MARK FARNER IN GRAND FUNK, SAYS HE WAS RAILROAD-ED

[fasteddie925]

shut up you crying baby brewer did nothing that you didn't know..QUIT LYING FARNER SUCKER PUNCHED MY ASS.....YOU ARE THE SUCKER PUNCHER REMEMBER LOUISVILLE KY.......................YOUR SOUNDMAN

[koolbossjock]

@fasteddie925 Whats all this about? I was at that show as i was a DJ across the street at WSFR and did an interview with Mark the same night.He NEVER put Donnie or Mel down in the interview. I may of met you that night to but don't remember.Down stairs after the show everything seemed normal,got some great pix with Mark and Don etc.

[alanmorri]

Well The Grand Funk thing not being the original Grand Funk threesome is really not Grand Funk ...I'm with that...But..after what Terry Knight did to GFR back when and how it took so long for MF to wise up to that gouging...it just doesn't seem like a thinking man would let that happen twice. Let alone doing all the whining in public that while having the desire of a pity party just makes one look even MORE just blame dumb! Read before signing I always say eh?! WTF?! Sucker punched my ass!

[whw5511]

Its a real shame that this has turned out like this . Hey their is no Grand Funk without Mark . I see mark every chance i get , the so called grand funk truibite band. I saw once ,they suck . they need to bury the hatchet and work things out .

Such a shame hat such a great band needs to have all these problems

[AceOfHeart2012]

Ya know. When I become a millionaire I'm going to find out what it would cost to have Don and Mel release Mark from bondage. I can't believe they (Mel and Don) can get anyone to attend the faux Grand Funk shows. Everybody knows Mark Farner IS Grand Funk Railroad. If I ever have it in my power to straighten this out I will.

[barneybluedogboy]

I grew up listening to GFR since their get go. I have to say, Don Brewer, you are a true snake. Mel, why do follow a back stabber? The fact that Don and Mel went behind Mark, who wrote 99% of the songs, says it all. Too bad their egos have to rule over the true talent and special sound they all had together. They could still be playing and recording new stuff. Oh well, human nature at it's worse. I respect Mark,not the other two schmuks. Rock on Mark, you ARE Grand Funk!

[65drummer1]

Let's review: Brewer stated, "Messenger guitar , a piece of shit". Yet he trys to steal it from Mark. Backstabs Mark out of the franchises name, like the "piece of shit he is" Humm, the rumor might be correct. The fake funk is changing their name to "SBB", a.k.a. "sewer brewer band". Sounds right cause brewer is the "piece of shit" and the fake GFR stinks without Mark, yeah SBB fits quite nice. Hey mel, did you come out for air yet or is sewer piping o2 in his ass for you??

[jovabe2000]

don and Mel definitely took advantage of Mark

[pieword]

Mark, you got screwed,, if any one deserves to use the name GRF, it's you!!!!! Brewer should be using "Grand Funked Up Railroad", all Brewer has now is a fair Tribute Band. They may sound ok to the folks that never got the chance to see GFR live in the 70's my friend. Would you rather have the name or would rather perform as the true heart and soul of GFR, what's in a name.

[bodaciousd]

Who is Mel anyway? Mel who? Really? Like HE would deserve a third. If you asked me about Grand Funk and 'who' did 'what' - I would say 75% Mark, 20% Don and 5% Mel. (yeah, being generous to Mel there).

GRAND FUNK YOU SUCK WITHOUT MARK!!!

[jackHNv]

@bodaciousd You're being a bit harsh there! Mel's bass playing on the early GFR albums was fantastic, they wouldn't have sounded the same without him.

Having said that I agree that without Mark it's not GFR, and he wrote most of the songs. Don and Mel should be ashamed of themselves for their behaviour, they should apologise, rip up the contract and be grateful for all the money they made playing Mark's songs.

[bitddon]

I saw the original three at the Fraze Pavillion about 8 or 9 years ago, they were spot on and absolutely fantastic in every sense. I just saw what some people are calling Grand Funk three weeks ago at a cheesy little festival in the poor ass neighborhood that I grew up in, with about 2000 other disappointed fans. Really guys, fix whats wrong before you miss the chance to be great the few last times that will be available. Original three forever, fake ass subs who can't cut it,..never.!

[66GTO4speed]

I met Mark lastnight and a private party here in DE. Great guy that got the royal shaft. He was and still is "Mr". Grand Funk Railroad. The band now is nothing and not even worth listening to IMO. He was the one that made it all happen.

Yer fans still love ya Mark, and last night with Club Phred proved that. Thanks for the autograph for my GTO's sunvisor.

[brofranomo]

@66GTO4speed I was in Chicago for the first time for the 4 of July and GF "Don and Mel" were the final act. I will admit that I had very serious doubts about how good could they be without Mark but I'm a, and always have been a big fan they were actually surprisingly good and quite accurate on certain songs I feel would be difficult without Mark such as "inside looking out" which they did nail. Too bad they can't set aside their differences. I think they could sell out major concerts together.

[vanwagke]

Don't know what really happened but I saw GFR in the 70s, and the 90s...Mark was always the show...without him, GFR, is just ruining the memory of one of the best live bands ever. Mark is a machine. Don and Mel should work it out with him and give the fans the real Grand Funk before it is too late. Don never wrote anything...American Band was never written by a drummer....please. Mark is all over that song too.

[kevjay777]

Don Brewer is a world class asshole. What he did to Mark Farner is unspeakable, and Farner continues to be humble and forgiving in spite of Brewers cowardly and vindictive antics. I have zero respect for the punk known as Don Brewer.

[lanes58]

He is right about one thing. I saw GFR at the Long Beach arena in '71. He was pretty much the whole show. Lead singer, lead guitar and main song writer. No Mark Farner, no GFR.

[dertrommler54]

there's a big chunk of the GFR story Farner isn't telling you.

[WGJ1]

G.F.R. without Mark is."Grand Fake"! Seen "em. They SUCKED!

[GrandFunker]

Mark and Don must be on crack...GFR w/out Mark? I thought Mark left, and they were foolishly trying to go on w/out him.

[kissmusiclover]

Just like Ace Frehley and Peter Criss where KISS'ed out of KISS. Mark was railroaded out Grand Funk Railroad. Slash and others were gunned down out of G'N'R. So why not Peter, Ace, and Mark along with member of Guns N Rose - make a band together.

[ultrakool]

@kissmusiclover that's a good idea. they can all do each other's hits. they can go out on a "don't let the bastards keep you down" tour, under the name of "flippin' the bird" and their first single can be titled, "karma's a bitch". they could be as popular as journey, styx, yes and any of these old touring bands, who are still raking in the cash. i'd pay to see that...and the look on gene simmons face. :p

[hero2d0s]

this is the type of bull crap that goes on in music wish causes bands to break up...

[pepitogamez]

Grand Funk Railroad is not the same witout Mark Fanner.

[vanwagke]

Even if Mark asked for half of the GFR tour money (i doubt that is true), truth is those were his songs and he deserved it.  Anyone that thinks that Don could write American Band has got to be crazy...you can hear Mark all over that song....he wrote and wrote and fed many good songs to Don to sing....the whole thing is so sad. Don and Mel should get right with Mark and give the fans a real GFR show....quit embarassing the GFR memory. Watch any YouTube video of GFR without Mark...it's sad.

[tonlo92]

Don Brewer should be ashamed of himself, he would not have anything without Mark & vice versa. Put your differences aside & raise money for Jesse & for your fans. Mark would do it for you.

[gfrjoe]

Great reporting! It's great to hear both sides of the story. Oh, wait! No one talked to Don about the matter. He might tell a different tale, like how Mark walked out on GFR and how he and Mel waited three years for Mark to come back. He might mention that Mark said he'd come back if they paid him half of what GFR made.

I'm sure Mark feels wronged, but he brought that on himself.

[gerbonkeyboards]

@gfrjoe Hold On a minute ! Mark did not walk out on GFR..... the last reunion it was made clear that he would be with them for a limited time....he did not mislead anybody. In fact, he stayed on longer than was originally supposed to. While I would have loved him to have stayed with GFR, he had other things to tend to and made sure the other guys new it up front. I know it was not good for Don and Mel, but that doesn't give them the right to do sneaky underhanded crap to Mark.

[ultrakool]

@gfrjoe let's see...mark only asked for half? i would have asked for 90% if i were him, since he wrote and sang 90% of the music. ha. but alas, poor mark let himself be scammed by two snakes-in-the-grass

[tulane111]

i hate don brewer

[ForReelFunk]

Thanks so much for the excellent interview! Finally, Mark say's "Not Alright!" Time for people to know about the raw deal he got with the other two funkers. I hope this helps get more gigs...that way we all win.

[fireeyes1959]

Since Bob Seger is going back on tour this year, one has to wonder if Don is gonna be his drummer, or is Bob tired of Donny pretending to be an "attorney" and maybe he will put an injunctive order on Bob if he doesnt watch his back!!! The Fake Grand Funk will always be second best to the original Grand Funk with the original songwriter and singer MR GRAND FUNK.....MARK FARNER

[Lmcdan1313]

Bravo for these artists for stepping up to perform for Mark's son Jesse!

[fireeyes1959]

Mark is one of the greatest people I know with a heart of gold. I am happy that a lot of money was earned for Jesse. Its only too bad that Don and Mel wouldnt feel it in their hearts to reunite with Mark for a special benefit concert that would surely exceed the 100 grand already donated through this concert. I only hope that for those of you that dont realize what a talent Mark is or dont know WHO Mark is, now you will after viewing this and attend his concerts. Its a great treat

[ForReelFunk]

@fireeyes1959 Amen!

Seen Mark Farner with his Farner-N'rG many times...BEST SHOW'S EVER! How childish and mean spirited of Mel and Don to make a copy of that hush injunction attach to Mark's contract for hiring him. It means if the show is advertised using the wrong size fonts or worded in a way using the wrong words that it must be changed or canceled. Promoters are leary.Uhhhh...limiting the real deal of Grand Funk by not letting him use the trade name admits that he is too much competition!

[gerbonkeyboards]

@fireeyes1959 It is not only " too bad " ....it is shameful. A disgrace. How can you not let bygones be bygones at a time like this? I don't wish anything bad for Don and Mel ...... I love all the guys from the AUTHENTIC GFR.....but what goes around comes around. I just hope they have a change of heart very soon.

[doomsdaygray]

Its a shame how they treated mark. He's a great guitarist and they can never replace him. I was lucky enough to see them with mark in Michigan in 1996.