The single arrived 50 years ago this month
Multi-platinum-selling group Grand Funk Railroad (GFR) is celebrating an anniversary half a century in the making, marking 50 years since their iconic song, “We’re An American Band,” topped the charts. The song hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1973, becoming the band’s first No. 1 single and enduring over the years as one of rock’s most definitive anthems. Written by GFR founding member Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, the platinum-selling song was released as the first single from the band’s studio album of the same name, which arrived in July 1973.
A vibrant and pulsing ode to the United States and life on the road, “We’re An American Band” is all about feeling good and having fun in the 50 states and namechecks cities like Little Rock, Arkansas and Omaha, Nebraska. Penned by Brewer in midair as the band traveled on their Phoenix Tour in 1972, “We’re An American Band” makes a simple declaration that has come to define Grand Funk Railroad and resonated with fans for decades.
The song has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including Rob Zombie, Garth Brooks, Poison, Phish, Kid Rock, Village People, Rascal Flatts and more and featured in blockbuster movies like Radio and Sahara.
The band is currently on the road on their sprawling The American Band Tour, which began in January and wraps up in December. Along with their classic anthem, GFR is also delighting audiences with classics like “The Loco-Motion,” “Walk Like a Man,” and more.
