 Jul 1997, Sue Moore wrote: > ... > Also, I don't understand why Don hates "Connie" and refuses to talk > about it. He sure > did not feel that way when he wrote about her and imortalized her in a > song. I know > who she is and I know the whole story about her. Back in the 70's she > did a big > interview in Cosmopolitian magazine and she told everything you would > ever want to > know and more. But since it seems to upset Don so much and he won't > talk then out > of respect for him, I won't tell either. I do understand why he doesn't > want to discuss > it with "his" daughter. However, there is a picture of her on the "net" > somewhere I forget ... There use to be a site something like www.sweetconnie.com or something like that. I couldn't find it again. She was hawking her tell-all book. I too understand why he wouldn't want to dis- cuss it with his daughter from what I remember reading but also don't understand why Don would be upset. The only picture I could find of Connie was at: http://www.rock103.com/Pix_Connie.html Take care, grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who knows that two wrongs never make a right -- but three might. ___ +--------------------------+--------------------------+--- ()__() - (42!)+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | ( oo ) ,-' | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| /^' *'^\ / | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | (/( . )\) | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+--- Q/--\Q -------+ ------------------------------ From: steve lisuk Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 21:55:10 -0700 Subject: CD's To all who expressed interest in the cd's: I am leaving on vacation next week. I will have them, and more info when I return on July 21. I got a Bossmen cd from the same source recently; it was a quality job. I hope that these will be just as good. There is also a Seger cd of unreleased pre-bigtime singles if anyone is interested. These singles are some of Seger's early Detroit classics that never got national exposure. Steve ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #82 *******************************