Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Biography

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• Ironhorse
• Grand Funk Railroad
• The Guess Who
• Johnny Winter
• Foghat
• Edgar Winter
• Steve Miller

• The Who
• The Yardbirds
• The Rolling Stones
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Chuck Berry
• Mitch Ryder
• Creedence Clearwater Revival

• Heart
• Loverboy
• The Manical Cats
• Rush
• Tom Robinson
• Bryan Adams

• Randy Bachman
• Bachman Cummings

Formed:

Jan 1, 1972 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Disbanded:

Jan 1, 1979

Genres:

Classical Music, Rock Music, Metal Rock Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Following his 1970 departure from the Guess Who, guitarist Randy Bachman recorded a solo album (Axe) and planned a project with exNice keyboardist Keith Emerson (later canceled due to illness) before forming BachmanTurner Overdrive in 1972. Originally called "Brave Belt," the metal group was comprised of singer/guitarist Bachman, fellow Guess Who alum Chad Allan, bassist C.F. "Fred" Turner, and Randy's brother, drummer Robbie; after a pair of LPs (Brave Belt I and Brave Belt II), Allan was replaced by another Bachman brother, guitarist Tim, and in homage to the trucker's magazine Overdrive, the unit became BTO.

While their selftitled 1973 debut caused little impact in the U.S. or the band's native Canada, BachmanTurner Overdrive II was a smash, netting a hit single with the anthemic "Takin' Care of Business." Prior to the release of 1974's Not Fragile, Tim Bachman exited the group to begin a career in production, and was replaced by Blair Thornton; the album was a charttopping success, and notched a number one single with "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet."

After 1977's Freeways, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and formed another group, Ironhorse. BachmanTurner Overdrive continued on in his absence with replacement Jim Clench for two more albums, Street Action and Rock n' Roll Nights (both 1978), eventually changing their name to simply BTO. At the tailend of the decade, the band dissolved, but in the 1980s they regrouped to tour as both BachmanTurner Overdrive (led by Randy) and BTO (led by Robbie); the ensuing confusion the name game triggered ultimately resulted in Randy Bachman filing suit against his onetime bandmates for rights to the group's logo.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide