The Story of Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad, often referred to as the 'American Band', was formed in 1969 in Flint, Michigan. The band consists of Mark Farner on guitar and vocals, Don Brewer on drums and vocals, and Mel Schacher on bass. Grand Funk Railroad is one of the most successful and influential hard rock bands of all time; they've sold over 25 million records worldwide.

The trio's first single, 'Time Machine', became a hit in the US and Europe. This was followed by the release of their debut album 'On Time' which reached No.27 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 1970, Grand Funk released their second album 'Closer to Home' which became a massive success, reaching No.6 on the Billboard 200. It featured some of their most popular hits such as 'I'm Your Captain' and 'Closer to Home'. Following its success, Grand Funk released two more albums in 1971; they were 'Survival' and 'E Pluribus Funk'. The albums spawned the hit singles 'Mean Mistreater' and 'Inside Looking Out'.

In 1972, the band released their fourth album titled 'Phoenix', which reached No.5 on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured the hit single 'We're an American Band' which peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song also became their signature song.

The band went on to release several other albums including 'Shinin' On' (1974), 'Good Singin', Good Playin' (1976), and 'All The Girls In The World Beware!!!' (1974). In 1977, Grand Funk Railroad disbanded after a series of internal struggles.

After disbanding, Mark Farner continued to pursue a solo career while Don Brewer and Mel Schacher went on to form a new band called Flint. In 1996, Grand Funk reunited for a concert tour which was well-received by fans around the world.

Today, Grand Funk Railroad is considered one of the most influential hard rock bands of all time. They have left an indelible mark in music history with their hard-hitting bluesy sound and have influenced many other bands such as Kiss, Alice Cooper, and John Mellencamp.