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Interview with Mark Farner

Sofa King Cool caught up with Mark Farner and we discussed his upcoming live DVD “From Chile With Love”, the amazing ROCK N ROLL SOULS MUSIC VIDEO, working with Alice Cooper on “Detroit Stories” How wrong Cancel Culture is and what is going on with Marilyn Manson, touring with Ringo Starr, His shares some stories about Grand Funk Railroad and how TERRY KNIGHT tried to repossess their gear before playing Madison Square Garden, how he hopes to one day reunite with Grand Funk for a tour, How the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame is a Joke, using his downtime to collaborate with Mark Slaughter for a possible new album, and what is next for him

 

 

 

 

 

This DVD will be autographed by Mark Farner.

Track Listing:
Are You Ready
Rock N Roll Soul
Footstompin’ Music
American Band
Bad Time
Aimless Lady
Paranoid
Shinin’ On
Into The Sun
All You’ve Got Is Money
Creepin’
Sins A Good Man’s Brother
Sweet Little Rock & Roller
Heart Breaker
The Loco- Motion
Some Kind Of Wonderful
TNUC
I’m Your Captain (Closer To Home)
 
Bonus Tracks:
Life Line
Never & Always
Testify
The Prisoner
The Rain Came Down

 

Preorder Here

Mark Farner is the reason. As one of the founding members, lead singer, lead guitarist, andw rote 90% of the Grand Funk music catalog, Farner has always been known as the energetic driving force on stage, the engine that pulled the original Grand Funk Railroad to the top of the charts. From his soulful voice and power rock riffs, to fueling the Funk with his atomic stage presence. His story and his imprint on music starts with Flint and since 1969 from his humble beginnings and a blue-collar outlook, Farner has captained a global crusade for love and freedom and became a rock ‘n’ rollicon.50 years later–he commands the stage with the same intensity performing epic hits that defined a generation–“I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”, “Bad Time”, “Some Kind of Wonderful”,“Foo tStompin’ Music”, “Heartbreaker”, “Locomotion”, “Mean Mistreater” and “We’re An American Band”. Today, Farner’ samplifying his remarkable career another full decibel selling more than 30 million records worldwide, including 16 gold and platinum albums. Mark Farner’s American Band will honor Farner’s golden anniversary in music, as well as shine a spotlight on his legendary contributions to society, in his 2019-2020 50th Anniversary Tour. Farner, 70,is also about as real as they get: he’s a husband, a father and grandfather and in his fourth decade of marriage to wife Lesia. He’s a family man.“ I am who my songs say I am,” Farner said. Farner’s first years in music were with the band Terry Knight and the Pack and The Bossmen.When GFR formed in 1969 they named the group after the Grand Trunk&Western Railroad that runs through Flint. Like a Spartan, Farner was intent on bringing rock destined for arenas. What began as rehearsals at Flint’s Federation of Musicians Union Hall ledto some of rock music’s watershed moments. At the1969 Atlanta International Pop Festival ,they shared the stage with rock luminaries such as LedZeppelin,Janis Joplin, and Creedence ClearwaterRevival. GFR thrilled the audience and further cemented its place as a live band full o floud, ferocious rock, soul, and funk!“ I think our fans connected to our songs because we were sincere,” Farner said. “My lyrics were about MotherEarth, stopping the war, and all about love. They still have a point of reference with me in their heart. ”The same year they formed–1969–the band further defied expectations by releasing two albums (viaCapitolRecords) in a four-month period. Farner wrote all but two songs from On Time and theplatinum-selling Grand Funk.He said they wanted to take advantage of th emeteoric riset hat wa sbuilding in terms of the band’s popularity.“It wasn’t much pressure because the songs were coming fast,” Farner said. “I had nothing but time for songs.”By 1970, Farner’s songs were pivotal to the band’s success. The epic composition, “I’m Your Captain(Closer to Home)” became an anthem for Vietnam War Veterans and audience salike. Farner would later perform the iconic song at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, on the 25thAnniversaryof the Vietnam Memorial Wall.Farner also received the Vietnam Veterans of American Presidents Award for Excellence in the Arts.“That was a cold day temperature wise,” Farner said, of performing at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall.“But the warmth of the hearts of the people that actually showed up, not just the US GIs, we had Canadian Nam vets there, as well…I’m thinking…how am I gonna sing with a softball in my throat?’ 

 
 
I was so choked up because I’m watching, looking out in the audience and watching these guys that were standing there, crying.”The son of a World WarIIveteran, four-time bronze star recipient and career fireman also knows the importance of brotherhood and commitment. On his mother’s side, he champions his Cherokee heritage andthe fact that his mother was the first women welder in the United States to weld on a tank during World WarII. It just happened to be the same type of Sherman tanks his father drove. Farner’s work on and off the stage is focused on honoring service personnel and veterans and offering support to American farmers, individuals with disabilities, and downtrodden populations. Farner, the rock patriot that he is,c ontinues to wor ktirelesslyto honor service personnel and Veterans everywhere. He wants everyone to remember the huge sacrificesthe men and women of our armed services give up to protect our amazing country and our freedoms.InJuly1971,thetrio sold out Shea Stadium in New York; 55,000 tickets were sold in a record 72 hours–besting The Beatles’ previous record.F arner’s penned composition“Bad Time”wasGrand Funk’slastTop 10 single reaching No. 4 on theBillboard Hot 100,in June 1975. Although it never topped the charts, the song was the most played tune on radio that yeard ue to demand.Farner released his first solo record in 1977. He has also enjoyed success in Contemporary Christian music with the No. 2 and Dove-nominated “Isn’t It Amazing” in 1988.He’sa three-time Michigan Rockand Roll Legends Hall of Fame member–inducted as a solo member in 2015 and an inductee as part ofGrand Funk Railroad and Terry Knight & The Pack.More than 50 years later something magical still happens when Farner takes the stage. His voice still strong and on key, his guitar playing slick and lighting quick and his trademark prancing all of which is still memorizes his audiences around the world.“Love is unconditional,” he said. “Just like when you hold a baby, the love transfers. I feel that when I’m onstage from the audience.It’s all about the fans, and al labout love.”