In this special Canada Day episode of Explore, the two key architects of The Guess Who’s classic sound, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, reflect on the prairie landscapes that inspired them, the songs that defined a generation, and the remarkable journey from community halls to becoming the first Canadian band to top of the Billboard Hot 100, part of a remarkable run of hits starting in the late 60’s.

From overpacked motel rooms on the road, to their tour bus almost going off a cliff in B.C., to witnessing polar bear attacks in Churchill, to revealing the real inspiration behind hits like American Woman and Undun, Bachman and Cummings share unforgettable stories from more than six decades of music, friendship, and life on the road.

Along the way, they explain why the wide-open spaces of the Canadian prairies continue to inspire them, how growing up in Winnipeg helped nurture one of Canada’s greatest songwriting partnerships, and why, after touring the world, they still feel most at home where “you can see forever.” 

Whether you’re listening from a canoe, a campsite, or somewhere along a Canadian highway, this is a conversation about music, memory, friendship, and the prairie landscapes that helped shape one of Canada’s greatest rock bands.