BNL Soldier On Without Page

02/26/09 1:43pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Barenaked Ladies singer/guitarist Ed Robertson says singer/guitarist Steven Page's departure from the band has been "bittersweet."

Robertson spoke to Sun Media about Page's exit, which he announced through his Twitter page with a link to his blog. The band confirmed the news on their website on Tuesday.

"It is difficult, no question," Robertson said. "It is hard on everybody, but the primary emotion I would say would be excitement.

"We needed a blast of positive energy. It is a weird day. But I know for all of us, it is a necessary day."

Robertson said while the Barenaked Ladies would consider a replacement for Page, they'ill soldier on as a quartet for the immediate future.

Page told CTV on Wednesday that his decision wasn't easy, but it "felt like it was time" for him to leave the band.

"They're really anxious to get back into the studio and make a new Barenaked Ladies record, and I have a million things on the go," he said.

Page wants to record a solo album and will work with Toronto's classical-jazz Art Of Time Ensemble. He'll also work on the music for Ben Jonson's 1614 play, Bartholomew Fair, which will be presented at the Stratford Festival this year.

"I've made BNL the focus for 20 years and come up with a huge catalogue of stuff and a huge catalogue of memories that I'm really proud of and happy to celebrate," Page told CTV.

"But the time came and it was something I didn't just decide to do on my own. The five of us worked together on this and felt that this was the right time."

Page also denied that his split from the band had anything to do with his arrest for drug possession last July after police discovered Page and his girlfriend with cocaine in a house near Fayetteville, N.Y. Page later agreed to a plea deal that would see the felony drug charge dropped if he stayed out of trouble for six months.

"This decision isn't about what happened last summer for any of us," Page told CTV. "But when you have a major trauma happen in your life, and this goes for all five of us, it makes you take a good, hard look at what it is you want to do with the rest of your life, or with this next chapter."

Robertson told Billboard.com that the Barenaked Ladies plan to begin recording a new album in April and release it in the fall. They're also apparently working with "a very fancy producer," whom Robertson declined to name.

"The new songs we're writing are great," Robertson told the website. "There are still four writers and singers and four multi-instrumentalists in Barenaked Ladies, so there's a lot to draw on going forward."

Barenaked Ladies will release a 20th anniversary box set later this year. Their last album was 2008's Snacktime children's album.