Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band which rose to prominence in the 1970s.
They were formed in 1969 by Mark Farner and Don Brewer, the founder and most enduring members, and were signed to Capitol Records on the basis of their appearance in the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival. Their popularity was swift and both their debut album On Time and second album Grand Funk achieved gold status. They went on to release several further records and, though they won no real critical acclaim, they won many fans.
The band dropped 'Railroad' from their name in 1972 as a result of protracted legal wrangles with their manager and former bandmate Terry Knight.
They continued to release albums, shifting stylistically towards a more bluesy sound, unsettling only a few of their fans. But by 1976, after the album Good Singin', Good Playin', tensions in the band were so pronounced that the band split.
After solo efforts the band did eventually reform in 1980, releasing two albums but with little success. They disbanded again, only to reform for a second time in 1996. They played several large gigs, including three Bosnian benefit concerts which formed the basis of the live album, Bosnia, released in 1997.
Grand Funk Railroad are still touring tirelessly, winning a new generation of fans. There are plans to release an album of new material including a song inspired by 9/11 "Who Took Down The Stars".
