British guitarist analyses Grand Funk Railroad live in 1969! 

You would be cool to hang out with 😘

Awwww - thanks.

Yup... that was some funky bass he could play,

If you love the blues there aren't many better than Grand Funk with their mix if Rock and blues.

@@BobSmith-eq9vs And to you, Robert. Peace.

Very cool story, & quick thinking w/the cable.. A Roadie For A Night W/ GFR ✌😎

Thanks for sharing that! Very cool!

Cable Tech.....Love It.

FAR OUT MAN! How cool was that. I remember that a lot of bands were cool that way😉😆

So amazing! I can't imagine my brother and our friends loving anything more than that! We were huge GFR fans.

I watched a video recently where Mark was talking about when their manager fired them from being the opening act for zep but why? What was the reason? Could it be they were a better live performance? I saw many concerts in the seventies including the big 3 of the day page, beck and Clapton. All disappointing live. In my humble opinion marks voice is as powerful as plant. Page may be a more proficient guitarist but less give credit where it's due. So happy you did a vid of these talented dudes

Don't get me started!

Homer Simpson recognized them first. lol

I signed an online petition years ago. Still not in. Loved them!

Because the critics didn't like them. A power trio playing 10 minute jams.. thats why..

@@bigsky3072 And the main critique always seems to be that they were loud, never anything of substance, just that they were loud.

Bands like GFR used to tour for months on end, When you play together that much you can't help but get tight. Pop acts (can you call them bands if they don't play their own instruments?) nowadays go on tour and only perform 3 or 4 nights a month. They will make more Festival and TV appearances than full length live shows. .

My chest tightens and actually hurts when I hear really good GFR music. These guys define the essence of rock and why we love it so much. These guys kill musically and understand the power of music at a deep level.

On youtube?!?! ON EARTH!

51 frickin’ years ago! Fresh as ever.

Better Believe it!

I just someone react to this ,and oh man their good . I saw Mark Farner on Howard Stern. I mean his voice right now was amazing. Closer to Home. I’m your Captain.

I saw them live in Tucson Arizona 1971 and they’re STILL my fave live rock band

And plays with a pick

All my favorite bass players play with a pick, by the way. James Gang's Dale Peters is one of them. James Jamerson from Motown said you can be more melodic with a pick--and you can!

that was a brilliant bass performance. This entire band is so under-rated. and it was all live. You could have done no better in the studio. In fact, not as good.

@Berlin Mark Think of Mel's bass as being like a conversation with the other two--he's just talking to them, answering their questions on bass

Mel's playing/sound is so totally unique you could make him out in any mix from any band. Funky sloppy fuzz bass is just throwing down in this song, it's excellent and he's absolutely the only reason I'd go see GFR without Farner.

i know i do ; }

" FuckRight " WE Did/Do !

They got the fame from 71-75. They were really big then.

Your a smart woman

Yes they are. Never saw them live but this is freaking amazing.

I believe this was done in a studio for a BBC series. The energy is off the charts.

Grand Funks got their roots from the blues and have a lot of black fans and their early stuff was their best music. I truly feel they made a big mistake going main stream with "We`re An American Band " in 1973. Sure they got a lot of new fans but they lost that hard driving blues rock sound that set them apart from everyone else. The reality is that there were two Grand Funks, one from 1969 to 1972 and one from 1973 to 1976 and I`ll take the first one every time!

Too bad Brewer and Farner let their personal differences affect the band.

@@cabterrot3574 Brewer had Farner sign into a corporation making a two thirds rule ( Brewer & Mel) leaving Mark out in the cold. Chicken shit move and a pity. Marks shows are much better so if you have a chance, go see one of his.

Saw them in 1974 at the Capitol Centre, Upper Marlboro/Largo, MD.

If you watch interviews given by Mark Farner, you'll find that it wasn't anything he did, but rather what Don did to him which was pretty low of that little shit.

Cool!

Im related to mr. Farner through marriage. My uncle married his first cousin. He was at the wedding. Very nice man, very talented man too

Did you notice all the tape he had on his Guitar to get the sound he wanted? Farner talked about that Messenger guitar.

He has an amazing voice live.Never heard this before.

You lucky guy!

The question is why in the hell is Janet Jackson in the ROCK N ROLL hall of fame ,that makes no sense . I agree though these guys are freaking awesome they snub a lot of great bands it's ridiculous.

Because it's not rock n roll it's the music hall of fame. Ridiculous that that name is still there.

@@CrueHead18 yeah they need to fix or change the name because Janet Jackson is not rock n roll

And that is not i mean not racist really lol.....

ASSHOLES

Well said my friend!! Raw Energy! Peace!

No need to jump all over the stage or to have half naked girls to compensate for lack of talent.

@@flee4342 LOL!! SO True!! 👍🏼

In today's "Music" business.....its SO much more about business than the music!

@@mikemajer1236 How True, Mike!! I agree 100%.

This is one of my favorites and their Not In The Rock Hall Of fame,,,,that's just plain stupid

Grew up listening to these guys on the east side state streets!

Owosso here, someone recently vandalized the overpass sign, assholes!

I work in Port Huron, I need to see it before it goes away

Yep, you can see it from a Google maps street view. Still there and likely will be forever.

Like I always said, the dude is a "one man rock band"

@@impalaman9707 There will never be another band like them!

@@pamcrider8074 I couldn't agree more. I'm afraid that entire generation of rock music from 1966-1976 is going to be a tough act to follow for many years to come, and with many of those artists from that era pushing 70-80 years of age, I'm afraid quality R&B based rock music as we knew it will be dead when they are gone. Most young people coming up in the music business aren't even trying to reproduce this kind of music, and the few that are are falling flat on their faces. Really difficult to make lightning strike twice, and definitely in this case, they won't

Without a doubt!!! Top of the pile of great rock gods. Agreed, they were all great talents, however, Don Brewer should be ashamed at what he did to Mark Farner.

Didn't Craig Frost play keyboards for GFR ?

I would've done the same. GFR lives on 💪👊👊👊

And they laughed at your stupid assertion.

Good on you. (Notice how they didn't even break a sweat?)

I passed them after you and added Allman Bros and Kansas. Greetings from Europe.

@@spaceghost8995 The whole world is laughing at your stupid conclusion! It was with them that Hard Rock and Heavy Metal began, and not with LZ or DP! All these incompetent Englishmen became cool, heavy, technical, only thanks to GFR and their first two albums of 1969! Everyone started to copy their style, playing style, titles and song structure stupidly! Because in 1 year they put the whole world on the ears! In 1970 alone, GFR sold more CDs than any other band or artist! This year they have already had 4 gold albums, including the greatest and revolutionary live album "Live Album"! And this is also an innovation of GFR, after which all rock bands began to try to release live albums! But of course, no one came close to them, in terms of professionalism, technique, speed, charisma and level of professionalism! GFR was also the best live rock band ever!

Yes. To truly appreciate GFR you had to * be there.* I saw them 5 times "back in the day." It is fair to say that not all of Mark's songs were exactly the greatest. But, that band was so tight and disciplined that it didn't matter. Mark sold those songs with his great voice and soul, along with the bands ability to belt out rock and roll. They were as good as it gets live. No question. I was there when they were an opener for Zep in Detroit when the show was stopped due to, "A contractual agreement with Led Zeppelin," and I'm going tell you that had GFR not stopped no one would have cared. GFR had the place on fire. Don't get me wrong, Zep was AMAZING. But, when GFR was stopped it was truly Funkus Interruptus. You could feel the letdown in the building. GFR was no doubt one of the best live bands EVER.

🤟

L

I don't think they ever came to Hawaii 😔🤙🏼

@@demeaningplebny1363 oh man I only recently heard about this and I'm 70 years old now. Wish I was there!

They clearly never listened to their albums. They only judged them by where they came from, and their reputation for being loud in concert. Most of it came from the "hip" police at Rolling Stone Magazine, the same ones who, I believe, hold the keys to the kingdom of Cleveland's RRHOF, even though they are located in the Midwest that those San Franners detest so much. The charges that always pissed me off the most were talentless and one-dimensional. Talentless? Are you kidding me? Mark is a virtual one man rock band, and even helped Brewer play percussions in his live drum solos, in addition to organ, harmonica, vocals, and nearly all the quality songwriting, and you call him "talentless"?

@@impalaman9707 Well said, sir! Agree with EVERYTHING you said. Many don't remember or realize how HUGE GFR was across the USA. I don't even pay attention the R&RHOF because these guys and Steppenwolf are not in.

they were not hip enough because they werenot, druggies or publicity whores--They are the epitome of rock

I never got the criticism. They simply were great.

It's ironic that critics scorn a band and expect to be taken seriously when the band is making 100 times as much money as the critic is.

Hey Homeboy. Same age. Saw them in Lubbock. Sin's a Good Man's Brother.

There with ya . Just hit the 6,2 Dec. 28th . Been a FunkHead since I was @ 9 🎶

What a stronge voice

Of course they do, because the Boomers who grew up with them love them. But they were the Bon Jovi of their day. They're for the masses.

They should be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame

THEY DO IN SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS

Yes they do.

@@rosenb37 You obviously are clueless. And yes, I am a boomer. Which means I know more than you. The true Grand Funk fan knows their music is split into before and after Terry Knight. Your flippant Bon Jovi remark may be true for their second version produced by Todd Rundgren where they produced the "POP" music. However, the first version of the group which produced their first 5 albums, On Time, Grand Funk, Closer To Home, Survival and E Pluribus Funk was a hard core Garage Funk Punk band. I defy someone to listen too "Sin A Good Mans Brother" and hear anything other than hard core rock. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vPdKSlQOBYE.html

Cream redefined music. Grand Funk didn't. Still they were one of favorites but no comparison. Clapton, Bruce and Baker were voted the best on their instruments as well. They each redefined their instruments and the impact on the future of music and musicians is immeasurable.

A superb trio.

Gotta love the good trios: Cream, Hendrix Experience, James Gang, Rush, GFR, ZZ Top, ELP.

Listen to - Winter & My Soul. I love Schacher and Brewer's work filling in the hole on Bass and Drums. Really full sounding song for a three piece band!

I agree with you Sean--all my favorite rock bands come in threes--and all the ones you mentioned are on my list

The "Greta Van Fleet Band" of Frankenmuth, MI. is carrying on the Michigan tradition of great musicians, They are already worldwide,,,see youtube.

@@raybassman7536 Yes Sir... Have a good Independence Day. 🤙

Couldn’t agree more, I’m born and bred in Ga, and I can personally say that we Southerners down here worship all the Great Michigan Bands, Nugent, Grand funk, The Stooges , and my ultimate favorite The MC5, it’s like fuel to my day. Tryin to get Fil to put them up on one day.

@@brandonhaynes2652 I saw MC5 when they played at and outdoor park in Ann Arbor MI. in 1968. I was 11 years old, rode my bicycle down there. was right up front. Rob Tyner and the boys.

@@brandonhaynes2652 I am from MI. but always loved southern rock. Allman Bros., Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker band. Met Gary Rossington from Skynyrd and told him, even though I am a Bass Player, I bought my first Les Paul because of his playing on "one more from the road" album.

AMEN JAZZ MASTER!

I'll triple up on that one

Paula Blissett 🦊ee Lady!!!

@@jazzcat8786 Hey Jazz, thankyee, wink....

Thanks!

lisa richards my mother thought there was something wrong with me I use to come home from school put grand funk on and listen to them and some others for hours and hours. But my sister said Iv always been like that since I was a little kid . One of my favorite pictures is sitting at the table with my 45s with a big grin on my face enjoying the music. At 3 years old

Leslie West just died yesterday.

My dad, the hugest GFR fan, swears by Leslie West and Mountain. Btw. His Missouri tags on his car say GRN FNK

@@deborahpaley21 well damn. A year later I still hadn't heard that

Couldn't agree more

Okay, I'm just two years younger, was in just as much awe, but they were only just, "An American Band!"..lol God were they good! You just float along the reverb on Mark's voice on the simple lyrics. Then BAM! He hits you. They each hit you. They take turns hitting you, then they gang up on hitting you. I love this performance. These guys are great musicians, and oh ya, a totally underrated, phenomenal 3 piece band.

Love that live album, it's what turned me on to Grand Funk! How cool you were one of those fans....!

“Brothers and sisters in the front row”

Because of BS politics. If you see who's in it you'll leave scratching your head.

Frederick White I know that’s right!! Some of the inductees aren’t even rock n roll and some can’t even carry a tune!!

@@vickieray yep lots of great bands aren't in there. Most folks and groups know it's BS. They should let fans decide.

They should have been one of the founding members. The RRHF is bullshit.

@@frederickwhite6416 In 1974 Barbara Strysan won song of the year with,"The Way We Were." She isn't even Rock N Roll. That's when the American Music Awards got started in 75. Let the listeners decide. May have spelled her name wrong. It shocked me.

The Hall of Fame is a sorry ass joke period. GFR is iconic, they don't have to be in their bull crap so called Hall of Fame. I Don't recognize the Hall of Fame.

amw78 the reason is b/c Mark has found Jesus now and thats how these evil bastrds operate! has nothing to do with music- everything to do with message.

@@MrToko0412 Spoken like a typical melodramatic Christian. Get a grip, dipshit.

And yes they are a joke one time i talked to one guy ask me are they any good and i said ARE THEY ANY GOOD? of course he was only 30 something i ask him so what do you listen too guess what shoop dog really are you kidding me i feel really sorry for this guy but why i should loser lol...........

Whaaat? I listened to Grand Funk Live everyday in 7th grade.

rawhearsed... i's the offical word from now on :-)

Right song, wrong version. The first live album is the one to play if you want to appreciate this song in all of it's power and sonic glory! And ya don't need video.

Cool!

GFR and Zep !!!....blessed by the Gods of Music. Greetings from the majestic mountains of PERU.

And why Zep threw them off the tour

What a combination, I wish I saw it, I have seen both separately

aminor1950 yeah, that's an old one!!! But, that's not what it meant.

Cleveland wasn't Zeppelin's first and only show with GFRR, but it was the last. In October 1969, GFRR, along with supporting acts Lee Michaels and the MC5, opened for Zeppelin at the Olympia in Detroit. Being a local band, GFRR got huge applause(MC5, although also a local group, didn't get much applause - but that's another story), and eventually Peter Grant literally pulled the plug on GFRR during their performance. The Olympia was silent for about a half an hour, during which time, GFRR's manager, Terry Knight announced to the crowd that Zeppelin didn't want to follow GFRR. I guess things finally came to a head a couple months later in Cleveland.

Great story! Wish I had been there.

Cool!

@@onethumbpicker MC5 - that's a name I haven't heard in a long time and their influence was massive - think of all the great Detroit bands, Iggy and the Stooges (another groundbreaking band pre-punk), GFR, Bob Seger, Suzi Quatro, Henchmen, Mitch Ryder, Amboy Dukes, Alice Cooper (Earwigs), Funkadelic and that's not counting all Motown groups.

Glen Kelly, being a native Clevelander, I couldn't agree with you more about the Detroit influence! Let's not forget Vanilla Fudge, Mike Quatro and his jam band, Cactus, Terry Knight and the pack..... I'm swimming against the local tide here, but I've always felt that Detroit has a much larger claim to the "Rock Hall" than Cleveland. Onethumbpicker, I could be wrong in my memories, but it could've been earlier. And considering the geographic locations of Detroit and Cleveland, it would make sense that it might've even been the next show. Either way great rock history!!!

Big people artist

I wore out my mom's 8 track player till cassettes came out , I was born in 77 so I didn't really discover these guys till the late 80s but It blew my mind.

@Michael Bentello absolutely, back when FM radio was underground. By the time they had "top 40 " hits there was a whole following that had been around for years. Same way with Lee Michaels

Before lawyers and accountants hijacked music

Music does wonders.

@@avawhitney1968 Grand Funk best of all !. Thank you.

Cool!

Loved your comment back in 74 at university of South Carolina I got to meet them my buddy sold pot on the side for extra money and he new I loved them took me with him to sell to Mark and your rite coolest guy ever aloha

Part of their unique sound was the off brand guitar Mark was using at the time and the custom plugging of sound holes and taping over ! Observe all the tape ! I’m a 72 yr male and GFR rocked me and my blood flow ! Thanks Fil for awesome coverage for us fans of GFR !

@@ALASKAPOCKEHOLER thanks for that info! i never knew that.

@@ALASKAPOCKEHOLER Exactly! A duct taped six string, a (relatively) small drum kit, and a bassist that had to strive not to shake down the walls of any venue they played. And you can see in each of their individual expressions that each of them were having an absolute blast. That passion is the same when they dominated thousands of fans in arenas as when they played for a dozen or so people, like in this video on local access television in 1969. The passion & funk are either there, or are completely absent. If it isn't there on day-one, it'll never come --but when it has always been a part of the band, it will always be there, like an extra bandmate.

Bob Dodge I totally agree. We do reap what we sow.

He's a backstabbing bastard, great drummer or not. He sucks as a human being. Just a two faced drummer. Do Not ever go see present day Grand Funk. It's a farce! Let them know we know they suck without Mark.

You got that right. GFR is nothing without Mark!!!!

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w3NXgM_LGQA.html

Here's a live version...wow!!!ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mZj1uElADZw.html

They seem to have added a keyboard player in this one, aside from Mark... :-)

They destroyed Zepplin as they didn't perform with the energy GFR, awesome. Mark was shafted, he wrote most of the music and since he had to leave I'm done. A damn effing shame.

*_Grand Funk Railroad on paper is the most successful band of all times being the first to put out TEN GOLD ALBUMS even the manager of Led Zepplin pulled the plug on them in New York for being scared for them out performing Led Zepplin before they went on stage &)) That says it all and can't be undone 🇺🇸 !! Grand Funks tenth and last album's cover art was of them laying in open coffins !! Even in death they went out on top !! Top of the World !!_* .. 🌎.. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-87ApAbRCaxA.html

@@dominicksforza3484 You can't even spell Zeppellin? Really?

@@spaceghost8995 neither can you ... Led Zeppelin .... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zeppelin

That's the reason I hate led zep,their manager was a fuckwit bully ! The sooks couldn't handle a band being better than them Fuck the Led zep Pussies!

Cool!

I echo your comment. On Time was the GFR album that hooked me. That, and "Heartbreaker".

@@avlisk All great music from the early years of GFR! Things went down hill after Terry Knight threw them under the bus. Yeah, Heartbreaker, I'm your Captain/Closer to Home, Paranoid from the Red Album. Well, the whole Red Album was the first time I heard them and they became my band! Into The Sun! The list goes on. Nice to meet other GFR fans! Take care!

Brewer's chops during the harmonica was an absolute groove fest.

After Terry Knight sue them in court and won. The band came out with their biggest hit... We're an (AMERICAN BAND)

That's the key!