Mark Farner - The Breakup of Grand Funk (6 of 9)

[kerrysanders1955]

Don and Mel go out with a lame Mark impersonator who does a shit job and people pay to see a bogus aftermarket GFR. Grank Funk derailed without Mark. The only GFR now is Mark Farner and will always be.

[born2grooveu]

great singer, soulful, for a gtr player. one of my fav bands of all time.

[mojostephen]

Too bad it came to this. A Mark, Don, and Mel reunion would be so cool! GFR was my favorite band back around '71...

[NBFootball08]

Wish I had never seen this video...Now I hate those 2 guys....won't speak their names.....GF with out Mark is like Journey with out Steve Perry or the Beatles with out John Lennon.....

[MrGoodtogo55]

Marks Band Sounds better than the Posers Grand Funk!!

[heidegger101]

I now have 0 respect for don and mel, scum of the earth !

[16Guitars]

Don Brewer is playing with Bob Seger, what is it the girlfriend beater tour? And the song "Watch 'Em Strut" is about Hanoi Jane? I think he just voided his copyrights. If you wrote it you own it. Rock on!

[16Guitars]

It's OK Mark Keep playin' I'll keep listening. And Don Brewer ain't Neil Peart. And Mel ain't Jack Bruce. So make your power trio and rock on!

[TheGreaterGood80]

"Oh ya....don'cha know.....I'm Myark Fyarner"

[kwgthacher]

Not GFRR w/o Mark - terrible.

[stereogary1]

I think Don had something less than Jesus in his heart!

[stereogary1]

I saw "Grand Funk" some years ago at Arlington Heights, Frontier Days Festival. Lead singer was from 38 special...sorry to say the performance was somewhat less than special. All this legal bull, and i used to admired Don for T.N.U.C. before I saw this video!

[jm1chael]

This society, unlike many of the communist nations around the globe, allows you the freedom to take your commie-loving ass anywhere you want, to make your thesis a reality. Let me know how it all works out for you. And if you would, take Jane Fonda with you. Poka comrade.

[jm1chael]

Sorry, that's Jane Fonda.



[jm1chael]

I went to see Bob Seger a few weeks ago in Dallas. Had I known Don Brewer was the drummer, I would not have gone. It was a decent performance by Seger, but finding out about Brewer casts a pall over the whole experience. I'll not see Seger again as long as Brewer is backing him up. (Not to mention finding out from Seger that his "Watch Her Strut" was written as a tribute to commie Fane Fonda.

[dcraigwise1]

@jm1chael Let me enlighten everyone to the meaning of "communist"! 1st China, Russia, etc. are not "real" communist governments. Communism means -share! In a "real communist set-up" goods are shared by all-no one owns property. Christ followers lived in a communal living arrangemnent! Christ was definitely a Communist in his belief - "If someone needs a coat give him one! (paraphrased)" For the first 200 years the "followers of Christ" lived in a commune style setting and shared all they had!

[dcraigwise1]

@dcraigwise1 ~~~~So YES! I consider myself a Communist. It is too bad in this Capitalist society GREED prohibits Communism from ever becoming a real governmental system - too much like Utopia for the Right-Wing to even speak the word...LOL...!

[mbyr909]

Sounds like Brewer turned into a real asshole! Probably the result of a deep seeded jealousy he's harbored because Mark was (and is) so f---ing cool! Mark will ALWAYS BE Grand Funk Railroad!

[AntiSemantic1]

Fuck Don Brewer, tour with Denny Carmassi!

[GrandFunker]

Mark should legally change his name to Grand Funk Railroad, then go out on tour. I've seen wrestlers do it. Chyna for instance couldn't use her name after leaving WWE. For years she was Joanie Laurer. Then she legally changer her name, and any copyright claims were quashed. Now she does porn...but then she hasn't the talent Mark does.

[SuperDrogers]

What goes around will come around - I am sure you can write more great songs!

[SuperDrogers]

If I had known this, I would have not bought the few songs I bought! I wish you the best Mr. Farner. Your first song is still a great song!!

[Hopkins1148]

WTF! After all they went through before then the "other two" have to be such assholes. Total backstabbing sob's. Rock on Mark. The "new" Grand Funk came to within 30 miles of me but I didnt go see those shits. The federal judge was a beauricatic asshole too. Come to Rockford Illinois Mark!!!

[MegaFlash68]

To bad about all the crap you had to go through because of signing into the corp to me grand funk was the band of the 70's but without you Mark their is no grand funk I have seen you guys many times, you were and are great no matter what name you go by.long live Grand Funk Railroad

[javideosjoetonyjr]

Long time GFR fan, as far as I'm concerned, Mark has and always will be the true "Grand Funk". I saw the band going under that name a few years ago in Albany NY at a free show, you couldn't pay me to sit through the show. How dare Don and Mel carry on the false and unearned impression they are Grand Funk? Mark is the true Grand Funk and the true fans know. Keep rocking Mark.

[dbrew2u]

As a Life Long Funk Fan this Breaks My Heart ! Mark is Grand Funk Railroad and NOBODY can EVER take that from Him. Legal or Not. I can only hope that Mel & Don Wake Up and smell the coffee soon . Aren't the Fans and the Music More Important to them than their Freakin Egos' ? And what of Marks Friendship ? I Refuse to see any Funk without Mark in it,Period !

[wayne290]

Mark and anyone else out there signing a legal document: NEVER do it until you have a competent attorney review the document in its entirety. I don't care if its a family member or Jesus Christ himself offering you the deal, have it reviewed by an attorney that has your best interests in mind.

[kfc63822]

we love you Mark

[jpirard]

this is why I would NEVER see the pseudo funk no matter how great. HE WROTE OVER 100 SONGS, BREWER WROTE ABOUT 20.

[zoozazoot]

That just freakin sucks for the guy - I mean come ON

[ifutureman]

Wow I had no idea Brewer fucked Farner over so badly. That's just shameful.

[WreathOfCoils]

@ifutureman

Yeah man, Mark got the raw deal. It really floors me that after all the shit they have been through with Terry Knight that Don would turn the knife on a long time friend.

[ifutureman]

@WreathOfCoils I guess the main thing to try and take from this, though, is what an amazing guy Mark appears to be. He sure shows a ton of class.

[margovallen]

I love Mark Farner!

[hughforik]

Loved the band ever since I started listening to music as a kid. HUGE influence on me. I had the privilege of meeting GFR and was singularly impressed with the personal character and integrity of Mark Farner. It shows when you meet him or see him in public. Sorry if the biz stung you a bit, but your have kept your character intact and that is priceless. Thanks for CONTINNUING TO BE A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME.

[TheBlownz28]

I seen Mark 2 years ago and I seen Donnie a year ago and even though I play drums and have always liked Donnie as a drummer "MARK IS GRAND FUNK" he was AWESOME and Donnie and the rest was only O.K at best.

Plus when Mark came to Flint Michigan during Back to the Bricks I noticed then what a down to earth guy Mark is where Donnie on the other hand wouldn't give you the time of day.

Also as a drummer Donnie is good but Mark as a guitar player is "AWESOME" and a great singer and puts on a show.

[guymerritt]

Bottom line: The group should have been "Mark Farner and Grand Funk" from the git - Mark didn't have the foresight to "brand" himself - which is understandable. The other guys can't throw together a band and go do the tunes, 'cause Mark is the "man". Mark can hire players for nothing and get hefty fees for a performance. I see both sides of this thing. And Mark is absolutely at fault for signing something he says he didn't understand. And he's a great guy, and, a great talent.

[U07110743]

this is sad..money ruins everything

[fishlipps1952]

hey, retard....there wouldn't BE a Grand Funk Railroad without Mark Farner.......Brewer is such a low life that he even stole Marks's Messenger from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!!!

[fasteddie925]

WELL IF YOU THOUGH "HE JUSTY HAPPENS TO HAVE THESE PAPERS IN HIS ROOM WHY DID YOU GO AHEAD AND SIGN THEM...SEE PEOPLE HE'S LYING

[kevykev38]

@fasteddie925 what are you saying I read what you wrote a couple of times. And still don't understand it. Learn English man.

[fasteddie925]

marks a lier....I was there i know what happened  DO WE REALLY THINK THIS GUY IS THAT STUPID...NO MARKS TRHE LYING SNAKE

[tull1971]

@fasteddie925 You were where??? In the hotel room with them??? Because if you were not, then you have no idea what happened.

[tonyrosam]

What the fuck... how can people do this to each other? God bless Mark!

[MoreMedication]

Oh man, I loved him back in the day. Now he looks like Woody Harrelson's dad ...

[rimshotmarino]

yes the voice is mark franer ...........don is a snake not kool...god bless..mr franer

[fishlipps1952]

MAN!!!.....if all that's true, Mel, and Don are thieving, greedy, low-lie scumbags....they STOLE Mark's music!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[melagamusic]

I hate to see this happen to band members.

[bluesman341]

He played The Channel in Boston with Common Ground-I was right up front--killer! Then a few years later I played the same stage with The Poorboys (Boston) -- cooooollll..

[bluesman341]

Mark--saw you in '70 at Boston Garden---Thanks Man-you are GFR!!!

[BassGuyGG]

Mark Farner IS Grand Funk Railroad! He's the voice and guitar on all the classic records, he wrote all the classic songs. Not taking anything away from Bruce Kulick who's a damn good musician, or Don Brewer or Mel Shaecher (who is one of my bass heroes) but without Mark, GFR is just a "tribute" band. It's like Doug Clifford and Stu Cook playing as Credence Clearwater Revisited when you can go see John Fogarty, the voice guitar and writer of all the classic Credence tunes.

[markfarner123]

mark farner is grand funk

[redneckcadillac1]

i dont blame mark thats real sad man im a fan of you mark not a fan of that dude

[AceOfHeart2012]

Mark. If you see this, the reason the judge wasn't interested in anything you said was because he is an administrator. There has been no lawful judiciary in this country since 1789. It's all about the contract. Who's in breach, and who's going to pay. In the 'World of Caesar' these injustices find legitimacy. As a lifelong fan I KNOW who made Grand Funk Railroad Grand Funk Railroad. It was you brother. All GFR fans know this too. So let it go. That energy no longer serves you. Much love! Ace.

[65drummer1]

"Sewer brewer" is talented, he can keep a beat while having mel up his ass, look for the evidence, a Fender bass guitar neck sticking out of his nose.

[basementrocksband]

My Brother Randy , Met Mark Back Stage ! The Nicest Guy Ever ,

Mel and Don Who.....???

[pieword]

Brewer should be using the name, "Grand Funked Up", without Mark Farner they are just a fair Grand Funk tribute band.

[tigergold999]

You'd think that after their dealings with Terry Knight they all would have learned SOMETHING! It was bad enough Terry screwed them over, now Don Too...et tu, Brute?

What's gonna happen if they're finally voted into the RRHF? Are they gonna fight about that too?

[tigergold999]

You'd think that after their dealings with Terry Knight they all would have learned SOMETHING! It was bad enough Terry screwed them over, now Don Too...et tu, Brute?

[jackHNv]

Disgusting! Don and Mel should be grateful for all the money they made by hanging onto Mark Farner's coat tails, and do the decent thing.

[pvde67]

Plain. Simple. GFR became The People's Band - and to me, Closer to Home/I'm your captain is THE PEOPLE'S SONG. The personal ego of Mark, Mel, Don is no bigger then GFR as a band! So, stfu, join up together and BE GFR AGAIN. GFR=3 letters=Mark,Mel,Don.

[atbglenn]

Mark's gotta be the nicest most down to earth guy period. To see Don and Mel screw him over like this makes me want to cry.

[MrGoodtogo55]

@atbglenn Finally met Mark Farner,He is a Real Down To Earth Guy!!!

[atbglenn]

@MrGoodtogo55 I'm jealous! I'd love to meet him. I'm happy for you man!

[kblackley]

It's really basic math. To legitimately be "Grand Funk" you need to meet two conditions IMO:

(a) At least two of the original trio must be in the band, and

(b) One of those two must be Mark Farner

[65drummer1]

Mark, you are the Funk, Brewer is the wannabee who never will. If he wasn't guilty, he'd come forward with an explanation. To remain silent is an admission of guilt. Best of luck to you Mark, my brother, you are the genius of GFR and noone can replace you.

[mxd6]

Don't sign nothing without your lawyer present Mark......you should know better!!

All the best to you and your family!!

[Flunder]

love the man his music saved me when I was a teenager along with Johnny Winter. Bless him.

[sircishere]

Mark--I see you are wearing a POW MIA bracelet!! THANKS Man..I have had mine since '72. I know the boys in NAM respect your music and especially CLOSER TO HOME/I'M YOUR CAPTAIN..and it means more to POWS than you can ever know.. Your "signature" song-the MOST meaningful/expressive/most important (albeit NOT most commerically succesful is definately I'M YOUR CAPTAIN/CLOSER TO HOME. No true music fan could ever be without it..

[derhandtrommler]

I don't believe we are hearing the whole story. In 1985, I saw Farner billed as "GFR with Mark Farner" and it was him with a couple of ringers and it was mediocre. That's what Brewer tried to put an end to, and I don't blame him. Farner would have driven that name into the ground if Mel and Don had let him. Farner has always, even with Terry Knight, tried to portray himself as "poor little ole' me" and I think he's PO'ed that he can't have his cake and eat it, too.

[mywotzone]

Don Brewer is a nice guy would love to get his side of the story...

[afro20man]

I cant believe they fucked him like that...

[bluedaddy23]

They had better be glad that wasn't me or I'd have to bust that ass......Mark, you need me to bust thier asses for ya brother?...Its just wrong when bandmates turn on you. I have had it done to me, not on thatlevel cause I am not a pro, but it sure sucks. People I trusted are now dead to me...pricks

[55slice]

That's such a bunch of bogus shit they did to Farner. He writes all the tunes and these two knobs queer the deal on him. Don't sweat it brother there is no Grand Funk anything without you....period, paragraph, end of story.

[LarsFunkRoad]

i dont get why people get greedy or possesive about what made them/him/her famous. cant they understand where they d be without each other. DUMBASSES Now they fuck it up for everybody. Bastards. Don what could you possibly gain from pissin him off and signing him away.  YOU SUCK

[Whitevaliantwarrior]

So sad, but move on Mark cause you dont really need these guys anyway...after all you sang most of the songs, wrote most of them, played all the guitar and was definitely the leader of the band. Pretty sad so called friends could screw ya like that, but you are still an amazing player! ROCK ON!!

[joshmatica]

just get together and make music...its what its all about damnit!

[grindlemeister]

I'm speechless. I cannot believe what Mark has been through. And yet, he doesn't get mean about it. He seems like a really cool dude. What a shame. On the one hand, I can condemn humanity for actions like Mel and Don's. OR I can remind myself that not everyone is a bad guy.

[JeronimoPalma]

Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, if you ever get to read this, let me send you a big FUCK YOU!!!!

[toke21]

I saw Mark last Saturday (Sept, 17th, 2011) in Michigan and he killed it!

[bustballz]

May Don Farmer and Mel Shithead BURN IN HELL. 

[fantorjhs]

@bustballz Why?

[bustballz]

@bustballz for fucking over mark..that's why. didn't you watch the whole series of clips?

[surfstomp]

Mark Farner was the dominant voice and force in Grand Funk and we all know it.

[TheBorjamz]

To my way of thinking Mark Farner kikks and anyone who steales his music are mand ajor maximus wholehardedley arseholes.and to alsoe add ????????????? Quit bein wankers make and play musica and to alsoe add you dudes arguring small stuff while the rest of the world is ?????/ PLAY

[TheBorjamz]

To my way of thinking Mark Farner kikks and anyone who steales his music are mand ajor maximus wholehardedley arseholes.and to alsoe add ????????????? Quit bein wankers make and play music

[TheBorjamz]

To my way of thinking Mark Farner kikks and anyone who steales his music are major maximus wholehardedley arseholes.

[centrehice]

I want something clarified. Mark, if you read this post....please respond. I've heard and read conjecture that Don and Mel have never liked your "preaching/testimony" on-stage and in your songs...and that they made a stipulation against you doing so for that Reunion Tour in the late 90s. Is that true? If so, what a petty thing to stand in the way of great musical chemistry. To me, all 3 of you were integral parts of that machine....each of you influenced countless young musicians.

[badcomicbook]

@centrehice Yeah, I've read that too. I guess Brewer made it clear that if Farner started doing the stuff you mention that he would get up and walk off stage. Mostly I just try to support Farner's continuing to try his best to get new material out there. Brewer & Schacher's "GFR" is simply never gonna record and is a nostalgia act. I like the original trio format too (including the Dennis Bellinger albums). I also really like the quartet era with Frost. Hope they get it together.

[icabodcranium]

So he wasnt so clear as to why he signed any fucking papers? And wasnt in the late 90s? 30 years after thinking about it. Cmon!!! Am I missing something here?

[150grnballistictip]

Has he had a stroke or bells?

[atty1chgo]

As far as I am concerned there are 4 GFR albums: Red Album, Survival, Closer to home and E. Pluribus Funk

[atty1chgo]

We're an American Band is a pedestrian tune compared to Mark's songwriting.

[badcomicbook]

@atty1chgo When GFR were in the midst of their '90s comeback they did an interview for Goldmine, and during the course of the interview Mark had things to say about that song being more of a group effort than the lone Brewer credit implies. Anyway, I liked when Farner and Brewer (and Craig Frost) would co-write tunes (Farner encouraged Brewer to contribute - apparently especially on the WAAB/Shinin' On LPs).

[motownharry]

Mel is Dons Bitch so he does what his Daddy tells him to do, let's all hope and Pray that Don Brewer dies in a Firey Crash with a Fuel Tanker, then Mark could use the GFR name because Mel would be only 50% and Mark the other 50% and Mel would strave to death so he'd be taken care of also. Now lets all do some serious wishing and maybe it will happen.

Dime Bag Darrell got killed on stage by a mad man... why can't someone do that to Mel and Don who deserve it like all hell.

[atty1chgo]

Don Brewer is an asshole and a piece of shit. Sorry. How can he fucking say that he is Grank Funk? He didn't write shit. Don and Mel are basically stealing from Mark. they will pay in the end.

[Jellogel]

@atty1chgo I agree that Don Brewer is an asshole for what he and Mel did to the great Mark Farner, but he did write several GFR tunes including We're an American Band

[plangentmusic]

Wow. So sorry to hear this. It's a disgrace that Don and Mel go out as GFR. It's a disgrace that anyone goes to support it. These guys did so much and got screwed out of so much...how could they do it to their own brother. What a disappointment. But nevertheless, Mark was the heart of that band. Great singer, great songwriter, great visionary. And no one will ever take that away.

[jasondamico]

Unbelievable. Mark doesn't deserve any of this at all. The amount of s*** this man has been put through... God bless him.

[at90percent]

Mark seems to me to be the opposite of most Rock Stars. Usually the lead guy wants to dump the band and get all of the glory for himself. Farner actually seems to care about his fans and wants his fans to be able to see the whole band with the original members together.

[prober45]

"something in the milk ain't cream" and Don Brewer is a definitely a pretentious, deceitful, thieving sack of shit

[prowfet5]

Don Brewer is an ass hole! He always was right from the begining! Hey Don!! Was it ever about the music and friendship?? I think you had a plan all the time! You guys did a free show here in Hot Springs Arkansas a couple of years ago and could'nt even draw a bigger crowd than any of the Local Bands here!!!

Your a shameful swine and a thief! {And your Drummimg sucks--}

[randyreal574]

Well the drummer and bassist show their Khazarian Roots.

[133grinch]

step up db befoe its too late you guys are icons theres nothing wrong with making a mistake its doing t again or not fixing it ...cmon group hug hope to see ya rr hall of fame .this band deserves it!!!!

[leonakita]

Don Brewer is a disgrace !

[tornmask]

GrAnD fUnK rAiLrOaD: w/o brother Mark's trademarks it's only..."rAiLrOaD"! :o/

[tarkn101]

He had no forsight and still had an ego like he had been to the top. It was part time for me, out of the joy. Which you see in a Farner concert, and if you heard his new CD, you might be able to pull your head out of the dark place it resides, and see the difference, all the years since they screwed Mark, not one song. Talking about songs. That's what they do best and slither. Mark is a Man of God and a Man of his word. Don......Aint. enough said. Sue me chump! Or Skunk man. Haha!

[tarkn101]

Mark played a year longer then he promised, but those 2 thieves said they were through with music, in reality they were, getting their 2nd album handed back to them was proof enough, no matter what 'star' guitarists they had fill in. Columbia said what the 4 of us did. I've met people from Flint a bass player who played with his brothers, talk about ego. He turned down the chance to be Grand Funk's bass player, great choice, 25 years later he was playing Grand Funk, filling in for my band, 4 $50

[tarkn101]

Brewer has the ego and there's a reason he looks like a skunk now, send you lawyer on that one Don, you chump. You're not front man material, you should've taken what Farner wrote for you and stuck to what you did, like when you played for Seger. I've played damn near every Grand Funk song Brewer does now, and as someone far from a pro, I can sing and play 10 times better then the new version of Grand Funk. Don will get his due, maybe not it this lifetime, but you don't do that to friends.

[tarkn101]

Mark's in no way the Ahole or Prick you are Fasteddie, or Don~. There's right and there's wrong, there's no way Brewer would've made it out of basement or garage bands without Farner's material, and as a guitarist and singer, I'll bet both of them that Brewer couldn't play the chords as played on American Band if his life depended on it. I've heard the "New Grand Funk" with a drummer and both our wives, we lasted 30 minutes, after a hideous falsetto version of Closer to home we had enough. Yeck

[fasteddie925]

ha ha ha ha you deserve it asshole prick its all comming back on you aint it mark

[motownharry]

@fasteddie925 Do you know something about Mark that the rest of the world don't...? I think not because if you did you would be flappin' your jaws about it. Your just another jealous wanna-be, you smelly little Vagina.

[bvsfan]

Greatest band ever. Period. IT's too bad they can't move on. We saw them about 10 years ago and it was just like it was in the 70's, his voice was pure, the guitar was rocking and the drums were solid. Like no years had passed. IT's too bad that money and attorneys always screw up a good thing.

[robbiedaug]

I like GRF more as a trio. I loved Pheonix, though. The next albums were just not like Pheonix.

[robbiedaug]

It's like hearing gossip "from the inside" of GFR. We finally feel like one of the band members. Like when i asked my brother to sell my fridge and stove and send me the money. He had in them storage for me because i was living in a different city. When he sold them though, i was left penniless because he left me stranded.

I wish Mark and the other three were all living a great retirement. This news from Mark is sad to hear, but i know it really should be said.

Egos! Damn!

Loved GFR.

[allgoo19]

I have a feeling that there's a lot more to it than he's telling here.

Noone heard from the story from opposite side.

[motownharry]

@allgoo19 No one has heard the other side because Don and Mel have responded "No Comment" every time someone asks the question about the Corporate Voting out of Mark. Don or Mel will not answer any questions about why Mark can't use the name He and He Alone made famous. Don and Mel were Marks Rhythm Section. Tell me this...who in that band could be replaced without much notice, let me help you out, Don and Mel, when ppl go to see GFR and they don't see Mark they feel like they got Ripped Off.

[allgoo19]

@motownharry "the name He and He Alone made famous.."

False.

He could say that if he started as a solo artist then name it whatever he likes. It didn't start that way because noone in the band knew the potential of the band in the future.

When the band starts poor with no certainty in the future, everybody share the obligation to each other and co-dependency.

This reminds me a group of bank robbers stole the money then killing each so one gets the whole sum.

[Welshbluesman]

Don and Mel have made embarassments of themselves. "Grand Funk Railroad" without Mark is ridiculous! They play county fairs and casino's now....whoa hoo...

[jfrockon]

Don and Mel..... "Go to hell bitches"

[WeLivOffCod]

What a disgrace! What ever happened to loyalty? Just remember Don, you could have been replaced at the drop of a hat. The real talent of GFR was standing right up front and center! You two wouldn't have lasted long in my neighborhood!

[gerbonkeyboards]

As they say, what goes around comes around. Mark's child-like trust and naivett'e

are part of what makes Mark be Mark, and part of the reason he is so loved by his legion of loyal fans. Including this one.

[vf84tcat]

I always liked GFR back in the 70s but never knew much about them individually. After an evening of curiosity/wikipedia I have a great respect for Mark Farner. He is not only a talented, inspiring musician but a very clear, level-headed wellspoken person as well.

[Pjaynes781]

That sucks.

[pretorious700]

Mark, I hate to say it because I'm a fan, but that was one incredibly stupid move.