The GRAND SLAM History
Since 1985 Grand Slam has performed 305 concerts in 12 European countries, 47 outside of Germany, namely in Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Latvia and the Slovakian Republic.
67 Musicians were permanent band members, amongst them 11 Americans und 1 Swiss.
20 Guests participated in Grand Slam’s concerts, personal friends, professional musicians as well as international stars like Bootsy Collins, The Edge (U2), Menace, Karl Keaton, All Saints, Dave Stewart (Eurhythmics), Dodge and Rockin’ Rick Gardner (50 concerts).
Time table
Dec ’84: The new group "GRAND SLAM" is founded by Harry Zawrel featuring musicians from the regionally-known acts “DELUXE”, “SPARKPLUG” and “FUNKADILLY CIRCUS". The musical direction is clear: Original material reflecting the style of European funk bands like Level 42 or bands like The Doobie Brothers. Besides two guitarists the line-up includes a full horn section.
Feb `85: The line-up is completed by hiring Toby Mayerl ("TOTAL CONTROL BAND & SHOW") on the keyboards. This engagement makes him one of the first musicians in the North-Bavarian music scene playing in two directly competing bands.
May `85: First live-gig, after only a few shows the band rises to spearhead the local scene.
Feb `86: After bandleader Harry Zawrel decides to take time out from the music business, keyboarder Toby Mayerl takes over the lead. First massive changes: the second guitarist is replaced by a second bassist (!!), lead singer Oliver Allwardt joins the group. With Eugene Flagg, Aletha McBride, Brian Baker and Puerto Rican Felix Martinez for the first time GS hires international musicians, starting a tradition that is maintained until today. The first album of the band is recorded in fall a cassette entitled "Make my day". The overall sound changes towards a more American Funk comparable to bands like Midnight Star, Zapp, Gap Band and Parliament/Funkadelic.
`87: The album is presented live and sells well enough to make a second edition necessary. GS wins the Demotapecheck of Radio Bayern2 Zündfunk. The price is the recording of a new track as well as a complete video clip. The band performs amongst others at the famous Anti-WAA-Festival in Burglengenfeld.
`88: Lead singer Malone Carrington joins the group, which by now is very popular on the live-circuit and performs throughout entire Germany. Harry Zawrel returns to the band as guitarist at the end of the year.
`89: The band signs with Deggendorf-based Label EAMS and releases the 12“-single "Body Move", selling a few thousand copies.
`91: Oliver Allwardt splits from the band at the end of the year, drummer Michael Deiml starts to take over the lead vocal parts.
`92: Malone Carrington leaves the band in summer. He unfortunately loses his life in a car crash at the end of the year. GS tours until the end of the year with the remaining two female singers Linde Hammer and Ramona Fink.
`93 - `94: With the exception of a 15-minute instrumental performance at a festival in March, the band takes its first complete break from live shows in its history, lasting almost 2 years. The time is used to recruit new members and to rework the complete program. In December `94 they are back on stage, one of the new members is lead singer Geno Davis, back on the block is Oliver Allwardt.
`96: In January the band decides to give up on a horn section, instead they hire a second keyboard player. Michael Deiml finally changes from the drummer’s seat to the front mic, Harry Zawrel leaves the group a second time.
`97: In June Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, the original lead singer of Bootsy’s RubberBand, member of Parliament/Funkadelic and the P-Funk AllStars, joins the band on stage for the first time. He is also a Rock ’n’ Roll Hall-of-Famer. The album "Ride on the rhythm" is released in fall. On the upcoming tours Mudbone will accompany the band as a permanent “Special guest”. First concert tours abroad, Harry Zawrel is back a second time, now on the bass.
`98: Intensive touring, Michael "Dandy" Dandorfer joins the group in January, first studio recordings with Mudbone.
´99: The spring tour is live recorded. Those recordings together with two studio-cuts from 1998 are used for the CD "The Best of Live, Vol.1", first concerts with trumpeter Rockin’ Rick Gardner as an additional guest. Rick is one of the four original members of the Horny Horns (together with Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker and Kush Griffith). He played with Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy’s RubberBand and Marvin Gaye. The band performs some of Rick’s original compositions live.
`01: For organisational reasons Rick is not able to participate in touring from fall on and the band decides to part with Geno Davis. To compensate this they hire Eric „LeShraah“ Rohner in fall. From now on, the Swiss lead singer and tenor saxophonist plays a major role in GS.
`02: Last tour with Mudbone, after 131 concerts they decide to go separate ways, first shows since 1997 without guest musicians. Part of the rhythm-section follows Mudbone to start a new project together with Dave Stewart. Harry Zawrel leaves the band for a third time.
Sep `02 – June `04: The second long hiatus in the band’s history: Grand Slam is newly formed and rehearses an entire new program. They give up on the second keyboarder and the percussionist in favor of a DJ, as a 4th singer they hire a MC. The band records the album "The Sounds of Funk Revue", until then definitely their best and most ambitious work.
`04 - `06: With the new album released, the band tours all of Europe again. In summer `05 they part from their rhythm-section and with Christoph Huber and Marco Kühnl two professional Jazzcats turn into Grand Slammers. In summer `06 they begin to record the new Album.
Oct `06: After permanent struggles with the incompatible time-schedules the new rhythm section is comprised of Lutz Mays on the bass and Frank Holderied on the drums. First hired only as help-out substitutes, they are now an integral and important part to the band’s sound of today.
`07: After several shows in spring and summer the band finishes the recording of their new album in Drayrock’s studio
Dec `07: Grand Slam wins the 25th German Rock & Pop Award in the category „Best German Funk & Soul Band 2007“. The new album "Opossums & Racoons“ is released on Peppertone Records, the most varied, emotional and powerful album in the band’s now 23-years lasting history. Besides Funkmaster Ozone Rockin’ Rick Gardner is featured again as a guest musician. Extra features include several band members from the past.
`08: Live shows to promote the new album, the band travels to Latvia for the first time!