I was Randy's guitar tech for 2 years starting in January 1974, He use to tell me so many amazing stories. No one can tell stories the way Randy does. If I had a bucket list item, it would be to do one last gig with him. He is (as in one of his own words) Phenomenal!!
Randy is a GEM of a human being. A national treasure. I'm not from Canada, but I always feel a little more... 'Canadian' when I listen to his music--which is a good thing!
BTO was my favorite band in the seventies! had ALL their albums! highly underrated band! “where ever you go, whatever you do, do it in 4 Wheel Drive!” that was my theme song in my teens! never been able to go see then live. i believe they’re coming to the south okanagan but once again i dought i’ll be able to go… bummer, they aren’t getting any younger and neither am i… always wanted to see Randy play live!
I had plans to see them in the late 70's and went down to the Greek Theater in LA, where they were supposed to perform, and it was empty. The concert was canceled and I had no idea. I was depressed, as Head On was my favorite album and I wanted to see them. Fast forward to the early 2000's and they had a gig at the Flamingo Hotel in Laughlin Nevada. Unfortunately Randy wasn't with the band in that time, but Fred and Blair were performing and Fred is just the greatest vocalist, and Blair was responsible for so many of the great guitar riffs. I was happy, I finally got to see BTO.
What a great storyteller Randy is. I had heard the pizza delivery guy-turned-pianist story about Takin' Care of Business before but I didn't know the genesis of the song was many years and bands in the making and that a blind guy inspired the story and the opening lyrics or that a radio station DJ essentially named the song and its chorus.
I've heard this story multiple times. Whether it's fully true or not, it's a great story. Takin' Care Of Business is an all time great rock and roll song!
In 1973 I bought their album Bachman-Turner Overdrive. I still have it, but now the glue holding the seams has dissolved, and inside the album cover it is signed Rob Bachman
No mention of Brave Belt. Randy Bachman and Brave Belt played at our junior high school in 1971. That same year Heart played at the other junior high school in our small BC town
Bought an 8 track player and car died. Put it in my best friends Ranchero and Not Fragile was only tape we had. It played continually. 19776 I listened to it a couple of months ago and remembered every word, every solo, evert break. When one 22:00 knew wnat the nex one was . 50 years
As a Canadian boy from the 60's and 70's you know all of my friends listened to BTO. Jim was playing, its true," Fragile" by Yes at a party on his dads amazing frickin stereo. Then Gary takes the record off about half way through and puts on the album "Not Fragile" at nose bleed volume. Those were the days. All respect to the musicianship of Yes but the kick ass BTO sound was something. Fred Turner had a rock voice like George Thorogood not like Ian Gillan.
Seattle comedy show called Almost Live interviewed Norman in the mid eighties, its on RUclips, and he tells the exact same story, Almost Live, bunch of familiar names started there, including Bill Nye
Great story, I already knew that the title came from a radio DJ in Vancouver but not the rest of the story. Not Fragile is my Favorite BTO album. BTW, I've always wondered what happened to Blair Thornton.
My blind Uncle walked about 10 blocks each way to and from his canteen hospital job for 30 years,lived alone had no help,did'nt want help,the only thing he let me do was his taxes LOL.
I was the icebreaker who got Randy and Burton to speak again. It happened in the greenroom/tent before the Red River relief concert in Winnipeg after the flood of 1997. We were covering the event for the title sponsor, for whom we had an ongoing contract producing a monthly videogram. We had also worked with Burton on another project the past few years, and we were catching up over a cup of coffee when Randy spotted me and asked where the coffee was. When Burton heard Randy's voice, he turned around and introduced us to his friend Randy Bachman. It was the first time they had spoken to each other in ten years. A few hours later, without rehearsal, they did this. ruclips.net/video/HG_PQDmWW14/видео.html&ab_channel=Musictwig
Lost the right sound channel. What happened there, John? And why wasn't this interview all in that video? Strange switch to the phone in interview. And why did you stop asking questions? Very odd. I was glad that the stereo came back at the end. Be good if you could fix that switch to mono from stereo. Just a thought. Sorry it's been so long to comment & then it's a kind of negative comment. I enjoyed the interview with Randy. Saw them live I think at either the Long Beach Arena or the Fabulous Forum. I think for the tour for Head On which followed Not Fragile. Great concert. They put on a show & rocked the house. I'm also probably the only person on planet earth who actually admits to liking the last album Randy did with BTO, Freeways, before he left for his solo career. I thought there were quite a few great hit songs on that album & it's just a tragically underrated album in general. Even the band hates it. I think maybe because it was all Randy's songs though he didn't sing lead vocals on every track. Fred still sang like a beast on Freeways & Blue Collar & several others. I used to have their whole collection on vinyl, including the two albums where Jim Clench came in to play bass & sing some lead vocals while Fred Turner took over on rhythm guitar. Speaking of ridiculously underrated albums. Anyway. I lost my whole music collection several years ago when I lost everything I owned in one of several storage unit auctions. So I can't just grab the albums & look to see which tracks are where. It's funny. Watching those album covers fly over to the wall to get added there as decoration? Reminded me of my first year of college, at Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington. I was a DJ at the campus radio station KZAG for a while. I started collecting empty album covers, being surprised they kept getting thrown away. I went through a few of the local record stores & they often got several empty album jackets to make displays in store for the various new albums. When newer ones came in? They'd pull the old ones to make room for the new ones & if my timing was good? I could get several empty jackets. I only ever needed one for each artist. Once I collected all those? I took them back to my dorm room in the Catherine Monica dorm and pinned them all to the ceiling. On my side and my roommate's side. It made for a pretty cool mural of sorts. Anyway.
(Was at Gonzaga from 1979 to 1980 as a Freshman. Having graduated high school in 1979. My girlfriend & I split up so I dropped out of college & joined the Navy for 5 years in 1983. I went back & got my Bachelor of Art degree in Writing when I moved to Keene New Hampshire in I think 1992? Not that you asked.)
Is Randy still a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints? He was in the late 70's. I was working in Alberta in the summer of 1978 and i went to a fireside on a Sunday evening and he was the main speaker. This was at a LDS church in Calgary.
I showed randy most of the rythem parts to you ain't seen nothing yet and talking care of business 52 1/2 years ago in the parking lot of the norwood hotel when he came out for a smoke break in between sets,my music teacher cousin youst to call it , is that all there is ,don't show anybody anything unless you copy write the heck out of it ,but what would a teenage kid know about that
Great story but it is BS. Norman Durkee himself said he was in another studio recording jingles when the producer for the BTO record summoned him over to add a piano part to TCB which he did in one take. The whole pizza delivery man story is bogus. Not sure why Randy keeps repeating this over and over and he embellishes it a little more each time.
So you're calling him a liar? I aint gotta call Randy back man A liar, I believe every word he says tank it for me.He sounds honest.No matter what anybody says
People just remember things differently. It was 2 in the morning somebody brought pizza and somebody was wanting to play piano, I get it. Johnny Cash said Kristofferson landed a helicopter on his front yard to give him “Sunday Morning Coming Down”. Kris said he remembered it being a different song.
If you say "Jewish lady", is there really some need to add "very smart" ? I still have to meet a member of that religion who isn't either smart, very smart or - unfortunately - way too smart. Note also that "smart" is not necessarily the same as "intelligent" or "clever". Being smart doesn't preclude that, but it is a far more complex characteristic. Some very low educated farmers are damned smart, idem very often people selling antiques or art etc. I don't even know whether one should add "smart" in the category "positve" or "negative" adjectives, or whether it is something in between, depending on the situation. It has to do with "mercantile qualities", but it can involve "outsmarting" and even some con practices. Many farmers in Belgium turned "way too smart" during the war, selling bread, eggs, milk etc for exorbitant prices. Being smart can also involve pumping water into meat or fish to increase the weight to increase profits. Having said that, always loved BTO, even though the band name was almost as pompous as E-mer-son-lake-and-pal-mer or E-cho-and-the-bun-ny-men, or what to think of OMD etc. Why can't bands just have a short name like Saga, Asia, Yes, Kansas, Boston, Styx.....
I was Randy's guitar tech for 2 years starting in January 1974, He use to tell me so many amazing stories. No one can tell stories the way Randy does. If I had a bucket list item, it would be to do one last gig with him. He is (as in one of his own words) Phenomenal!!
Randy is a GEM of a human being. A national treasure. I'm not from Canada, but I always feel a little more... 'Canadian' when I listen to his music--which is a good thing!
Great story! Randy is the best storyteller in rock.
That is quite a story! BTO was one of my favorite groups at that time.
Outstanding interview!!! God bless ya Randy!!
Fantastic interview
I like everyone of your Randy Bachman interviews. These words will live on for a long, long time. Thanks to both of you. Enjoy the Journey - Cheers
I used to listen to Randy's weekly radio show, he always had some great stories.
what a phenomenal interview!
BTO was my favorite band in the seventies! had ALL their albums! highly underrated band! “where ever you go, whatever you do, do it in 4 Wheel Drive!” that was my theme song in my teens! never been able to go see then live. i believe they’re coming to the south okanagan but once again i dought i’ll be able to go… bummer, they aren’t getting any younger and neither am i… always wanted to see Randy play live!
I had plans to see them in the late 70's and went down to the Greek Theater in LA, where they were supposed to perform, and it was empty. The concert was canceled and I had no idea. I was depressed, as Head On was my favorite album and I wanted to see them. Fast forward to the early 2000's and they had a gig at the Flamingo Hotel in Laughlin Nevada. Unfortunately Randy wasn't with the band in that time, but Fred and Blair were performing and Fred is just the greatest vocalist, and Blair was responsible for so many of the great guitar riffs. I was happy, I finally got to see BTO.
The Eric Clapton of Canada what a guy
Amazing love there group
What a great storyteller Randy is. I had heard the pizza delivery guy-turned-pianist story about Takin' Care of Business before but I didn't know the genesis of the song was many years and bands in the making and that a blind guy inspired the story and the opening lyrics or that a radio station DJ essentially named the song and its chorus.
I've heard this story multiple times. Whether it's fully true or not, it's a great story. Takin' Care Of Business is an all time great rock and roll song!
What a fantastic story!!!
All the best Randy from your Good Friend Mark From Maple 🍁 Grove Mn USA 🎉
Amazing story by an amazing raconteur
What a great human being. 👏👏👏👏👏🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
In 1973 I bought their album Bachman-Turner Overdrive. I still have it, but now the glue holding the seams has dissolved, and inside the album cover it is signed Rob Bachman
Really wish they would remix & remaster the entire BTO catalog!!
No mention of Brave Belt. Randy Bachman and Brave Belt played at our junior high school in 1971. That same year Heart played at the other junior high school in our small BC town
Heckuva storyteller that Bachman fella. So is his Guess Who band mate Burton Cummings. Is it any wonder they wrote so many great tunes together?
Bought an 8 track player and car died. Put it in my best friends Ranchero and Not Fragile was only tape we had.
It played continually. 19776
I listened to it a couple of months ago and remembered every word, every solo, evert break. When one 22:00 knew wnat the nex one was .
50 years
When i open up some of my old albums, i find ancient seeds and twigs.
He picked up inspiration from the heavens above !
As a Canadian boy from the 60's and 70's you know all of my friends listened to BTO. Jim was playing, its true," Fragile" by Yes at a party on his dads amazing frickin stereo. Then Gary takes the record off about half way through and puts on the album "Not Fragile" at nose bleed volume. Those were the days. All respect to the musicianship of Yes but the kick ass BTO sound was something. Fred Turner had a rock voice like George Thorogood not like Ian Gillan.
Hey his life his story. I wasn't there.
Seattle comedy show called Almost Live interviewed Norman in the mid eighties, its on RUclips, and he tells the exact same story, Almost Live, bunch of familiar names started there, including Bill Nye
Would love an interview with Fred Turner or Blair Thornton. Both very elusive members of BTO.
I would have a ton of questions for each of them.
Great story, I already knew that the title came from a radio DJ in Vancouver but not the rest of the story. Not Fragile is my Favorite BTO album. BTW, I've always wondered what happened to Blair Thornton.
Saw them on the monsters of rock tour 3 rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh do believe it was 1974 or 75.
Nice
Night Train Revue...I haven't heard that name in decades. They used to practice in our neighborhood in Burnaby.
What an amazing story
My blind Uncle walked about 10 blocks each way to and from his canteen hospital job for 30 years,lived alone had no help,did'nt want help,the only thing he let me do was his taxes LOL.
Great backstory.
Love the "New world record" album in the background, awesome album.
Hello John
I was the icebreaker who got Randy and Burton to speak again. It happened in the greenroom/tent before the Red River relief concert in Winnipeg after the flood of 1997. We were covering the event for the title sponsor, for whom we had an ongoing contract producing a monthly videogram. We had also worked with Burton on another project the past few years, and we were catching up over a cup of coffee when Randy spotted me and asked where the coffee was. When Burton heard Randy's voice, he turned around and introduced us to his friend Randy Bachman. It was the first time they had spoken to each other in ten years. A few hours later, without rehearsal, they did this.
ruclips.net/video/HG_PQDmWW14/видео.html&ab_channel=Musictwig
Lost the right sound channel. What happened there, John? And why wasn't this interview all in that video? Strange switch to the phone in interview. And why did you stop asking questions? Very odd. I was glad that the stereo came back at the end. Be good if you could fix that switch to mono from stereo. Just a thought. Sorry it's been so long to comment & then it's a kind of negative comment. I enjoyed the interview with Randy. Saw them live I think at either the Long Beach Arena or the Fabulous Forum. I think for the tour for Head On which followed Not Fragile. Great concert. They put on a show & rocked the house. I'm also probably the only person on planet earth who actually admits to liking the last album Randy did with BTO, Freeways, before he left for his solo career. I thought there were quite a few great hit songs on that album & it's just a tragically underrated album in general. Even the band hates it. I think maybe because it was all Randy's songs though he didn't sing lead vocals on every track. Fred still sang like a beast on Freeways & Blue Collar & several others. I used to have their whole collection on vinyl, including the two albums where Jim Clench came in to play bass & sing some lead vocals while Fred Turner took over on rhythm guitar. Speaking of ridiculously underrated albums. Anyway. I lost my whole music collection several years ago when I lost everything I owned in one of several storage unit auctions. So I can't just grab the albums & look to see which tracks are where. It's funny. Watching those album covers fly over to the wall to get added there as decoration? Reminded me of my first year of college, at Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington. I was a DJ at the campus radio station KZAG for a while. I started collecting empty album covers, being surprised they kept getting thrown away. I went through a few of the local record stores & they often got several empty album jackets to make displays in store for the various new albums. When newer ones came in? They'd pull the old ones to make room for the new ones & if my timing was good? I could get several empty jackets. I only ever needed one for each artist. Once I collected all those? I took them back to my dorm room in the Catherine Monica dorm and pinned them all to the ceiling. On my side and my roommate's side. It made for a pretty cool mural of sorts. Anyway.
(Was at Gonzaga from 1979 to 1980 as a Freshman. Having graduated high school in 1979. My girlfriend & I split up so I dropped out of college & joined the Navy for 5 years in 1983. I went back & got my Bachelor of Art degree in Writing when I moved to Keene New Hampshire in I think 1992? Not that you asked.)
😊❤👍
Is Randy still a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints? He was in the late 70's. I was working in Alberta in the summer of 1978 and i went to a fireside on a Sunday evening and he was the main speaker. This was at a LDS church in Calgary.
I showed randy most of the rythem parts to you ain't seen nothing yet and talking care of business 52 1/2 years ago in the parking lot of the norwood hotel when he came out for a smoke break in between sets,my music teacher cousin youst to call it , is that all there is ,don't show anybody anything unless you copy write the heck out of it ,but what would a teenage kid know about that
Randy had a great show on CBC called Vinyl Tap.
Sadly, after many great years, it was replaced by programming about race and gender discussions.
Great story but it is BS. Norman Durkee himself said he was in another studio recording jingles when the producer for the BTO record summoned him over to add a piano part to TCB which he did in one take. The whole pizza delivery man story is bogus. Not sure why Randy keeps repeating this over and over and he embellishes it a little more each time.
Trying to be relevant in an age when no one cares anymore.
So you're calling him a liar? I aint gotta call Randy back man A liar, I believe every word he says tank it for me.He sounds honest.No matter what anybody says
He is an old man eith amnesia trying to bcome catch attention
People just remember things differently. It was 2 in the morning somebody brought pizza and somebody was wanting to play piano, I get it. Johnny Cash said Kristofferson landed a helicopter on his front yard to give him “Sunday Morning Coming Down”. Kris said he remembered it being a different song.
Well, musicians ARE entertainers.
If you say "Jewish lady", is there really some need to add "very smart" ? I still have to meet a member of that religion who isn't either smart, very smart or - unfortunately - way too smart. Note also that "smart" is not necessarily the same as "intelligent" or "clever". Being smart doesn't preclude that, but it is a far more complex characteristic. Some very low educated farmers are damned smart, idem very often people selling antiques or art etc. I don't even know whether one should add "smart" in the category "positve" or "negative" adjectives, or whether it is something in between, depending on the situation. It has to do with "mercantile qualities", but it can involve "outsmarting" and even some con practices. Many farmers in Belgium turned "way too smart" during the war, selling bread, eggs, milk etc for exorbitant prices. Being smart can also involve pumping water into meat or fish to increase the weight to increase profits. Having said that, always loved BTO, even though the band name was almost as pompous as E-mer-son-lake-and-pal-mer or E-cho-and-the-bun-ny-men, or what to think of OMD etc. Why can't bands just have a short name like Saga, Asia, Yes, Kansas, Boston, Styx.....
You can't even pronounce their name right. It's pronounced the the famous composer Bach.😮
@@leolines6024 0:30 I know! I still say "Bach" man! 😎✌️