Mark Farner to play Newton Theatre

NEWTON — One of rock’s true legends, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad heads to The Newton Theatre on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 8 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 18, at 10 a.m.

Mark Farner fronted the historic 1970s rock power trio Grand Funk Railroad, serving as singer, lead guitarist and songwriter.

Grand Funk Railroad broke ground as America’s preeminent pre-heavy metal band, establishing itself in the ‘70s with landmark hits like I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home), Bad Time (To Be In Love), Rock & Roll Soul, The Loco-Motion, and Some Kind of Wonderful, as well as such celebrated album tracks as Hooked on Love, Mean Mistreater, Heartbreaker, and Paranoid, all written and/or sung by Farner, unquestionably the band’s heart and soul. We’re An American Band topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1973 on Farner’s birthday, Sept. 29, and remains one of several Funk songs that hold strong as staples of rock radio.

Grand Funk sold over 40 million albums, and as a touring act was so big that it sold out Shea Stadium faster than The Beatles! So it’s only fitting then that Farner, who’s never sounded better, should be signed now to a label called Legend Group Records.

Mark Farner is back on the recording scene with a new EP, 432. The four-song disc revisits previous Farner classics with fresh productions that find the pioneering singer-songwriter/guitarist in vintage form—and with an addition to his immensely influential signature sound.

“I actually recut ‘Testify’ because the president of the label has been a fan for years and requested it,” says Farner, who hails from Grand Funk’s hometown of Flint, Mich., and still lives in the northern part of the state. Legend Group is actually based out of guitar great Steve Vai’s former Mothership Studio in the Hollywood Hills, where Farner recorded 432.

“I recorded on an old Trident board that had so many hit singles they can’t count them all!” says Farner. “It was really old-school: Everything was analog and warm and ear-friendly. Digital just isn’t for my ears, Dude. I’m spoiled.”

Tickets for Mark Farner range from $39 to $54. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700.