FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (AP) — Although Gretna Van Fleet never performed with the band Greta Van Fleet, her name became their identity. The Grammy-winning rock band adopted her name.
The 95-year-old resident of Michigan passed away Monday at a senior living facility in Frankenmuth, as noted in her obituary. This is the same town where the band was established in 2012, at which time Van Fleet was in her 80s.
“I think they checked my background to ensure I wasn’t on the Ten Most Wanted list or something, and then they went ahead with it,” Van Fleet humorously remarked to MLive.com in 2019, prior to the band’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
She recalled meeting the band and saying, “That’s OK.” However, she mentioned that initially, they did not reach out to her for permission.
Kyle Hauck, an early drummer for the band, recounted that they needed a name for a local gig. He recalled his grandfather mentioning a friend named Gretna Van Fleet. The name struck a chord, and with a slight alteration, Greta Van Fleet was born.
The band secured a Grammy in 2019 for their best rock album, “From The Fires,” and was also nominated for other awards that year. Greta Van Fleet’s “Starcatcher” earned a nomination for best album in 2024.
Gretna Van Fleet’s obituary highlights her musical talent, noting her proficiency in several instruments, including the saxophone, violin, tuba, and piano.
In a 2019 interview, she expressed her fondness for the band’s song “Flower Power.”
Reflecting on the band’s music style, Van Fleet admitted, “There are a couple of others that I like, but that’s not really my style. It’s not my era that they’re making popular again.”
