Randy Bachman
From The Guess Who to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, this guitar-slinging icon shaped the soundtrack of a generation—and isn’t done yet.
When you hear the opening riff of “Takin’ Care of Business” or the driving pulse of “American Woman,” you're not just listening to classic rock — you’re hearing the heartbeat of Canadian music history. And at the center of it all is Randy Bachman, a true rock architect whose guitar riffs and songwriting chops defined not one, but two of the most iconic bands to ever come out of Canada.
Born in 1943 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Randy Bachman started playing violin at age 5, but it wasn’t until he picked up a guitar as a teenager that his true path began to take shape. Deeply influenced by early rock ’n’ roll, Bachman co-founded The Guess Who in the early 1960s with singer Burton Cummings. Together, they became one of the first Canadian rock bands to achieve massive international success.
With hits like “These Eyes,” “No Time,” “Undun,” and “American Woman,” The Guess Who struck a balance between psychedelic rock, soul, and pop—anchored by Bachman’s melodic, muscular guitar work. “American Woman” made history in 1970 as the first song by a Canadian band to hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
After leaving The Guess Who at the height of their fame (citing health and lifestyle conflicts), Bachman didn’t slow down. Instead, he doubled down. In 1973, he formed Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), a no-nonsense, hard-driving rock band that would define 1970s radio with a string of gritty anthems.
Songs like “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” “Let It Ride,” and “Roll On Down the Highway” turned BTO into arena rock legends. The riffs were big, the hooks were undeniable, and the sound was pure blue-collar rock: loud, proud, and built for the open road.
Beyond his chart-topping success, Randy Bachman has always been a storyteller — in his lyrics, in interviews, and through his long-running CBC radio show Vinyl Tap, where he shares behind-the-scenes stories about the artists and songs that shaped rock music.
He’s also a guitar collector, historian, and one of the genre’s most respected gearheads. In recent years, his decades-long quest to recover his stolen 1957 Gretsch guitar — the one he used on “American Woman” — became a story of passion, perseverance, and poetic justice. After being stolen in the 1970s, the guitar was finally returned to him in 2022 thanks to a fan’s online detective work and a ceremonial handoff in Tokyo.
Randy Bachman’s influence can’t be overstated. He helped define the “Canadian rock sound,” opened doors for future generations of Canadian artists, and proved that musicians from Winnipeg could shake the walls of stadiums around the world. He’s been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame — twice — and awarded the Order of Canada.
And he’s still out there. Still writing. Still playing. Still taking care of business.
Randy Bachman Fast Facts:
Co-founder of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive
First Canadian band to hit #1 in the U.S. with “American Woman”
Over 40 million records sold worldwide
Host of Vinyl Tap, a beloved CBC radio show
Two-time Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee
Reunited with his long-lost Gretsch guitar after nearly 50 years
In a world of fleeting fame and algorithm-fueled hits, Randy Bachman is the real deal: a craftsman, a trailblazer, and a Canadian legend whose riffs still ring loud and true. Whether you’re rediscovering his music or hearing it for the first time, one thing is certain — the man knows how to make a guitar talk.
