Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies are a Canadian group from Toronto, active since 1988. They are associated with alternative rock, acoustic rock, comedy rock, folk pop, folk rock and geek rock, and are released through Desperation Records and Raisin' Records. The band is known for mixing songs with humour, improvisation and banter in live performance.

Formation and early line-up

The group begins as a duo formed by Ed Robertson and Steven Page, who know each other from school in Toronto. They start performing together in Scarborough, Ontario, and later add Jim Creeggan and his brother Andy Creeggan after a club show. Drummer Tyler Stewart joins in 1990 after the original percussionist is away on exchange in Ecuador. Kevin Hearn later joins on keyboards and becomes a full-time member. The band later also includes Hugh Christopher Brown among its members.

The name Barenaked Ladies comes from an improvised phrase the founders use while inventing band names and joking around after concerts. Their early shows develop a style built around off-the-cuff material, a habit that remains part of their live performances.

Early recordings and Canadian breakthrough

The first tape, Buck Naked, appears in 1989 and is recorded in basements and bedrooms. Barenaked Lunch, also known as the Pink Tape, follows in 1990, but is mastered incorrectly and plays too fast. Their 1991 demo Yellow Tape begins as a cassette made for a South by Southwest appearance, then becomes a commercial release through word of mouth and live sales. It becomes the first indie release by any band to reach platinum status in Canada.

Their profile rises further in 1991 when they perform “Be My Yoko Ono” on Citytv’s Speaker’s Corner. They also contribute a cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” to the tribute album Kick at the Darkness, giving them their first Canadian Top 40 hit.

Albums and major songs

Their first full album, Gordon (1992), is a major Canadian success and includes “Enid”, “Be My Yoko Ono”, “If I Had $1000000” and “Brian Wilson”. “If I Had $1000000” leads to a live tradition involving Kraft Dinner, which the band later discourages. Maybe You Should Drive appears in 1994 and shows a more restrained, mature sound, with production by Ben Mink. Andy Creeggan leaves before the next album, and Born on a Pirate Ship appears in 1996 as a quartet.

The live album Rock Spectacle, recorded from two dates on the Born on a Pirate Ship tour, becomes a gold record in the United States and includes “Brian Wilson”. The band’s biggest commercial breakthrough follows with Stunt in 1998, led by “One Week”, which reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100. That album also includes “It’s All Been Done” and “Call and Answer”, and the group contributes “Get In Line” to the King of the Hill soundtrack.

Maroon follows in 2000 with “Pinch Me”, and Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991–2001 appears in 2001. Everything to Everyone is released in 2003, with singles including “Another Postcard (Chimps)”, “Testing 1, 2, 3”, “Celebrity”, “Maybe Katie” and “For You”.

Independence, projects and later releases

After Everything to Everyone, the group becomes independent again and creates Desperation Records for Barenaked for the Holidays (2004), recorded at Steven Page’s studio at his farmhouse, Fresh Baked Woods. They also write music for the Stratford Festival of Canada’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, with Page writing most of the music. Their other releases include the children’s album Snacktime, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, Barenaked Ladies Are Men, Grinning Streak with “Boomerang” and “Odds Are”, Silverball, Barenaked Ladies x The Persuasions and Fake Nudes.

In 2006, the band helps form the Canadian Music Creators Coalition in response to proposed copyright changes. They also run the fan cruise Ships and Dip. Steven Page leaves the group in 2009, and the band continues as a foursome before releasing All In Good Time in 2010.

Recognition and side projects

Barenaked Ladies are inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 2018 Juno Awards. Steven Page appears with the band at the ceremony, and Andy Creeggan also performs with them. Over the years, members pursue side projects including The Brothers Creeggan, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, The Vanity Project, and Tyler Stewart’s trio Don’t Talk Dance. The band is also the subject of the authorised book Public Stunts Private Stories by Paul Myers.