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

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Mark say's: "Alright" I'm Runnin With The Pack in Flint! [Again]

When Mark Farner's speech at the party to announce the Atwood concert in Flint contained his dream of playing Atwood Stadium, it was clear that this would be a heartfelt genuinely special show. He remarked: "Back in '69 when Grand Funk hit big, I always dreamed of playing Atwood Stadium. Here it is 2009, 40 years later and, I'm gonna play Atwwod Stadium!"

Mark Farner, the engine of the Grand Funk train is building up N'rG...momentum is mounting...the anticipation for this huge scale Flint Reviving event is a breath of fresh air! On August 15TH Flint's Atwood Stadium makes history with the gates opening at 10:00AM. Bands start at 11:00 and play all day until around 6:30 when members of Mark's old bands come to jam and lead into his two hour set! Lets see just who Pack O Mojo are:

In the beginning for Mark Farner , before Flint's Famous Funkman was to be the charismatic conductor of Grand Funk Railroad, we find 1964 with the Genesseians as his very first band.

1965 saw Robin's Hoods (aka: The Derelicts) formed with noted musicians Craig Frost and Mike West.

Through 1965 to 1968 Mark was in and out of such Flint area bands as "Terry Knight And The Pack" and "The Fabulous Pack", "Terry Knight And The Fabulous Pack Part II" with a break for "The Bossman" in 1966 where he met Dick Wagner that later went on to produce the album, play and sing back up vocals of the haunting song "Lorraine" from the [1977] solo album: "Mark Farner"

The Hard Rock Year of 1969, with the edition of stolen bass player Mel Schacher (from ?The Mysterians) just the power trio three; Mark, Don and Mel take the world and Grand Funk Railroad blew us away with their freight train full of Funk!

So you see, the band going on just before Mark Farner: Pac O Mojo are life-long friends and musicians in their own right.




Curt Johnson [guitar] from The Nightwalkers with Mark, The Pack And/Or Fabulous Pack (4/'67-4/'67) Curt also landed the job of Grand Funk sound man during the rigorous touring years.

Dennis Bellinger ( Coolie Group '68 and The Pack [Mark on lead vocals of both bands that Summer]) Grand Funk reunion tour included Dennis on bass 1980 to 1983 when Grand Funk once again, dis-banded

Mark Performs "I'm Your Captain" With Curt And Dennis At Jester's In Flint

The Pack




The Fabulous and the Famous! Let The Funk Fly!

Preceding Pack O Mojo and Mark with N'rG will be local talent drawn from the musical melding pot that is Flint's gift to the Indie world!

Mark Farner and N'rG play that good ol' Axe-Kickin' Grand Funk Rock 'n Roll PLUS, some Farner Flavored, NEW, Funked Up, For The People, For The Flintoids, For The Flint Revival, For 2 hours...For Heaven's Sakes be there!

That's two hours of the Fabulous and the Famous! Rock bands from the Flint area melding pot personally dipped into by Mike Abrahams of "Mikes Triple Grille" in downtown Flint! Get tickets by going to: http://www.flintrevival.com and locally at the MARK FARNER ticket BOX office downtown Flint, at Kearsley and South Saginaw.

Downtown Businessman Tom Z is buying tickets to give away to the unemployed. Stop by his restaurant and ask. Tom has been promoting the concert on his electronic billboard.

Elecro Billboard at: 3010 N Saginaw St~Flint, MI 48505~(810) 787-1111

New Mayor Dayne Walling will be asked to designate a Mark Farner Day and award him the key to City. This will be done a t a 103.9 remote promotion. He will also have a role on stage during the concert before Mark Farner.

The VIP tent is $100 for admission. This gets seating next to the stage, food, under a tent, cash bar and bathrooms near. General admisison seats are $15 advance, $20 day of the event. I'll be there with bells on...Bell bottom jeans that is!

Let's all keep fully hydrated with the special Farner N'rG Stimulus Ade:

Special Thanks to:
Terry Bankert for sharing info from: http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/

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