The energy inside the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario, crackled like a summer storm on Saturday night, February 1, 2026. A sold-out crowd—thousands of fans who had waited decades for this exact moment—erupted as the house lights dropped and the familiar riff of an electric guitar sliced through the air. Then came the voice: that unmistakable, soulful baritone that defined a generation. Burton Cummings stepped into the spotlight, Randy Bachman slung low on his guitar beside him, and just like that, The Guess Who—the real Guess Who—were back on stage together for the first time since the historic SARS Benefit Concert in Toronto on July 30, 2003.
No one in the room could deny the weight of those 23 years. Legal battles over the band name, lineup changes, solo careers, health issues, pandemics, and the simple passage of time had kept these two founding members apart under the banner they helped create. But on this night, after a hard-fought victory to reclaim their legacy, Cummings and Bachman delivered a performance that felt like both a celebration and a reclamation. The show didn’t just meet expectations—it exceeded them, blending razor-sharp precision on the classics with the raw, joyful spontaneity that made The Guess Who legends in the first place.
The evening opened with a thunderous welcome as the band launched into “969 (The Oldest Man),” a deep cut from their early catalog that immediately set the tone: this wasn’t going to be a nostalgia-only setlist. Cummings, now 78, commanded the stage with the same charisma that once made teenage girls scream across Canada. His voice, weathered but powerful, soared effortlessly. Bachman, 78 as well, shredded with the fire of a man half his age, his fingers dancing across the fretboard like they never left the ’70s. Backed by a tight supporting band—including seasoned musicians who honored the original arrangements without overshadowing the stars—the duo proved that chemistry like theirs doesn’t fade; it deepens.
Hits came fast and furious. “These Eyes” brought the first wave of goosebumps, Cummings’ piano intro drawing sighs from the audience before his vocals kicked in, tender and aching. The crowd sang every word, phones held high like lighters in the old days. “Hand Me Down World” followed, its driving rhythm reminding everyone why The Guess Who bridged garage rock and sophisticated pop so seamlessly. Then came “No Time,” the anthem that still feels urgent half a century later, with Bachman’s guitar riff cutting through like a call to arms.
The set’s true magic lay in its surprises. Rather than sticking strictly to The Guess Who playbook, Bachman and Cummings wove in gems from their shared history. “Let It Ride” transitioned smoothly into a blistering take on Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” a nod to the evolution that followed Bachman’s 1970 departure from the band. The crowd roared approval—many had grown up with both acts, and hearing the two worlds collide felt like closing a long-open circle. Deep cuts like “Proper Stranger,” “Albert Flasher,” “Clap for the Wolfman,” “Laughing,” “Guns Guns Guns,” “Undun,” and “Star Baby” peppered the night, rewarding die-hard fans who knew every lyric and chord change.
“American Woman,” the song that defined an era and topped charts worldwide in 1970, arrived midway through the set like a freight train. Bachman’s iconic riff—simple, relentless, revolutionary—ignited the room. Cummings delivered the lyrics with a growl that echoed the original recording’s defiance, while the band locked in so tightly it felt like 1970 all over again. The crowd lost it: air guitars, fist pumps, spontaneous sing-alongs that shook the rafters. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a shared memory brought roaring back to life.
Interspersed between songs were moments of genuine warmth. Cummings paused to reflect on the journey: the early days in Winnipeg, the battles to reclaim the name from a rival lineup that had toured under it for years, the 2023 lawsuit and 2024 settlement that finally gave Bachman and Cummings control of The Guess Who trademark. “We’ve been through hell to get here,” he said, voice cracking slightly. “But tonight, this is ours again. And it’s yours.” Bachman chimed in with his trademark humor: “23 years is a long time between gigs, but some things are worth waiting for—like good friends and great rock ‘n’ roll.”
The legal saga added profound context to the triumph. In recent years, a separate version of The Guess Who—led by original bassist Jim Kale and drummer Garry Peterson—had continued touring and even releasing music. Bachman and Cummings, as primary songwriters, fought back fiercely. Cummings took the dramatic step of terminating performance rights to many hits he co-wrote, effectively halting the other lineup’s use of the material. The dispute culminated in a settlement granting Bachman and Cummings the trademark, allowing this authentic reunion. Fans saw it as justice served; the sold-out crowd’s enthusiasm proved the “real” Guess Who still commanded loyalty.
As the night built toward its climax, the band delivered “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” another monster hit that blended seamlessly into an extended jam session. The energy never flagged—proof that age is no barrier when passion remains intact. The encore brought the house down with a double dose of classics, leaving everyone on their feet, cheering for more.
This wasn’t just a one-off. The Niagara Falls show marked the launch of The Guess Who’s “Takin’ It Back” tour, a celebratory run across Canada (with select U.S. dates) featuring special guest Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles. Dates kick off in earnest May 26 at Avenir Centre in Moncton, NB, with stops in Halifax, Toronto (Scotiabank Arena), Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and beyond, wrapping in late summer. Additional appearances include the Rock Legends Cruise XIII in February and a March show at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. Tickets for many stops sold briskly, with fans eager to witness this rare convergence.
Photos from the night, captured by Joel Naphin of Music Life Magazine, tell the story visually: Cummings at the piano, eyes closed in mid-note; Bachman leaning into a solo, sweat flying; the two sharing a grin mid-song that spoke volumes about decades of friendship. Writer Thom Jennings, who chronicled the event, captured the essence: “It wasn’t nostalgia. It was resurrection.”
For a band that helped define Canadian rock—and influenced everyone from The Guess Who’s peers to modern acts—the reunion feels like a full-circle moment. Their catalog, from the proto-punk edge of “American Woman” to the orchestral beauty of “These Eyes,” remains timeless. In an era of tribute acts and AI-generated nostalgia, seeing the originators reclaim their sound hits differently.
Were you there in Niagara Falls? If not, the tour offers redemption. Bachman and Cummings aren’t slowing down; they’re accelerating, proving that great rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t retire—it roars back louder. The Guess Who is back, the name is theirs, and the music? It’s as vital as ever.
This sold-out kickoff wasn’t the end of a wait—it was the beginning of something bigger. Grab tickets while you can. History is on tour, and it’s taking no prisoners.
