Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
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- I never actually learned to play very well
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Mel Schacher
- Thread starter eno50
- Start date
I saw the original lineup three times '70-'73, and still have my hand-held Panasonic recorded cassette I made at a '73 show at Nippert Stadium in Cincy. They were certainly one of the most energetic acts of the time.
Mark Farner is playing at Sycamore Township Days next weekend- a tiny little community fair about 5 miles from my home, but I'll be 50 miles away at a weekend party, and I am severely bummed to miss him.
Mark Farner is playing at Sycamore Township Days next weekend- a tiny little community fair about 5 miles from my home, but I'll be 50 miles away at a weekend party, and I am severely bummed to miss him.
Great to see such love for GFR and Mel!
I became a big fan when I first heard We're An American Band (when it was first released) and worked my way backwards.
Mel's bass lines propelled the band, and he showed me the importance of bass in a band.
I became a big fan when I first heard We're An American Band (when it was first released) and worked my way backwards.
Mel's bass lines propelled the band, and he showed me the importance of bass in a band.
I've tried! I work at a local TV station in his hometown, have interviewed Don several times-and am again in a couple weeks before they play Detroit-but they always so no when i ask for Mel.
I wanted to 'like' this post, but didn't want you to think I liked that Mel doesn't grant interviews.
Reminds me of John Deacon (Queen) and both seem to have the strong desire to keep out of the public eye, except for the basic requirement to appear on stage to play. Since retiring, John Deacon has not appeared publicly anywhere, to my knowledge.
Mel is my idea of a hard rock bassist. He fits perfectly in a power trio because he can definitely provide 33.3% of the music.
Nothing agains Farner or Kulick, but I've always wanted to hear Mel, with his '69-'71 tone, in trio with a shredder like Joe Satriani and a drummer like Vinnie Colaiuta. I figure most guitarists would feel comfortable soloing over that tone and the lines tha Mel has always played. Joe's music generally doesn't have complex bass lines, just super solid stuff. I hear some of Mel in Satriani songs like "Echo". Maybe that bass line and tone was inspired bu Mel....
Nothing agains Farner or Kulick, but I've always wanted to hear Mel, with his '69-'71 tone, in trio with a shredder like Joe Satriani and a drummer like Vinnie Colaiuta. I figure most guitarists would feel comfortable soloing over that tone and the lines tha Mel has always played. Joe's music generally doesn't have complex bass lines, just super solid stuff. I hear some of Mel in Satriani songs like "Echo". Maybe that bass line and tone was inspired bu Mel....
Mel! My hero! I've said this on other threads, but Mel is the main reason I became a bass player. When I saw bands on TV I used to always notice the bass player and his big bass. Visually it just stood out and had an impression like the bass player was the bada** in the band! I heard bass on records and always enjoyed it and thought that maybe someday if I can ever get my hands on a bass I would probably learn it. A few years later my brother bought a Blackjack violin bass which he never played. He came home with GFRR first live album sometime later and as soon as I heard Mel on the first song Are You Ready I was blown away!! My parents wanted me to find a hobby or something to keep me out of trouble and I said I wanted to learn to play bass. So I signed up for lessons and the rest is history! So thank you Mel, if it wasn't for your bass playing I may have never taken up the bass and would have probably been in jail or dead from drug abuse or something. And I mean that. And thank you to my mom and dad for pushing me and doing the best they could to take care of my brother ans sisters and me!
That is a great story 1stnamebassist!
Wonderful to hear, thank you for sharing it.
Wonderful to hear, thank you for sharing it.
Man, I have to admit, I need to get more Mel and Grand Funk. But from the joints I have heard, they look like some badass, fret-sliding, groove-heavy, Flint water drinkin' MF's......!
The late Mark Adams indicated that the fret slide he always did was from Mel.
First the IRS, then band disagreements....!
The late Mark Adams indicated that the fret slide he always did was from Mel.
First the IRS, then band disagreements....!
Last edited:
- Jan 12, 2011
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- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
I caught them live in the 70's. Blew me away, Mel was so powerful on bass
and Mark Farner was a wicked athelete jumping all over the stage.
and Mark Farner was a wicked athelete jumping all over the stage.
Nippert Stadium, University of Cincinnati, July 29,1973. I really need to transfer this to CD some day.
My first bass hero. I learned to play bass listening to Grand Funk and Mel Schacher. I saw them at Madison Square Garden in the early 70's. By that time, they hired on the keyboard player. But what a concert.
The good old days.
The good old days.
