Original Grand Funk Railroad member Mel Schacher performs at a recent concert.
Photo provided
Drummer Don Brewer will answer the question. But, pardon the pun, you’ll have to wait a beat before he stops laughing.
Because, Lord have mercy, he absolutely never entertained the idea of a top rock band performing for more than half a century.
“Heck, I thought I’d be dead at 40 (years old),” he said, speaking by phone from his home in Jupiter, Florida. “I would have said there’s no way (for such longevity). Oh, no way. I never dreamed it.
“Just never dreamed it.”
Yet, here we are, with classic rock’s Grand Funk Railroad, and two of its three original members still successfully touring and selling out venues. Plus, current missing third original member Mark Farner has reunited with Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher a few times during different eras to tour since the 1980s and 1990s.
The trio that formed in 1969 and is best known for its 19 top singles such as “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home),” “The Loco-motion,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “We’re An American Band” and more is now a five-member group, and will bring about 90 minutes of rock reminiscing at 8 p.m. Sept. 8 to the Brown County Music Center in Nashville.
Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special, which performed locally at Mill Race Park at Rock the Park in 2011. Carl penned and sang 38 Special’s biggest hit, “Second Chance.” And lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and other major groups. This particular incarnation has been together for 23 years — far longer than the original lineup.
The current tour celebrates 50 years of the song “We’re An American Band” that Brewer wrote.
“I love it,” he said of the honor and limelight. “It’s awesome to get out there in front of these audiences, and you start singing and look out at the crowd and see three generations of families who know all the words to your songs — from kids to grandparents. Gotta say that’s pretty cool.”
Brewer, now 74, acknowledged that some of his adrenaline comes from the audience.
“But I still have to work it,” he said. “When you’re young, you’ve got that natural, kid-like energy. It’s OK. I go to the gym, walk everyday and watch what I eat.”
He offered big laughter over continued compliments he still hears about his wild, still-rock-and-roll hair, seemingly especially fitting for a drummer.
“Oh — I’ve gotta work at that, too,” he said.
Though most of the band’s current venues have been 2,000 to 3,000 seats, Grand Funk recently sold out a concert at an 11,000-seat locale near Charlotte, North Carolina.
Brewer gushes with gratitude over today’s touring that allows him mostly to have a normal life rather than a nomadic one.
“Oh, it’s a lot easier,” he said, referring to the mostly weekend, 40 shows per year compared to at least double that in years past, plus two albums per year during some periods. “This is much better. It’s nice, and gives us the best of both worlds.”
Just the other day, he had the time and freedom to go bowling with the family, recording a respectable, rare-roller score of 150.
“We’re just extremely fortunate to still be doing what we did as kids — while still loving it,” Brewer said. “To see people light up and smile and get up on their feet and have such a good time — man, there’s nothing like it.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
He can’t imagine retiring.
“I’ll keep doing it,” he said, “until my daughter and my wife tell me ‘Stop — you’re making a fool of yourself.’”
Anyone who’s ever seen a nearly seven-minute Facebook video of one of his super-kinetic, live drum solos has to figure that that’s still quite a long way off.
About the concert
Who: Classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 8
Where: Brown County Music Center, 200 Maple Leaf Drive in Nashville
Tickets: browncountymusiccenter.com
