M A R
K
F A R
N E R
LEGENDARY GUITARIST-SINGER-SONGWRITER
WITH
G R A N D F U N K R A I
L R O A D
AND
M A R K F A R N E R 'S
A M E R I C A N B A N D
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Legendary all-American frontman and
guitarist, Mark Farner, was the engine that pulled the original
Grand Funk Railroad repeatedly to the top of the charts, and today
he’s a platinum recording artist 30 times over. At
age 71, Farner commands the stage with the same intensity and
outpouring of love as he did during the summer of ’69 and his fans are still
flocking to see “the Captain.” The rock patriot’s synergy and
open heart still come through in epic hits that defined a generation including—
“I’m Your Captain” (Closer to Home)” “We’re An American
Band” “Heartbreaker” “Bad Time To Be In Love”
and recut covers of “The Loco-Motion” and “Some Kind of
Wonderful.” Being viewed as a “Rockstar” is only one facet
of the legacy of this Michigan-born son.
“I think our fans originally connected to
our songs because we were sincere” Farner said. “My lyrics were about
Mother Earth, stopping the war, and all about love. They still have a
point of reference with me in their heart.”
After the 1969 Atlantic Pop Festival put Grand Funk
Railroad on the fast track, the band topped the Billboard Chart twice
with both the anthem “We’re an American Band” (1973) and 1974’s “The
Loco-Motion.” The Flint, Michigan trio reached the top
10 again with “Some Kind of Wonderful” (No. 3) and “Bad Time” (No. 4)
before GFR disbanded for the first time in 1976. Farner briefly
rejoined Grand Funk during the 1980s and 1990s and he has
collaborated with many other artists over the years. However,
his focus has been to forge an enduring solo career based upon
bringing his message of love to his fans in all corners of the world.
“Love is unconditional,” he explains. “Just like
when you hold a baby, the love transfers. I feel that love from the
audience when I’m on stage.”
The son of a World War II veteran, four-time
bronze star recipient and career fireman, Farner also knows the
importance of brotherhood and commitment. On his mother’s side, he
champions his Cherokee heritage and the fact that his mother was the first
woman welder in the United States to weld on a tank during World War 2. It
just so happened to be the same type of Sherman tanks his father
drove. Farner’s work on and off the stage is focused on honoring
service personnel and veterans and offering support to American farmers,
individuals with disabilities, and downtrodden populations.
Farner, the rock patriot that he is, works tirelessly
to honor our nation’s service personnel and
Veterans wherever they are stationed. He wants everyone to remember
the huge sacrifices our men and women in the armed
services freely give; all to protect our amazing country
and freedoms.
Over 50 years later something magical still
happens when Farner takes the stage. His
voice is still strong and on key, his guitar
playing still slick and lighting quick, and his
trademark prancing still commands the stage and mesmerizes his
audiences around the world.
“I love playing live where I can connect
with people of all backgrounds,” he said. “It’s all about the fans…and all
about love.”
For more information about
MARK FARNER
visit
Mark Farner Official Website
Mark Farner's American Band on Facebook
Twitter: @REALMARKFARNER
YouTube: Mark Farner
Instagram: markfarners_americanband
Mark Farner's Mid-Michigan Flood Relief
Gofundme Page
Mark Farner Launches Mid-Michigan Flood Relief
GoFundMe (Petoskey, Mich.) Legendary rock and roll guitarist and front man,
Mark Farner, is helping those closer to home. This weekend he launched a
GoFundMe campaign for his Michigan neighbors called the Mid-Michigan Flood
Relief. The goal is to raise $25,000 to donate to the American Red Cross’
efforts to the areas affected by the Midland County flooding. Farner and his
wife, Lesia, were the first to donate with $2,000.
Link to the Mark Farner Mid-Michigan Flood
Relief GoFundMe here… gf.me/u/x4b4v6
moxie publicity official website
MARK
FARNER
DISCOGRAPHY
Studio
albums
Mark Farner,
1977
No Frills, 1978
Just Another
Injustice, 1988
Wake Up...,
1989
Some Kind of
Wonderful, 1991
For the People,
2006
With
Grand Funk Railroad
On Time (1969)
Grand Funk (1969)
Closer to Home (1970)
Live Album (1970)
Survival (1971)
E Pluribus Funk (1971)
Phoenix (1972)
We're an American
Band (1973)
Shinin' On (1974)
All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (1974)
Born to Die (1976)
Good Singin',
Good Playin' (1976)
Grand Funk Lives (1981)
What's Funk? (1983)
Bosnia (1996)
Other
albums
Closer to Home,
1992 (best-of)
Heirlooms: The
Complete Atlantic Sessions, 2000 (re-release of Farner's two first studio
albums)
Red White and
Blue Forever, 2002 (mini-album)
Live!! N'rG,
2003
Mark Farner the
Rock Patriot, March 9, 2003 Live Extended Versions
M A R K F A R N E R
APPEARS
NOVEMBER 3RD 2020
7 PM PACIFIC/10 PM EASTERN
on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
with RAY SHASHO
BBS RADIO ONE
www.bbsradio.com
MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!
ENTITLED
THE
ROCK STAR
CHRONICLES
SERIES ONE
CHRONICLES, TRUTHS,
CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS
THAT SET US FREE
…Order yours today on
Hardcover or E-book
at bookbaby.com
Featuring over 45
intimate conversations with some of
the greatest rock
legends the world will ever know.
CHRIS SQUIRE... DR.
JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA… JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL
KANTNER... RAY THOMAS... RONNIE
MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE...
BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN
LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD
RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN
ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX...
RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER... ROGER
FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK...
SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY...
PETE BEST
THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER
BOOK REVIEW
-By Literary Titan (5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray
Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their
heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his
obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school
but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried
chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book
on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the
70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists,
legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview
gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies
that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For
readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring
old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this
book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I
didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into
trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new
frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music
fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the
interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions
designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse
issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been
on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to
get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its
subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden
letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking
order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock
music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures
to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures
that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones.
Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts,
aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new
things by going back in time.
Author Interview
- Ray Shasho
By Literary Titan
The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with
rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why
was this an important book for you to write?
I was fortunate to have lived through two of the
greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music
and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups
featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the
spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music
expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how
great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians
and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others
nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a
vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music
legends the world will ever know.
What is one interview in this book that stands out
as the most exciting one you had?
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock
hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an
incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge
event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite
nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s
Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about
politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same
mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He
was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.
What do you think is one thing modern musicians
have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?
Bands must perform live. All the legends started
performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an
audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a
break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page
views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live
audiences.
What do you find is a common misconception people
have about music?
People that pay big money to watch an artist lip
sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a
legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr
would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band.
All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive
tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real
legends are.
Music is a universal language that we all share
and cherish.
