this makes me very sad. Glad I was on all three cruises.

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.

That's the last thing I said to the two people I've ever had to fire.

Seriously, that's HALF of their music. Gone. And most of the older songs gone too. I can't see Ed singing Break your heart....

Why are they now gonna be known as the Barenaked Lady?

The name is Barenaked Ladies. One of the Two original members is leaving. So, now there is only one.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Oh...and was he the one that was arrested for drug possession as well?

tudorgurl: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

That is LITERALLY, Quoted as what my facebook status was.

fntsyreality11: Oh...and was he the one that was arrested for drug possession as well?

There may be a slim, slim chance the bust had something to do with his departure....

fntsyreality11: Oh...and was he the one that was arrested for drug possession as well?

Yeah, but the shows he put on while on the cruise were amazing. It was supposed to be part of his rehab. I've been on all the cruises, and to many concerts, and it seemed like his homecoming. He seemed so.....he was just so good.

Bob_Laublaw: fntsyreality11: Oh...and was he the one that was arrested for drug possession as well?

There may be a slim, slim chance the bust had something to do with his departure....

You think the band thought it would be better if he left? Didn't seem that way on the cruise two weeks ago.

Bob_Laublaw: There may be a slim, slim chance the bust had something to do with his departure....

That was my first thought.

evilhomer2300: Yeah, but the shows he put on while on the cruise were amazing. It was supposed to be part of his rehab. I've been on all the cruises, and to many concerts, and it seemed like his homecoming. He seemed so.....he was just so good.

...I know that you've been on the cruises and to the shows...lol

evilhomer2300: You think the band thought it would be better if he left? Didn't seem that way on the cruise two weeks ago.

Perhaps not band as much as the label and management, but the timing of the bust in proximity to the release of the kids' album, resulting in the cancellation of a profitable Disney gig and future partnership... there's no way the bust wasn't a catalyst for the split.

And I've gotta say, the lack of any nice parting words about Page on the band site is pretty telling. Ed had the chance to say something about Page, and he ends up talking about the band:

Ed Robertson says: "It's the start of a new chapter for all of us. Here's to the future!"

Kick in the nuts, that one is.

"

Well, at least I got to see the last hurrah...That's true, didn't notice that.

I'm sad cuz I didn't get to go on any of the cruises...blargh.

fntsyreality11: I'm sad cuz I didn't get to go on any of the cruises...blargh.

We will pick a different cruise, maybe the rock boat.

evilhomer2300: fntsyreality11: I'm sad cuz I didn't get to go on any of the cruises...blargh.

We will pick a different cruise, maybe the rock boat.

And it will be full of win. And longer. I miss the boat rocking me to sleep. lol

I came into this thread thinking "BNL" stood for "Botswanan Noseball League," and I leave disappointed.

cerote: I came into this thread thinking "BNL" stood for "Botswanan Noseball League," and I leave disappointed.

Sorry dude

I hope he saved at least a million dollars, cause if he did, he'd be rich.

tudorgurl: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I would like to retort:

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

after gordon that band sucked

I assume he's leaving to board the Axiom.

/what I thought of, anyway

Sad news. BNL always puts on a great show and sound as good live as they do on their CD.

Carth: Sad news. BNL always puts on a great show and sound as good live as they do on their CD.

Better, even.

The experience is the exact reverse of going to see Rush live.

He was the better singer, too, in my opinion.

I'm both shocked and saddened by this news. BNL became my favorite band in college and have remained near the top of the list ever since. Although I've always preferred Ed's songs, Steve was such a huge part of the band.

Kevin and Jim have both done lead vocals on BNL songs, so I think it's safe to say that they'll be getting more microphone time from here on out.

Damn, what a downer. This still hasn't sunk in yet.

edronny: Damn, what a downer. This still hasn't sunk in yet.

I know! Jesus, the economy is so bad even rock stars are losing their jobs.

Dammit.

BNL breaking up? Don't blame it on Yoki...

Hollie Maea: He was the better singer, too, in my opinion.

I saw an interview a while back (Behind the Music? Private Sessions?) where Ed talked about going to Steve for guidance when arranging/recording difficult vocal parts because Steve had tons of voice training and Ed had had none.

Don't get me wrong--Ed's a fine singer, but Steve's training was obvious.

No snark intented but which one is he?

fntsyreality11: I'm sad cuz I didn't get to go on any of the cruises...blargh.

Me neither. In fact, the only chance I've had to see the band live was in a Borders, doing a six song set for "Barenaked Ladies Are Me." That's better than nothing, but still...damn.

BNL has and will probably continue to be my favorite band, but this is definitely not good news. I guess the best I can hope for is that it's just temporary...

mfaby: No snark intented but which one is he?



Sang lead on Brian Wilson, The Old Apartment, Be My Yoko Ono, and a very significant portion of their other songs.

IMDWalrus: fntsyreality11: I'm sad cuz I didn't get to go on any of the cruises...blargh.

Me neither. In fact, the only chance I've had to see the band live was in a Borders, doing a six song set for "Barenaked Ladies Are Me." That's better than nothing, but still...damn.

BNL has and will probably continue to be my favorite band, but this is definitely not good news. I guess the best I can hope for is that it's just temporary...

Unfortunately, I don't think this is the case.

towatchoverme: Carth: Sad news. BNL always puts on a great show and sound as good live as they do on their CD.

Better, even.

The experience is the exact reverse of going to see Rush live.

Really makes you appreciate their singing when you compare it to groups that won't sing live without auto tune.

One of my favorite clips of Steven page is him singing at a border's bookstore.

Link (new window)

I'm warning you
Don't ever do
Those crazy, messed-up things that you do
If you ever do
I'm warning you
I'll be the first to crucify you
Now it's time to prove
That you've come back here
To re-build

here

great line

adieu and farewell, all you barenaked ladies
adieu and farewell, all you ladies nak-ed

/damn

Wow 20 years? I feel old.

That's too bad, one band I'd always heard was great live and never got to see.

Damn. I got to see them on their Everything for Everyone tour - thought that album was excellent. They did a coreographed routine with shopping carts for "Shopping," which was one of the coolest things I'd seen at a live show. They recorded each show and sold CD's, so at least I have that.

Carth: Really makes you appreciate their singing when you compare it to groups that won't sing live without auto tune.

One of my favorite clips of Steven page is him singing at a border's bookstore.

Plus, there's actual showmanship, and impromptu banter. As opposed to a few washing machines running in the background.

I don't mind Rush on CD or vinyl (not that i own much), but every time i see them live, i wonder why i just paid good money to see three robots play instruments. I much prefer their studio stuff.

On the other hand i feel a little guilty for owning something as "lightweight" as my BNL CDs, until i see them live, again, and realize what excellent musicians and entertainers they are.

This truly does suck.

Also, WHY ISN'T THIS ON THE MAIN PAGE!?

Can someone send a farkback and find out?

evilhomer2300: Unfortunately, I don't think this is the case.

I know, but I figure wishful thinking never hurt anything. Look at what bands like Aerosmith and Lynyrd Skynyrd have overcome in the past - this is a drop in the bucket compared to those kinds of issues, and I'd like to think that a band that's been together for...well, almost twenty years might eventually be able to overcome this. Time can heal a lot of wounds, and I don't think that they've found their Yoko Ono just yet.

Carth: towatchoverme: Carth: Sad news. BNL always puts on a great show and sound as good live as they do on their CD.

Better, even.

The experience is the exact reverse of going to see Rush live.

Really makes you appreciate their singing when you compare it to groups that won't sing live without auto tune.

One of my favorite clips of Steven page is him singing at a border's bookstore.

Link (new window)

Gave me Chills.....

I remember when they first appeared in Toronto. CFNY played them a lot and you could only buy their EP on cassette at a few record shops. I haven't really followed them since.

Have they ever topped those original tunes - Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, If I Had a Million Dollars?

IMDWalrus: Me neither. In fact, the only chance I've had to see the band live was in a Borders, doing a six song set for "Barenaked Ladies Are Me." That's better than nothing, but still...damn.

Lucky. I didn't even get that, lol

whatshisname: I remember when they first appeared in Toronto. CFNY played them a lot and you could only buy their EP on cassette at a few record shops. I haven't really followed them since.

Have they ever topped those original tunes - Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, If I Had a Million Dollars?

Old Apartment, Break Your Heart, Call and Answer, War on Drugs, Light Up My Room...God, I just want to start balling.....and whats worse, I just realized, is all but one of those songs I just listed were sung by Steve.

whatshisname: I remember when they first appeared in Toronto. CFNY played them a lot and you could only buy their EP on cassette at a few record shops. I haven't really followed them since.

Have they ever topped those original tunes - Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, If I Had a Million Dollars?

I think Stunt was their best selling album. One Week, It's all been done, Alcohol etc. Their Rock Spectacular cd sold really well too which was a live cd of one of their shows with a mix of old and (then) new stuff.

evilhomer2300: Old Apartment, Break Your Heart, Call and Answer, War on Drugs, Light Up My Room...God, I just want to start balling.....and whats worse, I just realized, is all but one of those songs I just listed were sung by Steve.

*hugses* I'd do this not on here, but you're not online anymore, so yeah...I'll be lame on a public forum for you.

whatshisname: Have they ever topped those original tunes - Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, If I Had a Million Dollars?

Depends on what you consider "topped." Stunt, Maybe You Should Drive, and Everything to Everyone and three of my favorite albums, much more so than Gordon (their first).

evilhomer2300: whatshisname: I remember when they first appeared in Toronto. CFNY played them a lot and you could only buy their EP on cassette at a few record shops. I haven't really followed them since.

Have they ever topped those original tunes - Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, If I Had a Million Dollars?

Old Apartment, Break Your Heart, Call and Answer, War on Drugs, Light Up My Room...God, I just want to start balling.....and whats worse, I just realized, is all but one of those songs I just listed were sung by Steve.

I know. The one thing I'm most curious (worried?) about is what's going to happen to the band's catalog.

It's hard to imagine any of the remaining members performing Call and Answer, Break Your Heart, War on Drugs, or a number of the other songs that Steve did lead vocals on.

That said, I know that the other four have performed some of Steve's songs in the past. Thanks to the internet, I've seen or heard Ed doing Brian Wilson, and Kevin singing Sound of Your Voice and Shopping. It definitely won't be the same, but I'm willing to bet that at least some of Steve's songs live on in the band's future concerts.

I'm glad I got to see them twice, at least.

/both times, free

In honor of Steve Page, here's a tribute from Morgan Freeman

Link (new window)