Generally acknowledged as one of the precursors to heavy metal, Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard driving sound; a combination of soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies.
The fact that Grand Funk’s legacy still looms large over the pop music landscape more than 40 years after its 1969 birth in Flint, Mich.is also a testament to the group’s influence and staying power. Mega-hits “We’re An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on classic rock radio. Legend has it that Prince named his first rock band Grand Central as a nod to Grand Funk.
Internationally acclaimed, Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York’s Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles. The group’s widespread appeal is also evident in its considerable recording achievements.
Over their career, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits and two Number One singles (“We’re An American Band” and “Locomotion,” both selling more than one million each). The group has 12 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide.
Formed in 1969, Grand Funk was born out of the ashes of Terry Knight & The Pack, another band from Flint, Mich. Currently the group includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the hit, “We’re An American Band”) and bassist Mel Schacher. Joining Don and Mel is an all-star cast featuring singer Max Carl (38 Special, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, Max Carl and Big Dance), lead guitarist Bruce Kulick (12 years with KISS and credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squire) and keyboardist Tim Cashion (Bob Seger and Robert Palmer).
Together, Brewer and Schacher have created a dynamic and multi-talented five piece band that will not only carry on the tradition of Grand Funk hits, but also has the potential to create a new chapter in the legacy of Grand Funk Railroad.
The Spin Doctors will take the stage at 8 p.m., with Grand Funk appearing at approximately 9:30 p.m. Gates will open at 7 p.m.
In 1991, the album “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” became both a musical and cultural phenomenon. In the years since, the album has remained a crucial touchstone, both for the band and for its fans. One of the 100 best-selling albums of the 1990s, it’s sold more than five million copies in the U.S. and an additional five million overseas.
Two decades after its creation, the album remains a compelling distillation of the Spin Doctors’ diverse musical interests, and a prime example of a group of musicians seizing a historic moment to make timeless music.
“Pocket Full of Kryptonite” elevated the Spin Doctors from a grass-roots local phenomenon to a world-class recording act. Such enduring signature tunes as “Two Princes,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues,” “What Time Is It?” and “Forty or Fifty” embody the band’s trademark mix of hit songwriting, a funky sensibility and wildly adventurous instrumental acrobatics.
The Spin Doctors honed their performing and songwriting skills during the same vibrant downtown Manhattan music scene that nurtured such homegrown acts as Blues Traveler, Joan Osborne and Chris Whitley. “It was such an amazing scene at the time,” Comess recalls. “There was so much great music happening downtown in New York. It was a real family environment, amongst the bands and the fans. And Kryptonite and everything that followed came directly from us developing a following by playing live.”
Tickets for the August. 10 show are still available and may be purchased online at amphitheater.org or visiting the Fred Box Office at 201 McIntosh Trail. Reserved seats range from $50-$65.
Call 770-631-0630 for information or questions.
