Homer
Simpson may have captured the essence of Grand Funk Railroad in
the SIMPSONS episode where he rhapsodizes about "Mark
Farner's wild, shirtless lyrics, the bong-rattling bass of
Mel Schacher," and yes, "the competent drum work of
Don Brewer." Emerging from the industrial town of Flint, MI,
Grand Funk were a workman-like "people's band." They
turned the Cream power-trio format into a stadium filling,
larger-than-life experience that made them one of the most popular
live acts of the early '70s. Their early albums were filled with
amped-up blues-rock, but towards the end of their initial tether,
they scored hits with covers of soul tunes such as "Some Kind
of Wonderful" and "The Locomotion." IRS troubles
contributed to their breakup in the late-'70s, but
Grand Funk
reunited with a vengeance in the '90s. |