Farner at the PUB

Grand Funk Railroad's Mark Farner comes home, greeted by crowds at autograph signing
by Ebony Franklin The Flint Journal
Thursday August 13, 2009, 9:19 PM
Ryan Garza The Flint JournalDawn Gray, 39, of Swartz Creek, rests on the bar as her husband Dell takes a picture while musician Mark Farner signs her shirt on Thursday at PD's Pub in Flint during a meet and greet to promote his concert this Saturday at Atwood Stadium in Flint. 'It was awesome. I can't believe he signed my shirt,' said Gray. 'I'm going to get home, take it off and probably frame it.'
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Grand Funk Railroad's lead guitarist, Mark Farner, signed autographs at PD's Pub in Grand Blanc Township Thursday night as fans mingled and celebrated his return home.
The parking lot was packed before the 6 p.m. start time as more than 100 fans showed up to show their support to the rock legend. For many, meeting Farner was a dream come true.
"My favorite song (Inside Looking Out) was released on the day I was born and I wish I was old enough to have seen them when they first started out," said Dawn Gary, 39, of Swartz Creek. Fans enjoyed music by Grand Funk Railroad, snapped pictures, and sipped drinks while waiting for their turn to meet Farner. The Pub was littered with people wearing Grand Funk Railroad T-shirts and holding original 8 track records.

"This is a historic time. It may be better than the time his billboard was in Times Square," said Darla Pierson-Harvey, 54, of Goodrich. Harvey has been a fan since she was a little girl and was there to get a 1970 album autographed. "That's a great man. We follow Mark all the time," said Debbie Wilson, 55, of Otter Lake. She got a copy of Farner's first record autographed. Farner put his signature on everything from notebook paper to guitars and old T-shirts. Many fans described him as a down-to-earth guy who's really nice. "This is like a family reunion. There's so many people I haven't seen for years and the love of music always brings us back together," said Farner. "In almost 61 years of living I've found that love is unconditional. And that's the only thing that is."One T-shirt, bought by Garth Barcey, 58, of Grand Blanc, had turned a light tan and was a little tattered. But it was worth holding on to."He's just a blue collar guy," said Barcey, who use to wear Flint, MI on his helmet during Vietnam. "Back then all the guys (soldiers) knew Grand Funk Railroad was from Flint and use to ask me questions about it."Not all of Farner's fans were in their 50s. Rachel Fogelsonger, 22, of Flushing and Robert Jackson, 21, of Flint Township wanted autographs too."I sing his songs at karoke," said Fogelsonger. "It's pretty cool that he comes to a small place like Flint to do this."
Farner is celebrating 40 years of funk this year. He will receive the key to the city Friday at 501 Bar and Grill in downtown Flint and perform at Atwood stadium on Saturday. Flint Revival Inc. President Lynn Sorenson, organizer of Saturday's concert, said Farner "came to town early for family, but he was nice enough to commit to this."



see
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/08/grand_funk_railroads_mark_farn.html