Grand Funk Railroad’s Success Lies in ‘Honest Rock ‘n’ Roll’

Grand Funk Railroad, the iconic American rock band, is set to perform at the Winterville Watermelon Festival on August 24. The band, which formed in 1969, quickly gained fame for their electrifying performances and hit songs that became anthems for generations. Drummer and vocalist Don Brewer, an original member, shared insights about the band’s journey and their continuing passion for music with The Daily Reflector.

Reflecting on the band’s early days, Brewer noted, “It was a lot simpler then. The recordings were simpler. Writing songs was simpler. Getting gigs was simpler. Everything was pretty easy. And we were just doing what we loved and followed our hearts, and it led to Grand Funk Railroad. People really picked up on that. It’s true today too. Our fans are very appreciative of the music we created and the shows we still do.”

Brewer also discussed the genesis of their hit song “We’re an American Band,” mentioning that while the lyrics include snippets of their experiences, there is an element of hyperbole. He explained, “We were on the road and being sued by our former manager. And at the same time, we were big on FM radio underground from 1969 to 1972. Then all of a sudden in ‘72 all of the FM stations started hiring consultants and they were telling the radio stations, ‘You’ve got to play nothing but three-minute hits.’ So I decided I would start throwing my hat in the ring and try to write a hit song. And that was it. That was my first impression of what a hit song would sound like, and that’s the way it came out. Pretty amazing.”

When asked about the songs they would be performing at the Winterville Watermelon Festival, Brewer confirmed, “We’ve performed those songs every night for 50 plus years. Yes, we know what the audience wants when they come to see Grand Funk, and they want to hear the Grand Funk hits. That’s what we give them, for sure.”

Brewer also shared his personal favorite to perform, “Some Kind of Wonderful,” stating, “I come out from behind the drums and go out to the microphone at the front and Mel is playing the baseline — Da Doo, Da Doo, Da Doo, and I start singing, ‘I don’t need a whole lots of money, I don’t need a big fine car….’ and the audience starts singing as loud as I am.” He highlighted the unique thrill of seeing multiple generations, from grandparents to grandkids, all singing together.

On the evolution of their audience relationship, Brewer noted, “No, I think we pretty much relate to them the way we did before. A lot of them, they’re seeing us for the second time or third time. They saw us when they were young and now they’re seeing us and it’s bringing back all kinds of memories for them. Back then we were one of the new, hot bands on the block, and now we’re a classic rock act and everybody’s got gray hair. They’re bringing their kids to see us. ‘You don’t know Grand Funk Railroad? You got to come see Grand Funk Railroad!’ Kind of like Homer Simpson. That’s pretty cool.”

Brewer recalled an infamous Rolling Stone article titled “Grand Funk Railroad: Is This Band Terrible?” The 1971 piece focused on the jealousy surrounding the band’s success. Reflecting on it, he said, “It made me feel terrible. Critics back then were very snobbish. And they had their very opinionated views of rock and roll. And for some reason we didn’t fit in their little cubicle. We were kind of outside their box. And they resented that. And so they took it out on us. The good thing was they’d write these articles and the fans would get furious. Which just made them love us more.”

When asked what advice he would offer to his younger self or to new musicians, Brewer said, “Do as much as you can by yourself, and don’t trust anybody.” Laughing, he added, “Which is kind of a terrible thing to say but I’ve learned a lot of hard lessons over the years. Don’t look at things through rose-colored glasses. You’ve got to take it seriously and watch yourself.”

In closing, Brewer expressed excitement about the upcoming North Carolina performance, “I’m looking forward to coming to North Carolina and playing. We love playing in North Carolina, and I’d like to invite everybody out to have a great time — to smile and sweat and have a great evening of Grand Funk rock and roll.”

Tickets to the Grand Funk Railroad show at the Winterville Watermelon Festival are available at: https://watermelonjam24.eventbrite.com or locally at Full Service Flooring (cash only), 156 Tilco Dr. Winterville. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $30 for a Pit Pass, plus online fees and tax. Visit watermelonfest.com for more information.