Great Winnipeg Stadium Moments: The Guess Who reunion (1999)

On August 14, 2011 the Winnipeg Stadium, (now Canad-Inns Stadium), turned 58. Barring a major construction setback, this will be the final season for the building. In this series I look back at the history of the Stadium and some of the great moments, football and non-football related, over the decades !

Part 1: Construction and Official Opening (1953)
Part 2: Stegall's 138th (2007)
Part 3: Man-Pop (1970)
Part4: The Guess Who Reunion (1999)
Part 5: Mother Teresa (1982)
Part 6: Northern League Championships (1959, 1960)
Part 7: Grey Cups (1991, 1998, 2006)

Part 8: The final second (2011)
BONUS: Interesting Winnipeg Grey Cup moments (1925 - 2011)

Organizers were looking for something a bit special for the musical finale of the closing ceremonies of the XIII Pan Am Games.

With a personalized letter of invitation from premier Gary Filmon and a combined performance fee rumored to be more than $200,000 plus expenses, they approached the original four members of The Guess Who, (Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, Gary Peterson), to pitch a reunion performance.

The Guess Who began breaking up in 1970 when Bachman left. Cummings left in 1975. Over the decades the four quarreled over royalties and the use of the band's name. They did reunite briefly in 1983 and 1985 but the last time they played together before this was at the 1987 Juno Awards when they were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame.

One by one the members signed on. At the time Cummings told CBC Radio:

“You know, it’s nice to get paid but that’s not why we’re here. Good Lord, this is Winnipeg , man. You know, this is The Guess Who playing in Winnipeg Again. The original four guys.” (Source)

On a rainy August 8, 1999 at 9:45 p.m. the group took the stage to play their four song set: No Time; These Eyes; Undun and American Woman. After No Time, Cummings said:

“We owe everything to this city because this is where we learned to play and this is where we grew up and we learned about the world through the eyes of Winnipeg.” (Source)