"Barenaked Ladies" ("BNL") is a Canadian alternative rock band composed of Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, Steven Page, Tyler Stewart and Jim Creeggan. They formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto.
The band's first tape, ''Buck Naked'', released in 1989, was recorded in basements and bedrooms, and featured only Steve and Ed.''Barenaked Lunch'' (also known as the ''Pink Tape'') was released in 1990, and featured two new band members, Andy and Jim Creeggan. Unfortunately, the tape was mastered incorrectly and plays too fast.As there were very few copies made of both, these tapes are now extremely rare.
While Andy was on a trip to Ecuador and the band was lacking a percussionist, Tyler Stewart took over the position, and remained after Andy's return.
The full band's first release of note was the 1991 independent ''Yellow Tape'', the first indie release to achieve platinum status in Canada.Sales of the tape were jumpstarted when BNL were taken off the bill of a concert at Toronto's City Hall because a staffer for then-mayor June Rowlands saw the band's name and felt it objectified women, which catapulted BNL into a media frenzy. (Ironically, in 1996, it was made legal for women in the province of Ontario to go topless without clothing in the same places as men are allowed.)
The band's first album, ''Gordon'', released in 1992, was a smash hit in Canada and included some of the band's most well-known songs, including "Be My Yoko Ono" (the single which helped fund the album), "If I Had $1000000" (which spawned a macaroni-throwing tradition at live shows that the band has recently been trying to discourage), and "Brian Wilson" (named after the Beach Boy who later covered the song on a live album).
BNL's second album, ''Maybe You Should Drive'', released in 1994, fared considerably less well with the Canadian public.After the release, Andy Creeggan left the band to begin college and to separate himself from the infighting that had taken place after the album's failure.
The band released ''Born on a Pirate Ship'' in 1996 as a quartet.The album received two large boosts from the Jason Priestley-directed video for "The Old Apartment" and the inclusion of the song "Shoebox" on the ''Friends'' soundtrack.Kevin Hearn was hired as the keyboardist for the subsequent tour and then was asked to join the band.
From two dates on the ''Born on a Pirate Ship'' tour during 1996, BNL recorded and released a live album called ''Rock Spectacle'', which had a modest radio hit with "Brian Wilson."
The band's greatest success to date and greatest recognition within the United States has come from their fourth album, ''Stunt'', released in 1998, buoyed by the #1 single "One Week". Immediately after ''Stunt'' was released, however, Kevin Hearn was diagnosed with leukemia and had to spend several months in the hospital recovering. The band toured, but with friends Chris Brown and Greg Kurstin on keyboards until Kevin recovered enough to rejoin them on the road. The singles "It's All Been Done" and "Call and Answer" also came from this highly successful album.
''Maroon'', released in 2000, also did fairly well in stores, led by the single "Pinch Me". In 2001, they released a compilation album, entitled ''Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001''.
BNL's next album, released October 21, 2003, is entitled ''Everything to Everyone''. The first single off that album was "Another Postcard," which received modest radio play. "Testing 1,2,3" was the second single off the album.
BNL has a reputation as an excellent live band, and are particularly well-known for improvising amusing songs during their shows.
Both Jim Creeggan and Kevin Hearn have side projects that are worked on during hiatus from BNL touring and studio time. Jim is part of the alternative/jazz trio The Brothers Creeggan, with brother and former BNL member Andy Creeggan and friend Ian McLauchlan. Kevin is the frontman of Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, who play a mix of alternative rock and jazz with many other eclectic influences. Thin Buckle features players from several other Canadian alternative bands, such as The Rheostatics.
Barenaked Ladies have also authorized a biography, written by friend of the band and fellow "Scarberian" Paul Myers, brother of Mike Myers, of former SNL fame. The book is called ''Public Stunts Private Stories'' and is published in Canada by Madrigal Press. An updated 2003 version includes a different cover, information about Disc One and Everything to Everyone, and fixes several typos found in the original version.
With the release of Everything to Everyone, BNL have fulfilled their contract with Reprise, and are rumoured to be going independent.The band is currently working on an as-yet-untitled holiday album.
Primary Album Discography
*''Gordon'' (1992)
*''Maybe You Should Drive'' (1994)
*''Born On A Pirate Ship'' (1996)
*''Rock Spectacle'' (1996)
*''Stunt'' (1998)
*''Maroon'' (2000)
*''Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001'' (2001)
*''Everything to Everyone'' (2003)
See also
*List of songs whose main title appears more than twenty times in the lyrics#Barenaked Ladies
External links
*
Official BNL site
*
BNL Band Blog
*
Unofficial BNL site
*
Unofficial BNL News Blog
Category:Canadian musical groups
Category:Alternative musical groups
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Barenaked Ladies.
Barenaked Ladies in the News
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Today in History - July 3 2. Pop genius of composer Bacharach - 12/05/2004 - BBC News
Legendary pop composer Burt Bacharach celebrates his 75th birthday on Wednesday. 3. Today in History - June 22 - 21 Jun 04 - ABC News
Today in History - June 22 4. Hollywood actor Patric arrested - 30/03/2004 - BBC News
Singer Diana Ross's lawyer lodges a judicial appeal. Plus other entertainment news in brief. 5. Canadians Share Gold With Russians - 22 Aug 03 - ABC News
The Canadian pairs figure skaters will share the Olympic gold medal with the Russians. 6. Apple store tops 25 million tunes - 16/12/2003 - BBC News
Apple's online music store hits a new high, having sold more than 25 million songs since its launch in April. 7. The Music Of World News Now - 22 Aug 03 - ABC News
Have you ever been watching the weather on World News Now and liked the music? Here's a list of what the WNN Dee-Jay decided to play and links to where you can make an online purchase. 8. Who should sing for England? - 24/01/2002 - BBC News
BBC News Online users' views on who should sing England's World Cup anthem this summer. 9. Network Drops Certain Songs After Attacks - 19 Sep 01 - ABC News
- In the wake of last week's terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, one radio network is recommending its stations not play lyrically questionable music and has ... 10. Britney label joins MP3 fray - 12/09/2000 - BBC News
Music-sharing site MP3.com is sued by Zomba Music, the independent music group behind Britney Spears' Jive label. 11. A Web Site for Students Addled by Math - 31 Aug 01 - ABC News
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Elvis Costello has been confirmed to join the line up of the Fleadh music festival in London in July. 14. Women dominate Grammy nominations - 05/01/1999 - BBC News
Vocalist Lauryn Hill is ahead of the pack with a whopping 10 nominations for this year's Grammy awards.
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