United States

Now this was the working man's band! Nirvana invented grunge? Ha! Garage band was never more fun than these kids from Detroit. They weren't the greatest musicians...just jammed ( NINE AND HALF MINUTES ON JUST THIS SONG) and somehow it worked out. Musicians and critics hated them...but for a 13 year old boy trying to learn electric rock guitar that solo was da' bomb! Hahaha...pretty funny in light of the 80s, eh? Can't judge them by today, but they were SO cool when they happened.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6chCh ... e=youtu.be


just saying....

Didn't know the Animals covered this?


His "minds" and his hands? CANVAS bags?? Hmm.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8M1MpkozJQ

The first video is restricted here at work but I assume it's Grand Funk, who were technically from Flint, MI. They jumped the shark with "Locomotion".

Close enough...

They were hugely popular before Locomotion, that only seemed to validate their stardom. The first time I heard "We're An American Band" was an eye-opening experience. Up to that time, I had liked songs but wasn't particularly following any band.

Grand Funk changed all that for me. I started buying albums instead of singles, started learning all Mark Farner's guitar riffs, and started wanting to play in a band.

Not sure if I should thank them or curse them.

The 'American Band' album was red instead of black. The band I was in at the time immediately learned the song - loved it. We honestly didn't doubt for a minute we'd like the album if Todd were involved.

We were all Nazz fans and had an appreciation for the talented Mr. Rundgren. We actually got thrown off a job one night when we opened with 'Utopia.'

Talbot

i was (and remain) always disappointed when listening to "I'm Your Capt"....and discover while waiting for that classic (and perfectly simple) gtr solo...that it's the "radio edit" version i'm listening to that's had the solo removed to shorten the running time. grrrrrrrr.

i dunno it there are any fans of brazilian music here besides myself and vinny, but todd did an album dressing up a bunch of his tunes in brazilian clothes. as you'd expect...some work better than others, but i give it two thumbs up.

Lucky you! i've never seen Todd and i need to remedy that at some point!

Lucky you! i've never seen Todd and i need to remedy that at some point!

You may want to hold off until next year. He's touring right now to support his album 'State' (you should be able to hear parts of songs on Amazon or any of the streaming services, or youtube the 2015 tour. I've been a huge Todd fan for a long time, probably seen him live 30+ times, but this new album - closest thing to it is dubstep.
The tour is Todd (he plays guitar on about 4 songs), 2 girl singers and a 'DJ' who cues up the music stuff and may add a live keyboard part occasionally. Most of the music is recorded. The songs are mostly repetitive, fast-beat stuff, which would be good for dancing, but not in a seated-only club where 99% of the audience is over 55 years old. Commend Todd for still having the energy to do it at 66 years old, but the music sux (IMO).

G-Mike

That's sad to hear. Makes me feel kind of old. I remember sitting around with some kid that had been in Todd's highschool for a while and how he caused a lot of neat trouble. (not like nowdays) Built a cross bow in wood shop - shot it down the hallway at an apple. That kind of thing.

My pal and I grew up and started playing in bands and living our lives and Todd was always around it seemed. Doing something cool.

JimmyD - I'd forgotten that was recorded at the Fox. I think that was when he had Soupy Sales' boys for sidemen. That was considered very eccentric and cool back then.

Talbot

GFR was the only band to ever upstage Led Zeppelin. After that Led Zeppelin played solo concerts.

I always liked them as long as they were Mark, Don and Mel.

I saw Mark Farner last year (maybe 2 years ago?) The sound was incredicbly loud and distorted/bad.

On the good news, Todd has finished up the 'Global' (album name) tour, is touring with Ringo's All Starrs again, and will alos be doing another 'greatest hits' tour starting in December. He's 67/68 now, go see him while you still have the chance!