The Guess Who are back, and no, it’s not a cover band at your cousin’s county fair. It’s the actual Guess Who—at least if you ask drummer Garry Peterson, who’s been with the band since the Nixon administration, and bassist Rudy Sarzo, who’s played with more platinum-selling acts than your favorite Spotify playlist.
Their album The Future Is What It Used to Be might sound like the title of a George Carlin bit, but it's got more hooks than a Canadian tackle box. “It’s been a long time for a new record—why now?” I asked. “We all felt that the time was right,” said Garry, who noted that the current lineup has been assembled like a rock 'n' roll Voltron over the past 56 years.
For an album drenched in nostalgia but somehow resisting it, The Future Is What It Used to Be manages a tightrope walk: new songs written with a classic sound, analog production, and riffs that nod to The Beatles, Stones, and The Who without sounding like an AI-generated tribute act. “We didn’t set out to write ‘American Woman’ again,” Peterson explained. “But you’ll hear our influences. You won’t know it—but you’ll feel it.”
First single “Playing on the Radio” is a love letter to the very medium that broke them. “We were a product of radio,” said Rudy, who also gets a starring turn in the song’s music video. “At 72 years old, I’m doing my very first musical video. Who knew?” he laughed.
There’s also the story of how lead singer Derek Sharp ended up next to original frontman Burton Cummings on a flight. The two shared memories and maternal losses, sparking lyrical inspiration. “That’s the universe doing something,” Peterson mused. “Maybe it wants everybody to live in harmony. Or maybe it just has a sense of humor.”
Onstage, Rudy says it’s like time travel. “When I close my eyes, I feel like I’m playing along to a record. It’s surreal.” And yes, the band still plays the hits. “It doesn’t have to be an anniversary to us,” Garry said. “Every night is a celebration.”
As for the new album’s title? “We’re trying to create a new legacy to add to the old one,” Peterson said. “To honor it.” Mission semi-accomplished. It sounds like The Guess Who. Just technically not your dad’s Guess Who.
Listen to the interview above and check out the videos below.
