Flint Rock Legend Returning Home For Capitol Theatre Show

FLINT, Michigan – The former frontman and lead guitarist of Flint’s ‘70s rock power trio Grand Funk Railroad is getting closer to home. Mark Farner and his American Band are back on the road and making a stop in downtown Flint’s FIM Capitol Theatre on Friday, March 20th. It’s the first time Farner will play Flint since January 2022. The show will feature some acoustic numbers, storytelling, and some classics from the Grand Funk collection. That collection included two albums that reached number one on Billboard’s Top 200 album charts, and two number one singles on Billboard’s Hot 100. 

For those who aren’t avid music fans, it’s also vital to point out just how big Farner’s original band was. Grand Funk sold out New York City’s Shea Stadium for their June 1971 performance in just 72 hours. That smashed the record held by The Beatles, who took nearly two weeks to sell out Shea. It’s also important to remember that there were no ticket sites or brokers in those days. You had to wait in line to get seats. 

Flintside had a chance to talk with Farner, who now lives in northern Michigan, about his upcoming return to Flint.

Flintside: You’ve been touring, and I see you’ve already played a couple of shows leading up to Flint.

Mark Farner: “Yeah, we played two shows in Florida. It’s been cool. Part of what I do is an acoustic set where I tell stories about old times on the road. It’s just a different vibe. There’s no drummer. Just acoustic guitar. And what a lot of people don’t know, but a lot of rock music gets written on an acoustic guitar. So we do that part-time. But really, I’m a rocker, and I really like rocking more than I do the acoustic show. But I do the acoustic show because there’s a demand.”

Flintside: Your next show is on March 20th at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint. How excited are you to play in your hometown?

M. Farner: “I’m excited. Flint, Michigan…a lot of good people. You know, most recently it got on the map because of the water, but I’ve always said what I remember about a town is the people. It could have some great structures, like when I played the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia [in July, 2018]. It was a great building, and I got to see some great structures, but what I remember most is the people.

I have a wonderful connection with people, because we’re here for a short time. When I played there, I had an all-Russian band backing me called the Earthlings. After the last show, the members of the Earthlings told me to tell the brothers and sisters in America we want peace. And that’s what my music has been about. That’s what they know me for, and I am who my songs say I am.” 

Flintside: I know it was 55 years ago, but Grand Funk Railroad played at the Capitol Theatre in 1971. Bloodrock opened for you, and concertgoers described it as being one of the most intense and loudest shows they’d ever attended. Do you remember that gig?

M. Farner: “Ha ha, oh yes, I remember it. It was a great show. Bloodrock opened for us on that whole tour. In fact, Lee Pickens, the lead guitar player of Bloodrock, stayed with me out at my farm in Parshallville, and he recorded an album in my studio. It never got released, but I had some great musicians from Flint on the record. I actually found it a few years ago and made CDs of it to send to all the guys who played on the record to rock their memories, because there was a lot of love in our time together. And that’s what music is for. A time for communion, bringing people together and celebrating life.”

Flintside: Lastly, tell me a bit about your band.

M. Farner: “Mark Farner’s American Band is first on bass guitar, Paul Randolph, out of Detroit. I first met Paul when we recorded Alice Cooper’s Breadcrumbs album. We were singing backup vocals, and I asked if he would want to tour with me. He told me growing up, his dad would slap a Grand Funk 8-track in while driving, so he said he’d likely know all my songs already.

On drums, I got Hubert Crawford from Memphis, Tennessee. I met Hubert when he was playing drums for James Brown. Grand Funk played some outdoor festivals where the lineup was War, Grand Funk, and James Brown. Then on keyboards, I got a boy from Grand Rapids named Brandon Ward, who’s fabulous. 

I’m lucky. I’ve got great people all around. There are no trips. We love God. We play before every show because God is love. I swear he flows through the audience, flows through our music, flows through us, and we stir that communion we have as human beings, which we have a general obligation to love one another. So we go out and take the stage with that attitude, and brother, it works.”

Tickets are still available for the show on Friday, March 20th at 8 pm, at the FIM Capitol Theatre at 140 E. 2nd St. Prices start at $46, or $33 for Genesee County residents. You can also purchase tickets at Mark Farner’s website.