Randy Bachman
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Randolph Charles Bachman, OM, D.Mus (hon.) (born September 27, 1943) was lead guitarist and songwriter of the 1970s rock band, The Guess Who, and later formed the famous hard rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive with his brothers Robbie Bachman, drums, Tim Bachman, rhythm guitar and friend Fred Turner on bass and lead vocals. He became a legendary figure in the rock and roll world through his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, and performer. Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His son, Tal Bachman, is also a musician.
Bachman also formed the band Brave Belt with Chad Allan and has recorded numerous solo albums. In 1992 he recorded the song "Prairie Town" with fellow Winnipegger Neil Young.
In 2000, he made a guest appearance on The Simpsons as himself with his former Bachman-Turner Overdrive band-mate, C.F. Turner. Simpsons creator Matt Groening (whose father is originally from Winnipeg), is a well known BTO fan. Homer Simpson yells at Bachman to "get to the working overtime part" while playing "Takin' Care of Business".
In 2001 Bachman received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba along with the members of the rest of the Guess Who. In 2005 Bachman was awarded the Order of Manitoba, the highest award in the Province of Manitoba. [1] Bachman, along with The Guess Who, was also the recipient of The Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, Canada's foremost distinction for excellence in the performing arts, in 2002.
Since the summer of 2005, Bachman is currently hosting the series Vinyl Tap on CBC Radio One, where he tells stories about classic rock music and musicians while playing appropriate recordings.
Randy helped Kalan Porter on his CD 219 Days. He suggested that Kalan does a drone on his violin on one of his songs, In Spite Of It All. He was also featured in his song, And We Drive, playing a guitar solo near the end of the song.
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[edit] Recent Performances
Bachman tours with his own band, the Randy Bachman Band and the Bachman-Cummings Band. He has also created a popular theatre show he calls "Every Song Tells A Story" featuring Bachman live and unplugged with his band, telling the stories behind the writing of his famous hits from the 1960s and 70s. Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are planning on touring throughout Canada as Bachman & Cummings in the summer of 2006 with Toronto's The Carpet Frogs.
Randy Bachman has also released an album of original melodic jazz songs called "Jazz Thing" which is available at www.randybachman.com.
Randy Bachman is still very busy as a songwriter and mentor to young artists. Protege country singer Michael Carey and new hot pop sensation Kyle Riabko are just two of the Canadian up and coming artists he has been songwriting with. Bachman travels the world with singer/songwriter wife Denise McCann to write with many European songwriters, including Doug Carr (producer of the Swedish band Ace of Base) and Mick Saxell in Sweden. Bachman has also performed with cool Swedish rockers The Soundtrack of Our Lives and appears on a vinyl picturedisc with them from a live performance at Vancouver's legendary Commodore Ballroom in 2004.
Bachman's coast-to-coast CBC Radio One show Vinyl Tap, featuring Bachman playing records and reminiscing about his personal encounters with famous artists and musicians from his 50-year career in rock, has been extended through 2006. It runs from 7-9 p.m. every Saturday night and can be accessed via the CBC Radio One web site.
[edit] Solo Discography
- 1970 Axe
- 1976 Survivor
- 1992 Any Road
- 1993 Bob's Garage (Live)
- 1996 Merge
- 1998 Songbook
- 2001 Every Song Tells a Story
- 2004 Jazz Thing
- 2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook - Compilation that features tracks from the Guess Who, Burton Cummings, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- 2006 The Thunderbird Trax - A compilation of previously unreleased material recorded by Bachman and Cummings in Bachman's tool shed back in 1987
[edit] Video Discography
- 2001 Every Song Tells a Story
- 2005 Live 8 Toronto - Performs Takin' Care of Business with The Carpet Frogs, Burton Cummings was scheduled to perform with Bachman, but was unable to attend.
- 2006 Jazz Thing Live in Toronto (Featuring Curtis Stiegers, Joel Kroeker, Tal Bachman, Stephan Moccio, and Denise McCann Bachman)
