Randy Bachman's Fragile Ego; or the bizarre rockism of the Manitoba Legislature

Fans, fellow musicians upset at perceived Juno snub of Winnipeg’s Guess Who
WINNIPEG (CP) — A tempest is brewing in Winnipeg over a perceived snub of home-town heroes The Guess Who at the Juno Awards, but organizers of the broadcast say the brouhaha is a bit premature.
Fans and fellow musicians are singing the blues after band co-founder Randy Bachman complained earlier this week he had not yet been invited to play on the April 3 show, to be held at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.
“If you’re having something in Winnipeg and you’re having something to do with music, that would be the first name that came to me,” singer-songwriter Ronnie Hawkins said Thursday from his home in Peterborough, Ont.
“You’d think they’d be leading the parade.”
Bachman helped lobby to bring the Junos to Winnipeg and he personally delivered an invitation to Neil Young to perform when Young didn’t return phone calls from show organizers at the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Bachman got Young to sign on, but said earlier this week that was the last he heard from the academy, adding he probably wouldn’t attend the show if he couldn’t perform as promised.
But Academy president Melanie Berry said the fuss is premature since the performance lineup for the show hasn’t been finalized.
“There is obviously going to be Winnipeg content,” she said. “There are loads of plans and we don’t want to spoil any surprises.”
Berry refused to say whether Bachman will be invited to perform or not, explaining that guest artists will be announced based on a communication strategy designed to build excitement and momentum as the awards date draws near.
After his office was bombarded with messages of support and calls from the media, Bachman issued a written statement Thursday aimed at calming the controversy.
“I was under the impression that the performers had been chosen for the show,” he said. “I have since found out that CARAS is still determining the final lineup. I’ve worked really hard at helping get the Junos to happen in Winnipeg and I hope to continue working with the organizers to make this a great event.”
Bachman’s publicist added he was “very touched” by the response from Winnipeggers who rallied behind him.
The Guess Who were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1987. On Tuesday, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Loverboy guitarist Paul Dean said Bachman and Burton Cummings have earned more respect than CARAS has so far shown.
“I hold those guys in the highest regards and I think everybody in CARAS should do the same,” Dean said, adding with a laugh: “They should respect us a bit more while they’re at it.”
Manitoba politicians have also leapt into the fray.
Premier Gary Doer said he used to watch Bachman and Cummings perform back in the 1960s.
“I can’t imagine anybody putting together a show, and if Randy Bachman wanted to play, not having him play,” Doer said. “I just don’t get it.”
Tory Leader Stu Murray — a former road manager for Blood, Sweat and Tears — said Juno organizers are out of touch with what fans want to see.
“There will be a black cloud over the Junos if a rock legend like Randy Bachman isn’t featured,” Murray said.
Fan Lee Thompson, 66, was going to buy his son and daughter a ticket to the show, but said he would boycott the event if Bachman and Cummings are snubbed.
“If they announce it they’d have to do it awful . . . quick,” Thompson said. “They’re running out of time.”