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Seven years after reuniting with their old bandmates, The Guess Who-related lovefest shows no signs of slowing down for guitarist Randy Bachman and singer-keyboardist Burton Cummings.
The Winnipeg songwriting duo released The Bachman Cummings Songbook in April -- a 19-song collection of original masters that combines the best of The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Cummings' solo work -- and have a fast-selling show at the Molson Amphitheatre on Friday night.
"The (1999) Pan Am Games were the reason that we reunited, and it was only supposed to be that one night for four songs. Here we are, seven years later," said Cummings, 58, in Toronto recently at the pair's record label offices.
"You wonder how long can this go on and what's going to happen next year. It's pretty amazing," added Bachman, 62, at Cummings side.
The two musicians taped a CBC special, First Time Around, that was broadcast earlier this year and will be released on DVD Sept. 12
"We don't have a big motivated plan behind it. We look at what gets thrown at us, and we go, 'Really? Why not? Let's do it!' " said Bachman.
"Momentum starts," added Cummings. "What's happening is the domino effect, one thing leads to another. All of a sudden we have a major special on CBC, then the release of this disc, and then the tour is starting, and now we're getting offers for possibly going to Australia. It's just that everything is snowballing all over again. This is a wonderful time in our lives. And we're not exactly 19 years old anymore."
Bachman's explanation for their continued popularity is a boomer tale of sorts.
"I think I feel the same way when I go to see somebody my age," he said. "I watched that new (Paul) McCartney video. I didn't have a chance to see him live, and you're so glad he's still doing it and you grew up with him. And I think it's the same with the fans with us. In Canada, we're the soundtrack to their lives."
Cummings, who joined The Guess Who in 1965 three years after Bachman formed the group in Winnipeg, with original singer Chad Allan, points more to the strength of their collective songbook.
"To have been on the radio continually for close to 40 years now -- that's remarkable," he said.
Really the only negative in The Guess Who comeback story has been the band's name itself.
Original bassist Jim Kale, who dropped out on the eve of the reunion trek (and was replaced by Bill Wallace at the last minute), still owns the rights to The Guess Who name and continues to tour with original drummer Garry Peterson -- "three clones" as Bachman calls them.
This explains why the group's famed songwriting duo are now touring and recording as Bachman Cummings.
"We got sick and tired of this mess with The Guess Who name," said Cummings.
"Some of the guys are suing us and there are lawsuits. It's just nonsense. So we looked at each other and said, 'Nobody can sue us for using our own names. Let's just call it Bachman Cummings, then we can do everything that we've ever done -- legally, morally, karmically."
The last time Bachman and Cummings officially performed as The Guess Who was before a half-million people at SARS-Stock in 2003.
"It might be a nice swansong, because it was the biggest crowd we'd ever played," said Cummings.
Added Bachman: "We did say, 'What can we do after this? Nothing!' And we didn't."
For their latest tour, Bachman Cummings -- who were also inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame last year -- will be joined on stage by a five-man Toronto cover band called The Carpet Frogs.
So just how much longer can the famed duo go on?
"He's over 60, I'll be 60 next year -- I think the most pleasant surprise we have is the fact that we still have an audience," said Cummings, who turns 59 on New Year's Eve. "I never would have believed it when I was 16 or 17 in the Devrons, I never would have believed at 60 we'd still be playing arenas."
Whether they'll ever record a brand new studio record as Bachman Cummings, it sure doesn't sound like it.
"People say, 'Well, what about some new stuff?'" said Cummings. "Listen, if we never did a new song again, I would be perfectly content to go out and sing these songs for another 15-20 years. God willing, I could still hit the notes."
Added Bachman: "Many artists of our vintage have done completely new albums that went absolutely nowhere. They just don't happen."
'Little girls in videos, they go 90% of the way'
Burton Cummings is clearly not a fan of Britney Spears or any of her ilk.
"It's a video age now," he told the Sun. "It's reality TV. It's Britney Spears. These little girls in videos, they go 90% of the way. At least (porn star) Ginger Lynn screws the guys, you know? Who are they kidding? ... You see Britney Spears going 90% of the way.
"And what is this to do? To drive the 12-year- old boys at home crazy? Like, I don't get it, to tell you the truth. I've seen enough of it already. I'm sick of it."