Winnipeg’s rock history put on the map as road gets honorary Bachman-Turner Overdrive name [Video]

A stretch of Winnipeg’s Disraeli Freeway has been given an honorary name to celebrate an iconic Canadian band that helped put Winnipeg on the rock ‘n’ roll map.

The southernmost portion of street, running off Main Street, was officially given the commemorative name Bachman-Turner Overdrive during an unveiling ceremony on Friday morning.

Last year, city council’s property committee passed a motion by Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie asking for the renaming in honour of the band’s contributions to the music industry, and frontman Randy Bachman’s work “putting Winnipeg on the map during his continuing career.” 

As the city officially put up the signs with the new honorary name on an unseasonably cold morning, the celebrated guitarist offered thanks for “the very appropriate weather.”

“It’s the reason I left Winnipeg,” said Bachman, laughing. 

“But I love coming back.… It was great growing up here. Rock ‘n’ roll was great,” said Bachman, who rose to fame in the 1960s as the guitarist …