Grand Funk Railroad

Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Eligible since: 1995

First Recording: 1969

Previously Considered? No  what's this?

Grand Funk Railroad
HALL OF FAME INDICATORS
🔲Rolling Stone 500 Albums
🔲Rolling Stone 500 Songs
🔲Rolling Stone Cover
🔲Saturday Night Live
🔲Major Festival Headliner
🔲Songwriters Hall of Fame
🔲“Big Four” Grammys
500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
Closer to Home (1970)
Grank Funk (1970)
We're An American Band (1973)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
Closer to Home/I'm Your Captain (1970)
We're An American Band (1973)
Some Kind Of Wonderful (1974)
The Loco-Motion (1974)

Grand Funk Railroad @ Wikipedia

Will Grand Funk Railroad be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
"Musical excellence is the essential qualification for induction."
Yes: 
No :


Comments

38 comments so far (post your own)

G.F.R deserves RRHOF one of the bests bands that ever existed

Listen the "Live Album" or "live 1971 tour" and you'll know what i'm talking about !

Posted by Jaco on Sunday, 02/17/2013 @ 23:25pm


"This site is not affiliated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum."

Nice venting folks. I am guessing that anyone who can change this travesty is not even interested in hearing what anyone writing here has to say. I saw GFR in '73, '74, '75, and '98. Nope, they didn't miss a beat. I met them after the show in '74 and '98. They are every bit good people as they are great performers. I'm not sucked into saying every song they ever did was the best so I am not just kneeling to their every move but certainly they had more great songs than most. They are in the REAL R&R Hall of Fame. Mine!

Look how long this message has streamed, 2007 to 2013. The time for the rrhof to be honored by GFR's presence is past.

Posted by Woody on Wednesday, 06/5/2013 @ 09:48am


ALL ROCK BAND WERE GREAT CREAM LED ZEPPLIN MOUNTAIN BLACK SABBATH HENDRIX GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD DESERVES TO BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. ESPECIALLY MARK FARNER THE BEST VOICE IN MUSIC. I LOVE PLAYING ALL THEIR SONGS AND THEY HAVE THE BEST LIVE CONCERT I VE EVER SEEN, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD IS MOST EXCITING ROCK GROUP I VE EVER SEEN. I WAS THERE I SEEN THE PEOPLE SINGING MARK FARNER SONGS. SHEA STADIUM WAS ROCKING, 55,000 PEOPLE STRONG SINGING ALONG WITH MARK FARNER.

Posted by BIG on Saturday, 07/6/2013 @ 03:21am


I was too young to see the original "Power Trio" known as G.F.R. (but my older sis brought the albums home!). By the time I did get to see them live at the Bosnia Relief Concert (at the "Hollywood Bowl") and then a few months later at the "Del Mar Fairgrounds" in 1997. I was astounded at just how powerful Mark, Don, & Mel were (with a little help from a "behind the curtain" guitar/keys "sideman"). Perhaps better than ever. Many people have forgotten that there were essentially two G.F.R.'s. I don't think many of the fans would argue that the early "Live Album" era band was about as raw and heavy as anything of the day (I defy anyone to tell me Live Albums "Paranoid" is any less heavy than say Sabbath's "Iron Man"). The post "Phoenix" (album) "G.F." became a much more polished and some would say "pop rock" sounding group and while certainly it was their most successful, chart topping era it probably cost them some of their "hard rock" credibility. However if "Gold and Platinum" records, gross concert receipts, and ability to influence legions of young kids to pick up instruments and start wailing away then you have to elect them and their exclusion reeks of nothing more than sour grapes. I live on the West Coast and don't get to Ohio very often nonetheless on the two occasions I've been right there I just walked right on by and will continue to do so until "the hall" corrects some of it's more grotesque omissions.



Posted by Rudy Jones on Tuesday, 04/8/2014 @ 20:02pm


GFR deserve consideration. they sold millions of albums, wrote some great tunes, a few which are still on oldies playlists, Mark Farner had some of the best pipes on radio, Don & mel were one of the heaviest players around. gave some of the best concerts of their day, They should not be ignored any more!

Posted by bondo on Thursday, 06/26/2014 @ 10:12am


rrhof is a sham!

Posted by bondo on Thursday, 06/26/2014 @ 10:15am


Getting Closer to My Home - they gotta get a home in Cleveland's Rock Museum or bulldoze it into the lake. I'm Your Captain. do it!

Posted by bubba on Monday, 07/28/2014 @ 16:55pm


They should have been in a long time ago. I read an article where someone affiliated with the HOF said they didn't influence people enough. WTF??? Their music is still listened to 45 years later. One of the best bands ever. If you want to hear funk, soul and rock combined, they are as good as it gets. As for "not technically proficient" as I have seen written, no concert attendee would agree. I grew up in the 70's and still have Grand Funk in my blood. Put them in or close the doors.

Posted by Debra on Friday, 09/5/2014 @ 22:16pm


Are you kidding me? The Beastie Boys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grand Funk Railroad isn't?? Mark, Don and Mel?? Who can even tell you the names of the Beastie Boys??/ What kind of political BS is this??? There is not one nominee this year that deserves to be in there before Grand Funk Railroad!

Posted by Scott Hoyt on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 17:49pm


Are you kidding me? The Beastie Boys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grand Funk Railroad isn't?? Mark, Don and Mel?? Who can even tell you the names of the Beastie Boys??/ What kind of political BS is this??? There is not one nominee this year that deserves to be in there before Grand Funk Railroad!

Posted by Scott Hoyt on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 17:51pm


Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D
I'm pretty sure more people can name the members of the Beastie Boys than name the members of Grand Funk Railrod. Also the Beastie Boys are much more significant than Grand Funk Railroad, I would be suprised if Grand Funk was in and the Beasties were not.

Posted by Ryan on Saturday, 10/18/2014 @ 18:30pm


We're used to seeing silly ass comparisons every year about this time, but Grand Funk Railroad as the high bar and Beastie Boys as the low bar? I'll just assume that that post was intended as parody, but Madonna or "Rap" in general were recognized as too cliche.

Posted by DarinRG on Sunday, 10/19/2014 @ 05:40am


Here it is 6 years later. There is still no response from the so called "Hall of Fame." After another 6 years of analysis, it goes to show you that it is not ".....of the people, by the people and for the people." It is about ego-centered politics. I ask you at the "Hall"....how many live bands have you seen and have you seen GFR at least twice?" Seems like a fair question. If not, you are NOT qualified. Any of us out here who are music freaks, know that
this is/was the first band to have 10 platinum albums in a row. Are we all stupid? NO!!! Some of us even have doctoral degrees. We also know that a large portion of bands don't even come close to the stage presence of GFR. NOT CLOSE. I could go on........long live Grand Funk Railroad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The true American Band!!!!!

Posted by Allan W. Crummett on Saturday, 11/1/2014 @ 13:07pm


I saw GRAND FUNK in West Germany in 1974. The show was worth more than the 30Marks I paid. Put them in the hall.

Posted by Dennis Holiday on Sunday, 08/28/2016 @ 19:05pm


Just listen to Inside Looking Out. That song is crazy good. GFR hasn't even been nominated?!? Disgraceful.

Posted by David C. on Saturday, 12/31/2016 @ 07:20am


I visited the hall of fame this past summer and could't believe that Grand Funk wasn't even mentioned in the midwest section of rock performers. Are you kidding me! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
no makes no sense.

Posted by Rick on Sunday, 12/10/2017 @ 13:07pm


Here’s what David Fricke once said about Grand Funk Railroad: “You cannot talk about rock in the 1970s without talking about Grand Funk Railroad!"

I actually don’t see this happening at all. But with him on the nom com, GFR could be on his snub list.

Posted by The Dude on Wednesday, 02/20/2019 @ 16:06pm


I think the fact that the hall of fame has snubbed GFR is a shame. Any band that has 4 gold and 5 platinum albums and outsold Shea Stadium 5 times faster than the Beatles surely has the credentials to be inducted. they are so much better than ABBA, Mamas and Papas, Motorhead, Cat Stevens and heart.????? Get your heads out of your ass and put them in.

Posted by John R on Wednesday, 08/7/2019 @ 16:27pm


Grand Funk has long been my favorite band. I still listen to them often. They are the most underrated band of all time. Absolutely, very deserving of the hall of fame. Deeply disappointing to be continually ignored.
Thank you Mark, Don, and Mel.

Posted by Steve f on Friday, 01/31/2020 @ 20:49pm


It's time GFR led the FM revolution in your face rock and roll 3 piece power house group. An American garage band original millions of fans, albums sold and live performances that have stood the test of time. Google them today and kids are still playing their music all over the world. It's time, it's deserving - you are probably to young to remember but listen to their music it is undeniable they deserve to be in the Hall of Fame actually twice as the 3 piece power house and the later 4 piece with Frost............. and if not get the original band back together to open for the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction then you will see why they should be inducted - do it for the people do it before it is too late to truly be appreciated.................

Posted by Cris Smith on Wednesday, 04/15/2020 @ 21:28pm


Great Band!!

Posted by Chris C. on Saturday, 05/2/2020 @ 18:29pm


Great band!

GFR SHOULD BE IN THE R & R HALL OF FAME!

Between 1969 and 1972 Grand Funk earned 8 Gold albums in a row without the benefit of a top 20 hit. Since then 3 of those albums have gone Platinum and 2 more have reached Double Platinum. After 72 they went on to have major commercial success with 6 top 20 hits in which 2 of those hits reached number 1!! Many groups have stated they were influenced by Grand Funk.
Mark, Don & Mel!! And Craig too!

Posted by Chris C. on Saturday, 05/2/2020 @ 18:32pm


Sorry...

I forgot to write they were the first American band to earn ten Gold albums!! Of course they should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Posted by Chris C. on Saturday, 05/2/2020 @ 18:35pm


I have followed GFR since the hay days before GFR which was the pack what a GREAT BAND i know mark and Don marks a great guy and Don one of the worlds Greatest Drummers and they are NOT IN? i Emailed the so called ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FRAME one time and ask them why isn't GFR in there and they said
TERRY KNIGHT : [

Posted by JEFFERY S FUNK on Tuesday, 05/5/2020 @ 17:37pm


I don't believe that email story one bit, they're not in due to lack of legacy

Posted by FakePassport LLC, Inc. on Thursday, 05/7/2020 @ 20:18pm


What a travesty!!! This band was the epitome of a rock band. They cranked out numerous albums and songs that are still played and relevant today. It is a shame that they have not been elected and I have absolutely no respect for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Whomever is responsible, I assume a panel of voters, should be replaced. Grand Funk rocked and every fan of this band knows how great they were!!!!

Posted by Cap on Monday, 05/18/2020 @ 09:30am


https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/grand-funk-railroad-co-founder-mark-farner-blasts-fake-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD Co-Founder MARK FARNER Blasts 'Fake' ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Posted by The Dude on Wednesday, 02/3/2021 @ 08:17am


You can say what you will,they we're incredible in concert.One of the best live bands I've seen.Great Rythum section,bass and drums we're spot on.One of the best bass players,killer!

Posted by BJ Austin on Monday, 07/19/2021 @ 16:51pm


There's a reason they sold out Shea
Stadium faster than The Beatles. They were the people's band. Screw the critics (including Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone magazine) that hated them. Induct them already, for goodness sake.

Posted by JDL on Sunday, 08/8/2021 @ 18:13pm


One of my favorite bands in 70's and i saw them in concert twice. These guys deserve to be in so get it done!

Posted by BJS on Thursday, 10/14/2021 @ 18:34pm


Grand Funk Railroad is on my list as #3 of greatest bands. They were my favorite band in the early 70's. I saw them in their first major appearance at the Texas International Rock Festival in 1968 and when they regrouped several years ago in Sioux City. They know how to make you rock and roll. My favorite album is Grand Funk a classic. They must be inducted or the Rock & Roll is totally irrelevant. Critics don't buy record. If Rolling Stone magazine doesn't like you your not getting in. This is unfair. The public should have a say.The only way the Moody Blues got in was due to public voting. Let the fans vote and they will be in.

Posted by Carl Hardy on Monday, 01/10/2022 @ 09:29am


One of the best rock bands ever I bought we are an American band in 1970 while I was in the army. They are listened to all the time

.

Posted by Rick m. on Wednesday, 08/3/2022 @ 21:22pm


Selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles, the songwriting, especially by Mark Farner, it surprises me that this band is not in your Hall of Fame. Besides the generation of fans that continue to enjoy and support them, how can we overlook what music used to be. It was talent, it was songwriting, it was performing. It was straight out pure music, real talent, real showmanship. That is what music was and should always be recognized for.

With every generation comes there is a new form in music. But it would be sinful to forget the ones that paved the way before that that inspired so many to pick up a guitar or sit behind drums and dream of doing the same.

With overlooking Grand Funk Railroad and their contributions to music, live music and songwriting and performing really does shine a spotlight on the travesty of how your inductees are chosen.

Posted by Brenda Padellaro on Monday, 09/12/2022 @ 06:53am


It is a complete travesty that Grand Funk hasn't even been considered for inclusion in the rock hall. Songs like Closer to Home and We're An American Band barely scratch the surface of great rock and roll music produced by this band. In 1974 they released 2 of the greatest albums of all time in Shinin' On and All the Girls in the World, Beware - which, by the way, also sports one the best album covers ever by placing the band members' heads on the bodies of body builders. Caught in the Act is one of the few live albums where the music is better than the studio versions. The rock hall should be ashamed for never having even considered this fantastic band.

Posted by Joel Antkowiak on Monday, 11/7/2022 @ 00:49am


As a 64 year old drummer, I have been around for a while. The very reason I am a musician, let alone a drummer, is because of GFR. I seen comments saying they weren't technically good musicians. I have seen comments saying they haven't left a legacy. Both arguments are BS. For the ones making these statements (and for the ones making the decisions at the HOF), I ask these questions: Can any of you play the drum parts to American Band, Inside Looking Out, or Heartbreaker CORRECTLY? How many records have YOU sold? Can you play an instrument at all? The fact that so many folks are still talking about them not being in the HOF is proof of legacy, not even counting the countless musicians that are musicians BECAUSE of GFR. Their exclusion is a travesty! I actually hope they get chosen and when they are up on stage to receive it, they all 3 (4) set the award down on the podium and say "Kiss my ...."

Posted by Scott on Thursday, 12/29/2022 @ 22:07pm


Yes an absolute yes for me. They're still relevant and still influence, We re An American band! I think they'll get it but probably 2029 to 2031

Posted by Steven Dwyer on Thursday, 03/30/2023 @ 02:03am


I think they deserve to be inducted. They are one of the most popular American bands in short period but it seems that they are somewhat forgotten by the music history. Thin Lizzy and Blue Oyster Cult both have hit songs (The Boys are back in Town and Don't Fear the Reaper) which is still memorable now and sadly this case can not be applied to Grand Funk Railroad.

Posted by power on Monday, 10/16/2023 @ 09:11am


First Rock Group , I saw with 3 friends at Boston Garden. All high school kids 10th grade , Lynn Classical. 2 friends were from Greece . Will remember. Since then saw many greats , Aerosmith, Queen, ...etc.

Posted by Robert Walsh on Monday, 01/1/2024 @ 22:32pm


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Future Rock Legends is your home for Grand Funk Railroad and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


This site is not affiliated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.