Grand Funk Railroad virtually came out of nowhere in the summer of 69, when they played the Atlanta Pop Festival. Grand Funk openned all three days of the festival and they played for FREE.

They were propelled to such a meteoric rise that they played arenas before they ever recorded their first album. Grand Funk Railroad never had to play the bar circuit.

Shea Stadium Concerts: Grand Funk Railroad (1971)

Published: 07/31/2008 08:53:14

Michigan-based band Grand Funk Railroad had grand plans to perform at Shea. Not only did they succeed, but they sold out the stadium in 72 hours - faster than even the Beatles did.

Mark Farner, the band's lead singer, described the scene to MLB.com earlier this year, when the band flew into the stadium parking lot via a helicopter, and witnessed the building "bouncing up and down from the fans so excited from the music" from opening act Humble Pie.

Farner said "it was something you'd have to experience to really know what it was like. The emotion that comes over you when you see that - there are no words for it." Some of the performances from the show were released on Grand Funk Railroad's "Live: The 1971 Tour" album.