Randy Bachman (photo used with permission)
FilmRise has announced the digital release of the full-length feature documentary, Bachman, which pays homage to guitarist-singer-songwriter Randy Bachman of BTO (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) and the Guess Who.
Says the press release, “Randy accomplished a rare feat by having #1 singles with two bands: “American Woman” with the Guess Who and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, earning him more than 120 platinum, gold and silver records. This 78-minute documentary takes viewers on a journey from his early days in Winnipeg, Canada, to his worldwide success in not just one band, but two.” Bachman will be available on DVD, and to stream or download on iTunes, Prime Video and Google Play on March 26.
Related: Read part one of our two-part interview with Randy Bachman
Written and directed by award-winning director John Barnard (The Sheepdogs Have At It, Menorca), this feature-length documentary includes rarely seen footage and photos plus documents stored at the National Archives in Ottawa for decades, interspersed with interviews with family members and musicians including Neil Young, Paul Shaffer, Peter Frampton and Bachman’s bandmate Fred Turner.
Watch Bachman and his band perform George Harrison’s “Give Me Love”
Says the announcement, “Bachman shows viewers Randy’s love of the guitar and how his passion began at an early age. He admired the work of local singer-songwriter Chad Allan and eventually joined his band. That band later became the Guess Who. Randy bucked the common rock star lifestyle of booze, drugs and sex and converted to Mormonism for the woman he loved. For the first time ever, Bachman reveals how Randy’s lifestyle choices led to tension in both bands and the ultimate breakups of the Guess Who and BTO.”
The documentary, continues the announcement, also delves into Bachman’s most recent work, an album featuring the songs of George Harrison. “[It] follows Bachman as he visits his sanctuary: a warehouse filled with hundreds of customized guitars. Randy’s face lights up as he pulls one rare guitar after another—his passion and love for them are impossible to overlook. Today, the 75-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and continues to create music and tour the world as a solo artist.”
Bachman had its world premiere at Toronto’s 2018 Hot Docs Festival, where it was an Official Selection.
Watch the trailer for Bachman
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationA documentary about Bachman and this article can’t get the facts straight. The BTO #1 song is Not TCB it’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing’s Yet” did you even watch the movie?
The information was supplied to us in a press release by the documentary’s distributor, but you are correct. We’ve made the fix. And no, we have not seen it yet.