Farner Music Is Born In The USA...Forty Year's Funkin'

High Noon and High Temperatures saturated sound and souls back in '69 as Mark, Don and Mel stepped onto the stage and into history on that July fourth at International Speedway in Georgia! With a full head of steam...Grand Funk Railroad moved their audience to a gutsy groove most remember to this day...forty years later!

It was 1969, and Alex Cooley's Festival brain child was born on the same day three guys from the garage band circuit in Flint would choose to make history. The birth of America, July 4th, the birth of festivals in the Southern regions, and the birth of Grand Funk Railroad from this day and forevermore! This was one great and groovy celebration of peace during the Vietnam War trauma. Over 100,000 people witnessed this prelude to the 70's era of epic Rock and Roll. After record execs saw the hold that the "power trio" had over their audience the Funkers were signed to their first record deal...and, the Hard Rock Railroad rolls out; "On Time."

The poster depicts today's Super-Stars that were then upstarts;
[courtesy of; alexcooley.com

]

Indeed a "ticket to paradise"




A festival of Music, Love and Peace
From the Grand Funk album titled:"Survival" Liner notes;
(Even if this story is a bit contrived, it's true to the spirit of the tremendous event)

" I don't think I'll ever forget those expressions as they wiped the sweat from their eyes in disbelief and watched that giant sea of faces,more than 180,000 strong,rise in unison and roar out a thunder of approval so loud that,to this day,they still talk about hearing it down on Peachtree St.,a full ten miles from the site. And I'll remember the look in their eyes when the hush fell over the crowd as Mark asked for quiet,and room for the young mother to give birth to her child on the blanket by the bales of hay near the front row. The next day they saw their first reviews in print- all damning critical prophecies that decreed,along with New Life that hot July day in Atlanta, had somehow come what would surely prove to be the most grotesque of all of Rock's children. Two infants had been born that day,they wrote,and one was named GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. The press gave odds that neither would survive the catastrophe.This album is joyfully dedicated to that child, their Brother, from Mark, Don, and Mel." [TK~~RIP]

[Mark Farner's signature solo move]

Jul 4, 2009 4:59 AM
"OMG !!! I was there!!!!!! I had run away from home and we all rode to Atlanta in an old bread truck. That was my first concert of any kind and my gosh, it was awesome. Well, what I remember of it anyway....if you know what I mean...lol. Thousands of people just wandering...music everywhere....people yelling for "medic" all the time....dirt, mud, jumping in the close by river with nothing on but a smile. When we first got there of course you were supposed to present your ticket and go thru the gate...yeah, like that happened. It was "down with the gate" and some bikers were supposed to be controlling the masses but that didn't work out very well for them. CHARGE !! We were thru and the days began. Unfortunately, I don't recall many of the music acts that played. My mind was just a tad bit on the messed up side. I was there for the whole thing but only remember Jimi Hendrix (barely)...I think it was him anyway. I was pretty out of it and someone kept telling me to get up and listen to him...but I was just laying on the ground as happy as could be. Theres alot more fuzzy memories that I have but won't go into all of those. I just know it was a blast....wish I could go back there one more time. Loved it." [from Kim Z.]



Peace and Love reign in Hampton's International Speedway;

For show info, "Forty Year's Funkin'" merchandise, fan club memberships, music, etc., Visit; MARKFARNER.COM