Bachman–Turner Overdrive drummer Robbie Bachman dies aged 69

Robbie Bachman performing in New York in December 1974 with Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Photograph: Fin Costello/Redferns

Robbie Bachman, the drummer for Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Brave Belt, has died age 69. His brother and bandmate Randy Bachman confirmed the news on Twitter, describing Robbie as “an integral cog in our rock’n’roll machine” and writing that “the pounding beat behind BTO … has joined mum, dad and brother Gary on the other side”. No cause of death was given.

Robin Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1953. He and his brother began playing music in their youth, and Robbie played in a handful of bands in Winnipeg before Randy invited him to drum for Brave Belt, his new band with Chad Allan, with whom he had played in the celebrated Winnipeg rock band the Guess Who. Brave Belt recorded two albums, released in 1971 and 1972, before changing their name to Bachman–Turner Overdrive in 1973 after Allan’s departure.

Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s 1973 self-titled debut charted at No 9 in Canada and No 70 on the Billboard rock chart, but they found real success with its sequel, released in the same year. Bachman–Turner Overdrive II reached the Top 10 in both the US and Canada, and produced one Top 40 single, Let It Ride, as well as Takin’ Care of Business, one of the band’s most popular songs.

Randy Bachman, Blair Thornton, Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1974. Photograph: Jorgen Angel/Redferns

The band’s third album, Not Fragile, bolstered their mainstream success and included Roll on Down the Highway, a hit single co-written by Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner. Originally written for a car advert, the song hit No 22 on the UK singles chart, No 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No 4 on the Canadian chart; it has endured as one of the band’s most beloved hits.

Not Fragile was Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s most successful album, and they continued to produce music prolifically throughout the 1970s, releasing another five albums in the remainder of the decade. After 1979’s Rock N’ Roll Nights, Bachman–Turner Overdrive briefly disbanded, before reforming in 1983. Robbie Bachman, however, declined to join the new incarnation of the band, due to issues with Randy over the management of the band.

Bachman–Turner Overdrive continued using the band name, and Robbie sued the new group for trademark infringement, resulting in the group having to pay him and Blair Thornton royalties. In 1988, Robbie briefly rejoined the band for a reunion featuring the band’s Not Fragile incarnation.

In 2014, Bachman–Turner Overdrive were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.