Barenaked Ladies Now Less One Lady

Sad, somewhat fascinating news from our neighbo(u)rs to the north: Steven Page, one of the two singers for mega-successful, never overly-cool Barenaked Ladies is leaving the band. His departure marks the end of twenty years with the Scarborough (Toronto), Ontario chroniclers of the semi-urban suburban experience. Page was recently most known for having been busted for doing coke in some girl's apartment in upstate New York last year.

Page will pursue artistic goals all by his lonesome, including, gulp, "theatrical" opportunities. So he says on his official personal blog (a surprisingly proletarian blogspot page). The concise post notes that he'll be composing music for the Stratford Festival, Ontario's annual, acclaimed drama festival.

That all sounds good, and reading the "OFFICIAL STATEMENT" on the band's site, it seems like the split is amicable... kinda:

By mutual agreement, Steven Page will be parting company with the remaining members of Barenaked Ladies. Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart will continue recording and touring together as Barenaked Ladies. Steven Page will pursue solo projects including theatrical opportunities while the band enters the studio in April 2009, and hits the road in the fall.

Page says "These guys are my brothers. We've grown up together over the past twenty years. I love them and wish them all the best in the future."

The band also wish Steven well in all of his endeavors. Ed Robertson says: "It's the start of a new chapter for all of us. Here's to the future!"

They're all brothers, yet their parting by mutual agreement. This means that the remaining Ladies aren't so sad to see Page and his troubles go. Being prosecuted for cocaine possession can't be good for sales of the kids' album (not to mention that it gives new meaning to the term Snack Time). Must also be a wee bit uncomfortable when the otherwise-squeaky clean Ladies get together.

And so this surprising end to twenty years of the five-piece Barenaked Ladies. Of course, this gives us all more than enough reason to view, once again, one of the worst album covers of all time. Behold, the original Gordon cover, before it was wisely, but far too tardily, replaced:



Pretty bad, right? Even if you're not a Barenaked Ladies fan (and no one is expecting you to be), they have their moments. Sadly, their first video, an excellent cover of fellow Canuck Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers In A Dangerous Time," was recently taken down from YouTube, so instead peep this Bathroom Session of their biggest hit. At least now Ed will have the bathroom all to himself.