Grand Funk Railroad (also known as Grand Funk) is an American rock band. The Grand Funk Railroad lineup was highly popular during the 1970s, selling over 25 million records, selling out arenas worldwide and being awarded four RIAA gold albums in 1970, the most for any American group that year. The current Grand Funk Railroad lineup uses the nickname "The American Band", from their hit song "We're an American Band". A popular take on the band during their heyday was that the critics hated them, but audiences loved them. Contrary to the name, the band is not a real funk band, but rather an attempt to pun the name "Grand Trunk Railroad" as that railroad went through Flint, Michigan. Although some sources[who?] cite the band's "The Loco-Motion" cover song as a funk track, this song did not appear until their ninth album
History
The band was formed in 1968 by Mark Farner (guitars, lead vocals), Don Brewer (drums, lead vocals) from Terry Knight and the Pack, and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) from Question Mark & the Mysterians in Flint, Michigan. Former band-mate Terry Knight soon became their manager and named the band after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. First achieving recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band was signed by Capitol Records, after a raucous, well-received set on the first day of the festival, Grand Funk Railroad were asked back to play two additional days. Patterned after hard rock power trios, such as Cream, Grand Funk Railroad, with Terry Knight's marketing savvy developed their own populist style. In 1970 they sold more albums than any other American band and had become a major concert attraction. The first record in 1969 was On Time, which eventually went gold in 1970, that same year they earned their second gold record award for their second album Grand Funk, (aka the Red Album) and a rare hit single also followed in 1970, "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" from the album Closer to Home, which was stylistically close to the old Terry Knight and the Pack. A year later, in 1971, they broke the attendance record set by The Beatles' at Shea Stadium, selling out in just 72 hours.
Despite critical pans and lack of radio airplay, the group's first six albums (5 original material, one live album), released from 1969 to 1971, were quite successful. In 1970, Knight launched an intensive advertising campaign to promote the album Closer To Home, reportedly paying $100,000 for a huge billboard in New York City's Times Square. That album was certified multi-platinum despite the lack of critical approval. After Closer To Home, Live Album was also released in 1970, Survival and E Pluribus Funk, both released in 1971, followed. E Pluribus Funk celebrated the Shea Stadium show with a die-cut depiction of the stadium on the back of the album cover. In late 1971, the band started having issues with Knight's managerial style, and handling of the band's finances. Early in 1972 Grand Funk Railroad fired Knight; Knight sued for breach of contract, resulting in a protracted legal battle, at one point repossessing the band's gear before a gig at Madison Square Garden. In the MTV "Behind the Music" Grand Funk Railroad episode, Knight states the original contract would have run out in about three months, and that the smart decision for the band would have been to just wait it out.
In 1972 Grand Funk Railroad added a fourth band member, keyboardist Craig Frost. The band had attempted to bring Peter Frampton, late of Humble Pie into the band, but he wasn't available, due to a just-signed solo-record deal, so they asked Craig Frost, whom they knew from their time in The Pack (1968). This brought on a stylistic shift from their original garage-band based rock & roll roots to a more rhythm & blues/pop-rock-oriented style that was not universally accepted by their original fan base. Grand Funk released its sixth album of original music Phoenix in 1972.
The band hired musician Todd Rundgren as a producer to refine their sound. Two successful albums and two #1 hit singles resulted, the Don Brewer penned, "We're an American Band" (from We're An American Band) and "The Loco-Motion" (from Shinin' On, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin for Little Eva). The album We're an American Band garnered praise from the critics and fans, the album topping out at #2 on the charts, while the "We're An American Band" single was Grand Funk's first #1 hit, released in the summer of 1973. "The Loco-Motion" would be Grand Funk's second chart topping single, in 1974.
They switched to Jimmy Ienner as producer in 1975, reverted to "Grand Funk Railroad", and released the album, All the Girls in the World Beware!!! which showed the band's head- shots perched on top of the bodies of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu and spawned the top ten hits "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Bad Time". At this point tensions within the band because of personal issues, burn-out and musical direction mounted. In spite of this, Grand Funk forged on, needing two more albums to complete their record deal with Capitol Records, they embarked on a major tour and decided to record a double-live album, Caught in the Act. The double album should have ended the contract with Capitol, yet, because all the songs included on Caught in the Act were included on previous releases, Capitol requested one more album to complete Grand Funk's contractual obligation. At this time, pressures between the band members still existed, yet hoping to avoid the legalities that they had endured with Terry Knight in 1972, they agreed to move forward and complete one more album for Capitol, Born to Die, and not release information to the public regarding their impending breakup in 1976.
In 1976, they got back together, and had the opportunity to join forces with musician Frank Zappa, which renewed the band's spirits, they decided to continue on, and signed with MCA Records. This was, however, short-lived. Shortly after finishing Good Singin', Good Playin' (1976) overdub sessions, Grand Funk Railroad disbanded in 1977.
Mel Schacher and Bruce Kulick performing at Gulfstream Park in Hallendale, FL in January 2002Farner began a solo career and signed with Atlantic Records, releasing two albums, Mark Farner and No Frills in 1977 and 1978, while Brewer, Schacher and Frost formed the band Flint with the addition of Billy Ellworthy, which released one album on Columbia Records, a second record was finished, yet never released. Grand Funk Railroad reunited in 1980 without Frost and with Dennis Bellinger replacing Schacher on bass, Schacher originally was going to rejoin the band, yet had reservations regarding the management and bowed out at the last minute telling Brewer and Farner he had developed a phobia concerning flying on airplanes. The new line-up released two albums on the Warner Bros. Records label Full Moon, run by Irving Azoff, 1980's Grand Funk Lives, and 1983's What's Funk?. Neither album achieved much success, although a single "Queen Bee", made it to the Heavy Metal (film) soundtrack album and movie. After disbanding a second time in 1983, Farner continued as a solo performer, becoming a Christian recording artist, while Brewer joined former Grand Funk band-mate Frost in Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band.
In 1996, the three original members of Grand Funk Railroad reunited once more, playing to 250,000 people in 14 shows during a three month period. In 1997, the band did three sold out Bosnian benefit concerts with a full symphony orchestra, conducted by Paul Shaffer (from the David Letterman Late Show) and released a live two-disc benefit CD called Bosnia recorded in Auburn Hills, Michigan, featuring Peter Frampton, who joined them on stage. In 1999, after three years of touring, Farner left the band, acrimoniously, to continue his solo career. Farner had originally agreed to reunite for one year, but had stayed on because of the success of the original trio's comeback, yet old issues had re-emerged necessitating his leaving once again. Brewer and Schacher would decide to continue on without Farner, and recruit new members.
In 2000, Brewer and Schacher decided to recruit lead vocalist Max Carl (of 38 Special), former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, and keyboardist Timothy "Tim" Cashion, and continue as Grand Funk Railroad. Touring steadily since then. Mark Farner also tours with his band NRG, and has continued to release recordings under his own name.
External links
Official site
The Railroad Rolls On For Grand Funk
History
The band was formed in 1968 by Mark Farner (guitars, lead vocals), Don Brewer (drums, lead vocals) from Terry Knight and the Pack, and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) from Question Mark & the Mysterians in Flint, Michigan. Former band-mate Terry Knight soon became their manager and named the band after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. First achieving recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band was signed by Capitol Records, after a raucous, well-received set on the first day of the festival, Grand Funk Railroad were asked back to play two additional days. Patterned after hard rock power trios, such as Cream, Grand Funk Railroad, with Terry Knight's marketing savvy developed their own populist style. In 1970 they sold more albums than any other American band and had become a major concert attraction. The first record in 1969 was On Time, which eventually went gold in 1970, that same year they earned their second gold record award for their second album Grand Funk, (aka the Red Album) and a rare hit single also followed in 1970, "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" from the album Closer to Home, which was stylistically close to the old Terry Knight and the Pack. A year later, in 1971, they broke the attendance record set by The Beatles' at Shea Stadium, selling out in just 72 hours.
Despite critical pans and lack of radio airplay, the group's first six albums (5 original material, one live album), released from 1969 to 1971, were quite successful. In 1970, Knight launched an intensive advertising campaign to promote the album Closer To Home, reportedly paying $100,000 for a huge billboard in New York City's Times Square. That album was certified multi-platinum despite the lack of critical approval. After Closer To Home, Live Album was also released in 1970, Survival and E Pluribus Funk, both released in 1971, followed. E Pluribus Funk celebrated the Shea Stadium show with a die-cut depiction of the stadium on the back of the album cover. In late 1971, the band started having issues with Knight's managerial style, and handling of the band's finances. Early in 1972 Grand Funk Railroad fired Knight; Knight sued for breach of contract, resulting in a protracted legal battle, at one point repossessing the band's gear before a gig at Madison Square Garden. In the MTV "Behind the Music" Grand Funk Railroad episode, Knight states the original contract would have run out in about three months, and that the smart decision for the band would have been to just wait it out.
In 1972 Grand Funk Railroad added a fourth band member, keyboardist Craig Frost. The band had attempted to bring Peter Frampton, late of Humble Pie into the band, but he wasn't available, due to a just-signed solo-record deal, so they asked Craig Frost, whom they knew from their time in The Pack (1968). This brought on a stylistic shift from their original garage-band based rock & roll roots to a more rhythm & blues/pop-rock-oriented style that was not universally accepted by their original fan base. Grand Funk released its sixth album of original music Phoenix in 1972.
The band hired musician Todd Rundgren as a producer to refine their sound. Two successful albums and two #1 hit singles resulted, the Don Brewer penned, "We're an American Band" (from We're An American Band) and "The Loco-Motion" (from Shinin' On, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin for Little Eva). The album We're an American Band garnered praise from the critics and fans, the album topping out at #2 on the charts, while the "We're An American Band" single was Grand Funk's first #1 hit, released in the summer of 1973. "The Loco-Motion" would be Grand Funk's second chart topping single, in 1974.
They switched to Jimmy Ienner as producer in 1975, reverted to "Grand Funk Railroad", and released the album, All the Girls in the World Beware!!! which showed the band's head- shots perched on top of the bodies of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu and spawned the top ten hits "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Bad Time". At this point tensions within the band because of personal issues, burn-out and musical direction mounted. In spite of this, Grand Funk forged on, needing two more albums to complete their record deal with Capitol Records, they embarked on a major tour and decided to record a double-live album, Caught in the Act. The double album should have ended the contract with Capitol, yet, because all the songs included on Caught in the Act were included on previous releases, Capitol requested one more album to complete Grand Funk's contractual obligation. At this time, pressures between the band members still existed, yet hoping to avoid the legalities that they had endured with Terry Knight in 1972, they agreed to move forward and complete one more album for Capitol, Born to Die, and not release information to the public regarding their impending breakup in 1976.
In 1976, they got back together, and had the opportunity to join forces with musician Frank Zappa, which renewed the band's spirits, they decided to continue on, and signed with MCA Records. This was, however, short-lived. Shortly after finishing Good Singin', Good Playin' (1976) overdub sessions, Grand Funk Railroad disbanded in 1977.
Mel Schacher and Bruce Kulick performing at Gulfstream Park in Hallendale, FL in January 2002Farner began a solo career and signed with Atlantic Records, releasing two albums, Mark Farner and No Frills in 1977 and 1978, while Brewer, Schacher and Frost formed the band Flint with the addition of Billy Ellworthy, which released one album on Columbia Records, a second record was finished, yet never released. Grand Funk Railroad reunited in 1980 without Frost and with Dennis Bellinger replacing Schacher on bass, Schacher originally was going to rejoin the band, yet had reservations regarding the management and bowed out at the last minute telling Brewer and Farner he had developed a phobia concerning flying on airplanes. The new line-up released two albums on the Warner Bros. Records label Full Moon, run by Irving Azoff, 1980's Grand Funk Lives, and 1983's What's Funk?. Neither album achieved much success, although a single "Queen Bee", made it to the Heavy Metal (film) soundtrack album and movie. After disbanding a second time in 1983, Farner continued as a solo performer, becoming a Christian recording artist, while Brewer joined former Grand Funk band-mate Frost in Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band.
In 1996, the three original members of Grand Funk Railroad reunited once more, playing to 250,000 people in 14 shows during a three month period. In 1997, the band did three sold out Bosnian benefit concerts with a full symphony orchestra, conducted by Paul Shaffer (from the David Letterman Late Show) and released a live two-disc benefit CD called Bosnia recorded in Auburn Hills, Michigan, featuring Peter Frampton, who joined them on stage. In 1999, after three years of touring, Farner left the band, acrimoniously, to continue his solo career. Farner had originally agreed to reunite for one year, but had stayed on because of the success of the original trio's comeback, yet old issues had re-emerged necessitating his leaving once again. Brewer and Schacher would decide to continue on without Farner, and recruit new members.
In 2000, Brewer and Schacher decided to recruit lead vocalist Max Carl (of 38 Special), former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, and keyboardist Timothy "Tim" Cashion, and continue as Grand Funk Railroad. Touring steadily since then. Mark Farner also tours with his band NRG, and has continued to release recordings under his own name.
External links
Official site
The Railroad Rolls On For Grand Funk
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