Mark Farner: (Interview) Upstaging Led Zeppelin | Todd Rundgren | Teaching Frank Zappa to Shoot
Mark Farner from the legendary Grand Funk Railroad talks about hanging with Janis Joplin, blowing Led Zeppelin off the stage, working with Todd Rundgren and teaching Frank Zappa how to shoot.
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Time Stamps
00:00 – Intro
00:29 – Atlanta Pop Festival
03:14 – Janis Joplin
04:25 – Led Zeppelin
06:42 – Closer to Home
09:19 – Heartbreaker
12:48 – Sound Systems 1970
15:12 – Phoenix album
18:08 – Singles
18:55 – Todd Rundgren
20:50 – Adding Craig Frost
22:58 – Born to Die
25:01 – Frank Zappa
30:27- Best Grand Funk Album
32:27 – Elvis or The Beatles?
32:59 – Supporting James Brown
Comments
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@johnlevison9552
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Mark you are the greatest! Love your gosphel stuff too!
@albertmartinez9780
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Zeppelin was light years ahead of gfr ,,hammer of the gods
@ultrakool
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
I was too young during their early years, but I got heavy into them during their We're An American Band release. I learned to play the drums to their Red Album shortly thereafter, note for note. I was pretty proud of that accomplishment at age 15 with minimal playing time under my belt. Don Brewer was a huge influence on that
@swimlaps1
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Great interview & memories! Closer To Home- a fav since 6fh gr!
@UberKrispy
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Living Legend
@sirfrancisdrake4285
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Good Health Wishes for Mark . Saw GFR in San Mateo and was listening to GFR since there first record .
Mark still delivers the vocals we all love to hear.
@stingylizard
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
I'd pass on getting into it with Peter Grant,too. Excellente'
@Jan-pj7gn
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
"If I don't see you in the future, I'll see you in the pasture". Mark Farner what a guy . . .
@point2822
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
AMERICAN GUITARIST SINGER /SONGWRITER NEW HYDE PARK NYC NATIVE BROUGHT HIS LES PAUL BLACK BEAUTY TO SHEA STADIUM FOR HUMBLE PIE GUITARIST PETER FRAMPTON TO USE BECAUSE FRAMPTONS GUITAR GOT STOLEN HIS NAME IS FRANK CARILLO HE IS LEGEND GIFTED BEAUTIFUL DUDE
@point2822
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
SETTING THE STAGE AT 2ND BASE AND THE PITCHERS MOUND WAS MONUMENTAL FESTIVAL FOR PEACE GFRRCONCERTS I WITNESSED THEM BOTH ULTIMATE SOUND EXPERIENCE NO ONE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD NO EXTRA TICKETS FOR STANDING ROOM ONLY LIKE THE POLICE CENTERFIELD SETUP SOUND GOT LOST THIRD BASE TICKETS SOUND GOT LOST PEOPLE TALKING DISASTER
@edgeg.708
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Love this guy!
Wishing Mark a long and happy life…..
@michaelhenshaw258
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Was listening to GFR at age 11 in 1969 still sounds fresh
@michaelromero1210
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
I’ll be 61 next week and when I was a kid my aunt gave me a couple of GFR 8 track tapes… the first time I heard Inside Looking Out I became a lifetime rocker.. That song started it all for me personally! Sad to see Mark Farner not with GFR! Sorry but without Mark they are NOT GFR! Period! Mark is a class act the way he handled everything!
@stevec5576
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
I’m a viet nam vet who never liked your music , it sucks!
@Rober582
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Grande Mark!!
@shallwocharlie
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Felt the same way when I saw Cheap Trick open for Dep Leppard. Trick was better
@stevenreiser2599
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
I laugh every time I remember what happened at the Detroit concert where Led Zeppelin couldn't handle following GFR
@fredshepherd7819
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Grand funk railroad and credence clear water revival are my to favorite rock bands
@regtaylor1163
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
That would absolutely be before Mark left GFR. The non Mark GFR couldn't upstage
anybody. Don's band is no better than a cruise ship cover band, even with some
hot guitarists, Don's got no heart. Mark kicks butt and takes names.
@KenTeel
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Grand Funk's music was not particularly well written, but like Todd Rundgren alluded to, it was a good enough vehicle for live performance. Combined with Mark's very effective, high energy, blues soaked, tenor vocals, and stage presence (movement, dance and drama) the music was a good enough vehicle to display these things. Adding to this was a very good rock drummer (Don) and very good rock bass player (Mel.) The whole thing worked well, live. Their recordings were less impressive than their live performance. But they certainly sold a lot of records.
@noellandicho
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
mark farner has a very clear memory and speaks clearly
@nonnie2428
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
“I’m your Captain/Closer to Home” is my all time favorite song.
@j.r.martin5468
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Mark is a national treasure !
@ficknoti
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Too bad Mark had to be in a band with two dix
@floydburney6060
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 pm
….. Farner & Joe Walsh, the older they get, the more they look related.
Comments are closed.