Once again, Grand Funk Railroad messes with my head...

[teach1st]

OK, I admit it, I took too much acid as a youngster at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival and one of the acts, Grand Funk Railroad, really messed with my head...the band was, it seemed to me -- as my mind melted from heat, drugs, and dehydration -- so insincere and plastic that it just kicked me into a bummer. That extremely hippie girl from Texas lifted me out of the bummer back to heaven, but that's another story.

Anyway, here in Pinellas Park (yes, that Pinellas Park), they're having a damn Barbeque Fest all weekend, complete with a car show and washed up bands and all kinds of Americana. The festival is about ten blocks away from my home and it is loud. OK, I can deal with that, I think. I have a ten-hour Grateful Dead playlist blasting, which has drowned out most of today's concert.

My playlist is cycling through an acoustic Dead set and I can hear the Barbeque Fest again...and it's the freakin' Grand Funk! Oh, my God, flashback time. The worst thing is the song I hear is "American Band," which is quite possibly their worst song, ever, and the bass, which even at this distance is throbbing, is absolutely bad. Where the hell is that hippie girl from Texas when I need her?

PS:

Friday: Likeshine, Lou Gramm (lead singer of Foreigner)

Saturday: Greg Billings Band, WAR, Night Ranger, Grand Funk Railroad

Sunday: Trunk Band, Pat Travers Band, Blackfoot, Creedence Clearwater Revisited

[darkstar]

1. Wow.

Great story all around. Crazy. To have maintinined your sanity through the media circus in your town to be confronted w/ THIS outrage.

Thanks for the tale !

:toast:

[teach1st]

2. Maintained my sanity?

Not likely!

[acmavm]

3. With Grand Funk it wasn't necessary for heat, drugs, and and dehydration

to really mess you up. Mark Farner (wasn't that his name?) and the rest of the band had to be one of the worst musical acts in history. Right up there with Bachman-Turner Overdose and that abomination of a band that sang that song 'Jim Dandy to the Rescue'.

Hadn't thought about these people in years. Mercifully haven't heard them in years either.

[teach1st]

4. Takin' care of business...

Yuck!

Apparently, Mark Farner isn't with this Grand Funk incarnation.


http://www.markfarner.com/

"Mark Farner does not appear with and has no association whatsoever with the current version of the group "Grand Funk Railroad." Billing and promotion for appearances by that group does not indicate that it is not the ORIGINAL line up. This is a situation over which Mark has no control, and we feel for any loyal fans who purchase tickets, expect to see the ORIGINAL band and discover the truth the hard way. God bless you."

[NNadir]

8. Apparently he's doing "Christian Music" for the theocracy now.

It says he only has had three guitar lessons.

It kinda shows.

[BeFree]

5. ....

I'm getting closer to my home....?

[teach1st]

7. Maybe their best song...

Snippets of that tune drifted into my home, right before the "American Band" disaster.

[BeFree]

10. It was?

Damn, I can actually remember stuff from back then.... too bad it's only a stupid song, a stupid song that is now ringing in my head... getting louder... and faster. Louder, faster.

[teach1st]

11. Maybe this acid will kill the ear worm...

...it's windowpane.

[BeFree]

Fourway?

[argyl]

6. God they were an awful band. Didn't need bad acid to have a bad

trip listening to these morons.

[Floogeldy]

9. I loved Grand Funk when I was a teenager

I disagree that they were a bad band. They played very tight. Don Brewer is a GREAT rock drummer. Farner had a great vocal range. They had a really full sound for three piece, and their live shows had intense energy. Yes, Farner was a relatively simple guitarist. But his solos were well thought out, structured and arranged.

Todd Rundgren produced We're An American Band and I think he did a good job.

I think you all are being too hard on the boys from Flint!

B-)

[Kali]

12. remember when

Farner cut his hair? That was the end.

And hey I sorta liked Black Oak Arkansas too. Back in the day anyway. Maybe it was the hair for them too. Always was a sucker for long locks on the guys.

[Floogeldy]

13. I do remember that

Although I think I lost interest in them around E Pluribus Unum.

If I recall correctly, I saw Black Oak Arkansas as the opening act for Grand Funk.

I was a musician and liked both bands at the time - - - I'm thinking about 1968 through 1972.

My hair was almost as long as theirs!

B-)

[darkstar]

15. I think I've made a new friend!

Sounds like we're rough age mates. I do believe I saw Black Oak open for Grand Funk in St. Louis. Remember KSHE in that town?

And then there's the "If Only... connection from earlier.

Finally,I'm a fairly big Todd fan as well.

Anyhow, jist had to touch base again !

[Kali]

17. and Todd Rundgren

is a freaking musical genius, I don't care whether you LIKE his music or not - the guy is so talented.

[Beware the Beast Man]

14. Yeah, but "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" is a pretty decent song.

Not to mention Monster Magnet did a great cover version of that song.

[miss_kitty]

16. I passed out at a GFRR concert once. Iron Maiden opened.

Happy times. Happy happy times.