April 4TH had a whole lotta shakin' goin' on

KLOS Radio Shakin' Bake Festival~MARK FARNER/N'rG
April 4, 2009
Photos and Review By: Kelly Stevens
[Review courtesy of The Fan Zone at http://www.easybreezes.com



It was a perfect day for an outside festival. Not too hot, not too cold, only a few clouds and a light breeze. I didn’t know precisely when Mark was supposed to start so I decided to get there early. My friend Jim and I took off to the gig around 11:30 am and arrived about 12:30 pm. It was smooth sailing all the way. We soon met up with another friend of mine, Dave. Of course I was dressed in my Mark garb, the “I’m Your Captain” t-shirt, a Grand Funk hat, and lanyard with my membership card.

We made our way to the middle area of the Santa Anita racetrack where the stage was set up. There was already a lot of people. There was barbeque, beer and lots of stuff going on all over the place. Jim, Dave, and I settled in initially at the opposite end from the stage. The radio station that sponsored the event (95.5 KLOS) were doing some contests where they would give away money, in the amount of $250.00 each time. During this time they also mentioned something about backstage and Mark doing some pictures. I figured this might be a good queue for me to make my way to the stage and see if I could locate Lesia Farner. I remember saying to my friends just as I got up to walk towards the stage “Wouldn’t that be cool if one of us won some of that money they’re handing out, like that would ever happen!” So there I was, walking towards the stage, when they decided to have another contest. They announced “Okay, this time we’re going to give $250.00 to the first person to show us they’re wearing a Grand Funk hat. I couldn’t believe it! As I approached the stage I could see people looking around to see if anyone was wearing one, but nobody spotted any, so I took my hat off and waved it and yelled “Right here!” As I got closer they could see the “Grand Funk” on the hat and they then announced “We have a winner!” How lucky is that! Needless to say, that hat is now my lucky hat.

After that happened I was allowed backstage and I soon met up with Lesia. This was the first time I ever met her. She was very nice and seemed to enjoy accommodating all us fans, making sure everyone had a chance to meet her Rock n Roll husband. Thank you Lesia. Mark is a lucky guy to have you in his life. Well, the next thing I knew, there was Mark! He posed for a few photos with some fans at first but when he finshed I said: “How’s it going, Mark!” and he said “Hey! Fan of the month!”

I then told him how I won $250.00 just for wearing his hat. We had a few laughs and then Lesia was nice enough to take a picture of me with Mark.

Then came the show. I think Mark started around 4:30pm. I’ve seen Mark play many times but this had one of the most unique gigs. His first set was only 3 songs long before he stopped because the horses would race and then he would go back on and play 3 more songs, stop again, the horses would race again, and then Mark played solid to the end. He started with “We’re An American Band” which surprised me. I’ve never seen him start with that before. I think the next song was “Mr. Limousine Driver” followed by “Nothing Is The Same”. Forgive me if don’t remember it quite right. I was doing a lot of running around and I was a little tired and a little sunburned by the time Mark started, but not to worry. I did catch a second wind. Mark’s second set I think started with “Shinin’On” followed by “Creepin” and then “Aimless Lady”. Mark’s keyboard was over modulating during Creepin and was breaking up a bit. The soundman was trying to fix the problem all through the song. I don’t know for sure but I think the sound system was not their own. By the time Mark came back for the final and main set, the problems were fixed and Mark kicked some serious ass, not that he didn’t already. Let see if I can remember the rest of the songs and there order: “Are You Ready”, “Heartbreaker”, “Footstompin music”, “The Locomotion”, “Bad Time”, “Some Kind Of Wonderful”, “People, Let’s Stop The War” and “Closer To Home”.

It was an awesome day. I had a great time. When I got home that night I was sooo tired, but in a good way. It amazes me how much energy Mark puts out in his performances to this day and still makes time for all his fans. I wish I had some of that energy! I know some day Mark might decide it’s time to retire, but after seeing him again on Saturday that seems a long, long way off. I hope he never retires and just keeps doing what he does best…Rockin’ our socks off!

Kelly Stevens

FROM MARK FARNER'S OFFICIAL YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
Santa Anita "Shakin' Bake Festival Video:

SHININ' ON


HEARTBREAKER CLIPS


Mark Farner's Official You Tube Channel

Read more...

SEND US YOUR SHAKIN BAKE PHOTOS!

Read more...

ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME PETITION

To: Rock N Roll Hall of Fame

Mark Farner/Grand Funk Railroad should be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

Forming in late 1968, they were the first American rock band to obtain 10 consecutive platinum albums, they had many top 40 singles and also had two #1 singles.


The 1973 #1 hit, “We’re An American Band”, expresses the life of a rock band on the road and made them the quintessential American Band.
Born as a garage band from the industrial city of Flint, Michigan, they rose to fame quickly because their music and persona spoke to the soul of the people.


The average Joe (or Jane) found reason in the lyrics and musicianship of GFR and many musicians following them found inspiration in the style of Grand Funk.


The band’s many sold out concerts are highlighted with a 1971 Shea Stadium show that sold out in 72 hours ….. it took the much higher hyped Beatles 7 weeks to sell out the same venue 7 years earlier.


Grand Funk Railroad hits include: “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home”, “Footstompin’ Music”, “Rock and Roll Soul”, “We’re An American Band”, “Walk Like A Man”, The remake of Carol King/Gerry Goffin’s “The Locomotion", the Soul Brothers Six remake “Some Kind of Wonderful”, “Bad Time”, and others.


Based on the contributions vocalist/lead guitarist,Mark Farner, drummer, Don Brewer, bassist, Mel Schacher and the later added orgainist, Craig Frost made to the history of rock n roll, Grand Funk Railroad should be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame.

over 6000 people have signed already...

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Read more...

SHAKIN BAKE KLOS FEST THIS WEEKEND!

We have had a ton of Californians visiting the blog this week for info on Santa Anita. We're hoping for a big crowd this Saturday for Mark's show. Won't hurt that they have the Hawaiian Tropic Model Contest going on during the festival!

Get more info on the show HERE

copy and paste into your twitter page Tweet this post!

Read more...

Legends and Lyrics:Mark Farner Appearance

UPDATE:

Just heard from the producers of Legends and Lyrics and they told us Mark's appearance will air this Fall. They tape the series almost a year in advance.

We will update the blog in plenty of time to get your Tivo's and DVR's ready to tape the show. We hear it's terrific. We will have more information by July.

Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra)
Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
Ian McGlynn (Rising Star)

RE: Announcement:

Latest Performers Set to Tape Legends and Lyrics February 20-24
BMNN wrote: on Feb. 20, 2009:Nashville, TN -- Legends and Lyrics, a Public Television series, which honors the creators of song-- who are professional recording artists, song poets and rising stars has added February 24th to the taping schedule. In all ten performances will be shot, two each day on February 20, 21, 22, 23 and now the 24th. Robert Cray, Mark Farner, Kevin Griffin & Darryl Worley are the latest performers set to tape Legends and Lyrics.

The show is produced out of Nashville, Tennessee by "Songwriters In The Round" and shot in HD 1080p with Surround Sound. The performances will be taped at the historic hall in the Grand Masonic Lodge which is located at the corner of Broadway and Seventh Avenue (downtown Nashville).

Two shows will be taped a day, one at 3:00 pm, the other at 8:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Just go to legendsandlyrics.com to sign up for the free passes.

Please note, you do have to climb stairs to get into the performance hall.
Robert Cray, Darryl Worley, Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) and Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) are the latest performers confirmed--other participants so far include: Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Mac Davis, Lamont Dozier (Stop! In The Name of Love), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Amy Lee (Evanescence), Melissa Manchester, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (You've Lost That Loving Feeling), David Pack (Ambrosia), Peter Yarrow, (Peter Paul & Mary), Guy Clark, Roger McQuinn (The Byrds), Dwight Yoakam, Tony Joe White, with more expected to confirm.
Each taping will showcase well-known recording artists, and legendary song poets from different genres of music in an "in-the-round" setting. Each performer will play their most memorable songs, as well as tell the inspiration behind the creation of their songs.

Read more...

Fantasy Camp ‘09 April 29-May 3

Mark Farner puts his soul into the Music
(Rick Diamond / Image Direct)

Fantasy Camp ‘09

Corporate types looking to live like a rock star will get some help from artists including Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagen, former Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Mark Farner and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick at the latest installment of organizer Dave Fishof’s Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Hollywood April 29-May 3.

Campers get treated like rock royalty for five days – forming bands, rehearsing, attending master classes, recording an original song at Capitol Studios and taking part in a concert at the Whisky A Go Go.

Registration is available at RockCamp.com.

And for tag-along spouses, a companion package for $699 includes access to the Fantasy Camp evening activities, dinners, master classes and the concert at the Whisky.

Read more...

A1 Artist Spotlight.Com/Mark Farner

A1 Artist Spotlight.Com

Listen to full podcast interview HERE

A1 Artist Spotlight featured a phone interview with Mark about
his CD For The People.


Mark Farner’s newest CD is called For the People. He is the self proclaimed Rock Patriot. As a proud citizen of the United States of America, Mark Farner is telling the Americans that there is a big problem going on in this county and you better wake up to it before all your freedoms are taken away.

The title track “For the People” and “Where Do We Go From Here” in my opinion should be required listening by all American citizens.

These two songs are the most important songs any American can hear this year. If Bob Dylan put these songs out the media would be screaming about what Dylan has written.

They’d be telling you in the papers, on the radio, and on TV, “this is the most important song Bob Dylan has written since “The Times They Are A Changing”. Well this may be the most important song since “The Times They Are A Changing”, but Mark Farner The Rock Patriot wrote it, and hardly anyone is playing it.

Thanks to Mark Kerr’s Blues Nation podcast, I’ve got to hear the song “For the People”, a lot. What’s wrong with the radio stations? Why have they not taken the time to play these important songs?

This is not some guy their listeners have never heard of, this is Mark Farner the man who gave us “I’m Your Captain”, “Footstompin’ Music” and “We’re An American Band”. The leader of Grand Funk Railroad, one of the biggest American bands of all time.

The media has ignored this record but you can save the day. Call your local radio station and demand them to play these songs. Mark said the reason he wrote “For the People” is to provoke people to think about where we are as a nation and how we got here.

Mark’s tired of the media and the government telling us lies about everything. The war, the oil, the money. Who is really in control of these things? Why are we as a nation doing what the people of America do not want our government to do?

Who is really running this country, the government or rich Europeans that control our banks? What ever happened to “by the people and for the people”?

Read more...

GUEST POST:70'S MUSIC REVISITED

THE LOCO-MOTION:

Grand Funk, the self proclaimed American Band, was pure rock band. In 1974 as they were working on their album Shinin’ On and were thinking that they may need one more song to complete it.

Mark Farner as a lark began singing ‘Everybody’s doing a brand new dance now’, which with standard reaction other members of the band thought, ‘Yeah, Grand Funk doing the Locomotion’.

After thought they said Why not and turned out this version of the ’60’s pop classic. The Locomotion became the group’s 2nd Number 1 single and their biggest selling single.

Read more...

MARK FARNER: MESSENGER GUITAR

By Art Thompson

Whenever the words “aluminum” and “guitar” are put together, it’s usually in regards to Travis Bean or Kramer, who were the best-known makers of alloy axes. Those companies weren’t the first, however. In fact, Bean was predated by some seven years by a small outfit called Messenger, which, in 1967, began building 6- and 12-string guitars that featured aluminum-magnesium necks running though a medium-depth hollow body.

Messengers sported distinctive cat’s eye soundholes and three finishes:
Morning Sunburst, Midnight Sunburst, and Rojo Red. Some models had built-in fuzztones, and all suffered from being equipped with cheap DeArmond pickups. Some models were wired for stereo output with a switch that let you route both pickups through one jack. To enhance resonance, the metal neck/chassis assembly was tuned to resonate at 440Hz.

The principals of the company—which was known as Musicraft Inc., and was located at 156 Montgomery Street, San Francisco—were Bert Casey and Arnold Curtis. Intending to expand Messenger production, Casey and Curtis relocated to Astoria, Oregon, in 1968, but the company quickly disappeared.

Messenger’s claim to fame is tenuous, but these alloy oddities remain high on the must-have list for some collectors—probably due to their use (in modified form) by Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad.

So little is known about Musicraft/Messenger that we probably wouldn’t have much more to add to the story had it not been for Detroit photographer Ken Settle, who sent us the following recollections of his tumultuous relationship with a Messenger.

“As a 13 year old in 1972, I was a big fan of the primal power of Mark Farner’s guitar playing,” says Settle, “and I tried in vain to find out the name of that strange, duct-tape covered hollowbody guitar he used. One night, while discussing it with my cousins, Paul and Randy, Paul suddenly said, ‘I know where Mark Farner lives.’

“Soon, we were driving though the verdant farmlands of South Eastern Michigan until we arrived in the tiny farming town of Parshallville, and approached the white, wooden fence of Farner’s huge farm estate.

“‘Go look at the name on the mail box,’ Paul suggested. I chuckled as I read the name aloud: ‘Ivan K. Baum.’ Then I heard the vicious sounds of an angry dog, and froze in fear as a snarling Doberman deftly slid under the fence and headed toward me. ‘Tish, get back here,’ boomed a nervous voice. The dog halted, and the fellow quickly attached a leash.

“Gathering my composure, I asked, ‘Do you know the name of that tape-covered guitar Mark plays?’

“‘It’s a Messenger,’ the man tersely responded, as he and the dog headed up the long driveway to the house.

“My search for a Messenger finally paid off when I answered a local newspaper ad. The seller brought the guitar to my house, and I immediately noticed a thin, rawhide strap tied around the neck, just above the nut. The guy said it was a gift headband from his departed girlfriend, which he had promised to never remove.

The guitar produced the unique voice I heard in Farner’s tone, so I bought it with the money I made from selling a mid-’60s, Olympia White Fender Mustang.

“When I changed the Messenger’s strings, I learned the sentimental ‘headband’ was there for a much different reason: The combination of improperly sized Grover tuning pegs and a faulty nut doomed the E string to pop out of its slot without the rawhide strap holding it down. I also discovered the D’Armond pickups were noisy, and they couldn’t hold their own against a humbucker-equipped guitar. I wanted my money back!

“I called the seller, but his phone had been disconnected. I advertised the guitar in the local Tradin’ Times, but I received no calls. I even took it to every pawnshop in Detroit, but no one would give me a dime for it. Finally, I tried to seed interest by calling local pawnshops, and saying I was looking for a Messenger like the one Mark Farner made famous. That afternoon, I walked into Sam’s Loan on Michigan Avenue.

“‘Hey, do you guys want to buy a Messenger guitar?’ I asked. The pawnbroker looked up, and said, ‘Mark Farner, right? I’ll tell ya son, I’ve been in this business 40 years, and never once has someone called looking for an item, and then it comes walking into my shop the same day. I know when I’m being scammed. Now, get your guitar and scoot!’”

More than 30 years hence, Settle still owns this Messenger, and he has come to appreciate its peculiarities. “I like its nasally, but mellow tone when played through a clean amp—think of the intro to Grand Funk’s ‘I’m Your Captain,’” he says. “I also like the built-in fuzz—which sounds as loud and ratty as two Jordan Bosstones connected together—how the metal neck rings like a huge tuning fork when it’s removed from the body, and the chilly embrace my hand receives from the stone-cold metal neck. But that wayward E string still tests my nerves!”

(hey was that Mark with Trish the Doberman?)

Read more...

SHAKE N BAKE/SANTA ANITA PARK!

See Mark Next Weekend Live!

Grab your blackberries and add this event!

Saturday, April 4th - Noon - 6

FIRST EVER KLOS SHAKIN' BAKE FESTIVAL

Santa Anita Park

285 W Huntington Drive

Arcadia CA 91007

Mark Farner will be performing LIVE

Refreshments, Contests, Prizes and...

The Miss Hawaiian Tropic Model Search

Opening for Mark:

Steel Rod

Read more...

GUEST POST: ASSAULT AFTER GFR SHOW

Assault After Grand Funk Railroad Show
The cop's pistol looked huge and aimed right at the head of Grand Funk Railroad's lead singer, Mark Farner.

The late night Halloween show on October 31, 1969 at the Houston (TX) Music Theater with Grand Funk Railroad and the opening act, some guys from Austin called ZZ Top had gone well. As the roadies were loading up the equipment, I went up to the box office to see how my wife Cookie was doing closing the shows books. Went up to the door , knocked and waited to be let in.

From inside I heard my wife Cookie cry out my name in distress. I looked through the one way glass and could see her struggling with the Houston Police Officer who was suppose to be guarding her while she counted the money. But, I could see through the glass that he wasn't guarding her, he was trying to assault her !

Pounded really hard on the door and yelled, "OFFICER, OFFICER !" It seemed to throw him off long enough for Cookie to roll out from under him and run to the door to let me in.

It was obvious that the dude was blitzed drunk as he was standing there weaving and holding on to the counter for support.

I approached the officer and in my most authoritative voice proclaimed, 'OFFICER, YOU ARE NOW OFF DUTY...YOU CAN GO HOME NOW !"
He was dazed as I led him across the room and out the door.

I then went to the phone and called the Houston Police Headquarters and told the desk Sergeant what had happened and that they should send an officer to make sure the guy didn't try to drive in his condition. I said no, we did not want to file a complaint, just called to let them know that their fellow officer needed some help, pronto.

No sooner had I hung up then there was a pounding on the door and a roadie outside yelling that a cop had a gun at Mark Farner's head back at the loading dock. Oh s**t !

I ran full tilt back to the stage entrance and sure enough there was that drunk Mexican cop holding his gun at Mark Farner's head mumbling about f***ing long haired hippie freaks and such.

Terry Knight, the band's manager and Don and Mel, Marks band mates and the rest of the road crew were standing around frozen in fear of what could happen next if the gun were to go off. Oh s**t !

I have no idea of how I knew to handle this situation as it wasn't until several years later that Waylon Jennings told me that guys like us don't have problems, we have, "situations".

So I just strode up and again in my most authoritative voice said, "OFFICER, YOU ARE OFF DUTY, HOLSTER YOUR WEAPON !!."...

With that distracting him ,I walked up and took his arm with the pistol in it and lifted it off Mark's head and up to the ceiling., repeating, OFFICER YOU ARE OFF DUTY, HOLSTER YOUR WEAPON...WHERE IS YOUR CAR ?...its TIME TO GO HOME, WHERE IS YOUR CAR ?.

At that point he put the pistol back in the holster and pointed out to a lone car way out in the parking lot.

As I was walking him out to the car, Houston PD cars came flying in from every direction heading right for us. They immediately took over the "situation" and a burly Sergeant asked if I wanted to file a complaint. I said no as I did not want to have to come back to Houston and a court case involving a f'd up police officer as, hey, nobody got raped, or shot.

About two months later we received a letter from the Houston Chief of Police informing us that the officer in question was given a two week suspension (no doubt with pay) and was receiving counseling. Go figure.
Bob Gately

Read more...

40 YEARS OF MARK FARNER

2009 is the 40th Anniversary of Mark Farner's career
as a platinum recording artist. Mark continues to rock in
venues through out the US.

Mark Farner legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist
for one of the biggest American rock bands of the seventies,
Grand Funk Railroad.


Grand Funk Railroad sold 25 million records and played to
sold out arenas around the world, they accumulated 17 gold
and 11 platinum records.

Some of their biggest songs are:
“Closer To Home (I’m Your Captain)”, “Mean Mistreater”,
“Time Machine”, “Inside Looking Out”, “Footstompin’ Music”,
“Rock & Roll Soul”, Walk Like a Man”, “The Loco-Motion”,
“Shinin’ On”, “Some Kind of Wonderful”, “Bad Time”,
“We’re An American Band” and To Get Back In.


That instantly recognizable voice of Mark Farner is still going strong today.

Here he is from that huge event at Shea Stadium:

Read more...