That's Not True! That Rhythm Section of Don & Mel could of put anyone in the Driver's seat! & They would of made it in the late 60's! Terry Night, is why theres a Grand Funk

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

So tell us, who could have been the driver seat and could have wrote 35 of the 40 songs? "Anyone" is easy to say, but to name other players from that era who could have wrote and performed at that pace is another story. You need to at least give a few examples. You sound very sure of yourself, but to say not true...you need to back that up with some examples. Something else to keep in mind is Terry needed a band to book and promote so he is not why there is a grand funk...Mark, Don and Mel is why there is one. You are putting the cart before the horse there.

@DCToonTime

5 ай бұрын

Anyone? Please, that’s just plain ignorant. Farner as a performer and songwriter put that band on the map.

@DarylBark

5 ай бұрын

@@DCToonTime As well as being one of the greatest Rock vocalists of all time! The oc is not to be taken seriously imo.

@DarylBark

5 ай бұрын

Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion, no matter how unfounded and/or ridiculous.

@RandyFricke

5 ай бұрын

That's not true. If it weren't for Mark Farner, Mel and Don would own competing used car dealerships in Flint, MI right now.

Without "Mark Farner" it is Not "Grand Funk Railroad" PERIOD!!!!! It's Just a "Grand Funk" Cover Band....

@fastted9390

5 ай бұрын

Those 2 are just FUNK.

@ralphgallipeau93

5 ай бұрын

Amen!!

@framptonhendrix530

4 ай бұрын

Correct ✌️🤟💜🙏

@rubengariby6539

3 ай бұрын

Agree

there is no Grand Funk Railroad without Mark Farner, .

I agree with you on that it'll never happen sad Mark Farner deserves a lot better than what they've been giving him

Mark Farner is the reason I play guitar...Grand Funk Live is one of my favorite albums of all time......there is no Grand Funk Railroad without Mark IMHO.....Great doc my friend !!

@rockerz57

5 ай бұрын

Mine Too... Same story!

@toddflowers8052

5 ай бұрын

@@rockerz57 Cool ! !

@josearriola3087

5 ай бұрын

I agree

@axatax57

5 ай бұрын

You are correct Live is there best album.

@stingylizard

4 ай бұрын

I learned air bass,guitar,drums from Live! Then I got a guitar! Mark Farner,the ORIGINAL blonde rock god🇺🇲👍

Spent many a day and night rocking with Grand Funk Railroad. Many fond memories.

100% agree, Mark was and is GFRR!

I loved Grand Funk growing up. We rocked their music at my house throughout the 70's

No FUNK without Farner

Mark was coming to my Minister friend`s house to play guitars and study the bible. My friend Ben, an incredibly talented singer/guitarist, baptized me in a freezing pond on the property in February 1996. I recorded with him some and helped write some songs for his album and radio ministry. I was a huge fan of Grand Funk Railroad but never approached Mark because I wasn`t sure if he had shed himself of the past and wanted nothing to do with it. What`s very odd to me is that Ben`s wife died by being hit by a train too after they moved to this property in NE Texas. She was going to the post office. She died wearing a red dress and all of us saw her on the property from time to time. I saw her sitting on the upstairs balcony in a chair the first time I visited. I never saw her afterwards and asked someone about the woman. They said, "Was she wearing a red dress, long dark hair and pretty? Oh, that`s Ben`s wife who died. She still hangs out here. Everybody sees her." Very strange.

Thanks RD, I totally agree . No Mark, No grandfunk RR. The very first rock N roll albums I ever heard. Nice video, Boe

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Thank you Boe. Appreciate it!

They released 4 great albums in the span of 16 months. Incredible.

Farner certainly needs to sue them and prevent them from playing music that HE wrote. Time to play hardball

@fastted9390

5 ай бұрын

EXACTLY.

@corybarnes2341

5 ай бұрын

There really isn't any way to do that. He would be better off putting his own thing together and touring it as the "authentic voice and principal songwriter of Grand Funk".

Big fat spliff and I'm Your Captain were almost an everyday pleasure for quite a while. Good times! Thank you Mark. And Doc!

Grand Funk had a great run in the early 70's on their first 5 albums ending with E Pluribus Funk, one of the greatest albums of the 70's. Then the band went to Nashville to record their Phoenix album. The sound was totally different and according to Farner, that was not his choice. After a few more albums they recorded their last album for Capitol, the excellent Born to Die. The band was ready to break up but Frank Zappa brought them together for the Good Singing' Good Playin' album which is a very good album. They broke up before the album is even released. After a few years, Mark and Don reunite for a couple of pretty good albums on Elektra. End of story until the Live Bosnia album from the 90's reunion tour. Even if Mark, Don and Mel reunited now, the excitement wouldn't be the same. Too much time has past. They had their day.

That is so True, without Mark Farner, there's no Real Grandfunk Railroad.

@felymeador6455

4 ай бұрын

And that's a Fact.....

Grand Funk beat the attendance record at Shea Stadium in NYC. They beat the attendance record set by the Beatles.

@fastted9390

5 ай бұрын

Because they were an American Band ! ! !

@carlomiller1984

5 ай бұрын

@@fastted9390 "We're comin' to your town, we'll help you party down."

Mark is grand funk!!

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Without Mark there never would have been a Grand Funk.

Thank you RD for this update. The energy that is GFR includes Mark, Mel and Don. You would think that wisdom would come with age. Mel and Don, Mark was a driving force. The three of you created the energy and magic of GRAND FUNK. Is it enough to just be alive or are you ready to thrive. Time brought you all together back then, put past differences behind you and let time bring you together again in 2024. 💫

@RiverDocs

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome. Thank you for watching.

Back in the day they were wuit the bamd. Had all there albums and the garage high band I was in played several of the songs. Mark was truly underrated. Loved them. Thanks Doc

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

You'tr welcome!

Yea Dock , always love GFR . In 72 , my 3 piece band performed Heart Breaker in the auditorium at my high school during a football rally in Lansing Mi. Mark had his pickups scotch taped into his guitar that screamed too . Later I worked as security in Flint Mi. when they closed Grend Trunk Railroad . TNUC kicked some serious jam

What a shame! Grand Funk was one of my favorite bands of the early 70s, I learned some of their songs when I got my first electric guitar. They would almost certainly make a killing with a reunion show, too bad they can't get their stuff together!

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Yea this bummed me out. I was always hoping but I guess it's not to be!

It’s Sad! The Fans Want A Reunion! Mark Is The Best! He Belongs Back In The Band!

Nice presentation River Docs. Yes the music entertainment business has been on shaky ground since it became mainstream across our world . From the beginnings of Dixieland / Jazz on to today . You tread very carefully and Grand Funk Railroad one of its trapped casualties . Music was suppose to be a healer of aliments and has provided a sound track for many of us. But the deep wounds and scares between artist and the business proves somethings you and I can not fix as fans .

Without Mark Farner...I Don't care about the group.💯

mark was the spark of the songs that made them such a hit at the first rock festivals they played. cover tunes like "the locomotion" were not needed - then, or later either, imo!

This is the mystery of our lives; can’t understand what has happened. Mark seems to be such a beautiful human being that seems to have been handed the short end of the stick.

Don & Mel were an outrageous rhythm section, but without Mark Farner that's all they would have been. Mark got screwed by those guys in a bad bad way.

Was in an eighth grade band that was once criticized by our main rivals for playing too many Grand Funk songs. The red album was the first record I ever bought. I wondered how Farner could play two guitar parts at once. Didn't know about overdubbing yet.

First time that i saw Grand Funk was at the 2nd annul Atlanta Pop on the 4th of July in 1970. They played for a 250 thousand people for free!

No Farner, No Funk

No Mark Farner? No GFR. Period. I was lucky enough to see the real GFR twice. GFR was actually the first concert i ever saw.

I absolutely agree 100%

There one of the few bands from that error that still has all original members

i like mark i wish mark well. lately few bands not using popular lineups.

It is all on Don Brewer why HE won't get back with Mark Farner for at least one reunion tour.

Mark is the voice behind all but ONE of the hits. The reason they most likely don’t want Mark with them is Mark isn’t a fan of the government and says so. So like everything else nowadays they don’t want him because they don’t have the same beliefs.

If only Sweet-sweet-Connie could talk with the guys ,Maybe ? Good one Doc, Thanks for sharing. and more cowbell?

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Dennis. Appreciate it. Connie could straighten em out ;-)

@Esotereclectic

5 ай бұрын

@@RiverDocsShe passed away in August of 2021.

Hello 👋. Great sharing ❤

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Thank you.

The sobering fact is that generation of rockers born between 1940 and 1960, we're losing almost by the day! Mark, Don and Mel are all still alive, well, and able to perform. They all need to look themselves in the mirror and realise they can still go. We need living legends like them to continue to carry the torch for rock's second generation, as long as there is breath left in their bodies and they need to put their differences aside and do it for the fans!

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Totally agree!

Detroit is the breeding ground for the greatest rock and roll ever produced. Legendary musicians came from Detroit. Must be in the water!

If it weren't for Mark Farner, Mel and Don would own competing used car dealerships in Flint, MI.

Mark Chatfield is a former Godz guitarist,this is going to be interesting!

@brianmccarthy8595

5 ай бұрын

Don Brewer produced the debut Godz album.

well done you 👍🏼

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Thank you 👍

They have been on cruise ships in the last few years. One great band.

Mark Farner was the Randy rhoads of classic rock nobody good saying play the guitar and the harmonica like him

Yes sir I agree!

I read where don had mark sign this paper [mark wasn't savvy about its nature] just thought it was some simple legal document and didn't think any more about it. come to find out he had just signed over the band's name, royalties and control to don. when asked what he did about it he said there was nothing he could do with it and being a good Christhian did the best to get on with his life after starting, writing and fronting one of the greatest AMERICAN BANDS in history. thanks, a pant load donny boy.

One reason why is because Don and Mel can't relate to Mark being a born again Christian. They have said this. The other is because Don wanted more money so he tricked Mark into signing his rights away from their "corporation ". Mel went along with this. Looks like they learned something from Terry Knight huh? These guys in Grand Funk..they are original members in their own tribute band. No Farner. No Funk

@jockaud

5 ай бұрын

That's what I have always thought - Don couldn't take Mark's born-again Christianity. He didn't want any interruptions in the original GFR yet in 1976 Don, Mel and Craig went their ways in the band Flint. To me the most disappointment is to the fans having lost the potential of Mark writing dozens of great songs since 1976 if they had stayed together.

@DCToonTime

5 ай бұрын

I don’t know if that is completely true. Listen to the song “I Can Feel Him In The Morning” from the album “Survivor “, written and sung by Don Brewer. It clearly is about God and his relationship with Him. Grand Funk never shied away from spirituality. Only the three of them know the true story and all we get are bits and pieces of what went down. I tend to believe Mark. But I can say with absolute conviction that it’s not Grand Funk without Mark. I have seen the band with and without him and the “tribute band” pales in comparison. Want further proof that Mark was the man? Listen to Farner’s first solo album and listen to Don and Mel’s first post GFR release, “Flint”. Mark’s solo album blows Flint away!

@jockaud

5 ай бұрын

@@DCToonTime Yes, we don't have direct sayings from Don & Mel that they don't like Christianity so they're splitting with Mark. There was some conflict happening in 1976 that broke them apart and Don, Mel & Craig split and do Flint album. It seems to have started with Don. Blaming it on disco seems weak. Other bands stayed together (Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and many others).

@DCToonTime

5 ай бұрын

@@jockaud Yep, many rock groups and rock artists dipped their toes into disco ... The Stones, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Kiss, etc. And GFR always played R&B/Soul inspired Rock. I don't think any of them felt a strong need to do disco, although I don't know that as a fact. Yes, something fractured in 1976. What a shame. A real shame that they are almost completely forgotten for the dynamic and incredibly popular band they were in the 70's. If you are interested, I am doing a series on the KZread channel, Grant's Rock Warehaus, about Grand Funk. Tonight we are discussing the album, "Born To Die".

@jockaud

5 ай бұрын

@@DCToonTime Yes, I have been following your GF album critiques. Thank you!

Mark got the shaft period! First from Terry and again by his own bros. Can't trust nobody except Jesus! Sad world of jokers.

Mark and I are EXACTLY the same age. Saw "Funk" live at the old Chicago Amphitheatre ( '71 ? ) Mark was and IS the whole damn show. Period - class dismissed.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Can't say I disagree with ya on that. Thanks for watching!

Grand Funk is now just a tribute act with out Mark Farner

Mark Farner is and will always be GRAND FUNK RAILROAD!!!! NO MARK FARNER NO G.F.R.

Farner was the driving force period behind the sound of grand funk railroad end of story and the most criminal deal is no rock and roll hall of fame induction they are too busy inducing rap music at the rap hall of fame lol 😂 ---- Anthony

Yes, Mark deserved a bigger cut for writing the songs just as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards get a bigger cut for writing the songs for the Stones. Basically Mel and Don rode away on stolen songs. Mark was Grand Funk, he had the songs, the looks and the charisma. After he was out I didn't give the band a second glance.

Don Brewer is a legend in his own mind. All the knowledgeable fans don’t follow his tribute band and go see Mark Farner live.

So sad…. I always wondered if it were true that GFR had to keep a roadie with oven mits and a fresh supply of vacuum tubes to replace blown and overdriven tubes while playing live:

No Mark Farner means no Grand Funk Railroad.

I grew up listening to Grand Funk Railroad my whole life I love the music one of the most underrated heavy metal hard rock bands of the 70s but there's a message I want to send out to their drummer get your head out of your butt put mark back in front and I bet you you must be selling out making more money than what you did when you had Bruce playing for you but I bet you anything you put Mark back in the band you'll be selling out like you wouldn't believe it but I'm sorry to say this your version of Grand Funk Railroad it's sucks without Mark Farner there is no Grand Funk Railroad

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

They weren't heavy metal

People always forget Farner is the one who left after the 1998 tour. Don and Mel did not kick him out. Farner left. He wanted to go back to his solo career. Don and Mel kicked him out of the GFR corporation after the fact. They wanted to go on. So Mark is not totally blameless in this situation. He wants back in now but there are too many egos in the way to let that happen. Too bad because they were such a great band.

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

And then to gleefully trick him into signing something is evil

Mark Farner IS Grand Funk. Don and Mel play in a second rate cover band that requires two guitarist to make a half-assed attempt to cover fill the shoes of Mark Farner.

not just don.t count mark farner on a grand funk reunion don.t even count on them being in the rock and roll hall of fame very soon

I'd pay good money to Mark Farner again but not a plug nickle for Grand Funk. I've seen videos of both in recent shows. Farner and his entourage are putting out a better production. I'll refrain from what I would really like to say about the other two.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

I hear ya Tusk...Same here.

Doc, what brands of guitar did Mark play?

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Early years he played that green Musicraft Messenger. He had a white SG I think he gave it to Steve Marriott. I saw him later on playing one of them Parker guitars.

@MBRMrblueroads

5 ай бұрын

@@RiverDocs 👍👍

@robnamowicz8073

5 ай бұрын

Mark has been playing Parkers quite a while now. The green Messenger was a real piece of work, bought from a really strange music store in Flint, before success. The tape was over the F holes, the guitar is hollow and used to feed back like mad! He also used Microfrets guitars, Gibson gave him an L5S, a nice red sunburst, but those things weigh a ton. Dick Wagner got one, Bob Seger too. They were a big dollar item back then,, Yes, an SG and the Valenos, too. Dave West built the amps in the beginning, at the shop in Downtown Flint after the early Davison road shop. Melvin would show up there and test, buy amps. We used to cart equipment to the Union Hall for them to use at practice. The boys played so loud Tamborino, the head of the Musician's Union was going nuts. We would step out back on breaks for libations, from Terry bossing the rehearsal, 'Do it again,,,' At early shows, Terry would make roadies change tubes after every show, KT-88s were like bubble gum then. Ah, 'those were the days.' Hahahaha! Whatever happens, they have their reasons,,,,,lots of talent for sure. Always remember the first album review in Rolling Stone. The author wrote at the end, 'Drumming guaranteed to drive you up a wall." I told Donnie, 'isn't that what we're supposed to do?' Hahaha! Thanks for your vids!

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

​@@robnamowicz8073and u are what to the band?

Yes the business of music entertainment is vicious . It is dog eat dog .

It isn't Grand Funk without Mark Farner! I was not aware of the fact that they are still performing using the name, and not with Mark. That totally SUCKS!!! I grew up with Grand Funk, and I will never go see them! I don't care what problems they've had it's never that bad. As a musician myself I know how a lot of us have really fucked up EGOS!! What a waste! PEACE ✌️

Mark Farner was Grand Funk Railroad, then his backup band got him drunk and made him sign over his rights to them.!?!? I hope he will never get together with those snakes that stabbed him in the back. 😢😮😢😮😢😮

You've got it all wrong… Don and Mel are in "Grand FAKE Railroad".

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

I heard Mark call it "Grand Fraud Railroad" lol

They are nothing with out him. They took Marks pay and split it between them and pay new back up players very little. Why else it the guitar player retiring. It is all about greed. No love at all for the music. They suck without him. 10-4

The obvious answer is not "Now"..

I would never go see Grand Funk without Mark Farner. they did him wrong and Mark should not go back unless he gets paid back and gets a big old we're sorry.🤔

Mark was GFR

Mel and Don will never play with Grand Funk Railroad again. Mark Farner is Grand Funk Railroad. Without Mark they are Grand Fake Railroad.

Does the quarterback Tom Brady make more then his team members?

Bruce who?.

Another tribute band

The drummer's ego. He can't stand that Grand Funk is Mark Farner....😅

There’s no GF without Farner. No Steppenwolf without Kay, no BTO without Bachman, no Silver Bullet Band without Seger, no Lynyrd Skynyrd without Ronnie, no Black Oak Arkansas without Jim Dandy, no Humble Pie without Marriot, no Who without Daltry, no Alice Cooper without… some vocalists CAN NOT BE REPLACED.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

I'm with you 100%!! Another off the top of my head was John Fogerty of CCR

the more successful people get the ego steps up and this is what happens. people get stupid Just a sad fact of life

I’ve had absolutely no interest in GFR since Farner left. Just isn’t the same without him. Don and Mel have essentially screwed themselves because they have never (since Mark left) enjoyed the same level of success or credibility with their own version. I would much rather listen to GFR songs via Mark Farner than what they now call GFR. Too bad Don and Mel can’t bury the hatchet and work with Mark again.

Looks like Mark shot himself in the foot. Whoops

Don Brewer is an evil guy.

Never mind that Don tricked Mark into signing away his rights on the trademark name. That was low.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Don didn't trick him. Mark even admits that.

@stevelee2471

5 ай бұрын

@@RiverDocs I disagree. Mark said Don came as a friend but hid his true motive to oust Mark from the trademark. Mark should have thought before signing for sure but he trusted Don at the time.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Sorry . But there was no trick to it. Remember these papers were signed in 1998. Mark was asked to go out with the band in 2000. But when he wanted a 50% cut Don and Mel then decided to go on without him. Mark wrote this in his book. These are his words, not mine. There was no motive to oust Mark in 1998 when the papers were signed as you are insinuating. Mark left and started playing solo again in 98-99. You can read all of this in Mark's book. He was ousted in 2000. I'm a big fan of Mark. And I wish they would get back together. But these rumors about Don's underhanded motive at that time is just not true. Yes it gave all three of them a vote as to how the band should be run. And they voted not to give Mark a 50% cut of the money. When he balked Don and Mel voted to move on without him. You can read all of this in in Mark's book "From Grand Funk to Grace." The business end of music sucks especially for Mark and especially for the fans of Grand Funk. But that is the way it goes.

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

​@@RiverDocsDoc, that's what I asked u to explain in my other comment. Wish u would of said all that in the vid. So if Mark would of said, Ok, I'll go on with just a third of the $ do u think Mel and Don would of not voted him out?

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

@jellycream1964 I have no clue what Don and Mel would have done 24 years ago. But I can't see why they would have asked him to go out and tour again if they didn't really want him. I tried to explain better in your other post. The reason I didn't bring this up or talk about it in this video is simple. It would taken away from the reason I made the video in the first place. This video was for Mark. I think he got a raw deal. And in turn the fans of Grand Funk got a raw deal. But there was nothing sneaky or tricky about it. It was just business..and no matter how you slice it...it really hurt the fans because we will never get to see the original Grand Funk on stage again because of it.

I guess Don and Mel are happy sounding like a halfasses tribute band....

Sir, you say that you can't blame Mel and Don for not talking about the situation. Why would u say that? Why shouldn't they? Also how were they able to just throw Mark out of the group? You didn't mention how supposedly they tricked Mark into signing something. What was that?

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

Why I said that is because people in general do not understand business. To them this is a group of friends who made some money...nobody understands and it just causes people to spout off about things they do not understand. Where do you come up with "trick" Mark into signing. At least you used the words supposedly. And that is good. Now the reason I did not mention that is, " Because is isn't true". Now you want to know how I know this...Because I read Mark Farner's book and in his own words he says there was nothing tricky about it. He freely signed the paper to make the band a corporation. Mark signed those papers in 1998, then went off and did solo work. When Don and Mel wanted to go back out and tour as Grand Funk in 2000 Mark told them he wanted a 50% cut of the profits. Don and Mel disagreed with him. Mark would not relent so Don and Mel got other musicians and took the name and went out and started working again. Yes it left Mark out in the cold and I hate that..but it is business. Read Mark Farner's book "From Grand Funk to Grace" he explains it better than I can to you.

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

@@RiverDocs perfect explanation! Thanks

@jellycream1964

5 ай бұрын

@@RiverDocs but Don and Mel SHOULD of agreed to Marks request because they would of made more $ in the long run. Bigger venues and could of toured and sold out places more often.

@RiverDocs

5 ай бұрын

@jellycream1964 I think now they could make some really good money. But back then they were nothing but a band who was once great and going out to make money playing their old hits. There would have been no more new songs or albums that would have done anything in that market...that's just the way the music business is. I just think it's a shame that the business got in the way of them getting back together one more time.

No doubt , Don and Mel were a great Rhythm section but the tunes that put them over were written and sung by Farner .. GFR IS NOT GFR WITHOUT FARNER .. IT' HIS LEGACY !! And still no respect from that sad joke , the R&R HALL OF SHAME .. They should have been inducted years ago !!

I’m not wasting my time with a “tribute” band that doesn’t include the cat who wrote almost all their music. Just stupid. I’ll either look for solo Mark or call it a day & listen to their legacy via their recordings. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Only so much precious time left fellas. Unfortunate.

Grand Funk makes a great cover band for the last 25 years or so. Sad. Band SUCKS!!!

Don & Mel suck

Farner was not that great a guitarist so i don't know what that's about but then again the band was more just party band nothing else! With lots of bar chords.

@RiverDocs

3 күн бұрын

To be honest with you, I'll tell you what that's about. It's called the music business. The fan who listen do not care if you are the greatest, fastest or best guitarist. They just want to rock out to your songs. You call them a party band and they were, a party band who knew how to make multi-platinum selling albums and sell out stadiums. Many musicians who can play as good as or even better than Farner end up playing bars or in basements all their life because they don't understand this. It's not how good you are but how you can reach your audience. Thanks for your comment and watching the video.

Mark Farner yous to say he had the longest hair in rock an roll! Those were the good old days!

It's so cool to hear about someone you never heard of.