Michigan's GRAND FUNK RAILROAD was one of the American Hard Rock institutions of the 70's and, alongside BLACK SABBATH, were one of the first bands to be termed as 'Heavy Metal'. Quite incredibly GRAND FUNK RAILROAD boasted no less than 8 top ten albums in America between 1970 and 1975 despite an almost total media censorship of the band. GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's success was such that they were the second only band ever, after THE BEATLES, to sell out New York's Shea Stadium.

Formed in Flint, Michigan during 1964 the group initially went under the title of THE PACK with a line-up of former Disc Jockey Terry Knight (real name Richard Knapp) on vocals, guitarist/bassist Mark Farner and ex-JAZZMASTERS drummer Don Brewer.

The group is believed to have debuted with the A&M single 'You Lie'/'The Kids Will Be The Same', although some degree of controversy remains as to whether this single was actually ever released. Whatever, the same year Wingate Records issued 'Tears Come Rollin' before THE PACK became TERRY KNIGHT ANDTHE PACK. The band were picked up by the Flint based Lucky 11 Records for several singles through 1966 and 1967 scoring an American hit with 'I (Who Have Nothing)' during the latter year. This making up for the fact that the group's cover of the ROLLING STONES' 'Lady Jane' had to be pulled as the British outfit had released the song themselves as a 45 around the same period.

'I (Who Have Nothing)' reached number 46 in the American singles chart which led to a TV spot on the Dick Clark hosted 'Where The Action Is' show. However, the group splintered during 1967.

Terry Knight went solo and Farner also departing to join THE BOSS MEN (Lucky 11 label mates fronted by future ALICE COOPER man Dick Wagner) with whom he recorded two singles; 'Baby Boy' and 'On The Road'. However, Wagner quit to join THE FROST and Farner teamed up with Don Brewer once again in a reformed THE PACK to continue recording for the Lucky 11 label, including a version of the 50s Soul hit 'The Harlem Shuffle'

Now billed as THE FABULOUS PACK, the group cut the 'Widetrackin' single, a song penned by Dick Wagner.

It would appear that Farner and Brewer may have cut singles credited to themselves in the final days of THE PACK in 1968, although some sources are dubious as to whether the singles actually exist let alone be released.

Somehow THE PACK signed to Capitol as old cohort Terry Knight was signed to the label and obviously the connection led to THE PACK being picked up for the release of the 'Next To Your Fire' (a cover of the JIMI HENDRIX tune) single before the group folded. This would come after one humiliating gig supporting GARY PUCKETT in Boston where the band had actually played a supporting role not from the stage but on the floor!

Upon returning to Flint, Brewer and Farner endeavoured to found a power trio setting up rehearsals in the local YMCA building. Their first choice for bass player would be Rick Bozzo of the MEAT LOAF SOUL band. However, Bozzo was dissuaded by MEAT LOAF himself.

Subsequently the duo met ex MYSTERIANS bass player Mel Schacher and, with Terry Knight opting out of the limelight to become the band's manager, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD (named after Michigan's famous Grand Trunk Railroad) arrived in 1969. Following an appearance at the Atlanta Pop festival the same year the band managed to use their connections at Capitol to score a major deal. The first album from this liaison, 'On Time', broke the American charts and was further boosted by carrying a hit single in the form of 'Time Machine'.

Knight had been unceremoniously fired in early 1972 and the band recruited John Eastman, brother in law of THE BEATLES own PAUL McCARTNEY, as their business adviser. However, legal wrangles with Knight were to dog the band for many years afterwards.

With the act at such a commercial peak, Capitol released not only an expected compilation of early works titled 'Mark, Don and Mel', which reached no. 17 in the Billboard charts, but also a collection of pre- GRAND FUNK RAILROAD material titled 'Mark, Don and Terry: 1966-'67'.

Now off the leash, and with a shortened name, GRAND FUNK's Todd Rundgren produced 1973 album 'We're An American Band' captured the spirit of the Rock nation giving the band their biggest hit album and a coveted number 1 single with the title track.

The follow up album, 'Shinin On', saw no let up in popularity as once more the band celebrated a second no. 1e hit, this time with a radical re-work of LITTLE EVA's 'Loco-Motion'.

However, by 1975's 'Born To Die', prophetically featuring the band ensconced in coffins on the cover, GRAND FUNK's fire was beginning to dim.

Despite eccentric guitar guru Frank Zappa making his presence known on the 'Good Singin', Good Playin'' album on the track 'Out To Get You' and the undoubted quality of the album as a whole, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's fanbase drifted away and the album failed to dent the American top 50.

By the middle of 1977 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD had disbanded, although Farner quickly got back on his feet with THE MARK FARNER BAND. Two albums, 1978's 'Mark Farner' and 1979's 'No Frills', were issued but failed to chart.

The remaining FUNK members stayed as a unit adding guitarist Bill Elworthy and, under the name of their birthplace FLINT, released an eponymous 1978 album for Columbia Records. Later, Frost was to join BOB SEGER's live band. Brewer pushed his name to the fore once more as producer of the notorious debut album by Cleveland Ohio's THE GODZ.

By 1981 and with success eluding all the band's ex members Farner and Brewer, together with bassist Dennis Bellinger re-emerged as GRANDFUNK although a further brace of albums later, and with no chart success, the band folded once more.

Brewer allied with Frost once more in BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND while Farner opted for a further solo album, 'Just Another Injustice' for Frontline Records in 1988.

Interestingly, in a period when a number of the biggest names from 70's Rock history made historic returns GRAND FUNK RAILROAD rose once more in 1997 when, as a trio, the band performed a benefit show for Bosnia at New York's Beacon theatre. The show was recorded and released as a live album and featured guest Peter Frampton and members of the Detroit Symphony orchestra and the Sarejevo Symphony orchestra conducted by Paul Schaffer. An ambitious project for sure!

The group by now featured the nucleus of Farner, Brewer and Schacher with the addition of keyboard player Howard Eddy.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD got back onto the road in late 2000 with Farner and Schacher joined by former .38 SPECIAL keyboard player / guitarist / vocalist MAX CARL, keyboard player Tim Cashion and guitarist Bruce Kulick. The latter of course being known for his services to KISS and more recently UNION.

'We're An American Band' would be covered by numerous artists over the years including in 1985 by AUTOGRAPH, in 1997 by JOE LYNN TURNER and in 1998 by both JACKYL and ROCKTOBER. In 2000 KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick's side project SUPERSHINE covered 'Shinin' On' for their eponymous debut.

As Capitol Records dug out archive live material billed as 'Live- The 1971 Tour' for release GRAND FUNK RAILROAD geared up for another mammoth bout of summer touring throughout North America in 2002. BRUCE KULICK had a close shave on 16th October 2003, being shot in the leg. Apparently a 21-year-old man got into an argument inside the Rainbow Bar & Grill at about 1:20 a.m., grabbed a gun from his car and shot from Sunset Boulevard into a crowd at the club's patio area, injuring Kulick and one other man. Another bullet grazed his head. Fortunately Kulick was released from hospital shortly after.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD toured heavily across the USA in the Summer of 2004. Unfortunately the year closed on a tragic note when, on 1st November, band mentor and former manager Terry Knight was murdered. His daughter's boyfriend, Donald Alan Fair, was charged with the crime. He was 61 years old.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's 'I'll Come Tumblin' was given a new treatment by ex-OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist JAKE E. LEE on his 2005 album of seventies cover versions. Kulick featured as guest player on Italian singer CHRIS CATENA's 2005 solo album 'Discovery - Return of the Galactic Freakboy'. Later that same year Glamsters POISON covered 'We're An American Band' for inclusion on their compilation set 'The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock'.