Mark Trivia From TV.com

TV.COM

During his time with Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner was known for his unique sound and unique-looking guitars. The guitar he is most identified with was made by Messenger. It had an aluminum neck and on-board electronics, including a built-in fuzz tone.

In his sophomore year in high school, Mark and friends poured a bottle of "skunk" perfume in a radiator vent of the school's heating system. The entire school population had to be evacuated and classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

One of Mark's favorite pastimes from childhood was riding a horse bareback through the woods while hanging on to just its mane.

Mark played the tuba in the Preston Elementry School Band.

As part of the tradition of his Native American roots, Mark wears a medicine bag on his side when he performs on stage.

Mark is part Native American from the Cherokee tribe.

In 2002, Mark Farner performed in A Walk Down Abbey Road, a tribute to the Beatles.

Mark participated in Volunteers For America, raising funds for the New York Port Authority after the Authority's devastating loss on September 11, 2001

Mark was expelled from high school in his senior year after hitting a teacher who shoved him into a brick wall, causing his head to bleed badly. He attempted to finish high school at a local junior college but his constant work in bands at night made it impossible. Mark never completed high school and never got his diploma.

In addition to touring with his own band, N'rG, Mark also participates regularly with the Ringo Starr All Starr Band and as a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, where amateur musicians rub shoulders and perform with celebrity rock stars.

When asked how he came to write one of his mega-hits, Mark said one night just before going to sleep he prayed for a song that would reach out and touch the people God wanted to touch. He woke up abruptly in the middle of the night with words in his head and instantly wrote them down. The next day he picked up a guitar and finished what would become one of his most popular songs, I'm Your Captain.

In the lean years after Grand Funk Railroad, Mark ran an alternative energy store in Michigan, selling solar power panels and wind mills.

Mark used VO5 mens hair dressing to grease his long hair back to keep from being expelled from high school.

Mark began playing guitar at the age of 15, after a broken finger and bad knees ended his football career.