Robbie Bachman – the younger brother of Randy Bachman and drummer for the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive – died at the age of 69 on January 12 in Vancouver. No official cause of death was given. But reports are that he had been dealing with heart issues in recent years.
Robbie played in the band Brave Belt prior to joining brother Randy to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive with Fred Turner. Brother Time Bachman was also a part of the original lineup. Robbie continued on with the band as BTO after Randy left until they broke up in 1980. He was just 18 when he joined BTO.
While the band had a number of reunions and their share of legal battles over royalties and naming rights.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame band rocked the charts in the seventies with hits like “Taking Car of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”.
Speaking on his brother, Randy Bachman said, “he was a really cool, inventive – not a disciplined – drummer. He never had drum lessions. He just listened to the records and played like John Bonham and Ringo Starr.”
He added, “he’d bring four or five drum sets on tour, and wear satin suits that matched their colour. And at the end of every show, he’d be the first band member back onstage for the encore — a dozen roses in hand. He’d run to the front of the stage and throw a rose to every woman in the front row, or the guy she was with, and say, ‘Are you ready to rock ‘n’ roll? Do you want more rock ‘n’ roll?’” Randy Bachman recounted. Then he’d go back to the drums — still yelling.”
Wanting to play drums at an early age, Randy recounts how he used to help Robbie build a drum set out of Quaker Oats containers; adding that Robbie would play his “drums” with a wooden spoon.
Robbie is survived by his older brother Randy Bachman.
Feature photo credit: Robbie Bachman (cropped).png – Trade ad from King Biscuit Flower Hour featuring Bachman–Turner Overdrive.