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TIMELINE
Mark Farner arrives
1948 |
| On 29 September at 11:55pm, Mark Farner is born in Flint, Michigan, USA. |
TIMELINE
The Genesseians
1964 |
Mark's first band is the Genesseians.
Band member's include Rod Lester: Guitar, Lead vocals;
Chuck Hit: Guitar; Diane Farner: Drums [later replaced by Jim Keener]
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TIMELINE
Robin's Hoods
1965 |
Mark's next band is Robin's Hoods, aka The Derelicts.
Band members include Les Merril: Drums;
Monk McFadden: Lead Guitar, vocals;
Dave Peedy: Guitar;
Mike West: Harmonica, Vocals;
Craig Frost: Keyboards |
TIMELINE
Terry Knight and the Pack
1966 |
Mark joins with Terry Knight in the first part of a long relationship. He plays bass and guitar.
Band members include Richard Knapp (Terry Knight) - Lead vocals, Harmonica, Maracas, Tambourine;
Herman Jackson - Bass;
Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals;
Curt Johnson - Lead Guitar, Vocals;
Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals |
TIMELINE
The Bossmen
1966 |
Mark leaves the Pack and joins the Bossmen:
Bandmembers include Dick Wagner - Lead guitar, Lead Vocals;
Lanny Roenicke - Bass, Vocals;
Warren Keith - Keyboards, Vocals;
Pete Woodman - Drums |
TIMELINE
The Pack - Part 2
1967 |
Mark returns to the Pack, this time as lead guitarist.
Band members include Richard Knapp (Terry Knight) - Vocals,
Harmonica, Maracas, Tambourine;
Herman Jackson - Bass;
Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals;
Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals |
TIMELINE
From The Pack to the Fabulous Pack
1967 |
Terry Knight leaves the Pack and the band continues. Mark moves back down to guitar and then back to lead.
Band members include Herman Jackson - Bass [later replace by Rod Lester];
Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals [later replaced by Al Shane and then Craig Frost];
Curt Johnson - Lead Guitar, Vocals [later replaced by Kenny Rich and eventually Mark];
Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals |
TIMELINE
The Coolie Group
1968 |
While Mark is playing with The Pack, he does double duty with the Coolie Group as lead vocalist.
Band Members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass, Vocals;
Bob Katrinic: Drums;
Bob Siebert: Guitar;
Craig Marsden: Lead Guitar |
TIMELINE
Grand Funk Railroad
1969 |
| Mark and Don leave the Pack and team up with Mel Schacher from ? and the Mysterians to form Grand Funk Railroad and turn the world of arena rock on it's ear. |
TIMELINE
Atlanta International Pop Festival
1969.07 |
Just prior to the success of Woodstock, other music festivals had started to appear across the country the summer and fall of 1969.
After hearing Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight became their manager and started drumming up gigs for the band, most of which they performed for free. Knight persuaded the promoters of the Atlanta International Pop Festival to let Grand Funk play, even though they did so free.
The only unsigned act on the show, Grand Funk Railroad played before 180,000 people in 110-degree heat and the acclaim was instantaneous. Following their Atlanta appearance, the band was signed by Capitol Records. |
TIMELINE
Grand Funk Rocks The World
1969.08 |
| Over the next seven years, Grand Funk Railroad would tour the world. The band's concerts would set attendance records while at the same time, music critics would rip apart their recordings. Rolling Stone Magazine once called them the world's worst rock band, all the time that the working class rock fan embraced them as "The American Band". |
TIMELINE
Shea Stadium
1971 |
Grand Funk Railroad continues as one of the top touring bands of their time, selling out concerts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America.
They even sell out New York City's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles did. |
TIMELINE
Grand Funk Railroad disbands
1976 |
| After 12 gold and 10 platinum records, 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits including two at Number One both selling more than one million each, total sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide, and 7 years of touring the world as America's Band, Grand Funk Railroad calls it quits. Mark engages in a solo career.
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TIMELINE
Mark Farner
1977 |
| Mark releases his first solo album on Atlantic Records to critical aclaim. |
TIMELINE
Mark Farner Band
1977 to 1979 |
1977 sees the creation of the Mark Farner band.
Band members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass, Vocals;
Al Wotton: Drums;
Rick Farner: Guitar;
Rick Baker: Keyboards |
TIMELINE
No Frills
1978 |
| Mark releases his second solo album, also on Atlantic and also to great reviews. |
TIMELINE
Grand Funk Railroad Reforms
1980 to 1983 |
Mark, Don and Mel discuss reforming GFR. Mel goes into rehearsal with Mark and Don but decides not to record or tour for personal reasons.
Local Flint musician Dennis Bellinger is brought in to replace Mel on bass.
Mark, Don and Dennis tour throughout 1981-1982 and sell out shows in Japan and South America. |
TIMELINE
Grand Funk Railroad Disbands - Once Again
1983 |
| After two years of touring, Mark, Don and Dennis say goodbye again. Mark resumes his solo career. |
TIMELINE
Mark Farner Band
1984 to 1986 |
After Grand Funk disbands, Mark goes back on the road with a different lineup.
Band members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass and Vocals;
Howard Eddy: Keyboards and Vocals;
Bob Grunyon: Drums |
TIMELINE
Common Ground
1987 to 1990 |
Mark's new band to support his Christian beliefs and his upcoming new CD.
Band members include Arnie Vilches: Guitar and Vocals;
Michael Blair: Keyboards [later replaced by Howard Eddy];
Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals;
Michael Maple: Drums |
TIMELINE
Just Another Injustice
1988 |
| Mark releases his first album that addresses his Christian beliefs. Features guest super guitarist Phil Keaggy. |
TIMELINE
Wake Up...
1989 |
| Mark's second "Christian" album. Continues in the same vein as "Just Another Injustice". |
TIMELINE
Some Kind Of Wonderful
1991 |
| Mark's third album for Frontline Records, features a reworking of the Grand Funk hit "Some Kind Of Wonderful", changing the subject of the song from a girl to Jesus. |
TIMELINE
The God Rockers
1991 to 1994 |
Change in name for the band with some personel changes.
Band members include Arnie Vilches: Guitar and Vocals;
Howard Eddy: Keyboards;
Lance Abair: Keyboards;
Paul Finaczo: Bass and Vocals;
Michael Maple: Drums
(picture taken 19 August 1988, at the Bacchanal, in
San Diego by John Easler)
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TIMELINE
Closer To Home
1992 |
| This "fourth" solo album is actually a compilation of songs from Mark's three Frontline releases. |
TIMELINE
Ichthus Festival
1992 |
| Mark and the Godrockers play the Ichthus Jesus Music festival in Kentucky. Other artists featured at the festival included Wes King, Halo, Rick Cua, Out Of The Grey, Susan Ashton, The Choir, Charlie Peacock, DC Talk,
Painted Orange, Jacob's Trouble, Guardian, Russ Taff, Seventy Sevens, Steven Curtis Chapman and Jesus Music pioneer Randy Matthews.
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TIMELINE
Ringo Starr's All Starr Band
1995 |
Mark tours with the Beatles' Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band.
The All Starr Band includes Ringo Starr: Vocals and Drums;
Randy Bachman: Guitar and Vocals;
John Entwhistle: Bass and Vocals;
Felix Cavalaire: Keyboards and Vocals;
Billy Preston: Keyboards and Vocals;
Zak Starkey: Drums |
TIMELINE
Northwest Allstar Band
1996 |
Mark continues his work on the road with the All Star Band.
The band members include Steve Cropper: Guitar;
Felix Cavalaire: Keyboards and Vocals;
Billy Preston: Keyboards and Vocals;
David Santos: Bass;
Wendy Moten: Vocals;
Lou Gramm: Vocals;
Liberty DeVito: Drums |
TIMELINE
GFR Reunites
1996.05 |
Mark, Don and Mel discuss the possiblity of a reunion. They meet at a hunting lodge for a preliminary reheasal.
From May 1996 to July 1996 GFR reunite and perform before 260,000 people at 14 sold out shows.
The band hires Ringo Starr promoter David Fishof as their manager.
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TIMELINE
GFR U.S. Reunion Tour
1997-1999 |
January 1997 - The band plans 3 shows in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles to benefit and bring awareness to orphans in the war torn country of Bosnia.
April - November 1997: The band plays 30+ shows in the U.S. and Japan with added sideman Howard Eddy Jr.
April 20, 1997: The sound is recorded at the Detroit (Auburn Hills) show which will later be released as the live album Bosnia.
April 11, 1997: GFR perform on "Good Morning America".
May 2, 1997: GFR perform on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
October 1997: The double live album Bosnia is released as a box CD set. The proceeds are to go to the Bosnia Relief Effort.
January 1998: The band switches management teams and hires Bobby Roberts and Jim Della Croce as co-managers.
April 29, 1998: GFR performs at Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame museum and donate articles for a display to be created at a future date.
The band plays a 65+ show tour throughout 1998 and is listed as one of the top 10 grossing tours of 1998. |
TIMELINE
Mark Leaves Grand Funk Railroad
1999 |
After giving the band a year more than they originally agreed on, Mark once again walks away from GFR to resume his solo career and goes on a national tour.
In March, VH-1 debuts a "Behind The Music" special on Grand Funk Railroad. It proves to be one of their most watched episodes.
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TIMELINE
Mark Farner Band returns
1999 to 2001 |
| This latest incarnation of the Mark Farner band includes Rick Farner: Guitar and Vocals;
Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals;
Paul Ojibway: Keyboards, Sax and Vocals;
Hubert Crawford: Drums and Vocals |
TIMELINE
Heirlooms: The Complete Atlantic Sessions
2000 |
| A double CD of all the songs from Mark's first two Atlantic solo albums "Mark Farner" and "No Frills". |
TIMELINE
Living Legends Of Rock Roll - Live From Itchycoo Park
2001 |
DVD release of a 1999 concert that featured some of rock roll's living legends, including Styx, Iron Butterfly, Christopher Cross, Firefall, John Kay Steppenwolf, Rare Earth and Starship.
Mark performs "I'm Your Captain" and "Closer To Home". |
TIMELINE
Red, White and Blue Forever
2002 |
| CD "single" featuring "Red, White and Blue", a song dedicated to the hero's of 9-11, "Airborne Ranger" and an acoustic version of "Closer To Home/I'm Your Captain" with help from Mark's brother, Ricky Farner.
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TIMELINE
Mark Farner's N 'r G Band
2002 |
The Mark Farner Band becomes N'rG.
Band members include Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals;
Paul Ojibway: Keyboards, Sax and Vocals;
Hubert "H Bomb" Crawford: Drums and Vocals |
TIMELINE
Just Another Injustice / Some Kind Of Wonderful
2003 |
| Rerelease of the Frontline solo albums Just Another Injustice and Some Kind Of Wonderful. |
TIMELINE
Wake Up / Closer To Home
2003 |
| Rerelease of the Frontline solo albums Wake Up and Closer To Home. |
TIMELINE
Live!! N'rG
2003 |
| Self released on his own LissMark label, Mark releases an album of live, mostly Grand Funk, songs, backed by his band N'rG. |
TIMELINE
For The People
2006.07.04 |
| The long awaited first release of new material for the band N'rG, For The People is highly anticipated and is received with rave reviews. |
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