List of The Guess Who members

The Guess Who in 1970 (L-R: Kurt Winter, Garry Peterson, Greg Leskiw, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale)

The Guess Who is a Canadian rock band, originating as The Guess Who? in 1966, and adopting the name The Guess Who in 1968.[1] They were most successful from 1969 to 1975, under the leadership of singer/keyboardist Burton Cummings.[2] During that period they released eleven studio albums, all of which reached the charts in Canada and the United States; their 1970 album American Woman reached no. 1 in Canada and no. 9 in the United States, and five other albums reached the top ten in Canada. They also achieved five number one singles in Canada and two in the United States.[2]

During the 1969-1975 era prior to the band's breakup, Cummings and drummer Garry Peterson were the only consistent members; they were joined by five guitarists and two bassists during those years. Cummings ended the band in 1975 and embarked on a solo career.[3] In the following decades, Cummings and original guitarist Randy Bachman led several one-time reunion shows or short commemorative tours with various former members.[4][5]

Starting in the late 1970s, original bassist Jim Kale organized a separate band under the name of The Guess Who for nostalgia tours with a frequently changing cast of musicians, later including Gary Peterson. In 2024, Bachman and Cummings announced that they had gained control of the Guess Who name.[6]

This list article does not include musicians who filled in temporarily for official members or members of the unrelated Jim Kale band.

The Guess Who members (1965-1975)

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Garry Peterson.png
Garry Peterson 1962–1975 (reunions 1979, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2000–2003)
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
all Classic Era releases
Jim Kale (cropped).png
Jim Kale 1962–1972 (reunions 1983, 1999, 2000)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
all releases from Shakin' All Over (1965) to Live at the Paramount (1972)
Randy Bachman.png
Randy Bachman 1962–1970 (reunions 1979, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2000–2003)
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
all releases from Shakin' All Over (1965) to American Woman (1970)
Chad Allan 1962–1966 (died 2023)
  • vocals
  • rhythm guitar
Bob Ashley 1962–1966
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Shakin' All Over (1965)
  • Hey Ho (What You Do to Me!) (1965)
Burton_Cummings_Lansing_Crop.png
Burton Cummings 1966–1975 (reunions 1979, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2000–2003)
  • vocals
  • keyboards
  • rhythm guitar
  • flute
  • harmonica
all releases from It's Time (1966) to Power in the Music (1975)
Bruce Decker 1966–1966 (died 1986) rhythm guitar none
Kurt Winter.png
Kurt Winter 1970–1974 (died 1997)
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
all releases from Share the Land (1970) to Road Food (1974)
Greg Leskiw.png
Greg Leskiw 1970–1972
  • rhythm guitar
  • vocals
Donnie McDougall 1972–1974
Bill Wallace 1972–1975
  • bass
  • vocals
  • Artificial Paradise (1973)
  • #10 (1973)
  • Road Food (1974)
  • Flavours (1974)
  • Power in the Music (1975)
Mandala (1967) (Domenic Troiano).png
Domenic Troiano 1974–1975 (died 2005)
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
  • Flavours (1974)
  • Power in the Music (1975)

Timeline

Lineups

Years Members Studio and live releases
1962 – January 1966

Chad Allan and the Reflections
Chad Allan and the Expressions
Guess Who?

January 1966 – May 1966

The Guess Who?

  • Chad Allan – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Burton Cummings – keyboards, vocals
  • Randy Bachman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Kale – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums

May 1966 – August 1966

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards
  • Randy Bachman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Bruce Decker – rhythm guitar
  • Jim Kale – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums

August 1966 – May 1970

Classic line-up

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, guitar, keyboards, flute, harmonica
  • Randy Bachman – guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Kale – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums, backing vocals

May 1970 – March 1972

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards, flute, harmonica
  • Kurt Winter – lead guitar, vocals
  • Greg Leskiw – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Jim Kale – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums, backing vocals

March 1972 – May 1972

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, flute, harmonica
  • Kurt Winter – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Donnie McDougall – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Jim Kale – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums

May 1972 – June 1974

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards, flute, harmonica
  • Kurt Winter – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Donnie McDougall – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Bill Wallace – bass, vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums

June 1974 – October 1975

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards
  • Domenic Troiano – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bill Wallace – bass, backing vocals
  • Garry Peterson – drums

Reunion lineups

Years Members Studio releases

November 1979

1983

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards
  • Randy Bachman – guitar
  • Jim Kale – bass
  • Garry Peterson – drums

1999

2000

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards
  • Randy Bachman – guitar
  • Donnie McDougall – guitar
  • Jim Kale – bass
  • Garry Peterson – drums

May 2000 – July 2003

  • Burton Cummings – vocals, keyboards
  • Randy Bachman – guitar
  • Donnie McDougall – guitar
  • Bill Wallace – bass
  • Garry Peterson – drums

References

  1. ^ Frank Hoffmann (November 12, 2004). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound. Routledge. pp. 992–. ISBN 1-135-94949-2.
  2. ^ a b "The Guess Who | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  3. ^ Burton Cummings - Burton Cummings | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-02-27
  4. ^ "Guess Who - 1983 - Reunion soundboard@320". Guitars101 - Guitar Forums. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  5. ^ "That time they closed Portage and Main to pedestrians | CBC Archives". CBC. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  6. ^ Millman, Ethan (2024-09-04). "The Guess Who End Decades-Long Legal Battle: 'An Impossible Task'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-04.