Mel Schacher
Encyclopedia
Mel Schacher is best known as the bassist
for rock band Grand Funk Railroad
.
. He became interested in music at the age of seven playing with his father's banjo
. By age twelve he had moved to playing guitar
and then bass. By age fourteen, Schacher was part of a trio playing mostly wedding receptions and talent competitions while playing with other local bands.
drummer Don Brewer
and singer/guitarist Mark Farner
---who had been working as the Fabulous Pack but sought to change musical direction---to form a new power trio
. Intrigued by the power trio concept, Schacher joined the new lineup, and almost from the moment they played the 1969 Atlanta International Pop Festival, inspiring a rousing reception and fast-spreading word of mouth, they achieved international fame as Grand Funk Railroad
.
From 1969 through 1975, Grand Funk was one of the U.S.'s top rock groups, managing to hold on despite an acrimonious parting with manager/producer Terry Knight
and a musical shift toward a more compact hard rock, including a fourth member, keyboard player Craig Frost
. They achieved several platinum-selling albums and several hit singles but, by 1976, Grand Funk broke up over musical differences. On VH-1's Behind the Music
series in the 1990s, Schacher spoke of the sorrow when the impasse between Farner's sociopolitical song leanings and Brewer's party-band song leanings couldn't be reconciled.
Farner, Brewer, and Schacher decided to give Grand Funk another try in 1980 until Schacher balked at relocating to California; according to Mark Farner in several interviews since, Schacher developed a distaste for flying and elected to stay behind. The trio reformed with Flint bassist Dennis Bellinger, recorded two albums, and disbanded again.
Schacher spent the intervening years making his way as an investor and occasional musician until, almost by chance, he reteamed with Farner and Brewer in a reunited Grand Funk Railroad in 1996. They recorded a concert set, Bosnia, and a few new selections for a major anthology project. The original lineup toured until 1998, when Farner left to reconvene his solo music career. Schacher and Brewer continue to lead Grand Funk Railroad with new musicians, sporadic recording, and continuing concert tours.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for rock band Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
.
Early career
Schacher was born in Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. He became interested in music at the age of seven playing with his father's banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
. By age twelve he had moved to playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and then bass. By age fourteen, Schacher was part of a trio playing mostly wedding receptions and talent competitions while playing with other local bands.
Professional career
At sixteen, Schacher caught his first professional break when he was invited to replace bassist Frank Lugo in Question Mark and the Mysterians, then riding their sole hit "96 Tears." During this stint, he was approached to join former Terry Knight and the PackTerry Knight and the Pack
Terry Knight and the Pack was, between 1965 and 1967, an American rock band from Flint, Michigan. The band was signed to the Lucky Eleven label throughout its short recording career.-Career:...
drummer Don Brewer
Don Brewer
Don Brewer is the drummer and co-lead singer for American rock band Grand Funk Railroad.- Early life :Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on September 3, 1948 and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School....
and singer/guitarist Mark Farner
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.-Early life and career:...
---who had been working as the Fabulous Pack but sought to change musical direction---to form a new power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
. Intrigued by the power trio concept, Schacher joined the new lineup, and almost from the moment they played the 1969 Atlanta International Pop Festival, inspiring a rousing reception and fast-spreading word of mouth, they achieved international fame as Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
.
From 1969 through 1975, Grand Funk was one of the U.S.'s top rock groups, managing to hold on despite an acrimonious parting with manager/producer Terry Knight
Terry Knight
Terry Knight , born Richard Terrance Knapp, was an American rock and roll music producer, promoter, singer, songwriter and radio personality, who enjoyed some success in radio, modest success as a singer, but phenomenal success as the original manager-producer for Grand Funk Railroad and the...
and a musical shift toward a more compact hard rock, including a fourth member, keyboard player Craig Frost
Craig Frost
Craig Frost is the keyboardist for Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. However, he is best known as keyboardist for 1970s hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad....
. They achieved several platinum-selling albums and several hit singles but, by 1976, Grand Funk broke up over musical differences. On VH-1's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
series in the 1990s, Schacher spoke of the sorrow when the impasse between Farner's sociopolitical song leanings and Brewer's party-band song leanings couldn't be reconciled.
Farner, Brewer, and Schacher decided to give Grand Funk another try in 1980 until Schacher balked at relocating to California; according to Mark Farner in several interviews since, Schacher developed a distaste for flying and elected to stay behind. The trio reformed with Flint bassist Dennis Bellinger, recorded two albums, and disbanded again.
Schacher spent the intervening years making his way as an investor and occasional musician until, almost by chance, he reteamed with Farner and Brewer in a reunited Grand Funk Railroad in 1996. They recorded a concert set, Bosnia, and a few new selections for a major anthology project. The original lineup toured until 1998, when Farner left to reconvene his solo music career. Schacher and Brewer continue to lead Grand Funk Railroad with new musicians, sporadic recording, and continuing concert tours.