Drummer Robbie of Bachman-Turner Overdrive passed away

Drummer Robbie Bachman of the rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive has died at the age of 69. His brother Randy, with whom he had been in bands for years, announced the news without giving a cause of death.

“He was an indispensable cog in our rock ‘n’ roll machine and we showed it to the whole world.” Referring to the recently deceased guitar legend, he added that “Jeff Beck might need a drummer!”

Born in Canadian Winnipeg, Robbie initially formed the band Brave Belt together with Randy, who already had experience in the band The Guess Who. When the third brother Tim joined as a guitarist and Fred Turner started playing bass, they changed their name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive in 1973.

Their first hit was immediately the biggest in the Netherlands: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet with the characteristic stutter in the chorus took third place in the Top-40 in 1974. Also Lookin’ out For #1 in Roll on Down the Highway made it to the rankings here, in addition was Takin’ Care of Business a well-known song of the rock formation.

Randy left the band in 1977, after which the remaining members were only allowed to use the abbreviation BTO, not the full band name anymore. The waning success and battles over the band name and royalties led to a rift between the brothers. The band broke up in 1980. Robbie once said that his brother belittled the others and therefore hardly performed with him anymore.