FANS of classic Can-rock are in for a treat tomorrow.

A motley collection of old time rock 'n' rollers, including Randy Bachman, David Clayton Thomas and Five Man Electrical Band, are closing the Canada Day ceremonies with "a rousing end of the century medley."

"I'm not really quite sure what we're doing. I know I'm doing a portion of Taking Care of Business," says Bachman over the phone from B.C. "I'm not even doing the whole song, it's part of a medley. I know I'm part of a big Canadian celebration and that's kind of it."

While most such icons are fading musical memories, Bachman has been getting a lot of attention lately. American Woman, sung by Lenny Kravitz, is racing up the charts, the chorus from These Eyes provides the hook for Maestro's comeback track Stick To Ya Vision, his son Tal is on his way to pop phenom status and Bachman himself is a major draw at classic rock concerts around the continent.

And next season he'll be moving even further up the ladder of legends with an appearance on The Simpsons -- yes, Homer jumps on stage to duet Takin' Care of Business.

As well, the Guess Who have been in the news of late due to a plea for the band to reunite for the Pan-Am Games. They have been promised $200,000 for four songs.

Original members

"They asked the four original members to play and we're still in discussions. We've all had our concerns and excitement about doing it," he says, referring to their 1983 reunion debacle and emphasizing the nostalgic nature of the event.

"The Guess Who did play the Pan-Am games in 1967 the last time it was in Winnipeg, then we went to England and began our rise to prominence."

Despite more than 30 years in the rock world, Bachman is surprisingly modest about his iconic status.

"It's not something you think about. You do the same thing every day and other people perceive your status different as you get more popular," he explains.

"I'm just the same goon that was playing in a band in Winnipeg. And I'm playing the same songs by the way."

Much of his down-to-earth attitude is due to the far-from-instant success both the Guess Who and BTO had to endure before hitting it big in the pre-CanCon era.

"We had to go out and pretty much grovel to radio stations to get airplay and it took about 8 1/2 years of solid touring. It became a running joke. Most people we meet would say 'Hi, you played at my grad, wedding, bar mitzva. Or you played at my parent's ...' "

Then suddenly, as the interview draws to a close and I've begun my goodbyes, Bachman decides to "shoot himself in the foot."

"I believe in celebrating one's country, one's freedom, one's independence, whatever you're celebrating," he says carefully.

"But all these incredible million-dollar extravaganzas? They're just burning money. There's much better ways to spend. All you have to do is look around at medicare, the schools, the roads, get rid of the GST.

"There's other ways to celebrate. If they had one Canada Day celebration where they said everyone stay home and we'll lower your taxes 5%, you'd have a lot of happy Canadians."

Diversity

But in the meantime, you might as well enjoy the extravaganza your tax dollars are paying for.

The noontime show on the Hill will feature singers Susan Aglukark and Gordon Pinsent, as well as local chanteuse Andre de Valois and a Snowbirds flyby. Buskers will take over the stage during the afternoon and the early evening show will have the Capital City Chorus, Manon Seguin and Ottawa's own Tammy RayBould.

Then artists as diverse as Sky, Deborah Cox and Kevin Parent will lead up to the big baby boomer finale.

Other locations around town featuring live performers include Major's Hill Park, Jacques Cartier Park and World Exchange Plaza.