Steven Page Leaves BNL

02/25/09 12:48pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Steven Page has left the Barenaked Ladies after 20 years to pursue his solo music projects full-time.

The 38-year-old Scarborough, Ont. native posted this message on his blog on Tuesday:

"Yes, it’s official. I am no longer a Barenaked Lady. After twenty years (plus a few months), I'm heading out on my own. I'm really excited about all the opportunities coming my way: I have an album's worth of songs and will be putting together a new solo album on top of the work I'm doing for this year's Stratford Festival, and a studio recording I did with The Art of Time Ensemble, which will be released later this year with a tour to follow."

Despite Page's key role as a songwriter, singer and guitarist in the Barenaked Ladies, his departure "by mutual agreement" doesn't mean the end of the group.

"Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart will continue recording and touring together as Barenaked Ladies," says a message posted on the BNL website.

"Steven Page will pursue solo projects including theatrical opportunities while the band enters the studio in April 2009, and hits the road in the fall."

Page called his now former bandmates his "brothers" on the site and wished them the best for the future. Robertson likewise gave a friendly send-off to Page and called this development "the start of a new chapter for all of us."

Barenaked Ladies have released 11 albums that have sold millions of copies. Their hits include "If I Had $1,000,000," "Brian Wilson," "The Old Apartment," "It's All Been Done," "Pinch Me" and the chart-topping "One Week." The band have won six Juno Awards and have been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Page released an album with Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy under the name The Vanity Project in 2005 that wasn't as successful as his Barenaked Ladies records.

Page was charged with drug possession in July after police discovered him and a woman with cocaine in a house in Fayetteville, N.Y. just weeks after BNL released their Juno Award-nominated Snacktime children's album. He agreed to a plea deal on Oct. 28 that would result in the felony drug charge being dropped if he kept his nose clean for six months.

Barenaked Ladies recently returned from their annual Caribbean cruise, where they invited a number of artists to perform for passengers. Though no-one's saying anything, maybe conversations occurred on board that made all the Ladies decide it was a good time for Page to abandon ship.

Since Robert Plant isn't getting back with his Led Zeppelin bandmates and his Grammy Award-winning collaboration with Alison Krauss shows that he works well in a duo, perhaps the time is right for a new-look Page And Plant. I'm sure Alannah Myles could set it up.