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By: Donna Wightman
Terry Knight and The Pack Richard Terrance Knapp (who later changed his name to Terry Knight) was a popular Flint / Detroit disc jockey. He soon tired of radio, and decided to enter the music end of the business. Terry deejayed at record hops with a local band named "The Jazz Masters", which consisted of Don Brewer (drums), Al Pippins (guitar), Bob Caldwell (keyboards), and Herm Jackson (bass). Soon he asked to join the band as lead singer. Because of his radio connections, the band readily agreed. To sound more "English", they renamed themselves "The Pack". After about a year, they developed a large following, and became known as "Terry Knight and The Pack". Herman Jackson was drafted, and was replaced by a local kid named Mark Farner. |
Grand Funk Railroad After a wildly successful performance at the Atlanta Pop Festival on July 4, 1969, the American Band landed a recording contract with Capitol Records. In 1970 they had sold more albums than any other American band, and went on to break the Beatles' record at Shea Stadium in 1971. Sometime during/after the recording of E Pluribus Funk, it was decided to replace Terry Knight with Andy Cavaliere as Manager. The next few years were spent in litigation over the rights to the name "Grand Funk Railroad" and song royalties. The band got to keep their name, but little else.
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During this time, the band recorded the album "Phoenix", which they produced themselves, and added a keyboardist, former "Fabulous Pack" member, Craig Frost. Although not yet an official member, Craig added an extra element into the GFR sound, which would continue for the remaining of the 1970's. The American Band
One more album was recorded with the original members on MCA records. "Good Singin' Good Playin' ", produced by Frank Zappa, and is considered their finest by many fans. (GSGP was just recently remastered and issued on CD.) |
Solo Careers
Mark then went on to record two solo albums, while Don Brewer, Mel Schacher
and Craig Frost continued on as "Flint".
In the 1980's, Mark and Don teamed up with Flint musician Dennis Bellinger (replacing Mel on bass) to record two more GF albums, this time with Warner Brothers label, Full Moon.
Mark resumed his solo career, recording three Christian albums. Don followed Craig and joined Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band, and Mel was continuing his non-musical pursuits.
The Reunion
In 1995, Mark was asked to join Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. Sometime
during the next year, Mark, Don and Mel decided to go out and play a few
"Reunion" concerts back east. Howard Eddy Jr. was asked to join as
a sideman on keyboards, rhythm guitar, and background vocals. It
wasn't long that it became official, Grand Funk Railroad was reunited
"for good" as Mel said in a 1997 interview.
Teaming up with Ringo's Promoter, David Fishof, the band played three Bosnia benefit concerts in 1997, released a new live album which proceeds went to benefit the orphans of war torn Bosnia, then continued to tour throughout 1998 under the management of Bobby Roberts and Jim Della Croce.
The Frank Zappa produced album "Good Singin' Good Playin'" was remastered and reissued on CD in January 1999, VH-1 filmed a "Behind the Music" special which first aired in March 1999, and GFR's Anthology "Thirty Years of Funk" is being released by Capitol on June 29, 1999.