Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies (BNL) are a Canadian rock band which was formed in 1988 in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release certified gold in Canada. They had mainstream success in Canada after signing to Reprise Records in 1992 with their debut album Gordon (with singles including "If I Had $1000000" and "Brian Wilson"). The band's popularity eventually spread to the US with versions of "Brian Wilson" and "The Old Apartment" from their 1996 live album, Rock Spectacle, followed by their 1998 fourth studio album Stunt. The album contained their highest-charting hit, "One Week", along with "It's All Been Done" and "Call and Answer".<ref name="Inc.1999">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Their fifth album, Maroon (and lead single "Pinch Me"), also charted well. The band is also known for creating and performing the theme song of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The band has continued to regularly tour and record new music, having released 14 primary studio albums of original material and three themed studio albums.

Initially a duo of singer-guitarists Ed Robertson and Steven Page,<ref name="MMMBio">Template:Cite AV media</ref> the band grew to a quintet by 1990, adding brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan on bass and keyboards/congas, respectively, and drummer Tyler Stewart. Andy Creeggan left the band in 1995, and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn. Page left in 2009, reducing the group to a quartet.

The band's style has evolved, and its music (originally acoustic) grew to encompass a mixture of pop, rock and folk.<ref name="Leahey">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Their live performances feature comedic banter and freestyle rapping between songs.<ref name="Behind the Music">Template:Cite AV media</ref> They have received a number of Juno Awards, and have been nominated for two Grammy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group has sold over 15 million albums and singles, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March 2018.

History

Origins (1988–1991)

Template:Multiple image Barenaked Ladies began as a duo of Ed Robertson and Steven Page.<ref name="MMMBio" /><ref name="Leahey" /> Both attended Churchill Heights Public School and met after a Peter Gabriel concert; they were counsellors at Interprovincial Music Camp in McKellar, Ontario.<ref name="Barenaked Truth bonus">Template:Cite AV media</ref> Page was impressed by Robertson's harmonizing when they began playing songs together.<ref name="Barenaked Truth">Template:Cite AV media </ref> While attending a Bob Dylan concert at Exhibition Stadium, they decided on the name "Barenaked Ladies."<ref name="Talk to the Hand">Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref name="Distinguished Artists">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

They first performed a largely-improvised set during a battle of the bands at Nathan Phillips Square for the Second Harvest food bank on 1 October 1988.<ref name="Star89">Template:Cite news "But they finally managed a first-ever rehearsal the morning of Oct. 1, 1988, about five hours before making a stage debut at a Nathan Phillips Square benefit concert."</ref> The duo opened for the Razorbacks and others, developing their improvised set to include comedy, songs, and audience interactions.<ref name="Behind the Music" /><ref name="Talk to the Hand" /><ref name="Distinguished Artists" />

Page and Robertson continued performing, and began writing songs together. Their first tape, Buck Naked (1989), was made with a four-track recorder<ref name="Barenaked Truth" /> in basements and bedrooms. They became followers of the comedy group Corky and the Juice Pigs, whom they credited with exposing them to a comedic stage presence. Page and Robertson presented the group with their tape, and were invited to open for the Juice Pigs on their national tour.<ref name="Distinguished Artists" /> Page and Robertson invited two friends from music camp, brothers Andy Creeggan (percussion) and Jim Creeggan (bass),<ref name="Barenaked Truth bonus" /> to play with them at a 1989 Toronto Christmas show. With the Creeggan brothers, Barenaked Lunch (also known as The Pink Tape) was released in 1990.<ref name="Barenaked Truth bonus" />

Jim Creeggan playing an upright bass onstage

Jim Creeggan in 2008

Andy Creeggan left for a student-exchange trip to South America six months later, leaving the band without a percussionist. They met drummer Tyler Stewart in Waterloo, Ontario in the summer of 1990, and he joined the band.<ref name="Behind the Music" /> The band received attention during Andy Creeggan's absence, receiving the 1990 YTV Achievement Award for Best Band/Musical Group<ref name="Barenaked Truth" /><ref name="RPM22Dec1990">Template:Cite news</ref> and squeezing into a Speaker's Corner video booth to perform "Be My Yoko Ono".<ref name="Barenaked Truth" /> Andy Creeggan returned in early 1991, playing keyboards, congas and other percussion instruments, and the band soon began their first Canadian tour.<ref name="Behind the Music" />

Early Canadian success (1991–1992)

Their first commercial release was 1991's The Yellow Tape. A demo tape created for South by Southwest, it was the first recording with all five members<ref name="Barenaked Truth bonus" /> and was turned down by every Canadian record label.<ref name="Distinguished Artists" /> They sold copies off the stage; people began asking for the tape at local stores, and it was released commercially.<ref name="Distinguished Artists" /> Sales increased due to word of mouth and the band's live shows.<ref name="Behind the Music" /> Page's father, Victor, founded the independent label Page Publications to manufacture and distribute the cassette.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The band received radio airplay with a live cover of Dean Friedman's "McDonald's Girl", which included a rap break incorporating lyrics from the Beastie Boys' "Hey Ladies".<ref>"Goofiness is its own reward for boys from the 'burbs". The Globe and Mail, August 10, 1991.</ref> Barenaked Ladies contributed a cover of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" to the Cockburn tribute album Kick at the Darkness in November 1991, and it was the band's first Top 40 hit in Canada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tyler Stewart onstage, holding a microphone

Tyler Stewart in 2005

The band was removed from the lineup of the 1991 New Year's Eve concert in Nathan Phillips Square outside Toronto City Hall because a staffer for Mayor June Rowlands believed that its name objectified women,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a decision affirmed by city councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski.<ref name=newrules>"Barenaked Ladies ban prompts new city rules". Toronto Star, February 25, 1992.</ref> The group booked another show at McMaster University.<ref name="Barenaked Truth bonus" /> By February 1992, The Yellow Tape outsold Michael Jackson's Dangerous, Genesis' We Can't Dance, and U2's Achtung Baby at some downtown Toronto record stores.<ref>"Ladies don't have record deal yet". Toronto Star, February 7, 1992.</ref> MuchMusic offered the band its second Intimate and Interactive special on 17 January<ref>"Looking for a hit". Toronto Star, February 1, 1992.</ref> and the tape was the first indie release to go platinum in Canada, selling 100,000 copies.<ref name="Behind the Music" />

By the end of February, the Toronto City Council revised its rules for event bookings at Nathan Phillips Square.<ref name=newrules /> The City Hall story has followed the band, with Robertson crediting it to a slow news week.<ref name="Behind the Music" /><ref name="Barenaked Truth" /><ref name="Distinguished Artists" />

First albums (1992–1997)

A bespectacled Andy Creegan, playing a keyboard at a library

Andy Creeggan performing with the Brothers Creeggan in London, Ontario, in 2002

Barenaked Ladies were signed to Sire Records in April 1992.<ref>"Barenaked Ladies sign U.S. deal". Ottawa Citizen, April 30, 1992.</ref> They performed at Toronto's Ontario Place Forum the following month, and were the quickest act to sell out the venue.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The band's first full album, Gordon, was released in July 1992 and was successful in Canada;<ref name="MMMBio" /> by the end of August, it had been certified platinum.<ref>"The Ladies and Gordon". Ottawa Citizen, August 27, 1992.</ref> The album included some of the band's best-known songs, including "Enid", the first single; "Be My Yoko Ono", which helped fund the album; "If I Had $1000000", spawning a practice of throwing Kraft Dinner during live shows which the band later discouraged;<ref name="Talk to the Hand" /><ref name="Distinguished Artists" /> and "Brian Wilson", named after Beach Boy Brian Wilson (who covered the song on a live album). A number of GordonTemplate:'s songs were live favourites, and had already been recorded. Although the band was doing well in Canada, US success was elusive.<ref name="Behind the Music" />

Their second album, Maybe You Should Drive (1994),<ref name="MMMBio" /> was less popular in Canada.<ref name="Behind the Music" /> The band's US tour lost money, despite an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Before the next release, Andy Creeggan decided to leave the band; he had become disillusioned with its direction,<ref name="Barenaked Truth" /> and was uncomfortable with their new fame.<ref name="MMMBio" /> According to Page, Creeggan had considered leaving during rehearsals for Drive; the band convinced him to stay to record that album and for its subsequent tour. Creeggan wanted to study music at McGill University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tyler Stewart has suggested that Creeggan had never fully accepted his replacement as a percussionist.<ref name="Behind the Music" /> He left when band members were tiring of one other, with Page and Robertson rarely communicating; Stewart cites Creeggan's departure as worsening the situation. Page developed alcohol abuse and depression.<ref name="Behind the Music" /><ref name="Barenaked Truth" /> To reverse their fortunes, they signed with Terry McBride and Nettwerk for management.<ref name="Barenaked Truth" />

The band released Born on a Pirate Ship as a quartet in 1996.<ref name = "Barelaked Nadies" /> The album's "Shoe Box" was included on the Friends soundtrack,<ref name = "Barelaked Nadies" /> and the Jason Priestley-directed video for "The Old Apartment" received notable US airplay.<ref name = "Barelaked Nadies" /> Although the album had better sales than Maybe You Should Drive, it did not match the success of "Gordon".<ref name="MMMBio" /> Barenaked Ladies appeared on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 ("Spring Breakdown") performed "The Old Apartment", "Life, In a Nutshell", and "Brian Wilson" at the Peach Pit After Dark night club. Tyler Stewart invited his friend Kevin Hearn to replace Andy Creeggan as a keyboardist for the tour, and Hearn joined the band full time. They had a cameo appearance in the Canadian film The Wrong Guy with Dave Foley in 1997, performing "Gangster Girl".<ref name="Behind the Music" /><ref name="Barenaked Truth" />

Barenaked Ladies recorded two dates on their 1996 Born on a Pirate Ship tour and released Rock Spectacle, a live album with a modest American radio hit in "Brian Wilson". The album was their first US gold record, and they saw their next one as a chance to make it big in the States.<ref name="Behind the Music" /><ref name="Barenaked Truth" />

US success (1998–2004)

Stunt (1998) was the band's greatest mainstream success; its single, "One Week", spent (coincidentally) one week atop the Billboard Hot 100. Stunt reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and number nine in Canada. Kevin Hearn was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after the album was released; he receiving bone marrow transplants from his brother, and missed most of the Stunt tour.

A smiling Kevin Hearn

Kevin Hearn in 2005

The band toured with friends Chris Brown and Greg Kurstin filling in on keyboards until Hearn recovered enough to rejoin them on tour. The singles "It's All Been Done" (the opening theme of the animated television series Baby Blues) and "Call and Answer" (which appeared in the film EdTV) were modest hits. The band was asked to contribute a song ("Get in Line") to the soundtrack of the Fox animated series King of the Hill.<ref name="Barelaked Nadies">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Led by the single "Pinch Me", Maroon (2000)<ref name="MMMBio" /> reached number five on the Billboard Top 100 and topped the Canadian charts. A compilation album, Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits (1991–2001), was released in 2001.<ref name="MMMBio" /> After finishing a tour on 31 December 2001 in Rosemont, Illinois to promote the compilation, the band decided to take a year off (with a perforamance at the 2002 Winter Olympics' Medals Plaza) before returning to the studio in April 2003.

Everything to Everyone was released on 21 October of that year,<ref name="MMMBio" /> coinciding with the start of their Peep Show tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's first single was "Another Postcard (Chimps)", which received some radio play. "Testing 1,2,3", the second single, had a video but no CD single; "Celebrity" was released in the UK with a CD single, but no video. "Maybe Katie" and an edited version of "For You", from a concert in Glasgow, were released as radio singles. The album, their weakest seller in years, fulfilled their contract with Reprise Records. The group was independent for the first time since 1992, although they retained a distribution relationship with Warner Bros. Records. On its early-2004 Everywhere For Everyone tour, the band began offering live shows and subsequent studio releases for purchase as a download or CD-R on its website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Return to independence (2004–2008)

Hearn, in the center, is playing an electric mandolin

Page, Hearn and Robertson live in 2005

The band's next album was Barenaked for the Holidays, released on 5 October 2004. It was their first independent record since The Yellow Tape and the first album recorded at Fresh Baked Woods, Page's recently-completed farmhouse studio. The band established the Desperation Records label for this album.<ref name="Blue Room 20 Years">Template:Cite web</ref>

They taped a January 2005 television pilot for a variety show, tentatively entitled Barenaked Ladies Variety Show, which was rejected by the Fox network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that year, they were asked to write music for the Stratford Festival of Canada's musical production of Shakespeare's As You Like It.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Page wrote most of the music (Shakespeare had provided lyrics in the play), and the band recorded it for the actors to sing over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The recording (with Page's vocals) was available on CD from the festival and on the band's website. On 2 July, they participated in the Barrie, Ontario Live 8 concert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The band onstage, with Page playing guitar in the center

The band performing on its 2008 Ships and Dip III cruise

The band released Snacktime!, an album of original material for children, on 6 May 2008. The album contains artwork by Hearn in its liner notes, which is also available in hardcover-book form with a CD included. The album was promoted with a series of television and in-store appearances at bookstores in Toronto and the US northeast and West Coast. They cancelled appearances at several Disney Music Block Party concerts after Page's arrest for cocaine possession.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Robertson crashed his single-engine plane in August, and his mother died that December.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Departure of Page (2009–2011)

On 24 February 2009, Barenaked Ladies and Steven Page announced separately that Page had left the band by "mutual agreement." The remaining members continued as a quartet; Page pursued solo projects, including theatrical opportunities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July, it was announced that the band had left its Nettwerk management and hired the newly-merged management firm CAM 8.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Robertson said about the departure of one of the band's founding members, Template:Blockquote

As a quartet, Barenaked Ladies began recording a new album in May 2009 with producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda. "You Run Away", the album's lead single, was released to Canadian radio on 8 January. All in Good Time was released on 23 March 2010 in Canada and on 30 March in the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="EMI announcement" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barenaked Ladies announced on 6 January 2010 that the band and Raisin' Records (their label) had signed a worldwide distribution agreement with EMI Label Services.<ref name="EMI announcement">Template:Cite web</ref>

All in Good Time was generally well-received by critics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band toured the U.S. and Canada during the summer of 2010, with an autumn leg in the United Kingdom. Asked about Page's departure, Tyler Stewart said: "We don't keep in touch, but we certainly weTemplate:Sic wish him the best, and there's good will there."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2010, Page said that he had no imminent plans to rejoin the band other than for a one-off performance. He added that it felt strange that the group continued to use the same name and perform the songs that he wrote and performed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Page said in August 2011 that around the time of his arrest for cocaine possession, "the band was no longer the joyous place that it once was, but it hadn't been joyous for a long time before that. It wasn't that we didn't put on good shows, we still had a great time onstage every night". He added, "But it became a place where work was just about the stress and not the end product."<ref name=jed>Template:Cite news</ref> TMZ uncovered court documents in September 2015 indicating that Page sued Robertson about the Big Bang Theory theme song, saying that he had been promised 20 percent of the proceeds but Robertson kept the money.<ref name="Barenaked Ladies lawsuit">Template:Cite news</ref>

Since 2011

The band released a second greatest-hits album, Hits from Yesterday & the Day Before, via Rhino Entertainment (a division of their former parent label, Warner Music Group) on 27 September 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Another Rhino album, Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, with previously-recorded but unreleased rarities, was planned for release later in 2011;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it was released on 8 May 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Barenaked Ladies were commissioned to compose the score for a musical based on National Lampoon's Animal House,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but were dropped from the production by mid-2013. They returned to the studio in May 2012 to record a single, "Boomerang", produced by Gavin Brown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was planned for release during the summer of 2012 in conjunction with the band's Last Summer On Earth tour, during which it was performed nightly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also performed on the late-2012 Symphony Barenaked Tour, it remained unreleased.

The band entertained the possibility of abandoning the album concept and releasing only singles and EPs, but recorded Grinning Streak in February and March 2013; the album<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was released as on 4 June of that year. They signed with Vanguard Records for the release, their first label album of originals since becoming independent after 2003's Everything to Everyone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Boomerang" was added to the new album, and was released as a single on 26 March 2013. Two other singles were released: "Odds Are" in late 2013, and "Did I Say That Out Loud?" in mid-2014. Each of the latter singles had a music video produced by Rooster Teeth Productions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Barenaked Ladies began work on a new album in December 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's 11th studio album, Silverball, was released on 2 June 2015,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> three days before beginning its Last Summer on Earth 2015 tour with Violent Femmes and Colin Hay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's lead single, "Say What You Want", was released on 28 April 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The music video for the next single, "Duct Tape Heart", included footage of the band's performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on the Last Summer On Earth 2015 tour and was released on 19 October to coincide with the start of the Canadian leg of the Silverball tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They released their second live album, BNL Rocks Red Rocks, on 20 May 2016;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it was recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on the Last Summer on Earth 2015 tour. The band's Last Summer on Earth 2016 tour, with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Howard Jones, coincided with the new live album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 23–24 October 2016, Barenaked Ladies recorded an album with New York City a cappella group The Persuasions and producer Gavin Brown. The album, Ladies and Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies and The Persuasions, contained new versions of Barenaked Ladies songs, one Kevin Hearn song, and one Persuasions song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was released on 14 April 2017.<ref name="barenakedladies.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

The band recorded its 12th studio album, Fake Nudes, in the winter of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its lead single, "Lookin' Up", and "Bringing It Home" were made available for download to those who pre-ordered the album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was released on 17 November 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 25 March 2018, the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards in Vancouver. They performed with former members Steven Page (who was included in the induction) and Andy Creeggan. It was Page's first performance with the band since his departure in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although he was at the ceremony, Andy Creeggan was not inducted into the Hall with the other five members. There are reportedly no plans for another reunion, but neither side has ruled it out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the summer of 2019, Barenaked Ladies took a break from their Last Summer On Earth tours and opened for Hootie and the Blowfish on their 44-date Group Therapy Tour.<ref name="Group Therapy">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 4 October of that year, Rhino Records released a greatest-hits collection entitled Original Hits, Original Stars on vinyl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Robertson said on 14 January 2020 that he was working on songs for a new album,<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore </ref> with a tour to follow supported by Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The tour, scheduled to begin on 3 June in St. Augustine, Florida and end on 23 July in Toronto, was delayed until 2021 and again until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band launched the "Barenaked Bytes" mobile app in conjunction with the original tour announcement, allowing fans to gain access to ticket pre-sales, VIP packages, news, and discounts on merchandise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Their 13th studio album, Detour de Force, was released on 16 July 2021. That September, Robertson said that Barenaked Ladies were working on a "secret project" with Rush bassist Geddy Lee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musical style

Barenaked Ladies' music is primarily classified as alternative pop, influenced by folk and rock. The band, known for witty lyrics and catchy melodies, developed its comedy rock to suit audience demand in their early days of opening for college comedy troupes.<ref name=AllMusic>Template:Cite web</ref> The intellectual appeal of their lyrics has led to a label of geek rock by Eric Weisbard and others.<ref name="Weisbard">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Cantrell">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Innovation and technology

Barenaked Ladies has often attempted to use new technology to promote themselves and their music. They were early adopters of computers for promotion when they released an "Interactive Press Kit" on a 3.5-inch floppy disk for Maybe You Should Drive in 1994, for which they received a MuchMusic Video Award. They used their website to allow fans to choose between two songs ("Be My Yoko Ono" and "Alternative Girlfriend") for inclusion on their greatest-hits CD Disc One; both were ultimately included.

The band participated in City Sonic, an interactive documentary series, in 2009. The series, with 20 Toronto artists, included Tyler Stewart reminiscing about the Ultrasound Showbar. The films were accompanied by an iPhone application which used Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to unlock more videos when the user was near a specific location.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2013, Barenaked Ladies participated in the "first space-to-earth musical collaboration"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> by the band, Canadian astronaut and commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield, and Canadian student choir the Wexford Gleeks. The group, Hadfield, and the choir performed "I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)", which was commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Canadian Space Agency.

Awards and nominations

In 1993, Barenaked Ladies were nominated for four Juno Awards: Canadian Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (for Gordon), Single of the Year (for "Enid"), and Group of the Year (their only win). They were nominated for Entertainer of the Year in 1994 and Group of the Year in 1995.<ref name="Juno Archive">Template:Cite web Requires running a searches for "Barenaked Ladies" and "Ed Robertson". Additionally, the yearly summary menu shows the years each award was active.</ref> Barenaked Ladies' first Grammy nomination came in 1999 for "One Week" in the Pop Performance by a Duo or Group category but lost to Brian Setzer's "Jump, Jive an' Wail".<ref name="grammy popgroup">Template:Cite web </ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The song, and its album Stunt, brought the band three more Juno Awards that year, for Best Single, Best Pop Album, and Best Group. Robertson lost to Bryan Adams in the newly revived Best Songwriter Category.<ref name="Juno Archive" /> The video for "One Week" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction, but lost to "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The band was nominated for its second Grammy in 2001 for "Pinch Me" (again in the Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group category), but lost to "Cousin Dupree" by Steely Dan.<ref name="grammy popgroup" /> They won three Juno Awards for Maroon (Best Pop Album), Best Album, and Best Group, bringing their total to seven. "Pinch Me" was nominated for Best Single, but lost to "I'm Like a Bird" by Nelly Furtado. Page and Robertson were nominated in the Best Songwriter category for "Pinch Me", "Too Little Too Late", and "Falling for the First Time".<ref name="Juno Archive" />

Five more Juno nominations followed, totalling 18 (in addition to the two songwriting nominations). In 2004, they were nominated for Pop Album of the Year (for Everything to Everyone) and Group of the Year. The following year, they were nominated for Music DVD of the Year for the documentary The Barenaked Truth. They were nominated for Group of the Year in 2006, and received a 2009 Juno for their children's album Snacktime!<ref name="Juno Archive" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Awards table |- |rowspan="2"| 1998 ||rowspan="2"| "One Week" || Best Clip (Alternative/Modern Rock) || Template:Won |- | Maximum Vision Award || Template:Won<ref name="rotn">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:End

Template:Awards table |- | Template:Grammy || "One Week" || Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group || Template:Nom |- | Template:Grammy || "Pinch Me" || Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal || Template:Nom<ref name="rotn" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:End

Template:Awards table |- |rowspan="4"| Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Entertainer of the Year || Template:Nom |- | Barenaked Ladies || Group of the Year || Template:Won |- | Gordon || Album of the Year || Template:Nom |- | "Enid" || Single of the Year || Template:Nom |- | Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Entertainer of the Year || Template:Nom |- | Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Group of the Year || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="3"| Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Best Group || Template:Won |- | Stunt || Best Pop Album || Template:Won |- | "One Week" || Best Single || Template:Won |- |rowspan="4"| Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Best Group || Template:Won |- |rowspan="2"| Maroon || Best Album || Template:Nom |- | Best Pop Album || Template:Won |- | "Pinch Me" || Best Single || Template:Nom |- |rowspan="2"| Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Group of the Year || Template:Nom |- | Everything to Everyone || Pop Album of the Year || Template:Nom |- |Template:Juno || The Barenaked Truth || Music DVD of the Year || Template:Nom |- |Template:Juno || Barenaked Ladies || Group of the Year || Template:Nom |- |Template:Juno || Snacktime! || Children's Album of the Year || Template:Won<ref name="Juno Archive" /> Template:End

Band members and other individuals have been nominated for four Junos for their work in connection with the band. Template:Awards table |- |Template:Juno || Marc Ramaer ("Hush Sweet Lover" by k.d. lang and "Jane" by Barenaked Ladies)|| Recording Engineer of the Year || Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2" | Template:Juno || Ed Robertson ("One Week") || Best Songwriter|| Template:Nom |- | John Rummen, Jay Blakesburg (Stunt) || Best Album Design || Template:Nom |- | Template:Juno || Steven Page and Ed Robertson ("Pinch Me", "Too Little Too Late", "Falling for the First Time") || Best Songwriter|| Template:Nom Template:End

Template:Awards table |- | Template:Mtvvma || "One Week" || Best Art Direction (Art Director: Paul Martin) || Template:Nom<ref name="rotn" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:End

Template:Awards table |- |rowspan="2"| 1992 || rowspan="2"| "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" || VideoFACT Award || Template:Won |- | People's Choice: Best Group || Template:Won |- | 1993 || "Brian Wilson" || People's Choice: Best Group || Template:Won |- | 1995 || Maybe You Should Drive || Best Canadian Band Interactive Press Kit || Template:Won |- |rowspan="3"| 2001 || "Pinch Me" || MuchMoreMusic Award || Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2"| "Too Little Too Late" || People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Group || Template:Nom |- | People's Choice: Favourite Video by a Canadian || Template:Nom Template:End

Template:Awards table |- | 2000 || Barenaked Ladies || World's Best-Selling Canadian Group || Template:Won<ref name="rotn" /> Template:End

Beyond music

Barenaked Ladies have an authorized biography published in 2001, Public Stunts Private Stories, written by friend and fellow Scarborough native Paul Myers with input from the band.<ref name="MMMBio" /> In May 2006, the band and other prominent Canadian musicians formed the Canadian Music Creators Coalition in response to plans by the Canadian government to revisit and update copyright laws. Steven Page has acted as a conduit between the CMCC and the press, urging the government to focus on the Canadian cultural scene. Page has said that the CMCC was formed in response to what he believed was the wrong direction taken by the RIAA and major labels in suing fans for filesharing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They are proponents of environmentalism, following Page's passion for greening; he is a board member of WWF Canada). The group began bringing an "eco-village" organized by the Reverb organization on their 2004 Au Naturale tour. They have partnered with Reverb to form the "Barenaked Planet" project, the group's name for their project to "green" their touring. Efforts include ensuring that backstage materials are recycled, using biodiesel in their tour vehicles (B20 in December 2006), and offsetting carbon emissions with wind power. This includes band-sponsored offsets for their emissions and volunteers selling "Barenaked Planet" stickers to concertgoers, with the proceeds offsetting emissions at venues.<ref name="GillDec28">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Barenaked Ladies is the first Canadian band to receive its own ice-cream flavour, "If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours", following in the footsteps of other band-themed Ben & Jerry's flavours such as Cherry Garcia (Jerry Garcia), One Sweet Whirled and Magic Brownies (Dave Matthews Band) and Phish Food (Phish).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CAice">Template:Cite web</ref> The ice cream consisted of "chocolate and vanilla ice cream with chunks of chocolate-covered toffee, white chocolate, peanut butter cups and chocolate-covered almonds."<ref name="CAice"></ref> Tyler Stewart described it as "an amalgamation of flavours [...] kind of like the band in a lot of ways—a lot of different personalities, different ethnic groups, all represented and rolled into one."<ref name="CAice"></ref>

The band is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism, and has worked with them on awareness campaigns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have appeared at WE Day events, encouraging young students to get involved in their communities and promote social activity through WE Charity's work.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Side projects

Tyler Stewart, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, and Ed Robertson have had side projects during time off from Barenaked Ladies. Stewart was part of the short-lived Don't Talk Dance, which released a self-titled album in 1995 Chris Brown (who sat in for Hearn with Barenaked Ladies during his late-1990s cancer treatment). The album's profits went to Casey House, a Canadian AIDS charity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stewart plays occasionally with the rockabilly band Pogo Rodeo, which he joined in high school. The band reunited in the early 2010s, and has played occasional concerts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jim Creeggan formed the alternative/jazz group the Brothers Creeggan, with brother and former Barenaked Ladies member Andy Creeggan and Ian McLauchlan (who died in 2009).<ref name="BrosCreeg">Template:Cite web</ref> The group, as a duo and a trio, recorded four albums between 1995 and 2002. It stopped performing regularly in the mid-2000s, and have only played together rarely (such as for Barenaked Ladies cruises). Andy Creeggan has several solo albums, with the most recent released in 2021.<ref name="BrosCreeg" />

Since 1995, Kevin Hearn has released four albums as the frontman of Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle and three others solo (with members of Thin Buckle and other musicians). Hearn's albums are a mix of alternative rock and jazz, with other eclectic influences.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

In December 2008, Paul McCartney was reportedly asked by a session musician which bands he enjoyed in the current music scene. His response was "Barenaked Ladies": "Their harmonies are right on. They could outsing us any day of the week. I don't think John and myself ever had the sort of range they do." McCartney added that he would not mind recording with the band in the future.<ref name="http://ianundercover.com/2008/12/13/iuc-paul-mccartney-says-barenaked-ladies-sing-much-better-than-fab-four/">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, Ontario musical historians Liam Coholan, Patrick Murphy, and Jon "The Don" Dilario said in Canadian Music History: "BNL was one of the most impactful bands when it comes to discussing the development of Canadian society in the 21st century."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Band members

Current members

• Ed Robertson – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars (1988–present)
• Jim Creeggan – double bass, bass guitar, backing and lead vocals (1989–present)
• Tyler Stewart – drums, percussion (1990–present), backing and lead vocals (2008–present)
• Kevin Hearn – keyboards, lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals (1995–present)

Former members

• Steven Page – lead and backing vocals, rhythm and lead guitars (1988–2009; one-off in 2018)
• Andy Creeggan – keyboards, backing and lead vocals (1991–1995), drums (1989–1990), percussion (1989–1990, 1991–1995)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:85 bottom:80 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:10/01/1988 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

 id:Vocal        value:red         legend:Lead_and_backing_vocals
 id:Guitar       value:green       legend:Guitar
 id:Bass         value:blue        legend:Double_bass,_bass_guitar
 id:Keyboard     value:purple      legend:Keyboards
 id:Drums        value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:Perc         value:claret      legend:Percussion
 id:Album        value:black       legend:Studio_album

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:4 start:1989 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1989

LineData =

layer:back
 color:Album
 at:07/27/1992
 at:08/16/1994
 at:03/19/1996
 at:07/07/1998
 at:09/12/2000
 at:10/21/2003
 at:10/05/2004
 at:09/12/2006
 at:02/06/2007
 at:05/05/2008
 at:03/30/2010
 at:06/04/2013
 at:06/02/2015
 at:11/17/2017
 at:07/16/2021
 at:09/15/2023

BarData =

 bar:Steven text:"Steven Page"
 bar:Ed     text:"Ed Robertson"
 bar:Jim    text:"Jim Creeggan"
 bar:Andy   text:"Andy Creeggan"
 bar:Kevin  text:"Kevin Hearn"
 bar:Tyler  text:"Tyler Stewart"

PlotData =

 width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,0)
 bar:Ed     from:10/01/1988  till:02/24/2009 color:Guitar
 bar:Ed     from:10/01/1988  till:02/24/2009 color:Vocal    width:3
 bar:Ed     from:02/24/2009  till:end        color:Vocal
 bar:Ed     from:02/24/2009  till:end        color:Guitar   width:3
 bar:Steven from:10/01/1988  till:02/24/2009 color:Vocal
 bar:Steven from:10/01/1988  till:02/24/2009 color:Guitar   width:3
 bar:Jim    from:12/28/1989  till:end        color:Bass
 bar:Jim    from:12/28/1989  till:end        color:Vocal    width:3
 bar:Andy   from:12/28/1989  till:07/01/1990 color:Drums
 bar:Andy   from:12/28/1989  till:07/01/1990 color:Perc     width:3
 bar:Andy   from:07/01/1991  till:03/01/1995 color:Keyboard
 bar:Andy   from:07/01/1991  till:03/01/1995 color:Vocal    width:3
 bar:Andy   from:07/01/1991  till:03/01/1995 color:Perc     width:7
 bar:Kevin  from:06/01/1995  till:end        color:Keyboard
 bar:Kevin  from:06/01/1995  till:end        color:Guitar   width:7
 bar:Kevin  from:06/01/1995  till:end        color:Vocal    width:3
 bar:Tyler  from:08/21/1990  till:end        color:Drums
 bar:Tyler  from:08/21/1990  till:05/06/2008 color:Perc     width:3
 bar:Tyler  from:05/06/2008  till:end        color:Vocal    width:3
 bar:Tyler  from:05/06/2008  till:end        color:Perc     width:7

</timeline>

Discography

Template:Main Studio albums

• Gordon (1992)
• Maybe You Should Drive (1994)
• Born on a Pirate Ship (1996)
• Stunt (1998)
• Maroon (2000)
• Everything to Everyone (2003)
• Barenaked Ladies Are Me (2006)
• Barenaked Ladies Are Men (2007)
• All in Good Time (2010)
• Grinning Streak (2013)
• Silverball (2015)
• Fake Nudes (2017)
• Detour de Force (2021)
• In Flight (2023)

Video releases

• Barenaked in America
• Too Little Too Late
• Barelaked Nadies
• The Barenaked Truth
• Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Discogs artist
• Template:IMDb name
• Article at canadianbands.comTemplate:Dead link
• Template:YouTube