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Timeline:
1948: Craig Frost
Keyboardist Craig Frost is born on April 20, 1948 in Flint, MI.
1948: Mark Farner
Guitarist and Vocalist Mark Farner is born on September 29, 1948 in Flint, MI.
1948: Don Brewer
Drummer Don Brewer is born on September 3, 1948 in Swartz Creek, MI.
1949: Dennis Bellinger
Bassist Dennis Bellinger is born on October 8, 1949.
1951: Mel Schacher
Bassist Mel Schacher is born on April 8, 1951 in Owasso, MI.
1965: 1965 to 1968
Don Brewer and Mark Farner spend these years playing in various bands around the Flint, Michigan area, eventually ending up with Terry Knight & The Pack.
1966: Terry Knight & The Pack
Terry Knight and The Pack make the national charts with "I (Who Have Nothing)" which peaks at #46 on November 12, 1966.
1968: From the Pack to the Power
Don Brewer and Mark Farner eventually quit The Pack and recruit ? & The Mysterians' bass player Mel Schacher to form the "power trio" Grand Funk Railroad.
July, 1969: Atlanta International Pop Festival
Just prior to the success of Woodstock, other music festivals had started to appear across the country the summer and fall of 1969.
After hearing Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight became their manager and started drumming up gigs for the band, most of which they performed for free. Knight persaded the promoters of the Atlanta International Pop Festival to let Grand Funk play, unpaid.
The only unsigned act on the show, Grand Funk Railroad played before 180,000 people in 110-degree heat and the acclaim was instantaneous. Following their Atlanta appearance, the band was signed by Capitol Records.
After hearing Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight became their manager and started drumming up gigs for the band, most of which they performed for free. Knight persaded the promoters of the Atlanta International Pop Festival to let Grand Funk play, unpaid.
The only unsigned act on the show, Grand Funk Railroad played before 180,000 people in 110-degree heat and the acclaim was instantaneous. Following their Atlanta appearance, the band was signed by Capitol Records.
August, 1969: Grand Funk Rocks The World
Over the next seven years, Grand Funk Railroad would tour the world. The band's concerts would set attendance records while at the same time, music critics would rip apart their recordings. Rolling Stone Magazine once called them the world's worst rock band, all the time that the working class rock fan embraced them as "The American Band".
August 25th, 1969: On Time
Grand Funk Railroad's first album released. Features original band member's Mark Farner, Don Brewer and Mel Schacher.
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December 29th, 1969: "Grand Funk" Released
Grand Funk's second album, also known as "the Red Album", is rushed to release.
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June 15th, 1970: "Closer To Home" Released
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November 16th, 1970: "Live Album" Released
Grand Funk's first live album.
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1971: Shea Stadium
Grand Funk Railroad continues as one of the top touring bands of their time, selling out concerts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America.
They even sell out New York City's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles did.
They even sell out New York City's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles did.
April 15th, 1971: "Survival" Released
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November 15th, 1971: "E. Pluribus Funk" Released
11/15/71
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April, 1972: "Mark, Don & Mel" Released
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September, 1972: "Phoenix" Released
The band separates from Terry Knight, losing most everything related to the band except part of the name. They produce their next album "Phoenix" themselves and add keyboardist Craig Frost, an old friend from the Fabulous Pack days. Craig will become a permanent member of the group.
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July 15th, 1973: "We're An American Band" Released
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1974: "Monumental Funk" Released
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March, 1974: "Shinin' On" Released
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December, 1974: "All The Girls In The World Beware!!!" Released
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August, 1975: "Caught In The Act" Released
Grand Funk's second release featuring Live concert performances.
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January, 1976: "Born To Die" Released
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August, 1976: "Good Singin' Good Playin'" Released
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September, 1976: Grand Funk Railroad disbands
After 12 gold and 10 platinum records, 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits including two at Number One both selling more than one million each, total sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide, and 7 years of touring the world as America's Band, Grand Funk Railroad calls it quits. Mark engages in a solo career.
November, 1976: "Hits" Released
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1977: Mark Farner released
Mark releases his first solo album on Atlantic Records to critical aclaim.
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1978: No Frills released
Mark releases his second solo album, also on Atlantic and also to great reviews.
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1978: Flint formed
From the ashes of Grand Funk, Don Brewer, Mel Schacher and Craig Frost from "Flint", named after the members' hometown.
1980 to 1983: Grand Funk Railroad Reforms
Mark, Don and Mel discuss reforming GFR. Mel goes into rehearsal with Mark and Don but decides not to record or tour for personal reasons.
Local Flint musician Dennis Bellinger is brought in to replace Mel on bass.
Mark, Don and Dennis tour throughout 1981-1982 and sell out shows in Japan and South America.
Local Flint musician Dennis Bellinger is brought in to replace Mel on bass.
Mark, Don and Dennis tour throughout 1981-1982 and sell out shows in Japan and South America.
July, 1981: "Grand Funk Lives" Released
Mark and Don with bassist Dennis Bellinger.
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January, 1983: "What's Funk" is released
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March, 1983: Grand Funk Railroad Disbands - Once Again
After two years of touring, Mark, Don and Dennis say goodbye again.
Mark resumes his solo career, eventually releasing four albums in the Contemporary Christian music genre.
Mark resumes his solo career, eventually releasing four albums in the Contemporary Christian music genre.
1987: "Great!" Released
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February 26th, 1991: "Capitol Collectors Series" Released
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1992: "Heavy Hitters" Released
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May, 1996: GFR Reunites
Mark, Don and Mel discuss the possiblity of a reunion. They meet at a hunting lodge for a preliminary reheasal.
From May 1996 to July 1996 GFR reunite and perform before 260,000 people at 14 sold out shows.
The band hires Ringo Starr promoter David Fishof as their manager.
From May 1996 to July 1996 GFR reunite and perform before 260,000 people at 14 sold out shows.
The band hires Ringo Starr promoter David Fishof as their manager.
January, 1997: GFR Reunion Tour Begins
January 1997 - The band plans 3 shows in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles to benefit and bring awareness to orphans in the war torn country of Bosnia.
April - November 1997: The band plays 30+ shows in the U.S. and Japan with added sideman Howard Eddy Jr.
April 11, 1997: GFR perform on "Good Morning America".
April 20, 1997: The sound is recorded at the Detroit (Auburn Hills) show which will later be released as the live album Bosnia.
May 2, 1997: GFR perform on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
October 1997: The double live album Bosnia is released as a box CD set. The proceeds are to go to the Bosnia Relief Effort.
January 1998: The band switches management teams and hires Bobby Roberts and Jim Della Croce as co-managers.
April 29, 1998: GFR performs at Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame museum and donate articles for a display to be created at a future date.
The band plays a 65+ show tour throughout 1998 and is listed as one of the top 10 grossing tours of 1998.
April - November 1997: The band plays 30+ shows in the U.S. and Japan with added sideman Howard Eddy Jr.
April 11, 1997: GFR perform on "Good Morning America".
April 20, 1997: The sound is recorded at the Detroit (Auburn Hills) show which will later be released as the live album Bosnia.
May 2, 1997: GFR perform on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
October 1997: The double live album Bosnia is released as a box CD set. The proceeds are to go to the Bosnia Relief Effort.
January 1998: The band switches management teams and hires Bobby Roberts and Jim Della Croce as co-managers.
April 29, 1998: GFR performs at Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame museum and donate articles for a display to be created at a future date.
The band plays a 65+ show tour throughout 1998 and is listed as one of the top 10 grossing tours of 1998.
October 21st, 1997: "Bosnia" Released
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1999: Mark Departs Grand Funk Railroad
After giving the band a year more than they originally agreed on, Mark once again walks away from GFR to resume his solo career and goes on a national tour.
In March, VH-1 debuts a "Behind The Music" special on Grand Funk Railroad. It proves to be one of their most watched episodes.
In March, VH-1 debuts a "Behind The Music" special on Grand Funk Railroad. It proves to be one of their most watched episodes.
June 29th, 1999: "30 Years Of Funk" Released
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December, 2000: The New Grand Funk Railroad
In an effort to continue the renewed interest and popularity of Grand Funk, original members Don Brewer and Mel Schacher recruit singer Max Carl (38 Special), lead guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS), and keyboardist Tim Cashion (Bob Seger and Robert Palmer) to round out the new version of the band.
2002: "Classic Masters" Released
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2002: "Live - The 1971 Tour" Released
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2002: "Trunk Of Funk" Released
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May 4th, 2006: Credits:
Grand Funk Railroad Timeline created by Rob Whitehurst for MusicMoz.org. All Rights Reserved. Can not be reprinted without attribution.
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