Drummer Robbie Bachman Dead at 69: What Was Bachman-Turner Overdrive Member's Cause of Death?

Robbie Bachman, a drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died. He was 69.

Bachman's brother and bandmate, Randy Bachman, confirmed the saddening news on Twitter Thursday. He shared a black-and-white photo of the band alongside a heartfelt caption to pay tribute to his bandmate.

"Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO, my little brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side," he wrote. "Maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer! He was an integral cog in our rock 'n' roll machine and we rocked the world together."

Randy did not disclose Robbie Bachman's cause of death. But his passing came days after rock guitarist, Jeff Beck, died of bacterial meningitis at a hospital near his Surrey, England, home.

Publications, colleagues, and fans offered heartfelt tributes online and paid respect to the drummer.

Remembering Robbie Bachman

The Bachman brothers grew up playing music together in their Winnipeg, Canada, home. Their hobby led them to become collaborators in the band Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Randy gave him his role as a drummer in the band Brave Belt in 1971 alongside bassist Fred Turner. Tim Bachman joined them after a year.

Brave Belt released two albums, but they were dropped by their label after the music projects became unsuccessful. The members tried to revive their careers with the same bandmates but with a new name: Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

In 1973, it released its self-titled debut album. Still, the band did not immediately hit success once again.

During the same year, it dropped "Bachman-Turner Overdrive II." The second LP featured its first Top 40 single, "Let It Ride," and the second single, "Takin' Care of Business," which put them under the spotlight.

From there, Bachman-Turner Overdrive started to release more hits, including "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Roll On Down the Highway."

In 2014, the late Bachman sat for an interview with Toronto Star, during which he shared what inspired them to continue playing together.

"We didn't tell anybody they were wrong or anything was bad or don't do this," he said. "It was basically, have a good time, fun music. Just coming out of the '70s with the Vietnam War and all the political things going on - in Canada with Trudeau, and Richard Nixon and stuff like that - we just basically had enough of that stuff."

Still, the band disbanded in 1980 but reformed three years later with Randy returning as frontman. Bachman, however, did not join the reunion due to business and trademark issues.

The late drummer came back in 1988 until it disbanded in 2005. After Randy and Turner revived the group again in 2009, they waited until 2014 to receive an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.