Back in 1969, a trio of scraggly, scrappy but talented young fellas from the hardscrabble industrial city of Flint, Michigan came together to form what they hoped with be a new musical group that could perhaps make a dent on the scene, giving them a chance to make a record or two and live their rock and roll fantasies for a few years. From these humble beginnings, a venerable ‘American Band’ was formed, and continues to make more than a dent in the hearts and minds of classic rock fans throughout North America.
In a day and age when the average life expectancy of rock bands was perhaps four or five years tops, the legacy of this musical triumvirate would amazingly still be delighting audiences around the world and still be populating the airwaves five decades on. After starting with one name that seemed to gain little traction, the group decided to call themselves Grand Funk Railroad – a play on the famous former railroad, the Grand Trunk which trundled throughout the northeastern United States rust belt, as well as much of southern Ontario, Canada. Five decades on, the name has as much resonance and brings as much delight to thousands of music lovers as it ever has.
Although there were two extended break-ups, first in 1976 and again in 1983, the songs written, recorded and performed by Grand Funk never left the airwaves, and popular acclaim brought that core trio of drummer/vocalist Don Brewer, bassist Mel Schacher and vocalist/guitarist Mark Farner back together to great popular acclaim. The legacy continued when Brewer and Schacher brought the band back again after a short break in 2000, without Farner, but with the addition of an all-star trio of musicians, to continue the band’s journey – one which has gone on unabated for 19 years hitting the highly significant 50-year mark this year.
“Actually, we were like the average band back then because we actually broke up in 1976 and it was a struggle to even get that far. But then we reformed in 1981 and reformed again in 1996. So, no, I never dreamed of this – of 50 years of Funk, but here we are. When you’re a kid, and I was 19 years old when we started this, I was looking forward maybe two or three years on. At the time, all you want is a hit. You’re saying, ‘somebody please look at us, please take notice of us.’ We just wanted that one hit records. And at 19, you looked at someone who is 40 and think ‘I don’t want to live to be 40, that’s so old, man.’ So, you decide to give it everything you’ve got because there are no guarantees,” said Brewer, who wrote or co-wrote and song on some of the band’s biggest hits, including We’re An American Band, Walk Like A Man and Shinin’ On.
“I never dreamed I would still be doing this in 2019, and it’s still a joy. I am now 70 an I still love to play. I still love to get on stage and make a fool of myself. That’s pretty amazing.”
Brewer said Grand Funk Railroad has been busier and in more demand over the past couple of years as they have been since reforming with the new lineup in 2000, although they usually cap out at 45 or so show performances a year, by choice. Part of the reason is that more and more younger fans are coming to their shows and either discovering the band’s music for the first time or rediscovering it through placement in television shows and movies, or regular airplay on classic rock terrestrial radio stations, and speciality satellite radio channels.
“I think there is a certain curiosity about us amongst younger fans, just like there was a curiosity for us when we were growing up and we wanted to see all the old Blues and R&B guys. People have maybe heard about us selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles and things like that. And the music is still around, and so they may be curious and when they see we’re playing a show nearby, they come on out. A lot if people, especially younger people, are surprised when they see our show and how many of the songs they actually know. They may know the name right off the bat, but then they get to the venue and we do Locomotion, or Shinin’ On, Walk Like A Man, Some Kind of Wonderful, I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home and American Band, they go, ‘whoa, I know all those songs.’
“I think we put on a great show too. Over the past 19 years we have been playing with the same band and we have done I can’t tell you how many repeat performances every year at places around the country. We have built up a great reputation where the talent buyers want us and the audiences love the show, so they come back home and tell people.”
The Grand Funk Railroad lineup, which Brewer terms a kind of supergroup, adds to the lustre and allure of the band because of the diverse background of the three newest members. Tim Cashion is a long-time member of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band and Robert Palmer’s band; Max Carl spent many years singing with southern rockers 38 Special, while Bruce Kulick spent 12 years as a member of legendary rockers Kiss, contributing to some of their biggest hit songs and albums of the mid 1980s through to the mid 1990s.
“it’s amazing how many people are surprised when they read the bio about who is in this band now. It really is kind of a supergroup. With Max and Tim and Bruce, it really does have that vibe to it, and I think that adds to the curiosity and interest and keeps bringing in new people to our shows. And with such great musicians, we deliver. I think the longevity and popularity is because of the music, the delivery and all of the things we have talked about,” Brewer said.
“And to be honest with you, we have concentrated on that over the past 19 years to be sure that’s what we’re going the audiences – we are focussing on giving them what they want, and more. We are not out there doing 60 minutes of all new stuff that nobody has ever heard before and then a few hits at the end, which I have seen countless artists do, and which I think is totally disrespectful to the audience. We just don’t do that.”
Grand Funk Railroad is joining a number of their contemporary acts for the annual Time-Life 1970s Rock & Romance Cruise, which runs March 25 through March 30, starting and finishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Coco Cay, Bahamas. Other acts on the sojourn include Foreigner, War, Orleans, Little River Band, Gino Vanelli, Exile and more. Brewer said Grand Funk is performing on the first coupe of days on the cruise, before leaving the ship when it docks in Cozumel.
“I think these cruises are a great way for people to connect with their past. This is all about nostalgia and this is one of the only places they can get the music any more. These is no new music that is really turning anybody on, especially in our age group. But that music is still with us. A lot of these bands are really still very good. It’s great entertainment, it’s great music, so why not do these cruises. I think because of the quality of the acts, its stepped up these cruise shows to a whole other level,” said Brewer.
“It’s also the same with casinos. A lot of casinos, like the ones you have up in Canada like Fallsview and Casino Rama, have built basically mini-arenas where they have full-sized stages and lighting and great sound. So, you’re getting a full on concert experience in the casinos. It’s a whole different deal compared to what it was in the 1970. And these cruises are real parties. People are on these ships and they’re having a big party for a week. They’ve got their favourite music, their favourite bands and it’s cool.
“Bands used to stay for the whole cruise, but now they change bands partway through. So, for us, we are playing the first night after leaving Fort Lauderdale and the next night over in Cozumel and then we get off. They fly some new people into Cozumel and another band or two gets on the boat there. That scheduling is better for us because it means we can get right back on the road. And it’s better for the fans because the folks on the shop get to see more of a variety of bands.”
The 2019 edition of the Rock & Romance Cruise is already full, but tickets are on sale for the 2020 trek, which takes place Feb. 15 to 22, and will feature the likes of Cheap Trick, America, Don Felder and Todd Rundgren. For details, visit https://rockandromancecruise.com.
For information on Grand Funk Railroad, including their tour dates for 2019, visit https://www.grandfunkrailroad.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
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