The Guess Who 'Song War" Just Went Nuclear - Burton Cummings Has Had Enough

[@DiBiasehere]

Kurt Winter also wrote "Running Back to Saskatoon. He had a lot of songs when he came into the band. Hand me down , Bus Rider, many more. Kurt was an underappreciated , underrated, guitarist, and songwriter.

[@perrybarton]

Sorry to hear about Max from Kayak. I loved those guys.

[@Kinger1625]

Saw the Marshall Tucker Band a while back…and the singer had just had throat surgery. So….the lead singer from Molly Hatchet did the show. It was fantastic 1:08:47 , so yes other famous people can work. Especially friends of the band…as usually they play and do the same kind of music. That’s still one of my fav concerts. They all played great!

[@badplay156]

I saw The Guess Who with Dominic Troiano in the band. It was an excellent show. I also saw Randy Bachmann at the CNE. He had a singer with him to do the Burton Cummings vocals. The singer was phenomenal, and despite the rift that still existed at that point, Bachmann did express how great a talent Cummings was.

[@215Gallagher]

They were a band I liked, and I still like their old stuff. I recently watched some of Running Back Thru Canada and that's The Guess Who who should still be touring, as long as their old bones allow them.

[@Kinger1625]

Jackson Hawke(spelling) I used to play with Bob Yoemans….man that guy was an amazing musician. Always cool to hear who all will get mentioned…enjoying this. Love Cummings voice.

[@SharenVanFossen]

It's heartbreaking that such talented members of The Guess Who have spent so many years & a lot of money legally battling each other. The only ones who win are the lawyers. First it was Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings fighting over who wrote songs for several years. When Bachman & Cummings left the band of their own volition, Jim Kale, who apparently created the band & was an original member, obtained the legal rights of the name of the band, along with Garry Peterson. While I understand that they should be transparent as to who are the current members of the band, they're now in their 70's & 80's & they're still sadly battling each other. (I used to date one of the members of the Guess Who in the 70's & back then it was great to see them be friends with each other. Jim Kale & Burton Cummings even lived together for a while.)

[@joeblog2672]

One technical point, Burton Cummings is not a founding or co-founding member of the Guess Who. The band was in existence as the Guess Who a couple of years before Burton joined in 1966.

[@emilymatt9999]

SAW THEM IN '94..MINNEAPOLIS RIBFEST.."KID" JONNY LANG & THE BIG BANG OPENED(Jonny was 14 and sounded like Stevie ray)...I WAS 12 YEARS OLD...SOUNDED AMAZING, EVERY NOTE PERFECT...GOT A BACHMAN GUITAR PICK

[@tommeredith7462]

I’m really enjoying this channel as I’m a new subscriber. The content is superb. Another band with no original band members is Lynnyrd Skynard. After the recent death of Gary Rossington they are now a tribute band. Thanks for all your efforts with providing meaningful insight and content.

[@dennisn1672]

Glad i got to see all these bands with the original lineups. So many are now cover bands living off the original band name. I think once the majority of original members are gone it should be titled The sounds of the guess who or who ever.

[@ericclaeyborn3600]

The Guess Who may never be entered into the R & R Hall of Fame because of the later members, whom aren't deserving of the Hall of Fame.

[@panhead55]

Gary Peterson’s drumming on the Let’s Go album rules. He really let loose and his jazz drumming fills really shine. The entire album sounds mono, with great bass and guitar playing. Heygood Hardy is a fan favorite!

[@gargoyleontheroof]

Bachman and Cummings came to my little town as "Bachman-Cummings", played Guess Who stuff plus a few Burton solo and BTO so it was like 3 shows in 1. Awesome!

[@berliner0]

Awesome video Jon

[@mikeciresi3697]

When Stu Cook and Doug Clifford tried to use Creedence Clearwater Revival in the 90’s I saw the promo in a local paper saying that they were coming in concert. I jumped because I thought Fogerty brought them back together. I then found out that in fact Fogerty was not in the band I absolutely refused to go. Two months later they had to change the name to Creedence Clearwater Revisted. There is no way in this world that it could even remotely be considered CCR.

[@glen7589]

I excited to see The Guess Who was going to be at a local venue. I went to the website to purchase tickets cause I absolutely loved Burton Cummings vocals along with Randy Bachman. I pulled up the website and clicked on the thumbnail photo and up popped a larger image. I got to looking and I didn’t recognize “anyone” ??? I thought who is this ??? I then went on Spotify and boom no B.C or R.B. I then clicked to listen and Guess Who 😉 was singing……R.B. !!! I said forget get this !!!

[@thetruthhurts6652]

In the end it’s a business. If someone voluntarily walks away from that business he should not cry if they continue without him no matter how bad they may be.

[@tinostabile3256]

The Guess Who's foundation is Bachman Cummings.

[@garymartin1045]

Comparing hockey players to singers is so stupid Do we have a Beatles Band out there with the members that originally made the songs. How about Led Zeppelin? The Guess Who is Canadian's best band just Just to be Mocked by these idiots. Because the baseplayer stole the name after he was fired came back. Found the loophole so he could make money.

[@fullthrottlejeffry]

This has been going on forever. I read that Frank Beard and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top fame went on tour just out of high school as some British band who had several hits here in the States. Ed King speaks of the fake Strawberry Alarm Clock that was out on the road during the early seventies. The Atlanta Rhythm Section is out on tour with none of the members that recorded their hit songs. Jefferson Starship is out on tour, which is a different group than Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.

[@panhead55]

All politics aside, I love the original drummer and bass player chemistry. All four are great players…

[@Mike-qe3nq]

I believe the keyboard player played for Alice Cooper's band years ago.

[@sgt524]

I worked for BMI here in the USA we should talk sometimes

[@craigfazekas3923]

I'm surprised that so many folks cite Randy Bachman as a make or break to what is TGW & what isn't. IMO, their most potent stuff came AFTER his departure. No doubt, he was key early on. But my turn-to LPs are without him. Especially the live album & Goodbye, Bannatyne.... 🚬😎👍

[@tomhall1335]

It's the same , someone taking your identity and you paying all his living expenses.

[@rickwhitwood1313]

Kurt Winter should not be overlooked!

[@DiBiasehere]

Kurt Winter Was Tremendous. Great player and Writer.

[@joeblog2672]

Dominic Troiano was fantastic in everything he did too! The Guess Who song "Dirty" is my favourite all time for GW!

[@kevinbodey5592]

Any Guess Who without Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman is simply a Guess who tribute band! It doesn't matter who owns the name!😅

[@stephaniedescoteaux4759]

Colonel Sanders sued Kentucky Fried Chicken for not using his original recipe, saying that it dishonored his name, image and the reputation of the chain. The KFC chain is still around today. The new generation doesn't know Colonel Sanders. If Cummings takes away his original and amazing contribution to the franchise, will (this) The Guess Who survive? I hope they do. I just saw, for the first time, a video of one of their new songs. They're good. Maybe Cummings shouldn't mar his own songs by not letting them shine still. People , imagine the implication of AI and deep fakes . Should we copyright our voices?

[@joemurphy6849]

I see both sides of this. I’ve seen Randy solo, Burton solo and the GW reunion in 2000. But, they quit again after a couple years cause of the same issues they broke up over in 1970 and ‘75. I’ve seen the “fake” band many times and they are great, out there keeping the music alive. There’s a thing called the internet where a ticket buyer can look up who’s in a band, hello. Hope they can come to a resolution, like ala CCR, The Guess Who revisited!

[@lib556]

I saw the original lineup in Edmonton in the early 2000s. They did every Guess Who song I knew. They also did a few Cummings solo tunes and some BTO stuff. It was fantastic and sounded perfect. Opening act was Wide Mouth Mason with Gordie Johnson as special guest. Good night.

[@greganderson8374]

To me it is not the Guess Who without Cummings & Bachman.

[@TonyTanti-se1cd]

Randy and Burton signed off on the name back in the 70's. They signed off apparently because Kale was losing his house and needed the Guess Who name so he could tour and make money. Kale however did not let them know that he would also trademark the name later. That could be seen as morally wrong but was it legally wrong? Randy and Burton have also been in court against each other over the publishing rights for their songs which Burton found out were available for sale. He bought back the songs from NIMBUS without telling Randy! As Randy was the co-writer of the Guess Who songs was Burton not morally obligated to share the publishing rights with Randy? Apparently not legally at least. These guys have been at each other's throats since Randy told them he was going into the hospital in 1970 when the band was on tour and instead was secretly producing another band. They tracked him down and told him he was fired before he could say "I Quit!". This was a great band in their day but they all have dirt on them. Kale saying he'll keep a band of trained monkeys on tour as the Guess Who just to piss off Cummings was a low blow and I would want to stick that up his rear but the lawyers are the only ones who are going to profit off this case. Too bad these guys are taking it to their graves. Have a beer instead and one last Canadian tour!

[@Spinspiel]

Re Sass Jordan and the Box's "Closer Together" - Sass is in the video shoot but it's Martine St. Clair who does the terrific vocals on the song "Closer Together". Sass does do back ground vocals on other tracks on that Box album.

[@jdc4483]

Touring with no original members, just an expensive cover-band: Foreigner, Little River Band, and Guess Who. Three Dog Night - only one original member - Danny Hutton. Foghat- only one original member, drummer Roger Earl .

[@joeblog2672]

Gary Peterson is a founding member of the Guess Who so GW still has one in the lineup. The other founders were Randy Bachman (guitar), Jim Kale (bass), Bob Ashley (piano) and Chad Allan (lead singer). Originally they were called "Al and the Silvertones" then "Chad Allan and the Reflections" by 1962. At this point all those founding members mentioned were present in the band. Burton Cummings replaced Bob Ashley in 1966 as their piano / keyboard player and backup vocalist. A few months later Chad Allan opted out and the band put Burton up front as the band's lead singer.

[@doughstarstar4032]

LRB is more of an exception to the examples talked about. I mean what band exists in the shadow of the original members that are available and still wanting to play. I mean you could actually see the real LRB...crazy.

[@davewielhouwer11]

Steve Lukather and David Paitch got hosed in the Toto deal. They have toured, kept the band alive, WORKED....WORKED FOR YEARS, and Porcaros remarried widow thinks she deserves money from today (meaning post Jeff concerts and albums). If someone leaves or dies, they default their rights. They still tecieve royalties for everything they did with the band. But the band isnt beholden to working for someone else. Whats next would she demand they go tour so she can recieve more money? Its so ridiculous.

[@frodofraggins]

If she has a legal right to money due to inheriting Jeff's ownership stake in the band and its name, then yeah she's not 100% a villain. They just need to come up with a settlement. Musicians tend not to be good with contracts and the law.

[@waltersimmons946]

Susan Porcaro Goings won in court. I'm not taking sides, but she was Jeff's wife, not an obsessed groupie. Lukather may have to write another book because he and Paich were ordered to pay the remarried rich woman., Yep the current hubby is loaded witht💰 💰

[@normatible9795]

Maybe. Just like courtney love. She inherited curt cobain's rights to his music and name nirvana. I rhink this was settled with dave grohl

[@garymartin1045]

What's ridiculous Is you know nothing about the music industry? Everyone that is involved in family should get something no matter what they put up with the lives and the style of the famous people they deserve everything they get.

[@cmancuc]

Motown groups have been doing this for decades. There’s a group out there singing the Spinners catalog with all new singers

[@RolandDeschainee]

no Burton Cummings no guess who

[@davescryptodays1441]

Isn't it Wayne Nelson who owns the LRB name now? Cheers!

[@givingvoicetohistory]

John, when you’re just talking, you have a knack for making it seem like we are just hanging out. Your interview style gives the same vibe between you and your interviewees. I’m an oral historian. I get paid to do interviews of military veterans. Im not as experienced as you are, but I know how hard you must have worked to become as good as you are. So, don’t be so frigging self deprecating! It’s also cool to hear that you and Shannon work on this stuff together. Keep up the good work!

[@RockHistoryMusic]

Thanks so much. That's very kind of you.

[@mootbooxle]

My favorite The Guess Who song is probably “Sour Suite”. It has helped me to process a lot of difficult emotions throughout my life! Looking back, Burton Cummings has been a big influence on me musically and vocally! My band opened for Poco a few years back, right before Rusty Young passed…as far as I know he was the only original guy still in there. The bass player had been there since the mid 80s iirc. They were so nice to us and performed excellently…my initial disappointment melted away pretty quick! If a main ingredient is still in the fold and performing well, it can still feel worthy of the band name. But in the case of The Guess Who it’s just flagrantly misleading…the drummer who didn’t even write much of the material is not integral enough to make it legitimate, imho. I really appreciate listening to your stories and hearing your personality- it gives me more context for your interviews, if that makes any sense!

[@joeblog2672]

Love Sour Suite as well. Great tune to start with at karaoke too, if your bar is lucky to have it.

[@GuitarDragonNOLA]

This has been going on for decades. I was in a cover band in 1980 and we opened for a fake Guess Who in 1980 that just had Jim Kale. Also saw the 2002 reunion tour with Bill Wallace. They offered the tour to Kale but he refused to sign a no drugs no alcohol contract so they got Wallace. Donnie McDougall was in that band, too.

[@kingsethos5108]

If the current lineup cannot perform without relying on the hit songs they were never a part of then they should not call themselves The Guess Who.

[@chrismorgan7494]

10 years ago, I saw them at Disney world. The piano player kinda looked like Burton with grey hair, handlebar mustache and shades. I thought it was great Burton was there. The dude never sang a note. I felt I'd been had. Lol

[@PEEPNME]

Maybe they could call themselves..."Guess Who We Arent"......lol

[@mootbooxle]

I have really enjoyed your interviews for a long time, and really been enjoying this discourse on the crazy The Guess Who situation. It’s absolutely insane to me that they would put so much work and care into “Plein D’amour” just to slap a basically fraudulent name onto it. It just seems like a waste…the record really sounds great, well-arranged and recorded stuff. To call it “The Guess Who” is just ridiculous to me!

[@gerrylambert5225]

Guess Who Appropriatley named

[@Kinger1625]

To me, these older bands are now cover bands..but really good cover bands. So they get paid good money to make that classic music sound as great as it can be. If not…then they’re nothing more than bar bands, and should be payed as such. Cummings, was the voice of the Guess Who…..Bachman is the true guitar player of Guess Who. These guys were huge, and I get why Cummings did what he did. If they want to play those songs…then money should be part of the equation. I also feel this about other bands….i.e. Journey! kiss….even ACDC on this last tour. Brian is a great person, and love his voice, but he has represented the band amazingly. But….the main guys wrote lots of tunes. Great episode. Good luck with the sneezing. ❤😂

[@jonjahn5769]

no Burton Cummings...no Guess Who...

[@lonh6744]

The Don Henley band?

[@timh4369]

Should be interesting. I’m totally behind Bachman and Cummings .Hope they win in court . I think it’s ridiculous that The Guess Who and I use that term loosely, is releasing new music saying they are the Guess Who . They are not !!

[@ROCK-vl5yw]

You brought it up

[@dbassman27]

Bands that had their heyday back in the late 1960's or 1970's were, at the time, composed of young adults. It is unrealistic to expect those artists (if they are still alive) to perform as they did over 50 years ago. These people would be in their 70's. I once heard a famous musician say that if you wanted to hear what Led Zeppelin sounded like when they were in their prime, go and see a top class LZ tribute band. The surviving members can't do what they were able to in 1970. It is the same with the GW. It has to be younger musicians because the original members either can't perform at the level they used to, or don't want to. The current controversy between Burton and the latest version of the GW is just another episode in Canada's longest running soap opera.

[@mxxjss]

The band “War” tours to this day with only one member from their classic era. Four of the other members including Lee Oskar formed “The Lowrider Band”. Unfortunately one of those members B.B. Dickerson has passed away.

[@bluesandmore786]

War is another cover band. Lowrider Band is the real War.

[@fritzcaddy]

Tribal Sioux name little river band

[@stephendringus8183]

Not sure how much of the fault falls on the LRB members since their manager, the guy who's supposed to be looking out for their best interests, cut a side deal with the new label... unbeknownst to the original members.

[@CatDandor]

Live at the paramount is killer!

[@DiBiasehere]

It is one of the best live records of all time.

[@williamhoward44]

Hello John: I’m in Vero Beach, Fl where “The Guess Who” was scheduled to perform on 4/10 Wednesday at the Sunrise Theater. I did my homework and so I knew that Bachman and Cummings were not part of it. But I bought two tickets because I discovered that Michael Staertow, #guitaristforanicon , whose work I greatly admired when he was excellent as Lou Gramm’s lead guitarist for many years, is now in “The Guess Who”, and I wanted to support him/them. Also, I met a woman who I want to get to know better, so I asked her out! Normally, I don’t patronize classic tribute bands with no original members (e.g.Foreigner). Saw Lou at this Theater in January, and he was better than ever (seen him in and out of Foreigner many times). Sorry he’s announced his retirement (for real this time). Anyway, “The Guess Who” show was cancelled 2 hours before showtime, “due to unforeseen circumstances “. Finally, “The Guess Who’s” new album is called “Plein d’Amour”, which even in Canadian French means “Full of Love”. Obviously you’re from the English-speaking part of your beautiful country! Best wishes, BILL (you’re keeping me up late so I’ll send a donation tomorrow! I enjoy your insights…..keep up the good work!

[@flippercarlin1657]

Totally with Burton and Randy!!!!!

[@bassmickeyd]

Next time Burton's on the show ask him "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" I'd love to hear his take if he remembers it.

[@joeblog2672]

I'm not sure if my post here is what you are referring to regarding Burton, the Guess Who and Carnegie Hall but I'll post it anyway.... I would say Burton either remembers directions to Carnegie Hall vividly or has long since suppressed the memory of how to get there! Their 1972 "Live at the Paramount" album, recorded in May that yea at the Seattle Paramount Theatre was supposed to a live album recorded from a concert at Carnegie Hall months earlier. Everything was booked and the band was ready to go the day before. Then (as reported in John Einerson's (sp?) book) Burton and Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead were doing acid and whatever else and Burton blew out his voice that night. The show was cancelled the next day and they were never asked back... A potential silver lining to this affair is that the Seattle Paramount show was likely better than what they would have done at Carnegie Hall even if Burton hadn't blown his voice. The reason for this is that one of their two guitar players (Greg Liskew) bailed out of the band, a few days before the Carnegie show was to go on. Donnie McDougall was brought in to replace him and had about three days to intimately learn their catalogue for the show. Burton claims that McDougall was ready to go but thinks that the band benefited from lack of rush towards the Seattle show. He also deeply regrets destroying the band's opportunity to play the hallowed hall in NY and would never forgive himself for this mistake.

[@marct7813]

Aren't Bachman Turner Overdrive touring with only Randy Bachman as the only original member? I know the brothers are no longer here, but without Fred Turner there is no Bachman Turner - same deal?

[@sweetrocks85]

Randy approached Fred, but he did not want to travel & tour at this stage of his life. But he gave Randy his full blessing to tour as BTO without him.

[@benjaminrupe5930]

While strolling through the Meskwaki casino one day, I spotted a poster promoting incoming entertainment. The logo billed them as the Guess Who. Peterson was the only one I recognized. Didn't bother to inquire about tickets. Very disapointing.

[@GuyMorey]

The "fake" Guess Who is nothing more than a high school glee club. Wannabe rock stars. If anything, they should have considered themselves a Platinum Blonde cover band. I have been a Guess Who fan since the sixties. I saw the real Guess Who in Toronto when they reunited in the 80s and when they toured with the "Running Back Through Canada" tour. These guys represent TRUE Canadian music. Songs that have stood the test of time. Classic Canadian music. I admire what Burton is doing in putting a stop to these boneheads that are desperately trying to be musicians. They are not. Give up Kale. You have become undun. You didn't know what you were headed for. Long Live Burton and Randy.

[@littlewing6231]

Love all your videos. At 30:00 I was watching you have a congestion fit. I was gonna send you some Claritin to help with your sinus allergies. 🤣🤷🏼 Talking non stop doesn’t help I’m sure. Take care great video.

[@osculus]

They could at least change the name of the new original member-free band to the Guess Whom

[@bblondahl]

The current lineup has lots of songs of their own. They are very good BUT I wonder how they will do standing on their own without the old GW songs. I can't understand why they had to cancel their concerts. Play their own songs. Burton Cummings has every right to withdraw performance rights to his songs.

[@howardtennenhouse7849]

To those who didn’t know Bachman and Cummings have been out for a half century,you can’t be real fans.Peterson owns the name and plays.No different than other older bands who only have 1 or 2 originals.Examples:Yes,Doobies,King Crimson,Lighthouse,etc.

[@lauriehammers4686]

Yes, I would see them. I like their new music. Maybe they should call themselves the New Guess Who.

[@bassmickeyd]

How about this for a billing, Tonight Only, "Guess Who?"

[@renegade2556]

what about when someone finds an old jam tape with Burton's voice and turns it into a song, who is the band/ anybody's guess.

[@geoffdennis8382]

I got in a bit of a FB argument with Stan Miczek of the current lineup purporting to be The Guess Who on their page. It went something like this. Him: What about all the Philiarmonic orchestras playing Bach classical music? Me: Yeah, playing it. Not purporting to be the actual Bach! Saying this, I really like their album Plein D'Amour. They just need to call themselves by another name.

[@joemasse4568]

Funny enough Weren’t Fleetwood Mac, a completely different band when they started?

[@sspbrazil]

The band doesn't send the copyright strikes, it's more convoluted than that, it usually comes from algorithms which are perpetuated by lawyers.

[@violetsmith9071]

That is not correct. The copyright owner of the publishing (or their lawyers) issues copyright strikes against covers. The algorithm merely notes a copyright claim so the cover cannot be monetized.

[@gregrose6915]

It happens way too often. look at "Trooper", not one single original member left. Nazerth, just has the bass player, or did. . Streetheart, no one. Even Bachman-Turner Overdrive, is only Randy.

[@darinkasaboski6829]

This is why it is important to own the band name. Most people are too lazy to look up who is in a classic rock band currently. They want to go to a show. 20 years ago it was harder to get away with this but now REO, Styx, Foreigner etc are touring juggernauts

[@markgarin6355]

But....then, when Randy and Gary left to form BTO.....why was it still called the Guess Who? Winter was there after Randy left .when does a band.... stop being a band? Kansas added a new lead singer ten years in. Did that stop them from being Kansas? LRB.....the big guys left, i wish they had stopped signing their old LRB music and came out with more newer music with the same quality...but i never heard it. THEY PLAY THE OLD MUSIC VERY WELL...

[@deafheaven99]

change their name to GUESS AGAIN

[@082207]

Team Cummings/Bachman

[@JK-ry7id]

Free speech: Are Burton Cummings or Bachman struggling financially? They can’t help their former struggling band mates out? Why always the Greed? If either kick the bucket do they want to die with regrets?

[@MikeJohnson-mj5qp]

Glad to see Burton do this I’m a musician and songwriter These people running around with out any original members They did not create any of the these songs

[@kristinwalden3122]

Burton and randy never signed over anything ..They told them they could use the songs for a couple shows or tour. Legally there is no license with the publisher. Which is in fact Burton.. They have to get permission with the publisher and they never did any of that. Burton says who can sing his songs. Using the name should be changed to a cover band and I'm sure they wouldnt care that much...Pissing off Burton and Randy is not a good idea. Burton did the right thing

[@wasteofspace20]

Waiting on the creatives uses of the last name Cummings in the comments. I’ll be back.

[@tacobreather]

Call them ‘Guess What’! lol

[@thekolt533]

I don't have an issue w them touring under the name but I wouldn't pay to see them! I saw the Runnin Back Through Canada show in Wpg and they were magic!! In my humble opinion Burton has a right to be mad and he owns the publishing to their songs but I think he'll lose the touring & performing case!!

[@ADenny12]

Great Video! Also, last few years I developed sneezing attacks -- later in life allergy development I think -- & they are awful, would erupt it seemed out of nowhere, & really dragged me down anywhere from a few hours to a few days -- I finally went to an ENT who prescribed me 2 different kinds of nose sprays daily (one an antihistamine & the other is a steroid spray) & those have made all the difference -- cut the attacks by at least 75% and I don't have to take any allergy medicine in pill form. Just a thought!

[@RockHistoryMusic]

Hey thanks for the info. I appreciate it...John

[@CatDandor]

If Fred Turner isn’t in BTO,I would not go see them.

[@Nugmania1]

I’m sure that Mr. Kale and Mr. Peterson have taken great lengths to make sure Burton or Randy will never own the name, ever, while we’re at let’s make sure all cover bands pay for doing Guess Who songs lol NOT……

[@joeblog2672]

Morality and ethics will have a hard fight to win this legal battle for commercial opportunism that often pits former friend against former friend. Obviously the question comes down to a legal one, otherwise nothing will stop musicians taking advantage of marketable good will (back history song catalogues) they had nothing to do with creating. I don't know how the courts have or will continue to value trademark ownership with songwriting authorship and whatever else is involved. I personally don't like the idea of this lineup calling itself the Guess Who. As John points out here, Garry Peterson (the only classic GW member present here) had little to do with the writing. He did all of the classic (and more) drums for the band but is that enough? What if Jim Kale (another classic and founding member) were still playing bass? I still don't think that's enough. But in the case of The Who, where lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend have continued under that classic banner for more than 20 years following the death of original bassist extraordinaire, John Entwhistle and eons after the 1978 passing of original drummer Kieth Moon. The first two were responsible for virtually all of the band's writing so it seems like they are far more "The Who" than Peterson and bunch are the "Guess Who". This should be an interesting case to follow. I wonder if any common precedent will be established? These cases might be too tricky to generalize under legal precedent. And then with the Guess Who, April Wine and some others, you have the issue of international law coming into question (Canadian and US law).

[@kenkowaluk2225]

Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman should have done this years ago! Peterson is a leech as well as Kale! Owning a name does not give you the right to perform the songs from the past!

[@wwz1011]

I went to a recent show. I bought tickets not realizing they really aren't the Guess Who. They played many of the classic Guess Who songs and it definitely did NOT sound the same. Overall, pretty disappointed with the show. So many of the classic rock bands are missing most of the original players.

[@ROCK-vl5yw]

Who's April one

[@richiegrohs9137]

My FRIEND GREG SMITH PLAYS BASS FOR THE NEW GUESS WHO

[@stevemarko1691]

You may have just solved the issue. The band should simply just call themselves "The NEW Guess Who". Or maybe, "Gary Peterson's "Guess Who" Experience". Either way, the new band is good enough to tour their new material under ANY name. But, they really can't have it both ways if they only own the band name but NOT THE HIT SONGS.

[@markgarin6355]

Randy left....took Gary with him. Burton stopped playing with them. Jim stayed, then Gary came back. I saw the Jim/Gary version in Hawaii in 91 I think, they sounded good, but I was only expecting Jim. Gary wasn't reported. Burton could have kept it going but he didn't. It comes down to what consider a band to be. I think the band is greater than the sum of it's parts. I've seen the new configuration lately last year... But some of the new guys are writing new music, playing older music well and have been together for quite a while. Love Burton, make deals for the songs you wrote and enjoy the fact they still exist. BUT GARY IS STILL THERE AND JIM IS IN THE BACKGROUND....what do they mean they have no connection to the band/music. Never heard anyone ever claim that Kurt, Burton or Randy were playing in the band.

[@stormsfromcalifornia4379]

i saw fake gw i onc3e o knew burton randy foor hell of it that lastted 10 min i split

[@bassmickeyd]

The Guess Who were Randy, Burton, Jim and Gary. ... Randy left first then started Brave Belt which turned into BTO. ... Burton kept TGW alive till, I believe Gary left, then Burton moved to LA and had some piano hits, leaving Jim Kale the sole owner of The Guess Who. ... Since, 77/78, Jim has toured non-stop with his version of The Guess Who, (back when nobody cared) then he leased the name out to a good non-original musicians band who toured and he stayed in Winnipeg and collected touring/booking royalties. ... Randy had hits with BTO but eventually left the band, 'stating he owned the name Bachman Turner Over-weight, (joke) and giving the remainder of BTO the name "BTO" to tour with. (In truth Randy never copywrite any BTO names,) ... Eventually BTO hired a close friend Randy Murray and toured in the nineties till about 2003(?). Then Randy Bachman sued BTO for hiring a musician named. Randy to impersonate him causing BTO to stop touring and hire lawyers. Eventually Randy B. dropped the lawsuit, because there was no money to collect because he forced the band to stop touring. ... Randy B. then hooked up with Burton (20-years ago?) and leased the name "The Guess Who" from bassist Jim Kale and toured Canada. ... Eventually Randy didn't like paying Jim, (it's always 'all about da money'.) ... So they dropped TGW and toured as Bachman/Cummings, singing all the TGW hits, but that wasn't as easy a sell, in the USA, as "The Guess Who". ... I don't know, but my guess is, Randy is pushing Burton down this road wanting more cash and control. (Randy has a million children Burton I don't think has any.) And why both these men, who are nearing 80 years of age, would rather give the lawyers money than pay for the right to tour under "The Guess Who" a name they don't own, regardless who wrote the songs, but feel they deserve to because he and Burton wrote the hits. ... The EGO is the most delicate and dangerous appendage in the human body.

[@frodofraggins]

I don't really see the LRB as having that much cache these days. I wasn't aware that songwriters could prevent a band from singing their songs in concert. Maybe it has to do with them using the LRB name? I guess the imposters couldn't make a living as a LRB cover band. I never heard of Sass Jordan and so whomever her husband is would never register lol.

[@DanShaferMusic]

I’ve written with Beeb Birtles and it’s a SHAME he, Graham, Glenn, CAN NOT go out as LRB and make a living! The current line up aren’t very good and should be ashamed!! Foreigner also is a fake band. Mick may or may not show up, and many many groups are just tribute acts. They are at least keeping the music alive. As far as Sass’s husband, his ego needs to be deflated a little. He can’t compare to Burton, or any other great singer. He sounds like a Broadway singer or maybe Dennis DeYoung 😢

[@badplay156]

Just listened to Plein D'Amour. The song is not bad and the vocals are good BUT he is nothing like Burton or Randy. He is closer to Led Zeppelin than Guess Who in singing style and voice.

[@feelingnostalgic1806]

Ok, so what happens to the imposters currently performing as Little River Band…!!??

[@duanek6051]

From What I remember guitarist Steve Housden owns the "name" as the other sold their shares. He licenses the name to the group since he retired maybe around 2005 or so. Wayne nelson on base and lead vocals goes back to the Goble, Birtles Sherrock era. So legally it has to do with the management company and signing documents that they didnt know details to. There is a great interview with Graham Gobles on this channel!

[@brwneyesaz]

War band the same problem, just one original.

[@joemasse4568]

I love the Guess who, and they should be able to be the Guess Who? How about Fleetwood Mac? The band should keep paying Burton and Randy royalties if they are playing songs written by them, but who really cares, look at the Motown bands and Skynyrd, or even the Eagles who’s left, they are all old geezers,In a few years they won’t even be alive sadly.

[@nco_gets_it]

who TF is Sass Jordon? Never heard of her/him/it...