This week, Ira spoke with Don Brewer.
Don Brewer, cofounder of Grand Funk Railroad (performing March 9 at The Golden Nugget Las Vegas), is considered one of the most celebrated drummers in classic rock history.
By the age of 12, Brewer started his first band, The Red Devils. Developing his own style, he moves on to his next band, the Jazzmasters.
This band evolves into Terry Knight and the Pack, and Brewer experiences his first top 40 hit in 1966 with “I Who Have Nothing.”
1969 is a pivotal year when Brewer, along with Mark Farner and Mel Schacher, forms the first major power trio to rock the world with Grand Funk Railroad. His career sky-rockets in 1973, especially with Grand Funk’s #1 hit, “We’re An American Band,” that he not only wrote, but sang while playing his historical drums licks.
Also to his list of credits are “Shinin’ On” and “Walk Like A Man.”
Grand Funk goes on to record 12 Gold and 10 Platinum albums.
In the years 1983 and 1987, Brewer is recruited to play on tour with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. The 1987 tour proves to be the largest grossing tour of that decade. He also tours extensively with Seger in 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012.
Career highlights include bongo features on Frank Zappa’s song “Let Me Take You To The Beach”; a feature in Classic Rock Drum Solos, Modern Drummer Magazine; VH-1’s “Behind The Music”; and “Classic Drummer’s” 2011 Hall of Fame.
Since 2000, Brewer continues touring with Grand Funk Railroad, performing 40 shows a year.
http://www.goldennugget.com
http://www.grandfunkrailroad.com
