Deroit area rock band Grand Funk Railroad was formed in 1969 by Mark Farner and Don Brewer from Terry Knight and the Pack and Mel Schacher from Question Mark & the Mysterians; Knight soon became the band’s manager. Knight named the band after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan.  The band was wildly successful throughout the ’70′s even selling out Shea Stadium in New York in 1971 faster than the Beatles had.  It took only 72 hours.

However, tensions among the band members due to personal issues and musical direction caused Grand Funk to disband for good in 1976.

I spoke with Mark Farner about the possibility of a reunion and his answer was surprising.  Listen to a podcast of the interview below.

The reason for the conversation is Mark’s participation in a benefit concert on Friday November 23rd at the Fillmore Detroit.  “Rock For Jobs” will raise money for Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit jobs training and placement program to help put our neighbors back to work.  Joining Farner on stage will be Alto Reed, sax player for Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band and Detroit rocker Mitch Ryder.  Tickets for the event start at just $10 and are available in advance here.