Grand Funk Blows Led Zeppelin Off Stage (1969) | VH1 Documentary (1999)

In the fall of 1969, Grand Funk Railroad was booked as the opening act for Led Zeppelin at Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. Mark Farner, the lead singer of Grand Funk Railroad, said that the band was "upstaging" Zeppelin by whipping the fans into a frenzy. Grand Funk's manager, Terry Knight, was reportedly grabbed by the throat by Peter Grant (Zeppelin's manager) and told to take the band offstage immediately. Grant allegedly then charged onto the stage, cut the power, and stopped Grand Funk mid-song, claiming a curfew was approaching. The audience booed and hissed as Grand Funk left, and by the time Zeppelin took the stage, the stadium was reportedly half-empty. SEGMENT: Grand Funk Blows Zeppelin Off Stage PROGRAM: Behind The Music NETWORK: VH1 AIR DATE: Mar 7, 1999 EPISODE: Season 2, Episode 21 NARRATOR: Jim Forbes PRODUCTION: Gay Rosenthal Productions BAND: Grand Funk Railroad MEMBERS: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica), Don Brewer (drums, vocals) and Mel Schacher (bass)