Grand Funk Railroad: The Railroad Ties That Bent Their Tracks

In the beginning there were "Pack" members destined to form the legendary Rock Forging Railroad: Grand Funk Railroad. Mark Farner and Don Brewer cut their chops in the mid-western region in their early musicianhood with the Michigan Rock radio station DJ that was plugged in to the biz.
The historic results are explained better here in song and video:







PRE-FUNK GOLD (1966-1967) TERRY KNIGHT AND THE PACK

Snippet and video from the Farner/Funk dedicated channel by JohninFunk.

"The time period "Baby Boy" went out [October 1966] The Bossmen included a former T.K.P. member [who rejoined T.K.P. right after The Bossmen split at the end of 1966] Mark Farner! Let alone that Terry Knight is credited as producer on this 45 [probably unfairly...]
B.T.W. Back then, Mark Farner had 2 great spots live with The Bossmen: His very first composition Heartbreaker and a cover of The House Of The Rising Sun! He obviously could level another legend..."

Thanks JohninFunk

The Pack Anthology [2002]



The Pack Anthology - 2002

1. The Tears Come Rolling - 2:40
2. How Much More - 2:34
3. I've Been Told - 2:42
4. Better Man Than I - 2:54
5. Got Love - 3:13
6. Lady Jane - 2:48
7. Lovin' Kind - 3:00
8. A Change on the Way - 3:41
9. What's On Your Mind - 1:49
10. I (Who Have Nothing) - <3:22/font>
11. Numbers - 2:28
12. This Precious Time - 2:50
13. Love,Love,Love,Love - 2:54
14. One Monkey Won't Stop No Show - 2:41
15. The Train - 2:10
16. Harlem Shuffle - 3:04
17. Down in The Valley - 2:22
18. I've Got News For You - 2:51
19. Wide Trackin' - 2:45
20. Does It Matter To You Girl - 2:01
21. Next to Your Fire - 2:44
22. Sleep Talkin' - 3:02

Rest In God's Peace Terry Knight


Terry Knight and The Pack
Band Members Included:

* TERRY KNAPP (KNIGHT) - Vocals & Keyboards
* DON BREWER - Drums
* MARK FARNER - Guitar & Bass
* BOB CALDWELL - Keyboards
* KURT JOHNSON - Guitar

...From the liner notes of the incomparable bootleg compilation LP: "Michigan Brand Nuggets".

"Flint-Saginaw, the upper wastes of Northern Michigan may seem an unlikely hotbed for musical activity, but three notable acts emerged from this region—Terry Knight & The Pack, Dick Wagner's Frost and Question Mark (sic) & The Mysterians. Before They Were (Grand) Funked... Terry Knapp cum Terry Knight had been a disc jockey at CKLW (Windsor/Detroit) in the early '60's (he actually got away with such on-the-air shenanigans as playing the Rolling Stones "Little Red Rooster" repeatedly for an hour). By '65 he was ready to view things from the other side. The problem was, as a recording artist, he didn't possess a great deal of talent. Nevertheless, after assembling The Pack he scored locally with his cover of the Yardbirds' "Better Man Than I". After a couple of weak follow-ups, Knight & Company hit again with "A Change On the Way", an original tune in the "Shape of Things To Come" vein. Then came the melodramatic "I Who Have Nothing" which hit #46 nationally. Knight spent the better part of his recording career trying to sound like other artists, having little personality of his own, at least not on record. Terry & The Pack's recording career soon nosedived. But Terry got his revenge on the record buying public. After an unsuccessful stint at making solo records, he assembled ex-Pack members Mark Farner and Don Brewer and ex-Mysterian Mel Schacher and created a monster: Grand Funk Railroad. The rest, as they say, is history."

For more bio information: http://www.markfarner.com/discography.php


Where they are NOW:

Flint, Michigan mini-Pack Reunion; 2008



A 3-Pack Dennnis Bellinger Curt Johnson, Mark Farner


Flint's 2009 Revivial and Atwood Stadium Concert brought together Herm Jackson, Dennis Bellinger, Curt Johnson. Very special appearance from GFR keyboardist Craig Frost.



Dennis Bellinger (GFR bass '81-'83) Curt Johnson (GFR soundman on tour) now together again as: Pac O Mojo