Footstompin’ Music: Grand Funk Railroad

Looking for some footstompin’ music to get you moving? Then you need to check out Grand Funk Railroad! This band has been delivering quality tunes for over 50 years, and they show no signs of slowing down. So crank up the volume and get ready to rock out!

Introduction

Grand Funk Railroad, often shortened as Grand Funk, is an American rock band popular during the 1970s, with hits such as “We’re an American Band” and “Locomotion.” The band was formed on September 5, 1968, in Flint, Michigan by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar) and Don Brewer (drums), with Mel Schacher (bass) joining soon afterward. The group originally included rhythm guitarist Craig Frost, but he was replaced by Farner’s cousin Randy Joe Zehringer or “La Body” in early 1970. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to sold-out arenas worldwide. Upon their return to Flint in 1971 for a show at IMA Auditorium two days before Thanksgiving, the band became frustrated over their inability to break through to major success and fired manager Terry Knight.

History

Grand Funk Railroad, often shortened as Grand Funk, is an American rock band popular during the 1970s. The band was formed on September 5, 1968, in Flint, Michigan, United States. The band’s name comes from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a regional railroad line running through Flint. Grand Funk Railroad toured heavily throughout the 1970s, becoming one of the most popular American bands of the era. The band’s style was a mixture of hard rock and blues rock.

Early years

The original lineup of Grand Funk Railroad, from 1969 to 1976, was Mark Farner (vocals, guitar), Mel Schacher (bass), Don Brewer (drums, vocals), and Craig Frost (keyboards). The band’s first album, On Time, was released in August 1969. It was produced by Terry Knight who was also their manager until 1972. The album was certified gold in the United States commemorating sales of 500,000 copies. Although the band did not have a hit single on the record chart during their initial career as a recording act between 1969 and 1971, they reached an international audience via extensive touring.

In 1971 they were scheduled to play 125 live dates but ended up playing over 200 between February and November. Among widespread recognition for their massive tour grosses and consistent radio airplay of album tracks such as “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home”, the band’s profile was raised further when they played to a crowd of 600,000 at Atlanta International Pop Festival in July 1970. Also in 1970, Grand Funk first appeared on television on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand performing the song “Are You Ready”.

Mainstream success

The band released its first album, On Time, in August 1969. The album was a success, peaking at number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. The next album, Grand Funk (also known as the Red Album), was released in March 1970 and was another commercial success, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 chart and selling more 150,000 copies in just a month after its release. The popularity of the band’s live performances began to grow as well; they were invited to play at the Atlanta Pop Festival in July 1970, where they performed for a crowd of over 300,000 people.

Later years

Grand Funk Railroad disbanded in 1976, but reunited briefly in 1981 for a handful of live shows. In 1996, the band was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. In 2000, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band continues to tour to this day, with original members Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, along with newer members Bruce Kulick, Max Carl and Todd Sherrill.

Music

There’s something about good ole rock n’ roll music that just makes you want to stomp your feet and dance. And that’s exactly what you’ll do when you listen to Grand Funk Railroad. This band knows how to get your blood pumping with their high-energy songs.

Influences

Three young men from Flint, Michigan – Mark Farner (guitar, vocals), Don Brewer (drums, vocals) and Mel Schacher (bass) – came together in 1968 to form Grand Funk Railroad. The band became an overnight success following their performance at the Atlanta Pop festival in 1969, where they drew a record-breaking audience of over 200,000 people.

In the early 1970s, GFR was the biggest American band in the world, selling out arenas and stadiums across the country. They were known for their high-energy live shows and hits like “We’re an American Band” and “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home.” The band broke up in 1976 but reunited in 2001 and continues to tour to this day.

GFR’s music was heavily influenced by blues and R&B artists like James Brown, Otis Redding and Gladys Knight. Their sound also incorporated elements of hard rock and psychedelic rock.

Musical style

Grand Funk Railroad’s musical style was characterized by a heavy, hard-driving sound which drew equally from blues rock, garage rock, and psychedelic rock. They were “unapologetically raw, high-octane rock and roll” which “came across as both fresh and familiar, heated yet controlled.” Rolling Stone magazine said of the band, “If two ounce joints weresmoked during the Woodstock festival, then Grand Funk was responsible for the whole twelve-string boggie.” In October 1971, critic Dave Marsh said of their music: “This is just what happens when white trash learns to play”.

Legacy

Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular in the 1970s. The band’s style was a mixture of hard rock, blues rock, and soul. They were one of the best-selling bands of all time, selling over 25 million records. Despite their success, the band was often criticized by music critics.

The band’s original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Farner, bassist Mel Schacher, and drummer Don Brewer. The band’s first album, On Time, was released in August 1969. It was followed by a string of successful albums, including Grand Funk (1969), Survival (1971), E Pluribus Funk (1971), We’re an American Band (1973), Loco-Motion (1974), Shinin’ On (1974), and All the Girls in the World Beware!!! Grand Funk Railroad Is Coming to Your Town! (1976).

The band went through several lineup changes over the years, with Schacher being the only constant member. Farner left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career; he was replaced by guitarist Craig Frost. The band’s popularity declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s; they disbanded in 1983.

In 1996, Farner and Schacher reunited with Brewer and keyboardist Tim Cashion to reforming Grand Funk Railroad. The band has continued to tour and release albums sporadically since then. In 2019, they were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

Band members

Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. The band was formed in Flint, Michigan in 1968, and it consisted of Mark Farner, Mel Schacher, and Don Brewer. The band’s first album, On Time, was released in 1969 and was a commercial success.

Current members

As of 2018, the current members of Grand Funk Railroad are:
-Mark Farner: guitar, vocals
-Don Brewer: drums, vocals
-Mel Schacher: bass

Former members

Mel Schacher – bass guitar (1969–1975, 1981–1983)
Don Brewer – drums, vocals (1969–1971, 1981–1983)
Craig Frost – keyboards (1972–1975, 1981–1983)
Dennis Bellinger – bass guitar (1983)
Terry Knight – lead vocals (1969–1972)

Discography

Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular in the 1970s. The band’s recordings were produced by Frank Zappa and they released their debut album in 1969. The band has released a total of 13 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 8 compilations.

Studio albums

Studio albums
On Time (August 1969)
Grand Funk (December 1969)
Closer to Home (July 1970)
Live Album (November 1970)
Survival (May 1971)
E Pluribus Funk (November 1971)
We’re an American Band (July 1973)
All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (December 1974)
Good Singin’, Good Playin’ (July 1976)
Born to Die (October 1976)

Live albums

Grand Funk Railroad’s first live album, nobly titled Grand Funk, was recorded during several stops on their 1970 U.S. tour and released that November. It included their massive hit cover of “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home.” The double album captured the band’s frenzied onstage energy — something that their studio albums couldn’t always convey — and became their best-selling release, eventually going platinum.

Compilation albums

Since their disbanding in 1976, numerous Grand Funk Railroad compilation albums have been released. Two of their live albums – Live Album (1970) and Caught in the Act (1975) were released as double live albums, meaning each album contained two LP records. The double live album format was not used again by the band until 2009 with the release of Greatest Hits Live: 30th Anniversary Edition. In 1981, Capitol released Grand Funk Lives, which was a moderate success reaching #60 on the Billboard 200 album chart and included their last top 40 single “Queen Bee”. The band left Capitol Records in 1988 and for the next few years were with Full Moon/Epic Records. In 1991, they released a greatest hits album entitled Capitol Collectors Series: Grand Funk Railroad which included two newly recorded songs, “We’re an American Band ’91” and “The Loco-Motion ’91”. These new recordings became the band’s last charting singles as they reached #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart respectively.

Singles

“I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” / “I Can Feel Him in the Morning” (July 1970), Capitol
“Footstompin’ Music” / “Mean Mistreater” (December 1970), Capitol
“Paranoid” / “Tired of Waiting for You – (live)” (April 1971), Capitol
“Inside Looking Out – (live)” / “Sin’s a Good Man’s Brother – (live)” (July 1971), Capitol
(re-released in 1977)
“We’re an American Band” / “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home) – (live)” (July 1973), Capitol
“(We’re Gonna) Rock and Roll Tonight” / “Gimme Shelter – (live)”(December 1973), Capitol
“(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone / I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home) –
(live)(March 1974), Capitol