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Bachman’s never been so famous

He’s been in two world-famous bands, has penned some of Canada’s most iconic rock tunes, and was heckled by Homer during a memorable bit on The Simpsons.
Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman says he’s never felt the same level of fame and notoriety as he does now

TORONTO — He’s been in two world-famous bands, has penned some of Canada’s most iconic rock tunes, and was heckled by Homer during a memorable bit on The Simpsons.

And yet Randy Bachman says he’s never felt the same level of fame and notoriety that he does now, as the voice behind CBC Radio’s Vinyl Tap.

He’s in Toronto this weekend to record an episode of the show entitled Guitarology 101.

Tickets to the live tapings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are sold out and Bachman says he’s been blown away by how popular the show has become.

It started out with Bachman telling stories about his songs and time on the road with other famous musicians.

Bachman says he can’t go anywhere now without someone stopping him to talk about the show, which airs Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET on CBC Radio One and Sundays at 6 p.m. on CBC Radio Two.

“I thought I had fame or notoriety before, now I’ve got it like never before,” Bachman said in an interview Thursday. “I’m in everybody’s living room, or car, or bedroom and the hellos ... we get going through airports and on the street ... it’s quite an amazing phenomenon in my life.”

Even at his performances, so-called Tap-heads will yell out comments about the show from the audience.

“People have said I’m not a normal-trained DJ and they can tell it, that it’s more like they’ve come into my home for dinner and afterwards we’re sitting around the fire and I’m playing guitar and telling them rock ’n’ roll stories about being on the road,” he said.

Bachman produces the show with his wife Denise, which he loves, and said fans enjoy as well. “We just joke and laugh and goof around, women send in emails loving that Denise is on the show.”

Bachman said he’s excited about a new album he’s recorded with Fred Turner under the Bachman and Turner name, and can’t wait for fans to hear it.

“Vinyl Tap really, really, really helped me in making this record. ... I really didn’t know what a great record is, it’s a performance, like Brown Sugar, like Hound Dog, like Takin’ Care of Business,” he said. “It speeds up, it slows down, there’s bad notes — it’s the performance people like.”