The Guess Who is a Canadian rock band that was formed in Winnipeg in 1965. Originally known as Chad Allan and the Expressions, their name was changed to The Guess Who in 1965. The band found commercial success in the late 1960s and early 1970s with hit songs like “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “Undun,” and “American Woman.” The band has undergone numerous lineup changes over the decades, but they continue to perform and record new music today.
Original and Classic Lineup
The original lineup of The Guess Who in 1965 consisted of Chad Allan on lead vocals and guitar, Randy Bachman on guitar and backing vocals, Bob Ashley on keyboards, Jim Kale on bass, and Garry Peterson on drums. This lineup recorded the band’s first hit “Shakin’ All Over” in 1965. After Chad Allan left the group in 1966, Burton Cummings took over as lead singer and pianist. This lineup of Cummings, Bachman, Kale, and Peterson is considered the classic lineup of the band’s commercial heyday.
Together they recorded classic albums like Wheatfield Soul (1968), Canned Wheat (1969), American Woman (1970), and Share the Land (1970). Major hits from this period include “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” and “Share the Land.” This lineup performed together until 1970 when Randy Bachman left the group.
Post-Bachman Lineups of the 1970s
After Randy Bachman’s departure in 1970, Kurt Winter took over briefly on guitar before Greg Leskiw became the permanent replacement. The lineup of Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson, and Greg Leskiw recorded the albums So Long, Bannatyne in 1971 and Rockin’ in 1972. Leskiw eventually left and was replaced by Donnie McDougall and Kurt Winter returning for the album Artificial Paradise in 1973.
By the mid 1970s, Burton Cummings and Garry Peterson were the only original members left. New additions included guitarists Domenic Troiano and Bill Wallace. This rotating lineup recorded the albums Flavours (1974), Power in the Music (1975), and The Way They Were (1976). Cummings left the band after a final tour in 1977.
Later Lineups in the 1980s-2000s
After Cummings’ departure, Jim Kale revived The Guess Who name with new lineups in the 1980s. Vocalists during this era included Terry Hatty, Dale Russell, Jeff Smith, and Leonard Shaw. Guitarists included Randy Bachman returning for a stint along with Kurt Winter, Bobby Bilan, Vance Masters, and Trevor Balicky. Albums released in the 1980s-1990s included Now And Not Then (1981), Lonely One (1995), and Libertine (1997).
In 1999, Jim Kale secured the rights to The Guess Who name and continued touring with a new lineup including singers Carl Dixon and Terry Uzelac. Classic-era member Garry Peterson rejoined on drums in 2000. This version of the band released the album Running Back Thru Canada in 2001. Carl Dixon left due to injuries from a car accident in 2005.
During the 2000s, the lineup was rounded out by Derek Sharp (vocals, guitar), Leonard Shaw (vocals, keyboards), Laurie MacKenzie (guitars, vocals), and Jim Kale plus Garry Peterson as mainstays. This version of The Guess Who toured regularly and released the albums All This For a Song (2017) and The Future IS What It Used To Be (2019).
Current Lineup in 2022-2023
As of 2022-2023, The Guess Who’s touring lineup consists of:
- Derek Sharp – lead vocals, guitar
- Leonard Shaw – vocals, keyboards
- Rudy Sarzo – bass
- Garry Peterson – drums
This makes Garry Peterson the only remaining original member, having performed with The Guess Who since its founding in 1965. Long-time member Derek Sharp joined in 2008 after previous stints in the 1990s. Leonard Shaw first joined in the late 1990s and has been part of the group on and off since. Veteran rock bassist Rudy Sarzo came on board in 2022 after the retirement of previous bassist Jim Kale.
This current lineup tours regularly and performs a mix of Guess Who classics like “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” and “No Time” along with deeper cuts and newer songs. In 2022, they released a new album called The Original Recordings on Aquarius Records.
Past Members
While the current lineup of The Guess Who contains one original member, here is a summary of the key past members that were part of the band’s many iconic hitmaking lineups in the 1960s and 1970s:
- Chad Allan – founding member and original lead singer/guitarist from 1965-1966
- Randy Bachman – founding guitarist/singer from 1965-1970 and again briefly in the 1980s
- Burton Cummings – lead singer/keyboardist from 1966-1977, wrote many hits
- Jim Kale – founding bassist from 1965-1977, reformed band in the 1980s
- Garry Peterson – founding drummer since 1965, only current original member
- Greg Leskiw – guitarist after Randy Bachman from 1970-1972
- Kurt Winter – guitarist in the 1970s/1980s during multiple stints
Beyond the current and key past members, The Guess Who has also featured a rotating cast of guitarists, keyboardists, bassists, and additional vocalists from the late 1970s through 2000s while Garry Peterson remained on drums as the band’s backbone.
Summary of Key Lineups
Here is a quick summary of the most significant Guess Who lineups over the decades:
| Years Active | Lineup |
|---|---|
| 1965-1966 | Chad Allan, Randy Bachman, Bob Ashley, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson |
| 1966-1970 | Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson |
| 1970-1975 | Burton Cummings, Greg Leskiw, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson |
| 1976-1977 | Burton Cummings, Kurt Winter, other rotating guitarists, Garry Peterson |
| 1981-2019 | Jim Kale, Garry Peterson + rotating members |
| Current | Derek Sharp, Leonard Shaw, Rudy Sarzo, Garry Peterson |
This summarizes the most famous lineups during The Guess Who’s classic hitmaking period in the late 1960s/early 1970s with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman as well as the long tenure of originals Jim Kale and Garry Peterson leading into the modern incarnation.
Conclusion
After over 50 years, The Guess Who is still touring and recording new music today. While only drummer Garry Peterson remains from the original lineup, the current members including Derek Sharp, Leonard Shaw, and Rudy Sarzo continue the band’s legacy by performing The Guess Who’s many classic hits for old and new fans alike. Together Garry Peterson’s drumming along with the lead vocals from Derek Sharp and Leonard Shaw capture the timeless sound of The Guess Who for new generations to enjoy.
