With 13 gold and 10 platinum records, the band brings classic rock to life by selling out shows in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America.įor more information on Grand Funk Railroad, visit MUST BE 21 OR OVER TO ATTEND. Grand Funk Railroad continues to tour throughout the world. ![]() Keyboardist Tim Cushion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami and has worked with Bob Seger and English soul man Robert Palmer. The band consists of original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums) and bassist Mel Schacher known as “The God of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel is singer Max Carl, a rock veteran from 38 Special, and lead guitarist Bruce Kulick who’s best known for his 12 years with KISS and also has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. Megahits “We’re An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Locomotion” and “Some Kind of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on classic rock radio across the U.S. Hailing from Flint, Michigan, the band has charted 19 singles, 8 top 40 hits and two No. Grand Funk Railroad laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies. It was like the Wild West.Grand Funk Railroad parties down in Tulsa Jan. We were one of the very first arena bands.” Arenas then were “dirt floors, bleachers - no one knew how to do it. “I hate to use the term, but we were the new kids on the block. “It was certainly exciting,” Brewer said of the early, heady days. Some publications such as London's Melody maker were less than impressed.īut to hear Brewer, 61, talk about it now, it all seems like water under the bridge. He kept the actual band members away from the press, doing all the talking himself. Knight boasted about how your ears would bleed at a Grand Funk Railroad concert. As a live act, the band quickly drew huge crowds selling out places like New York's Shea Stadium. In 1969, Knight got the band into the Atlanta Pop Festival, and its loud, pile-driving rock caused something of a sensation. It's amazing.”īrewer, Schacher and vocalist and guitarist Mark Farner formed the band out of Flint, Mich., in 1968 under the watchful eye of their manager, Terry Knight. ![]() “It's fun to get out there to sing the words of the songs, and you see kids - they know the words to the songs. The band comes to Indian Ranch Saturday, which has become a regular stopping station along the touring train tracks. In its current inception, Grand Funk Railroad - with original members Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass) complemented by accomplished additions Max Carl (vocals), Bruce Kulick (guitar) and Tim Cashion (keyboards) - has been chugging along since 2000. But then, lo and behold, the band got back on track again. Ultimately the train, so to speak, would go off the rails. But the band had hits, most notably “We're An American Band,” which placed No. Some critics got steamed up (and yes, got into a funk) about Grand Funk Railroad's success. Grand Funk Railroad Official Web Site 2023 Tour Merchandise available now at the GFR Store Stay tuned here to GRANDFUNKRAILROAD.COM for the latest news and Out On The Road pictures and tour reports. Their manager hyped the band up in a way that has seldom been seen before or since. Their sound was once described as “sledge-hammer,” but they were selling out arenas even before people knew that there could be such a thing as arena rock. ![]() Grand Funk Railroad made quite a bit of noise for itself as it steamed ahead as a supergroup in the early 1970s.
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