The Barenaked Ladies bare it all

Cancer, a plane crash and a drug bust are some of the challenges the Barenaked Ladies had to face over their lengthy music career.

“It has been interesting,” drummer Tyler Stewart laughs into the phone.

To celebrate those 25 “interesting” years in the biz, these Canadian favorites released Winning Streak, the followup to 2009’s All in Good Time, the album that marked their reemergence as a four-piece, another hurdle they had to jump.

In 2008, the band said adieu to founding member Steven Page, who fronted the group for 20 years, after he faced very public drug charges. Steven’s departure may have been mutually agreed on, but that didn’t lessen the blow to a fragile group dynamic.

The guys held it all together and proved it by making a triumphant return as a quartet.

While the band continues to celebrate their milestone with a North American tour, Tyler talks about the Barenaked Ladies’ renewed camaraderie and the pact they’ve made to bare it all from here on in.

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How are you guys holding up as a four-piece?

This is a different situation for us. After all these years, it wasn’t easy, but we made a renewed commitment to each other after the decision to move on. We decided to really support each other and push each other creatively without any kind of baggage or fear.

With the size of your repertoire and all your past success, what makes this album special?

It encapsulates the journey we’ve had with ups, downs, cancer, births, band members coming and leaving, being arrested, plane crashes. Everything will happen to you eventually.

You’ve all had your share of challenges. Do you believe what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger?

I definitely believe that. If you manage to survive tumultuous things in life, as unpleasant as they may be, there often is a light in the tunnel. In this case, our band went through a lot of trials and tribulations, at the end of it all, we emerged much stronger.

What’s the secret behind the survival of the Barenaked Ladies?

Group hand jobs!

Okaaay Tyler. Thanks.

Haha! I wish it was that easy. I’m not sure if I recommend sleeping with coworkers. Seriously though, the answer is communication. It’s like any relationship, communication is the key.

Is there anything that you want to communicate to Steven?

That the Barenaked Ladies are alive and well, and healthier than ever. Hopefully that reflects in the music.

What has Steven’s departure taught you?

To look look inwards rather than outwards for success. To make suggestions, take criticism and take praise. After Steven’s departure we realized that we need to be able to put anything on the table at any time without somebody taking it too personally. Ultimately we support, trust and love each other. Nothing that anyone of us says to another can be taken as an attack. That is something the remaining four of us are striving for, overall better communication and trust. Baring it all is going to sustain us for another 20 years.

The Barenaked Ladies’ new album, Grinning Streak, is available on iTunes now.

View tour dates here and follow the Barenaked Ladies on twitter and facebook.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Sep 10 2013. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.