Bachman-Turner Overdrive Co-Founding Member Tim Bachman Dies at 71

Tim Bachman, co-founding guitarist and vocalist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), died on April 28. He was 71. His death was confirmed by his son. A cause of death was not revealed.

“My Dad passed this afternoon,” wrote Bachman’s son Ryder on Facebook, along with an old photo of him and his father. “Thank you everyone for the kind words. Grateful I got to spend some time with him at the end. Grab yer loved ones and hug ’em close. Ya never know how long you have.”

His son later added that his father’s final words were: “I love you. Share the music.”

Bachman-Turner Overdrive was originally formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1973 after Randy Bachman left The Guess Who as their lead guitarist. The original BTO lineup consisted of Randy along with his younger brothers Tim on guitar and Robbie on drums.

Of the three Bachman brothers in BTO, Tim is the second to pass away, following Robbie, who died on Jan. 12, 2023, at the age of 69.

Tim played with BTO from 1973 until 1974, appearing on their first two albums—Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Bachman–Turner Overdrive II—released in 1973. On both albums, Bachman also wrote a number of tracks, including “Down and Out Man” on the first release, and “Blown” and “I Don’t Have to Hide,” on the second.

He later returned to the band in 1984 for a reunion tour, which included a run with Van Halen, and remained with them for another four years.

Outside of the music business, Tim also worked as a realtor, which he transitioned into during the 1990s and continued to do until his death. In 2008, Bachman suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

Guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, both 79, are the last surviving members of the band. In 2014, the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images