Worked for mark in 1984/85........ What you see and hear in this video series is THE REAL DEAL"......... Hes a better man then he is a Rock Legend........ Hes a very laid dude with a huge passion for life, wife and family........ His talent range is 5 times what you see & hear from his Grand Funk music....... Mark Farner IS Grand Funk Railroad...... Don and Mel owe anything and everything they have to Mark's talent... PERIOD!
Something about listening to him speak is mesmerizing. He seems very sincere. He is a good story teller...part of being a good songwriter I guess. Cool to know his mother is from Arkansas, my home state. I'm 49 and still love listening to GFR and Farner. Awesome guy.
My Grandparents Lived 3 doors down from Mel Shocker the bass player of Grand Funk Railroad i remember visiting my grandparents every summer in Flint Mich. and listening to Grand Funk RR in mel shockers mom and dads garage practicing
Whatever happened between them is really unknown but what they did together when they were Grand Funk Railroad, was just amazing. I have many GFR songs in my MP3 player and as soon as I get out of the door in the mornings, I usually and even before I am out the door, start playing "I'm your captain...closer to home.." or "It can't take too long" or any one of those beautiful tunes and I am ready for my day.
Mark was/is the best. Great vocals, stage presence and the author of all of the songs. If one fellow is instant recognizable as the leader of GFR it is Mark. GFR via Mark was with me throughout high school. Mark - just market yourself at Mark Farmer formerly of GFR. That is legal most likely. Although I would love to read your documents. I am a lawyer.
Mark, YOU are Grand Funk Railroad! Those other clowns are just “Grand Fake Trolly Car” Your train has left the station and they’re fool enough to think they can catch up to it.
@GasserGlass wow...It all seems as you say...so many business in general and music being included get hostile take overs from many methods (I have been there). However, Karma is one tough element to combat and once set in motion there is almost nothing one can do to stop it. So, Don and Mel will owe something to someone from taking something from someone including and not limited to all the NOT SO WELL WISHERS they have seemingly amassed. Ouch! Inertia doesn't help the pain when one crashes.
Around the Lucky Eleven days Curtis Johnson was playing with Mark, Terry Knight and the Pack, all those fellas. Curtis told me Otis would tell them,,,"I'm going to have you boys fartin' through silk!" And Curtis wouldn't lie.
My dad went to school in Swartz Creek and used to be in a band with Stan Caldwell, Jerry Bullock and a couple other guys , this would have been 1959 he said he jammed with Don Brewer one time.., in 1963 he bought a brand new Fender Jazzmaster and traded it to Al Pippin for a 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins model and Al gave my dad $75 too., that was in late 63 or early 64 before they started the band The jazzmasters. At that same time my dad was in a band with Otis Ellis's wife and they played at the lucky 11 bar
I was born in 1963 so my dad would have been 21 in 1964 . It shows my dad's band playing in the 1959 Swartz Creek High School yearbook the name of their band was the Continentals
Poor Mark. Everyone has ripped him off. Otis ripped him off. Terry Knight ripped him off. The IRS ripped him off. Now, Mel and Don have ripped him off. Does he ever question his own choices and his own involvement in anything ? I love GFR and always will, but outside of GFR, Mark seems to be his own worst enemy.
I love Mark and his music, but his “ I didn’t know nothing” schtick is a bit disingenuous. He was in recording bands from ‘66 and when GFR made their deal w/ Terry Knight/ Capitol, Mark didn’t have a clue about the songwriting/publishing end of things? Instead of telling young musicians “Don’t trust anybody” he should be saying “Stay in school, get your education”
Worked for mark in 1984/85........ What you see and hear in this video series is THE REAL DEAL"......... Hes a better man then he is a Rock Legend........ Hes a very laid dude with a huge passion for life, wife and family........ His talent range is 5 times what you see & hear from his Grand Funk music....... Mark Farner IS Grand Funk Railroad...... Don and Mel owe anything and everything they have to Mark's talent... PERIOD!
No one would ever accuse Mark of having a rock star ego. Very down to earth, humble guy.
Hope Mark gets into the RR H of Fame! He's so REAL. He was really...done so wrong! Talented guy that deserves more.........
Pat, he's SO real, you could really hear it transmit from his music.......and for me anyway, emotion & passion trump technical ability.
God Bless you Brother Mark. I really respect you so much. Thank you for all the wonderful music through my years! May the Lord have favor on you!
Something about listening to him speak is mesmerizing. He seems very sincere. He is a good story teller...part of being a good songwriter I guess. Cool to know his mother is from Arkansas, my home state. I'm 49 and still love listening to GFR and Farner. Awesome guy.
GFR deserves the hall of fame they were the biggest band from 68-74 tons of hits caught in the act live is an all time great
nice one ,ive loved this guy for bloody years Mark Farner IS grand funk.
love his solo album............he let me love ,easy breazes love it
"just a 60 year-old kid"!! Love you Mark!!!
What a good honest guy.
Really nice interview. Farner comes off incredibly human.
My Grandparents Lived 3 doors down from Mel Shocker the bass player of Grand Funk Railroad i remember visiting my grandparents every summer in Flint Mich. and listening to Grand Funk RR in mel shockers mom and dads garage practicing
Mark's the real deal. Authentic, flesh and blood. Don, well, no comment.
Mark Farner should be in the HOF!
Whatever happened between them is really unknown but what they did together when they were Grand Funk Railroad, was just amazing. I have many GFR songs in my MP3 player and as soon as I get out of the door in the mornings, I usually and even before I am out the door, start playing "I'm your captain...closer to home.." or "It can't take too long" or any one of those beautiful tunes and I am ready for my day.
And STILL IS... Grand Funk Railroad!
That's what I love most about him y'know; his spirit won't age.
AMEN!
DAMN IT!!!
Mark was/is the best. Great vocals, stage presence and the author of all of the songs. If one fellow is instant recognizable as the leader of GFR it is Mark. GFR via Mark was with me throughout high school. Mark - just market yourself at Mark Farmer formerly of GFR. That is legal most likely. Although I would love to read your documents. I am a lawyer.
Mark, YOU are Grand Funk Railroad!
Those other clowns are just “Grand Fake Trolly Car”
Your train has left the station and they’re fool enough to think they can catch up to it.
Grand Funk Farmer ❤️
BIGTIME
@GasserGlass wow...It all seems as you say...so many business in general and music being included get hostile take overs from many methods (I have been there). However, Karma is one tough element to combat and once set in motion there is almost nothing one can do to stop it. So, Don and Mel will owe something to someone from taking something from someone including and not limited to all the NOT SO WELL WISHERS they have seemingly amassed. Ouch! Inertia doesn't help the pain when one crashes.
Captain Bill Band Mr. President Full Movie
Around the Lucky Eleven days Curtis Johnson was playing with Mark, Terry Knight and the Pack, all those fellas. Curtis told me Otis would tell them,,,"I'm going to have you boys fartin' through silk!" And Curtis wouldn't lie.
My dad went to school in Swartz Creek and used to be in a band with Stan Caldwell, Jerry Bullock and a couple other guys , this would have been 1959 he said he jammed with Don Brewer one time.., in 1963 he bought a brand new Fender Jazzmaster and traded it to Al Pippin for a 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins model and Al gave my dad $75 too., that was in late 63 or early 64 before they started the band The jazzmasters. At that same time my dad was in a band with Otis Ellis's wife and they played at the lucky 11 bar
I was born in 1963 so my dad would have been 21 in 1964 . It shows my dad's band playing in the 1959 Swartz Creek High School yearbook the name of their band was the Continentals
GFR
Poor Mark. Everyone has ripped him off. Otis ripped him off. Terry Knight ripped him off. The IRS ripped him off. Now, Mel and Don have ripped him off. Does he ever question his own choices and his own involvement in anything ? I love GFR and always will, but outside of GFR, Mark seems to be his own worst enemy.
I think in the interview he really does take the heat for his decisions. He simply isint a business guy. But just a musician from Flynt.
Most bands were ripped off during the 60's.
Mark is a legend but Don wrote all the hits.
Not true Farner wrote most of the early stuff
Mark wrote "Captain", right? Their best song.
@@gabevachon326 captain might be the FAN FAVORITE but American band is by far their biggest hit.
I love Mark and his music, but his “ I didn’t know nothing” schtick is a bit disingenuous. He was in recording bands from ‘66 and when GFR made their deal w/ Terry Knight/ Capitol, Mark didn’t have a clue about the songwriting/publishing end of things? Instead of telling young musicians “Don’t trust anybody” he should be saying “Stay in school, get your education”
These are not mutually exclusive: Instead of telling young musicians “Don’t trust anybody” he should be saying “Stay in school, get your education”