The Guess Who Co-Founders Regain Trademark Control After 2024 Settlement, Announce 2026 Reunion Tour

Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, the original writers and front‑men of Canada’s classic rock band The Guess Who, have officially taken back the group’s name after a long legal battle that began in 2023. In a settlement announced on 4 September 2024, the two musicians acquired the trademark that had been held by former bassist Jim Kale and drummer Garry Peterson for decades.

The dispute stemmed from a 1986 filing by Kale, who had organized an unauthorized version of the band in 1978 that toured under the Guess Who name without the consent of Cummings or Bachman. The two founding members had not performed with the band since 2003, but in October 2023 they filed a lawsuit alleging false advertising and trademark infringement. After months of mediation, the parties met in Los Angeles in 2024 for a marathon negotiation that culminated in the settlement.

The agreement gives Cummings and Bachman full control of the Guess Who trademark and bars Peterson from continuing to tour under the name. The settlement also includes a clause that the former lineup will not use the band’s catalog of songs without permission.

"We’re removing the stain the fake bands had put on the name," Cummings told reporters after the settlement. "It feels great to get that garbage out of the way. The response, particularly in the U.S., has been great. The fan response is more than we could have expected."

Bachman echoed the sentiment in a separate phone interview. "It’s quite surreal what we went through in the last couple of years," he said. "It’s like a Netflix series."

With the legal hurdle cleared, the duo announced a 2026 reunion tour that will see them perform as The Guess Who for the first time in 23 years. The tour, titled Takin’ It Back, will begin with a concert on 3 March 2026 at the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, Minnesota. The lineup will feature Cummings on vocals and keyboards and Bachman on guitar and vocals, joined by a new group of musicians.

The band’s history dates back to 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when Cummings, Bachman, and drummer Garry Peterson formed a garage‑rock outfit that would eventually become the most successful Canadian rock group of the early 1970s. Their catalog includes eleven studio albums, all of which charted in Canada and the United States, and 14 Top‑40 singles in the U.S. Hits such as "American Woman," "These Eyes," and "No Time" helped the group reach number one on the Canadian charts and top ten positions in the U.S.

The unauthorized version of the band, led by Kale, toured the nostalgia circuit for more than 40 years, often featuring rotating musicians and sometimes including Peterson. The 2024 settlement ended that era and restored the original members’ control over the brand and its legacy.

Industry observers note that the resolution of the trademark dispute is significant for artists who rely on brand identity to protect their catalog and touring revenue. The settlement also clarifies the legal status of the band’s recordings, which have been used in film, television, and advertising without the consent of the original writers.

The 2026 tour is expected to generate renewed interest in the band’s catalog and may lead to new licensing opportunities. As of now, the tour schedule includes dates across the United States, with the first show at Mystic Lake Amphitheater serving as a launchpad for the revamped lineup.

In summary, the settlement on 4 September 2024 marks the end of a 40‑year legal dispute over the Guess Who name. Cummings and Bachman now hold the trademark and have announced a 2026 reunion tour that will bring their classic hits back to the stage for the first time in over two decades.