Burton Cummings

Catching up with rock legend Burton Cummings.

Why do you think your hometown of Winnipeg produces so many famous artists?

Winnipeg is remote. To the east, the biggest thing is Toronto, and it’s over 2,000 kilometres away. To the north, there’s really not much. To the west, the next big city is Regina, and that’s about 550 kilometres. To the south, it’s Minneapolis, which is 800 kilometres away. When the British invasion hit in the 1960s with the Beatles and the Stones and the Kinks, we were nowhere near the action. With instant news coverage now, we don’t have to wonder anymore. Back in the Guess Who days, that didn’t exist. You had to dream and wonder and think about things, and I think we just dreamed a little harder, a little more intensely.

Where’s the best music scene in the world?

When we went to England for the first time in 1967, it was right at the height of the Beatles and the Stones. It was the days of Carnaby Street and Twiggy, and everybody wanted to be in a British band. London has always had a special place in my heart because we were there at that particular time.

While touring, is there anything special you do when visiting a city?

I always get out and walk around, just to get an idea of the way things smell, the way things sound, the way people talk and how their accents differ from one area to another. I think any writer is like that. I spoke to Bob Dylan about that years ago, and he said, “I just go for walks and keep my eyes and ears open.” It’s the same thing I do. I think it creeps into the songwriting.

Your favourite venue?

I love Hamilton Place Theatre in Ontario. The sound is perfect, and the seats are great. In 1982, I set a record there: I did seven sold-out nights in a row. And the outdoor festivals are always great because it’s a throwback to the hippie days.

Name Burton Cummings
Age 61
Profession Musician
Location Winnipeg and Los Angeles
Claim to fame Joined the Guess Who at age 17
Latest project Above the Ground, his first solo album since 1997
Last vacation Cancún, Mexico
Next vacation  Ireland
Travel Essential Five iPods and Sony headphones
Favourite souvenir An Indian rug, which he won in a card game in Anchorage, Alaska

Download Above the Ground, the title track from Burton Cummings' latest album.