I learned a lot from Don Brewer about how to hit like your meant it, and when “Foot Stompin’ Music” came out, my right foot got one hell of a workout trying to keep a full-blast rock shuffle hitting on all eight cylinders. Rock and Roll should never need an apology. Okay… a little beyond Bonham’s “Moby Dick,” and I wouldn’t suggest trying this at home or anywhere else… but you have to love the passion. Brewer just finishes unleashing his trademark power hand-foot triplet barrage, takes a few seconds to breathe, and then… he slams his snare drum with his HEAD. I found a YouTube clip that is typical of Brewer’s power, and the best part of it is at about 2:42 into it. You’ve been punched by Bruce Lee when it is hit just right. And of course, there’s no mistaking the sound of a Supra-phonic Ludwig snare drum, anywhere or anytime. Zildjian should thank Brewer for consistently demonstrating how incredibly durable their product was and remains. The YouTube clips revealed how hard he hit the cymbals as well, and he really did slam them. Each impact was more than just a solid THUD it was a mule-kick to the head. His solo on TNUC contained clean and thundering power triplets between his hands and feet that I worked on for many hours as a kid. I’d emulated it for years just by ear, but watching him slam was something else. I was truly amazed at his physical stamina. I never got to see Grand Funk Railroad live as a kid, and it wasn’t until recently that I found some videos of Brewer’s playing. His red sparkle Ludwig Super Classic kit took a beating that reminded me in later years of the ferocity and passion with which Gene Krupa played, although not quite so loud… It was Grand Funk Railroad’s 1970 Live Album that turned my ears inside out and lit my body up like a firecracker.ĭon Brewer was a 22-year-old drummer from Flint, Michigan who hit the drums like a man possessed. It was served up at the hands and feet of Don Brewer, and in his playing, I found a voice during my teenage years that forged a strength I still compare to John Bonham.
Tickets for Grand Funk and Humble Pie at Shea Stadium on Friday, July 9th, 1971, were priced at $4, $5 and $6.I remember the first time I heard pure drumming power. But it still is quite a feat, and quite a thing to hang your hat on that you can say, 'We sold out Shea Stadium faster than The Beatles."
Because, I mean, if you look at it now, places sell out instantaneously with the Internet. "I like to say it's probably because they got their ticket selling process together in the years between The Beatles playing there and us playing there.
Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer talked about being very proud that they sold out New York's Shea Stadium faster than The Beatles: The Beatles did the first two concerts ever held at Shea Stadium in 1965 and again in 1966.That was followed by the ‘Festival for Peace’ in 1970 with Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, The James Gang and others. Grand Funk Railroad rocked a sold-out show at Shea Stadium in New York 50 years ago today on July 9th, 1971.It was fourth concert held at the venue and it sold out the quickest.
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