The Guess Who’s vocalist/keyboardist Burton Cummings makes one thing clear when it comes to the band’s current reunion tour.

“It’s not some lame reunion cash grab,” he said.

The band, which also includes guitarist Randy Bachman, drummer Garry Peterson, guitarist Donnie McDougall and bassist Bill Wallace, is bringing their “American Woman” tour to Toledo’s Seagate Center tonight. This is the band’s first tour with the classic line up since 1970. Joe Cocker will be opening the show.

Cummings has had nothing but good words for how the tour has progressed so far. “It’s been phenomenal. It’s been beyond our expectations,” he said. “The demographic for us has been huge.”

The crowd, according to Cummings, has been a mix of both older fans and those who weren’t around during their heyday. “I think the Lenny Kravitz cover of ‘American Woman’ pointed the MTV generation towards our band.”

The Guess Who knew that Kravitz was recording the song for “Austin Powers the Spy Who Shagged Me” because it had to be licensed for use in the film.

“The first time we heard it was after it was done and ready to be put in the film,” Cummings said, “It was strange. It took me at least three listens before I could get used to it. It’s a lot more sparse, the guitar work is.”

Despite the initial strangeness, Cummings said that he likes the new version of the song. He also said that he was flattered that Kravitz copied the ad-libs that were used on the original song. The Guess Who joined the stage with Kravitz and his band for a performance of “American Woman” as the opening act for the MuchMusic Awards in Canada. “It was quite a nice moment,” Cummings said.

Years after its release, the song “American Woman” still evokes both pro-American and anti-American sentiment, something that Cummings did not intend on when he penned the song. “First of all it was jammed on stage,” Cummings said. “There was a kid bootlegging the show that night.”

Later the band received a copy of that bootleg tape and the song grew from there. However, the song was originally supposed to be a song about Canadian women.

“It was more of a sentiment of ‘Canadian woman, I prefer you.’ What came out was ‘American woman,'” Cummings said, “I never meant it to be a slight on the Statue of Liberty, which some people thought it was.”

Cummings also came up with ideas for the song as he toured the United States at the age of 21 to promote the single “Laughing.” He noticed that the girls in the U.S. seemed to grow up faster than the girls in Canada. “The girls looked a little more colonial [in Canada].”

Of course with everything that has happened with America’s new war on terrorism, there was fear that the song would take on a negative meaning. Cummings still gives a disclaimer before the song is played, but fans don’t seem to need it.

“Even at these shows, people still get up and cheer and stomp,” he said. “I certainly don’t want to get up in the face of terrorists. We’re scared. There are talks of war yet.”

Having two of the biggest recording acts of the 1960s has brought back memories of better times for some in the crowd, a feeling that comes across to Cummings.

“There are only a handful of acts from that era that are still around,” he said. “Between Joe Cocker’s band and our band, there are so many hit records.”

“I think we bring with us a glimpse of that era of peace and love,” Cummings said. “The crowds have been going home happy.” Another reminder of days gone by is the return of guitarist Randy Bachman to the band’s line up. Bachman left the band in 1970 after some personality conflicts.

“He’s a wonderful, wonderful player,” Cummings said, “He is really first class.”

“Everyone is over 50 now. We’ve all become more tolerant,” Cummings said, “It’s great to be back with friends that we have known for so long.”

The past may be celebrated, but Cummings is looking to the possibilities in the future. The band released a live album last year and is looking towards recording new material. “It’s more than a remote possibility,” Cummings said.

Cummings also added that the band is using the tour to help remind people of the band and their music.

“Randy and I are always trading ideas for songs,” he said. “I think definitely we will do one album of new material.”