Robbie's brother and former bandmate, Randy Bachman, shared the news via social media, writing: "Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO has left us. I just got a call from Fred Turner and my youngest brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side. Fred said maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer to play with. 😉 He was an integral cog in our rock 'n' roll machine and we rocked the world together."
BTO was formed in 1973 from the ashes of Randy’s first post-Guess Who outfit, Brave Belt, with the lead guitarist joined by brothers Tim on rhythm guitar and Robbie on drums alongside bassist/vocalist Fred Turner.
Robbie was credited with designing the band’s' logo, which first surfaced on their 1973 self-titled album while the project went on to reach the Top 10 in their native Canada with the help of constant touring; a second record was issued before year’s end that saw the singles “Let It Ride” and “Takin’ Care Of Business” earn top 5 status at home and Top 15 in the US.
The groundwork for more success was set when BTO released “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” as the lead track from 1974’s “Not Fragile”; the song topped the charts in several countries, including US and Canada, while Blair Thornton replaced Tim Bachman on second guitar.
More touring and albums followed, with Randy exiting the lineup in 1977 ahead of the group disbanding two years later.
Randy, Tim and Fred would eventually reunite BTO for the first time in 1983, releasing an album in 1984 and touring before going on to open for the newly-fronted Sammy Hagar version of Van Halen two years later before Randy left again.
In the years that followed there were more lineup changes and an eventual hiatus before Randy and Fred regrouped as Bachman and Turner in 2010, issuing an album and touring for several years before Fred retired from the road in 2018.
BTO would win four Juno Awards in their homeland during their 1970s run; the 1974 lineup of Randy, Robbie, Fred and Thornton was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 2014.
Pick up your copy of BTO’s “Greatest Hits” here.
Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO, my little brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side. Maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer! He was an integral cog in our rock 'n' roll machine and we rocked the world together. #RIP #littlebrother #family pic.twitter.com/XASj6CVXzA
— Randy Bachman (@RandysVinylTap) January 13, 2023
See also:
AUDIO: Randy Bachman streams Heavy Blues track Learn To Fly
Randy Bachman releases Oh My Lord video
Randy Bachman debuts video for Heavy Blues
VIDEO: Randy Bachman premieres The Edge
Search BTO at hennemusic
