ROCKNATION ISSUE 22
I’ve read about in the early 70’s Led Zeppelin fired your band for overshadowing them as their opener, how many shows
did you do?
Only two, we were signed to Premier Talent and we were kinda the new up and coming band. Led Zeppelin had already a couple
hit albums out and they were also handled by Premier so they decided put us out with Led Zeppelin so they could double dip and
make two commissions and try to break this new act Grand Funk. They put us on in Detroit which is our home town in Olympia
Stadium, and we came out and we just rocked the place. Peter Grant their manager did not like it he pulled the plug on us before
we could finish the show. We played one more show with them In Cleveland the next night and that was it.
That must be a great feeling who can say that about their band, that is huge.
Yea they just didn’t like it being upstaged I don’t understand it is all a good show. We played tons of shows now and I don’t care if
a band goes over bigger than us before we go on, it just makes the show better it’s all the the good of the show.
I’m a big Seger fan, how did you joining Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band come about?
Grand Funk broke up the first time in 1976 and then in the early 80’s and then I was approached by the manager of Bob Seger to
play some shows with him. I said sure I wasn’t doing anything in 82’ & 83’ and then in 86’ & 87’. I didn’t tour in the 96’ time frame
I was still home raising kids and when Bob decided to go back out in 2006 I’ve been touring with the band off and on and every
since it has been a great situation. I’ve known those guys for over 40 years and it’s my second home. I got to say I really feel
welcome home there and we have a great relationship.
Myself growing up in Mt. Pleasant Michigan, I’m in Texas now.
Yea great that’s where my Mother was born.
No way, awesome.
Yea
Mt. Pleasant it’s not far from Flint. Back in the day how did you fit in the Detroit music scene with Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop
and Ted Nugent?
We were a little bit on the outside and allot of the those bands considered us on the outside. Oh we’re kinda like that band from
Flint and all the Detroit guys and Ann Arbor guys were a little more clicke about their band. Those bands had a little more
comradery going on. It was funny when we made it outside the state of Michigan, Georgia, Texas, Alabama all around the south
and then all of a sudden that was the band from Flint and then pretty soon oh no they are a Detroit band all of a sudden then we
were ok when we made it. But coming up we were kinda the outsiders.
Do you have any favorite drummers?
I’ve always like Mitch Mitchell of Hendrix, Ginger Baker of Cream and Dino Danelli of the Rascals and of course Bernard Purdie
who played on all of the the Aretha Franklin stuff he is a amazing R&B guy.
What’s the legacy you want to leave behind. If they look up on Google your name what would you like to pop up?
A nice guy who made it.
Excellent that’s all I want. Well Don thank you for this interview it has been a great honour, I’ve always been a big Grand
Funk Railroad Fan for years.
Alright Tom, thank you.