There's no denying that "gearheads," fans and followers of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, have good taste. With rollin'-down-the-highway songs "Let it Ride," "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," and "Takin' Care of Business," these Canadian rockers made it their metier to deliver hard-driving rock tinged with Heartland soul. Founding member, Fred Turner, was an important cog in the ever-rolling wheel of creativity and performance of the band. Last year, he and Randy Bachman reunited to develop new material, which they're showcasing during their current tour; serving up their grits-and-gravy brand of rock. Fred spoke with Examiner.com about the new album and being on the road again:
Examiner: What were some of your musical influences growing up?
Fred Turner: When I saw Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show, that made a big impression on me. Also guys like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis....those kinds of rockers.
Examiner: What was the first instrument you learned to play?
FT: Actually, it was the accordion. (chuckles) It was my sister's. Didn't keep it long, though. I ended up pawning for an amplifier and guitar..! I learned music by ear, found that was faster than reading it.
Examiner: What was your first gig?
FT: A junior high school prom. I did the singing....the band was a junior high version of the Three Dog Night, called the Two-Tones. The first actual band I played in was called the D-Drifters. They were local.
Examiner: How did Bachman-Turner Overdrive come together?
FT: Randy Bachman, who had been with the Guess Who, and I were in a group called Brave Belt. His brother, Robin, and Chad Allan, also a member of the Guess Who, joined. We did two albums over two years. With the third one, which Mercury Records was handling, we became Bachman-Turner Overdrive. We got "Overdrive" from a magazine we saw on a counter at a truckstop...!
Examiner: What would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned after performing for so many years?
FT: That you have to get out there and keep working. You make your own opportunities.
Examiner: What would you say are the plusses and minuses of touring?
FT: The good thing is getting on stage and having a good show. Setbacks are travel, staying in hotels, vehicles breaking down.
Examiner: Do you have any past shows that are outstanding or favorites in your mind?
FT: The first benefit show we did, which was in St. Louis. It was outdoors and 15,000 people showed up..! We were surprised. Radio station KSHE has been promoting us. Their broadcast covered six states. That event was when the door swung open for us.
Examiner: What did you do when the band changed line-up in 1977?
FT: I carried on with the band. Randy went his own way, he had other torches to light. Then disco came in, so we wound down completely. In '81, Randy and I got together to work on a project, Union, but that ended because he was having personal problems. We started working together again in '83.
Examiner: What's your writing process?
FT: We just sit down and write, nothing fancy.
Examiner: What's the name of your current album and how did it come together?
FT: The album is self-titled, Bachman and Turner. A couple of years ago I worked on a track on Randy's solo album. He liked the tune and suggested we work together again when his schedule freed up. He was tied into doing work with Burton Cummings for awhile. Then, in November of 2009, we got together. We rehearsed for a couple of weeks, then spent 8-9 days recording. Took about five weeks total. Many are saying it sounds like what would have been released if BTO had stayed together.
Examiner: How's the tour going so far?
FT: We shouldn't be having as much fun as we are! (laughs) It's different touring now. We're older, there's not as much pressure.
Examiner: What's on your iPod right now?
FT: I have about 17 hours of music on my iPod! (laughs) I have mostly classic stuff on there.
Examiner: Any songs in particular you like to perform?
FT: The newer material, though I enjoy playing the classics, too. Randy and I have three years ahead of us of new creativity and I'm looking forward to it.
Bachman and Turner are set to play the upcoming High Voltage Festival in London on July 25, then will head back to the U.S. to continue touring through the rest of the summer. Seasoned rockers with a gift for catchy lyrics and barreling rhythms, Bachman and Turner are as tried and true as it gets. You ain't seen nothin' yet!
Comments