The band split in 1977 and reunited in 1980, splitting again in 1983. Since reuniting in 1996 they have remained active, although Farner left the band in 1999. The group currently consists of Max Carl (vocals), Bruce Kulick (guitar), Mel Schacher (bass), Tim Cashion (keyboards), and Don Brewer (drums, vocals).
Despite their name, their music is far from the style known as "funk"; the name "Grand Funk Railroad" is a play on Michigan's "Grand Trunk Western Railroad" line, and it was chosen before "funk" had become the name of a music genre. In 1968, suburban Michigan teens Don Brewer and Mark Farner quit Terry Knight and The Pack and recruited ? and The Mysterians bass player Mel Schacher to form a power trio inspired by contemporary rock n roll.
Early in their career, they headlined a much hyped free concert in Hyde Park, wowing the audience whilst being virtually unknown in the U.K. They also opened for Led Zeppelin in Michigan, their home state. Originally produced and managed by former band leader Terry Knight who brought the group to Capitol records in 1969, they split from Knight in 1972 after money issues left the group nearly bankrupt despite massive commercial success which began after an successful appearance at the Atlanta Pop Festival.
After releasing 12 albums on Capitol (10 platinum), they intend for their final release to be Born To Die in 1975. They actually reunited & recorded one last effort in 1976 with Frank Zappa called "Good Singin' Good Playin' " and then called it quits.
Farner released two solo albums, Mel & Don recorded as Flint with Craig before Craig joined [aritst]Bob Seger's band. In 1981 Mark Farner & Don reformed the band without Mel and released a song on the animated Heavy Metal soundtrack and new album Grand Funk Lives. They toured until 1983.
In 1996 all three original members reunited for a summer tour in which they played to over 250,000 people, and a slate of Bosnian relief dates in 1997 including several TV performances. In 1998 they did a 65+ date tour listed as one of the 10 top grossing tours of the year. In 1999 Capitol issued a 3 disc box set called "Thirty Years Of Funk" 1969-1999, including recent recordings made in 1997.
Original Grand Funk Railroad members Don & Mel still tour and write new material to this day although the group have seen various line up changes, including the absence of original lead singer Mark Farner. Mark is active with his New band Nr'G. They have released 3 CD's since 1999 with For The People released in 2006.
Studio Albums:
* On Time (1969)
* Grand Funk (The Red Album) (1969)
* Closer to Home (1970)
* Survival (1971)
* E Pluribus Funk (1971)
* Phoenix (1972)
* We're an American Band (1973)
* Shinin' On (1974)
* Monumental Funk (1974)
* All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (1974)
* Born to Die (1976)
* Good Singin', Good Playin' (1976)
* Grand Funk Lives (1981)
* What's Funk? (1983)
Live albums:
* Live Album (1970)
* Caught in the Act (1975)
* Bosnia (1997)
* Thirty Years of Funk: 1969-1999 (1999)
* Live: The 1971 Tour (2002)
Compilations:
1972 Mark, Don & Mel: 1969–71
1976 Grand Funk Hits
1990 The Best of Grand Funk
1991 Capitol Collectors Series
1992 Heavy Hitters!
1999 Thirty Years of Funk: 1969-1999
2002 Classic Masters
2006 Greatest Hits
INTRODUCTION
Grand Funk Railroad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Emcee: Clear the aisles as much as possible; we'll have those lights out this time.
Emcee: We'll be ready to go in just a couple of minutes. Would you clear those aisles a little bit? We sure would appreciate it.
Mark: Hey! I'm getting a shock off this mike.
Emcee: Here's the group you've been waiting to see: Grand Funk Railroad!
The lyrics to Grand Funk Railroad's song Introduction are spoken conversations between the emcee and the band members before they start their set. The emcee calls out to the audience, asking them to clear the aisles and create space for the band to perform without any interruptions. He also instructs the lighting crew to turn off the lights for the performance. The emcee expresses his excitement to introduce the band to the audience. Meanwhile, Mark, one of the band members, is having technical difficulties with his microphone and requests that the ground is switched to avoid getting shocks while performing.
These spoken conversations reveal the behind-the-scenes preparations and challenges that come with live performances. The emcee's efforts to create a comfortable and ideal atmosphere for the band highlight the importance of support and hospitality in the music industry. On the other hand, Mark's technical difficulties and request for a ground switch indicate the potential technical issues that musicians face onstage, which could affect their performances. Overall, the lyrics of Introduction capture the essence of live music performances and emphasize the critical role that technical support, preparation, and teamwork play in creating a successful and enjoyable concert experience for artists and audiences alike.
Line by Line Meaning
Emcee: Okay, it's all going to happen here in just a few minutes. Let's try to make a lot of room by ... everybody clearing the aisles as much as possible ... trying to make a ... a situation here where we can run this Grand Funk set without having to stop.
Please make room for Grand Funk Railroad and clear the aisles as much as possible to prevent any interruptions during their performance.
Emcee: Clear the aisles as much as possible; we'll have those lights out this time.
We need you to clear the aisles and turn off the lights this time to ensure Grand Funk Railroad can perform uninterrupted.
Emcee: We'll be ready to go in just a couple of minutes. Would you clear those aisles a little bit? We sure would appreciate it.
Grand Funk Railroad is almost ready to perform, so could you clear the aisles a little more to make sure they have enough space to perform? Thank you.
Mark: Hey! I'm getting a shock off this mike.
Mark is experiencing electric shocks from his microphone.
Mark: Hey, I keep getting a shock off this mike. Can you switch the ground, Don? I know it's a hell of a rush, but I can't take too many.
Mark is asking Don to switch the ground on his microphone to prevent further electric shocks, as he cannot take too many more.
Emcee: Here's the group you've been waiting to see: Grand Funk Railroad!
Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to Grand Funk Railroad, the group you've all been excited to see perform tonight!
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.