Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad is an American power trio band. Not usually well-received by critics, the original Grand Funk Railroad lineup were highly popular during the 1970s, selling out arenas world-wide. They were often cited as "the loude

Grand Funk Railroad is an American power trio band. Not usually well-received by critics, the original Grand Funk Railroad lineup were highly popular during the 1970s, selling out arenas world-wide. They were often cited as "the loudest rock and roll band in the world." Grand Funk Railroad currently uses the nickname "The American Band", from their hit song "We're An American Band".

The band was formed in 1969 by Mark Farner (vocals, guitar) and Don Brewer (drums), from Terry Knight & the Pack, and Mel Schacher (bass) from ? & the Mysterians in the working class, auto industry town of Flint, Michigan. Terry Knight soon became their manager and named the band after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. First acheiving recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band was signed by Capitol Records. In 1970 they had sold more albums than any other American band and had become a major concert attraction. In that same year they had a hit single "Closer To Home," a song that was closer in style to the old Terry Knight & The Pack than it was to GFR. A year later, they went on to break The Beatles' record at Shea Stadium, selling out in just 71 hours. That record still stands today.