46 Facts About Randy Bachman

Randy Bachman was the writer and singer of several hit rock songs, including, "Takin' Care of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".

Randy Bachman recorded as a solo artist and was part of a number of short-lived bands such as Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse.

Randy Bachman was a national radio personality on CBC Radio, hosting the weekly music show, Vinyl Tap.

Randy Bachman was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.

Randy Bachman studied violin until the age of 12 when he grew dissatisfied with the structured lessons.

Randy Bachman found that while he could not read music, he could play anything if he heard it once; he referred to it as his phonographic memory.

At age 15, Randy Bachman saw Elvis Presley play on Tommy Dorsey's television show and the sight of the guitar around Presley's neck inspired him.

Randy Bachman learned three chords from his cousin, then started practising on a modified Hawaiian Dobro.

At age 16, Randy Bachman met Lenny Breau and during the next two years Breau taught Randy Bachman finger picking.

In 1959, Randy Bachman bought a ticket to see Les Paul in concert at a Winnipeg supper club but could not get in as he was too young.

Randy Bachman instead helped Paul set up before the show and helped him reload everything into the car after the show.

Still a budding guitarist at this point, Randy Bachman asked Paul if he could teach him a guitar lick; Paul ended up teaching his version of "How High the Moon".

Randy Bachman was initially a good student at school until he took up the guitar, when he focused on that instrument to the exclusion of his education.

Randy Bachman passed Grade 9 at Edmund Partridge Junior High School, but repeated both the 10th and 11th grades, initially at West Kildonan Collegiate.

Randy Bachman was expelled from West Kildonan in the middle of that year because of his "lack of studiousness", and finished his schooling at Garden City Collegiate.

Randy Bachman went on to study business administration at what is Red River College, but did not graduate.

Randy Bachman wrote or cowrote most of the group's songs during this period.

Randy Bachman left the band at the height of its popularity, shortly after the release of American Woman.

Randy Bachman has been quoted as leaving due to the other band members' lifestyle choices conflicting with his beliefs upon converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in addition to wanting to spend more time with his family members.

Randy's brother Robbie Bachman was the drummer for Brave Belt, at barely 18 years-old.

Randy Bachman wrote all but one song and sang on every song but two, while some of the other band members felt that they did not have enough good material to record and wanted to delay the release.

The rest of the band would continue to record and tour until the end of the decade, after Randy Bachman agreed to sell the rights to the "BTO" name to the remaining band members.

Later in the article From Rags to Riches and Back, Randy Bachman recalled building up a net worth of close to $10 million by 1977, only to go broke within four years, which he attributed to his divorce from his first wife Lorayne Stevenson and the court battles over custody of their children, as well as heavy investment in musical projects that did not become fruitful.

Randy Bachman rejoined The Guess Who in 1983 with Burton Cummings and other members of the American Woman era, for a publicized reunion.

Randy Bachman returned to The Guess Who for a reunion performance in August 1999, in Winnipeg at the end of the XIII Pan Am Games.

Randy Bachman continued as a member of The Guess Who, and played with them on several tours.

In 2001, Randy Bachman received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, along with the other members of The Guess Who.

In 2005, Randy Bachman was awarded the Order of Manitoba, the highest award in the Province of Manitoba.

Randy Bachman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame for the first time, for his time with The Guess Who in 2001.

In 2004, Randy Bachman helped Kalan Porter on his debut album, 219 Days.

Randy Bachman reportedly suggested that Kalan do a drone on the violin during "In Spite of It All".

Randy Bachman was featured performing a guitar solo near the end of the song, "And We Drive".

On July 2,2005, Randy Bachman performed at the Canadian leg of the global Live 8 mega-concert organized by Bob Geldof.

Randy Bachman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame for the second time, now as a solo artist, in 2012.

Later in March 2018, Randy Bachman released a tribute to George Harrison containing versions of the latter's hits.

Randy Bachman appeared in a CBC television broadcast benefit called "Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble" on April 26,2020, featuring various Canadian musicians and entertainers.

Randy Bachman made a brief one-minute appearance to thank the front-line Canadian workers and proceeded to play a short parody of "Taking Care of Business".

Randy Bachman has mentioned in interviews that his guitar influences include Lenny Breau, Leslie West, Wes Montgomery, George Peterson, and Hank Marvin.

Randy Bachman's son, Tal Bachman, is a recording artist best known for his 1999 top-20 hit song "She's So High".

Randy Bachman then was married to Denise McCann from 1982 to 2011, and they had one child.

Randy Bachman originally lost 60 pounds from 380 lb by diet and exercise.

Randy Bachman became aware of the threat his obesity posed to his health during a performance at Winnipeg Stadium for the 1999 Pan American Games, realizing that his weight-induced back and knee pain was making touring impossible.

Randy Bachman remembered that Carnie Wilson, the daughter of his friend Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, had successfully lost weight using bariatric surgery, and sought out her surgeon to help him.

Randy Bachman had a successful operation on his shoulder in November 2007 to repair a torn rotator cuff, which he has blamed on his decades-long use of heavy guitars.

Randy Bachman is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.

In January 2023, Randy Bachman announced on Twitter that his younger brother Robbie had died, but he did not specify a cause of death.