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From their humble beginnings as an acoustic duo, to Canadian heroes, to world domination. Barenaked Ladies have come a long way, and they’re not about to stop. I had the chance to talk with Tyler Stewart:
The Barenaked Ladies ? Sounds X-rated. What did your grandparents think ?
My grandparents thought it was kind of funny actually, and they are pretty straight, and religious, but they got a good laugh out of it.
So what do you do for the band ?
I’m the drummer
What’s the worst drum solo you have ever seen ?
Usually, it involves Deadheads sitting around jamming and everyone playing bongos man, and being free. You’re being free, but it sounds like shit pal. You can eat all the falafel you want. You can wear all the tye-dye you want. You can buy as many cheap djembes as you want, but man you gotta learn to play the thing first, you can’t just jam.
Night after night, you have the best viewpoint, who, in your professional opinion, has the best ass?
Steve Page has a nice ass, he’s a big guy, but he’s got a nice little butt. He’s not in the greatest shape, but he sure puts out a lot on the stage. Jim Creeggan (the bass player) has a nice butt to the touch. It’s totally firm, Jimmy ”muscle butt” Creeggan, I call him.
Typically, when drummers die or become hopelessly addicted to drugs, the band goes on. What could you hope would happen to the Barenaked Ladies should this happen to you?
I would hope that they would go on too, and find some- body just as crazed as I am. A lot of bands go on but they’re never quite as good are they? I mean look at the Who, or Echo and the Bunnymen, they were never nearly as good.
Well, you seemed to replace Andy Creeggan (the old keyboardist with Kevin Hearn tthe new keyboardist pretty well.
Oh yeah, that did work out nicely.
Rock Spectacle came out two week ago, and...
We prefer Rock Spec-tackle.
Well, on Rock Spec-tackle, as you have on past records, you include CD- ROM entertainment.
It’s called BNL TV. Imagine if we ran the TV universe for one afternoon, and that’s what you got, really lame-ass programming by us. We improvised a lot of stuff. We shot it and threw it on, it’s kind of amusing.
Everybody in the band sings a song but you. Is there a ”Beth” in your future?
I’m getting my stool fitted right now, so I can come out and sit in the front.
So, what’s up for the future?
Well, we have a bunch of shows around Christmas including a New Year’s Eve show in New York City, which should be fun. Then we’re going to take some time to write the new record and go back into the studios in March or April.
Would you rather be Michael Jackson’s baby or Madonna ’s? Madonna’s. I trust Madonna more than I would trust Michael Jackson.
Any final words?
Be sure to come on out on the 8th and the 26th. We love Detroit, it is indeed Detroit Rock City, and we’d like to make it Detroit Roll City as well.
Once the new casinos open up, I don’t think that’ll be a problem.
Interview by Orbit’s star rock reporter PJ Jacokes. |
