SameDiff BNL — Barenaked Ladies Articles

AOL Chat Transcript

September 12th 2000.

Host:: Welcome to our AOL shot with Barenaked Ladies. They will be talking with us tonight about their new C.D. "Maroon" available in stores today. They'll also be talking about their upcoming Farm Aid 2000 tour.
Jim:: Thank you very much.
Barenaked Ladies:: Hi, guys.
Hello to everyone on-line.
Hi to everyone on line.
Host:: Thank you very much. Welcome.
We're going to start right off. We have a lot of members in the audience waiting to talk to you and ask questions.
The first question is from AOL screen named barenaked 21.
The question is, hi, just like everyone else who has "Maroon," I love it. What did you want to do differently with this album compared to others?
Steve:: We wanted to make it better.
I think one of our biggest aims, and the aim of Don who produced the record was to make it sound like our band sounds. We have a reputation for being a good live band. And I think a lot of the energy that we have live on stage hasn't really made it on to our records as well as it could have in the past. So by playing all the songs live, directly live on to tape as a band, I think we did a good service to ourselves by doing that.
Ed:: I kind of had a second goal that came to me late in the record that was, I took some advice from our friends in the Bloodhound gang and I wanted to make it horny now.
Steve:: Right.
Ed:: I think the record ended up quite horny, so I'm excited by that.
Host:: Mission accomplished, right?
Ed:: Yeah.
Host:: This is from AOL member Scott Brian.
How do you think your band has changed since your first album?
Ed:: First of all, I love those crazy screen names. The Scott Brian, that makes me chuckle right away.
Barenaked Ladies:: There are two first names there.
Ed:: Exactly. I don't know if he is Scott Brian or Brian Scott.
Tyler:: I can relate being Tyler Stewart.
Ed:: Right.
That was Tyler Stewart talking.
This album is different in several ways, first of all. The cover is good.
Steve:: The cover was good on the last one.
Ed:: I'm talking about how it's different from Gordon.
The cover is good.
Steve:: All right.
Ed:: The members are now, we're now 40. We were only 30 when we made "Gordon."
Steve:: That's true.
Ed:: Except for Tyler. He's 43.
Tyler:: Absolutely. 43 1/3.
Ed:: We played thousands of shows all over the world since making "Gordon." When we made "Gordon," we were an independent Toronto-based band. Since then, we've seen, we've been really fortunate. We've seen tons of success. We've done lots of great shows, and learned to love each other and be a great band together. I think we've grown up a lot in 10 years.
Steve:: Steve will second that.
Tyler:: Tyler will third it.
Jim:: Jim will fourth it.
Ed:: That was Jim speaking.
Jim:: That was Jim.
Ed:: And this is Ed.
Host:: Question from Pacific coast.
What is the Farm Aid tour? I plan to see you in San Francisco again. Is that going to be included on the Farm Aid tour?
Steve:: The Farm Aid is one show a year. It's a charity that benefits the family farm in America.
We're doing our own tour which we're calling, I think, the "Maroon" tour, or something like that.
Farm Aid takes place in Bristol, Virginia this Sunday, the 18th. It is broadcast live on the national network, as well. It's a fundraiser and kind of an awareness raiser about the necessity of the family farm. In a time when some pretty shady farming practices run by big corporate factory-style farms are threatening the kinds of foods that we eat in north America. It's really important that we keep a focus on the family farm.
We're there to help out.
Neil Young, Willie Nelson and John Mallencamp.
Host:: Is Farm Aid an annual event?
Ed:: It is annual. We did it last year and it was a great experience for us.
Barenaked Ladies:: Are there any questions from Barenaked 22?
Host:: We have fly g09.
What is your favorite song?
Barenaked Ladies:: Of ours or on the record?
Host:: Of yours.
Ed:: I'm going to say my favorite song, and I think something that is pretty typically Barenaked Ladies. It is on the new record, "Conventioneers." It's a fun song and it's really vibey. It's got a nice, wry smile to it.
Steve:: I think the song I'm most proud of is "Sell, sell, sell." It's something we are all very proud of. It's kind of a bone of contention. It's either one of their absolute favorites or absolute least favorites. For us, it has the grandness of a song like " Boxed set" from our first record. It's poignant humor. It's interesting, and in some ways, like nothing else we've done, too.
Host:: Next, Tyler or Jim?
Jim:: I would have to say the best song of Barenaked Ladies is a song that we've played the longest and seems to get the hugest response. Even though we played it a million times, it seems to represent sort of the interplay between Ed and Steve, which is sort of the core of the band. I think that song is "If I Had A $1,000,000 I would have to put my vote in by that."
Barenaked Ladies:: Gutsy move by the swede.
Ed:: Jim, I'm excited by your response.
I have an erection due to your response.
Jim:: I think we have to approach this like chess.
Ed:: I am so with you on that choice.
It surprises me, but it doesn't surprise me.
Steve:: I would have to change my answer in lieu of Jim's answer.
Ed:: I'd have to say in lieu of Jim's answer, I would have to change my answer from "Conventioneers" to a song we haven't written yet because the love in this band is growing, and I feel the next project we do together will reach new milestones.
I don't care about Tyler's song anymore.
Tyler:: I can't talk because I'm crying. I'm crying over here.
My favorite song on the new record is "Go Home," because I think it evokes a similar spirit to "If I Had $1,000,000" in that it's a cheerful pop song.
Barenaked Ladies:: Plus it has swearing.
Host:: A bonus.
Tyler:: A pop song with a message. And the message is love. Yeah.
I like "Go Home," because it's an unabashed pop song with a shuffley thing going on. I love it. It highlights what Barenaked Ladies do best... Stand-up comedy.
Host:: Good answer.
Jim:: I'm listening to a jazz program where the C.D. is skipping. It's actually funky. Funky, funky, funky.
Host:: This is from Ozzie Fan.
I saw your rock fest in July. I think you were the best band there.
Do you find it hard to entertain metal heads like myself.
Ed:: First of all, I have to say for my 16th birthday I went to see Black Sabbath in Toronto.
Barenaked Ladies:: With ian gillen singing lead.
Ed:: And I saw Ozzie at the Bark at the Moon tour. I myself grew up a metal head. I thive an- I think I have an affinity for the metal heads.
We try to entertain and rock. I think we always see an audience like that as a challenge and a chance to win over some fans that wouldn't necessarily gravitate to the band. And, you know, we did that rockfest gig and played in front of a whole lot of Metallica fans and Kidrock fans. I think a lot went home saying those Barenaked Ladies whimps were kind of cool.
Jim:: I share that affinity for heavy metal music. When I started playing bass I learned by Where Eagles Dare by Iron Maiden. It was a big song for me. I think my roots for, in a lot of ways, were from metal music. So I kind of, I share the love.
Barenaked Ladies:: Kid Rock was amazing.
Steve:: We really had no intention of ever liking Kid Rock. To see him, it was pure entertainment and was exciting. I thought he did a great job and I thought Stuntable pilots were good.
Barenaked Ladies:: They are always awesome. It was bizarre to be on that bill. It was weird to have such a hostile audience whipping stuff out, giving us the finger.
Steve:: We've never been booed before.
Barenaked Ladies:: It was trial by fire. It was interesting to see if we could maintain an actual show in the midst of all that. I think we did a pretty good job.
Host:: This is from q103Scott.
You appeared on "Beverly Hills 90210." Will you do more TV appearances?
Steve:: I wonder if Scott likes a station q103? I guess you've got a lot of people who joined AOL in 1999 and every screen name was taken?
Host:: We increased the number of characters.
Tyler:: Tyler has a question for Scott:
Q 103 — The question is, Scott, where did you get that moniker? Is it your favorite station or is it the size of your penis?
Steve:: Tyler, they can't hear the sound of your voice. A word to everybody out there in cyberspace, Tyler was doing a great imitation of a radio disk jockey.
Tyler:: Yes.
Ed:: I hope you enjoyed Tyler's performance with the band. That was his final one.
Steve:: Q 103 Scott, our love for him has grown over every album, as well.
Tyler:: I believe our song Scott Q103 is the best we've ever done.
Barenaked Ladies:: Before did you get the moniker?
We've already done more TV. We chaped an episode of "Charmed" featuring Shannon Doherty and Alyssa Milano. He is a bit of a talker — stalker.
Barenaked Ladies:: His brother Steven Spelling is quite educational, as well.
Steven spelling?
What the hell are you talking about?
Host:: Here is another question. This is a more on the serious side. This is from Scott Brian again.
How has Kevin's recent bat will cancer affected your outlook on music as well as life?
Steve:: I think in a lot of ways it made us — it certainly made me take account of all the things that were really important in my life and realize — it's a cliche, but you really do have to make the best of every moment you have. I think that is reflected a lot in the lyrics of this record. A lot of the album is learning about learning to take action in your own life rather than sitting back and watching.
We were really on the brink of losing someone who was integral to our lives, not only as musicians, but as human beings. It certainly changed us a lot. Kevin is still not 100%. He's downstairs in the hotel enjoying a plate of sushi right now while we're enjoying this on-line chat. Taking a break. He's doing well. It's fortified us in a lot of ways and fortified him to know the good wishes our fans put forward to him over the last two years. I think he's very, very fulfilled as are we.
Host:: Every fan and every one in general are pulling for him. I'm glad he's feeling much better.
Barenaked Ladies:: So are we.
Host:: This is bylou 1185.
how do you think "Maroon" is different from "Stunt"?
Is "Pinch Me" me going to be the song?
Barenaked Ladies:: I'm not sure what "The song" means?
Host:: Maybe the most popular song?
Barenaked Ladies:: It's already getting fairly popular. We're excited by that. We can only do so much. We can only write the music that we feel, and perform it the best we can. If people like it, then great. But you know, I think the general feeling is that we have a lot of songs here that could be played on the radio that people might enjoy. It's exciting for us to be at the start of this whole new process.
Ed:: I would like to add that the cover is different.
Steve:: I think the level of enthusiasm for the record, for the recording process was a lot, as well. All around, we all were very excited about coming to work every day in the studio and working with Jim Scott and Don Was. I think overall we're better at the recording process, so we had more fun recording, and that's reflected, I think, in the overall sound and vibe of the record.
Steve:: In this hotel where we're staying right now they have connections to the internet like a t-1 line. I've been trying over the course of this entire on-line chat to connect my computer and it crashes every time. It's fast, high band width, fast internet connections aren't all they are cracked up to be at times.
Tyler:: In this hotel, they have certain types of films on the room.
Barenaked Ladies:: You can't see those films on AOL. You have to use a different type of browser.
Tyler:: I really love comedy films, and that comedy is getting me through this on-line chat.
Ed:: They have unlimited comedy in this hotel, too.
Tyler:: Unlimited comedy channel.
Ed:: Comedy after hours.
Host:: Speaking of being on-line, do you stay in touch with your fans through your web site and chat with them, or keep in touch with your family when you are touring on-line?
Ed:: I think some of us made a really good try for a long time to keep in touch with a lot of people, but it got pretty overwhelming. The internet has given access to so many people it's just hard to keep up with. I actually had to scale back my e-mail activity because I was just spending way too much time answering and replying to jokes and funny little animations, things.
Steve:: Who just flushed the toilet?
Tyler:: I am not going to the bathroom right now.
Steve:: Was that actually the sound of you urinating?
Tyler:: [Flushing]
Ed:: I love the internet.
I'm a 37-year-old woman.
Steve:: I think, you know, we first got kind of hooked up to the net. Actually, got hooked up in about 1994. In about 1995 when we signed with our new management company, our manager made sure we all got computers and e-mail addresses. That's how we do all our business communications, which has been a God send for us.
Barenaked Ladies:: Our first e-mail addresses are ESPN.com, whoops the guys cut off — are dot, dot, dot, whoops the guys got cut off.
Ed:: We want to make our web site more fan-friendly than it has been. We did build a reputation for a couple of years of doing a lot of interesting computer things like enhanced C.D.'s and so on. I think we want to start doing more with getting, you know, photos of us on the road and maybe some home movies up on our web site to make it a little more interesting.
Ed:: We actually bought a digital video camera during the recording of "Maroon," so we recorded tons and tons of instudio footage, and we're planning to bring it on the road with us. And hopefully, we're hoping that we can get on the ball with getting a web site updated regularly with road stories.
Barenaked Ladies:: We'll be rocking in the dressing room.
Host:: Great.
This is from therock4fr:
Do you think you will be rereleasing any of your older songs?
Barenaked Ladies:: Maybe he is refering to stuff that hasn't come out. Maybe he's got lots of bootlegs that haven't surfaced. I don't know.
I think we made the choices that we have in the fast to put certain things on record and let some other things sit. But, you know, we always joke about one day doing a giant boxed set of all these songs that we've written, and all the songs that we've improved on stage. I don't think it would be in the near future.
Steve:: I think it would be interesting and kind of fun to do some kind of b sides record at some point with lots of things, whether it's stuff from the first tape that Ed and I made, or the song we did called "The Ballad of Gordon," some fun things for die-hard fans to get a hold of.
Jim:: A lot of the songs die-hard fans have. There are songs called "Brent Cup," and "Broom Dance." There is a song called "Slider." We used to play that live, but we haven't done it for a long time. It's still available if you look hard enough.
Host:: And this is from AOL member kindnurse1.
Barenaked Ladies:: Oh, yeah! That's the kind nurse.
Steve:: Is Jim still here?
Jim:: Yeah. Hi. Steve was wondering if I quit a few minutes ago. I'm still with you guys. I'm just laughing.
Barenaked Ladies:: He's meandoctor1.
Host:: Kindnurse is asking — she wants to tell you your new song "Pinch Me" is great. How do you come up with the ideas in your songs?
Ed:: Well kindnurse1.
Barenaked Ladies:: It's amazing they got to kindnurse first. Didn't end up being kindnurse23.
Ed:: It's up to 60 now.
I think that when Steve and I did the bulk of the writing of this record together, and we primarily have done the bulk of the song writing for the 12 years of the band and I think for me writing is always a challenge of getting an idea across effectively and succinctly. I think Steve and I inspire and challenge each other to do that well. And, you know, I know when I'm starting songs, I want Steve to like them. And when we get together, I just know they are going to get better when he adds his input. And I look forward to those turns in the song.
As for the humor, I this I that just comes from us trying to make each other laugh while we're trying to make songs.
Steve:: So much of what we do is one guy trying to impress the another guy. Over the years we've become less and less afraid of each other's reactions and allow each other to throw ideas out into the air, it allows the other guy to say, don't change your mind, go with it. And you end up, you know, having lines that appeal to both of you. I think we know each other well enough that we can help the other writer find the direction he's going in.
Ed:: I think that's interesting about the process for me, I think years ago, listening to Gordon, anyone that knew us could go, that's Steve's line, that's he'd line, that's Steve's line, that's he'd line. Just by the tone of the line. I think now I even have trouble remembering who wrote what, and I think — wow!
Where is Tyler?
Tyler:: I'm here.
Ed:: You know what's cool? In "Too Little Too Late," the line, too little too late, that's Steve. But the whoo, that's me.
Tyler:: You know what I wrote?
I wrote the-
[playing Carmen]
Barenaked Ladies:: You know what I wrote?
[toilet flushing]
Steve:: We are just enjoying ourselves.
Host:: That's quite all right. The members are enjoying it, too.
Jim:: I was wondering if you could sort of, if the person who is notating this is butting in brackets?
Host:: They are. Brackets with "Toilet flushing" wait until you see the transcript.
How did you come up with the idea for the "Pinch Me" video?
Barenaked Ladies:: Well-
Ed:: Generally when we go to make a video, the song is sent out to a bunch of top-notch, a-number one directors, and they come up with what is refered to as a treatment or a concept, and it's basically a synopsis of what they would do for the song. And a general look for the video. And this he along with it the reel of other videos they've done. You can read it and see if they can pull it off.
With "Pinch Me," we didn't really get anything we were too thrilled about. We did get an e-mail from our very own Steven J. Page. He said, I have an idea for a video that I will regret not talking about later. So the idea for the "Pinch Me" video came from Steve. And that was pretty exciting for all of us to do a video that had come out of one of our heads, and that we are all really passionate about it and that our management record company was supportive of it.
Steve:: Normally we don't have much time. We're just always so incredibly rushed with doing other things. It's like, oh, yeah, I get to shoot a video. So we either don't have the energy or the actual time to come up with concepts, but this one Steve, I guess, just jumped out at you. For me, I normally don't have very strong visual images that go with the song. So much of my creative energy goes with the song itself, that I always like seeing somebody else's interpretation of it.
However, this time for some reason I had a bunch of images that seemed very strong within that song. Even as we were writing it we had very strong visual images and used them in the lines of the song. We just don't like to make the videos too literal. I had a whole other lexicon of images to use that I thought would go well with the music.
Barenaked Ladies:: Hello? Hello?
[Tyler answering his cellular phone.]
Tyler:: Sorry about that. It was Pierre our manager.
Barenaked Ladies:: How is he doing?
Tyler:: I think he was calling to tell me, the building's on fire. Get out. Oh, yeah. You guys, too.
Host:: Actually. We're drawing to a close. We have one last question.
Barenaked Ladies:: Make it a good one. Could it be from Pierre? Can it be, where did you get the name Barenaked Ladies?
Host:: You never answered it on-line before.
Steve:: Let's give a question directed directly to Jim Creegan.
Jim:: There is no such one.
Ed:: Jim, could you tell me one more time what your favorite song is?
Jim:: When asked what my favorite Barenaked Ladies song is I often think back to this quintessetial that drives this band. When I see the energy that drives this five-piece together, I think of this song that's-well, it's haunted by the two main members, Ed and Steve, the cooler of the band, from which every other band member flows. Sultan of creativity. Well, a certain image of money. A love of life. A love of the simplicity of life.
Barenaked Ladies:: What's going on? What's the question?
Host:: Actually, on that note, I've been trying to find a good question, a good ending question. I almost don't want to take away from that answer.
Jim:: Thank you.
Host:: Ok. Here is another question from rn flnch 2000.
Will you ever release the song "McDonald's girl?" I heard the song in auburn and loved it.
Barenaked Ladies:: Somebody who went to our high school.
Steve:: Probably not.
It's a song we used to do a long time ago that was written by a songwriter named Dean Freeman. He would love it if I plugged that, Deanfreeman.com. It's one of those songs we used to use to fill up our set when we had very few songs. It became a real standout in the show, for one because it was in some way as better song than a lot of the ones we had written at that point. For another, we had done a good job of infusing our own personalities into it. Once we had a catalogue of songs, or least a set list of songs we were really proud of-
Steve:: Once we had Brent Kopp under our belt.
Ed:: Or slider, we pulled that out of the hat for a special treat. I don't think we would ever really record it now.
Host:: Ok. Unfortunately, our chat has drawn to a close.
Do you have any closing statement for our on-line audience?
Barenaked Ladies:: Thank you all for being interested enough in our music and who we are to actually think that we could contribute something interesting to this chat. I hope you all enjoy "Maroon." Tour starts next week. Come out and see us.
And for God's sakes, go out and by 30,000 copies of "Maroon" each.
All right. Take care.