With The Moody Blues, Yes and Chicago entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in recent years, fans may wonder why Grand Funk continues to be ignored. Drummer Don Brewer is just as puzzled.
Don Brewer commented on why Grand Funk Railroad is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: "Ha ha ha ha, I wish I knew. And it is funny. I was listening last night to Joe Cocker, and I'm going, 'You know, Joe Cocker's not in the Hall of Fame. Are you kidding? And yet, let me see, Blondie is in the Hall of Fame. I don't know. You tell me what the disconnect is, 'cause I don't know what it is."
2019 marks the band's 50th anniversary. Brewer, Mel Schacher and Mark Farner formed the GFR in 1969. After a sensational performance at the Atlanta International Pop Festival, held six weeks before Woodstock, they were signed to Capitol Records.
Surprisingly, their longtime label -- now part of the global conglomerate Universal Music -- isn't marking the milestone/.
Don Brewer talked about why there hasn't been a box set or other career-spanning Grand Funk compilation released lately: "50 years of Funk, we are in it now. No, I've had some discussions with Capitol [Records], which is no longer Capitol, it's Universal now. I don't know. I'm not sure why there isn't another product out there that... probably because there... really isn't much physical product of any kind anymore. Everything is all downloads and streaming."
Grand Funk -- which is now a quintet of Brewer, bassist Schacher, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, singer Max Carl and keyboard player Tim Cashion -- will open for Bob Seger Thursday night at Jones Beach on New York's Long Island.