Another Act Reunion? Guess Who

TORONTO-Guitarist Randy Bachman has long predicted that the late-'60s lineup of Canada's Guess Who would re-form-but only "when it's sunny and 80 degrees at [renowned Winnipeg, Manitoba, intersection] Portage and Main on New Year's Eve."
It seems it could be time to look out for some unseasonable weather, as the veteran band's members may be touring together next year-a prospect that was unthinkable even a year ago.
While in their hometown of Winnipeg Oct. 17 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the inaugural Prairie Music Awards, Bachman, singer Burton Cummings, bassist Jim Kale, and drummer Garry Peterson will discuss a possible reunion tour. "We'll look at the offers and see what kind of sense they make," says Bachman.
Reunion talk has been sparked by a recent appearance by the quartet and U.S. airplay for Lenny Kravitz's rendition of their hit "American Woman," which reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Kravitz's version is featured on the "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" soundtrack (Maverick) and on his Virgin album "5." Maverick is issuing a sequel soundtrack to "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" this month to coincide with its home video release Nov. 16. The second "Spy" soundtrack contains the Guess Who's original version of "American Woman."
"There's been 10 versions of "American Woman' over the years," says Bachman. "Most of them have been copies of ours with the same guitar run played louder and the singers screaming louder than Burton." Adds Cummings, "It's flattering how true Lenny stayed to my original vocals. Even the ad-libbed [vocal] licks at the end, he copied."
Reassembling the best-known Guess Who lineup is going to be a major undertaking. One reason is that another version of the band-under Kale, who owns the name-is still active, with former Coney Hatch member Carl Dixon as front man. However, the chief obstacle is bitterness over that fact that the bulk of the group's catalog is owned by Cummings' Shillelagh Music. This includes "American Woman," which was written by all four members, and the U.S. top 10 hits "These Eyes," "Laughing," and "No Time," which Bachman and Cummings co-wrote. Cummings acquired the rights in 1981 from Nimbus 9 Productions.
A legal battle between Cummings and Bachman over the publishing in the '80s led to the two rarely speaking after the band's 1983 Canadian tour. However, in 1997 they briefly buried the hatchet and performed together in Winnipeg at a benefit concert in aid of flood victims.
Earlier this year, a reported $200,000 Canadian ($136,000) fee and the personal appeal of Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon convinced the quartet to perform at the closing ceremonies of the XIII Pan American Games Aug. 8 in Winnipeg. It was the Guess Who's first time onstage together in 16 years.
Despite a sudden downpour immediately before the band's 20-minute set, the stadium audience stayed in its seats to hear the Guess Who play. Says Bachman, "That 20 minutes went by in a snap of a finger. The adrenaline was unbelievable. The years of pain, anger, and distance disappeared."
"We had fun; the music was terrific," says Cummings. "There's a chemistry when Randy and I are together. I sing better, and he plays better."
A 90-minute documentary of that appearance, shot by CBC-TV, will air later this year in Canada. With offers pouring in from promoters in Canada, the U.S., Japan, and Australia, the four could tour for "a year or two" playing Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and Cummings solo selections, says Cummings.
However, when the four meet this month, Bachman says, he will ask Cummings to first relinquish publishing rights to the Guess Who songs written by Cummings with the other three. "That could end any talk of touring right away," predicts the band's longtime producer and mentor, Jack Richardson, who had originally co-owned Nimbus 9 Productions.
"It's time for this to be resolved," says Bachman firmly. "Peterson and Kale feel the same as I do. If Burton doesn't give it up, [a transfer] is going to be demanded [with the right of copyright termination]."
"I'm not going to let them hold a gun to my head," counters Cummings. I'd like to go and play the United States again with those guys, but I don't need a Guess Who reunion. Acquiring the songs' rights was a business deal. Nimbus 9 was on the chopping block. I found out the songs were available and bought them."
At the impending meeting, Bachman will also lobby for the members to consider other Guess Who-related projects. They include a DVD release featuring performances from the band's 1983 Canadian tour; footage from its 1967 CBC-TV program "Let's Go"; promotional videos of "These Eyes" and "American Woman"; and footage of the Pan American Games appearance.
Also to be considered is a Bachman-compiled double album, "This Time Long Ago," with four unissued tracks from a 1967 session in London and nine songs from "Let's Go," including a rendition of the Doors' "Light My Fire" with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and a scorching version of "Summertime Blues."
The Guess Who has been a towering presence in Canadian music since its 1965 rendition of British rockers Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over" reached No. 1 here and No. 22 on The Billboard Hot 100. However, the original group, which had Chad Allen as the singer, never had another international hit. "These Eyes," with Cummings, broke in the U.S. in 1969.
While "American Woman" topped the Hot 100 in 1970, Bachman-a Mormon-left the group that year, citing lifestyle differences. He soon resurfaced with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, which signed with Mercury Records in the U.S. Following Bachman's departure, Cummings wrote or co-wrote the Guess Who's early-'70s hits "Clap For The Wolfman" and "Share The Land" before leaving in 1975 to launch a solo career.