Bachman & Turner
| Company type | Musical collaboration / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Randy Bachman, Fred Turner |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Bachman & Turner emerged as a musical collaboration between Randy Bachman and Fred Turner after the breakup of Bachman–Turner Overdrive. The duo later reunited in 2023.
Band history
Initially conceived as a Randy Bachman solo endeavor, the project evolved when he invited Fred Turner to provide vocals on the track "Rock n' Roll is the Only Way Out." Pleased with Turner's contribution, Bachman suggested transforming the solo album into a joint effort under the name Bachman & Turner. They shared compositions and reconvened in Winnipeg in December 2009.
Their debut album, titled Bachman & Turner, was launched on September 7, 2010, in North America and on September 20, 2010, across Europe. Critics highlighted the record for reviving the essence of Bachman Turner Overdrive, with the album entering the Canadian Albums Chart at position #32. Digital singles "Rollin' Along" and "Slave To The Rhythm" were also released. The lineup included supporting musicians Mick Dalla-Vee, Brent Howard Knudsen, and Marc LaFrance, all previously part of Bachman's touring ensemble.
In 2010, the UK saw the release of a mini-album titled Forged In Rock, which combined selections from their debut alongside iconic tracks such as "Takin' Care Of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet."
The band captured a live performance in 2011 at New York’s Roseland Ballroom featuring guest musician Paul Shaffer. This concert was issued as a two-disc set called Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC and was broadcast on PBS in 2012 under the title Front Row Center. A DVD version of this show followed in 2015.
Between 2010 and 2018, Bachman & Turner toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. Their last concert took place in Niagara Falls, NY in 2018, after which Fred Turner amicably retired from live performances.
Use-of-name issue
The activities surrounding Bachman & Turner’s tours and album releases prompted legal action from Robbie Bachman and Blair Thornton, who contested ownership rights over the Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO) brand and trademarks. Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings encountered comparable disputes regarding the Guess Who name—held by original bassist Jim Kale—leading to performances under 'Bachman-Cummings' since 2005. Robbie Bachman and Thornton assert that rights to the BTO name in the US and Canada were transferred to them along with Fred Turner when Randy Bachman embarked on his solo career in 1977. The ownership status beyond North America remains ambiguous, as does whether this applies to both 'Bachman-Turner Overdrive' and 'BTO' or exclusively to the abbreviation. Randy Bachman is reported to have registered trademarks such as 'Bachman-Turner,' 'BTU,' 'Bachman-Turner United,' and 'Bachman-Turner Union' within US and Canadian jurisdictions. The international trademark situation is unclear, with potential conflicts possibly causing harm to Robbie Bachman and Thornton’s interests. Generally, legal rulings permit individual members to perform using their personal names; thus, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner adopted 'Bachman & Turner' for their recordings and tours.
Discography
Albums
- Bachman & Turner (2010), Cadiz Music
- Forged In Rock (2010), Classic Rock Magazine/Future plc (UK)
- Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC (2011), Eagle Records
Singles
- "Slave To The Rhythm" (2010)
- "Rollin' Along" (2010)
DVD
- Front Row Center (2015)