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Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 when two Toronto-area teenagers decided to turn a humorous band name into reality. Ed Robertson and Steven Page met at music camp and attended the same school in Scarborough, Ontario, before launching their partnership at a food bank benefit concert. The duo expanded into a quintet by 1991 with the addition of brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan along with drummer Tyler Stewart. The band has released 14 primary studio albums of original material and three themed studio albums, selling over 15 million records worldwide.
The band achieved mainstream Canadian success with their 1992 debut album Gordon, which included singles like “If I Had $1000000” and “Brian Wilson.” Their breakthrough in the United States came with the 1998 album Stunt, which featured their number-one hit “One Week.” The album reached number three on the Billboard 200 and went multi-platinum. The 2000 album Maroon also performed well commercially, reaching number five on the Billboard charts with the lead single “Pinch Me.” The band gained additional recognition for creating and performing the theme song for the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Barenaked Ladies has won seven Juno Awards and received two Grammy nominations throughout their career. The band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March 2018. After Steven Page’s departure in 2009, the group continued as a quartet with Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Stewart, and Hearn. Andy Creeggan left the band in 1995 to pursue music studies at McGill University and was replaced by Kevin Hearn. The band has undergone no lineup changes since 2009.
Ed Robertson
Ed Robertson co-founded Barenaked Ladies with Steven Page in 1988 after meeting at Interprovincial Music Camp in McKellar, Ontario. Robertson has served as the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter throughout the group’s entire history. He attended Churchill Heights Public School with Page and bonded over their shared love of music at a Bob Dylan concert, where they decided on the band name. Robertson has been with the band through all 14 primary studio albums, including Gordon, Maybe You Should Drive, Born on a Pirate Ship, Stunt, Maroon, Everything to Everyone, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, Barenaked Ladies Are Men, All in Good Time, Grinning Streak, Silverball, Fake Nudes, Detour de Force, and In Flight.
Robertson co-wrote most of the band’s biggest hits with Steven Page, including “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “If I Had $1000000,” and “The Old Apartment.” He created the theme song for The Big Bang Theory, which later became a source of legal dispute with former bandmate Steven Page over royalty distribution. Following Page’s departure in 2009, Robertson became the band’s primary creative leader and spokesperson. He has contributed significantly to the band’s live performances through his guitar work and comedic stage presence, which includes freestyle rapping between songs.
Outside of Barenaked Ladies, Robertson has been involved in environmental advocacy through the band’s Barenaked Planet project, which focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of touring. He survived a plane crash in August 2008 when his single-engine aircraft went down. Robertson lost his mother in December 2008. He has maintained the band’s touring schedule consistently since the late 1980s and continues to write new material for the group. Robertson participated in the 2018 Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction alongside all band members, including Page and Andy Creeggan.
Steven Page
Steven Page co-founded Barenaked Ladies with Ed Robertson in 1988 and served as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist until his departure in 2009. Page attended Churchill Heights Public School with Robertson and worked with him as a counsellor at music camp before forming the band. He performed at the group’s first show in October 1988 at Nathan Phillips Square and remained with the band for 21 years. Page appeared on all albums released between 1991 and 2008, including The Yellow Tape, Gordon, Maybe You Should Drive, Born on a Pirate Ship, Rock Spectacle, Stunt, Maroon, Everything to Everyone, Barenaked for the Holidays, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, Barenaked Ladies Are Men, and Snacktime!
Page co-wrote many of the band’s most successful songs with Ed Robertson, including “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “Brian Wilson,” “It’s All Been Done,” and “The Old Apartment.” His vocal range and harmonizing abilities were frequently praised, with Paul McCartney reportedly stating in 2008 that the band could “outsing us any day of the week” in reference to The Beatles. Page wrote most of the music for the Stratford Festival of Canada’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It in 2005. He developed alcohol abuse and depression issues during the mid-1990s, a period when the band faced internal tensions and declining communication between members.
Page left Barenaked Ladies by mutual agreement on February 24, 2009, following an arrest for cocaine possession in 2008 that led to cancelled Disney Music Block Party concert appearances. He later stated that the band had ceased being a joyous environment long before his departure. Page sued Robertson in 2015 over proceeds from The Big Bang Theory theme song, claiming he was promised 20 percent but received nothing. Following his exit, Page pursued solo projects and theatrical opportunities. He reunited with the band for a one-time performance at the 2018 Juno Awards when Barenaked Ladies was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Page has stated he has no imminent plans to rejoin the group permanently.
Jim Creeggan
Jim Creeggan joined Barenaked Ladies in 1989 as the band’s bassist after being invited by Robertson and Page to play at a Toronto Christmas show. Creeggan and his brother Andy had attended Interprovincial Music Camp with the founding members. He has remained with the band continuously since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving members alongside Robertson. Creeggan plays double bass and bass guitar while also contributing backing and lead vocals. He has appeared on every Barenaked Ladies album from Barenaked Lunch through In Flight, spanning the entire recorded history of the band’s full lineup period.
Creeggan contributed to the development of the band’s sound through his bass work on hit songs including “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “If I Had $1000000,” and “The Old Apartment.” His bass playing appears prominently on albums like Stunt, which reached number three on the Billboard 200, and Maroon, which reached number five. He has been part of the band’s extensive touring schedule for over three decades, including the Last Summer on Earth tours and international performances. Creeggan provided backing vocals on numerous tracks throughout the band’s discography and occasionally takes lead vocal duties on select songs.
Outside of Barenaked Ladies, Creeggan formed the alternative jazz group the Brothers Creeggan with his brother Andy and Ian McLauchlan. The group recorded four albums between 1995 and 2002 and stopped performing regularly in the mid-2000s, though they occasionally reunite for special performances such as Barenaked Ladies cruises. Creeggan has balanced his work with both projects throughout his career. He participated in environmental initiatives through the band’s Barenaked Planet project and has been involved in the group’s charitable work with Artists Against Racism. Creeggan was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with the band in 2018.
Tyler Stewart
Tyler Stewart joined Barenaked Ladies in 1990 as the band’s drummer after meeting the group in Waterloo, Ontario. He replaced Andy Creeggan as the percussionist when Andy temporarily left for a student exchange trip to South America. Stewart has remained the band’s drummer for over three decades and began contributing backing and lead vocals in 2008 following Steven Page’s departure. He has performed on every Barenaked Ladies album from The Yellow Tape through In Flight, including all of the band’s commercially successful releases like Gordon, Stunt, and Maroon.
Stewart’s drumming appears on the band’s biggest hits including “One Week,” which spent one week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, “Pinch Me,” “If I Had $1000000,” “Brian Wilson,” and “The Old Apartment.” He has been part of the band’s extensive touring schedule since 1990, contributing to their reputation for energetic live performances. Stewart expanded his role in the band after 2009, taking on more vocal responsibilities when the group became a quartet. He has participated in the band’s comedic stage banter and improvisation that has become a trademark of Barenaked Ladies concerts.
Outside of Barenaked Ladies, Stewart was part of the short-lived band Don’t Talk Dance, which released a self-titled album in 1995 featuring Chris Brown, who later filled in for Kevin Hearn during his cancer treatment. The album’s profits went to Casey House, a Canadian AIDS charity. Stewart plays occasionally with the rockabilly band Pogo Rodeo, which he joined in high school. The band reunited in the early 2010s and has played occasional concerts since then. Stewart invited Kevin Hearn to replace Andy Creeggan as the band’s keyboardist in 1996. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with Barenaked Ladies in 2018.
Kevin Hearn
Kevin Hearn joined Barenaked Ladies in 1996 as a touring keyboardist after being invited by Tyler Stewart to replace Andy Creeggan. Hearn became a full-time member shortly after and has remained with the band since then. He plays keyboards, guitar, and contributes lead and backing vocals. Hearn has appeared on all Barenaked Ladies albums from Rock Spectacle through In Flight, including Stunt, Maroon, Everything to Everyone, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, Barenaked Ladies Are Men, All in Good Time, Grinning Streak, Silverball, Fake Nudes, and Detour de Force.
Hearn was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after Stunt was released in 1998 and received bone marrow transplants from his brother. He missed most of the Stunt tour while Chris Brown and Greg Kurstin filled in on keyboards. Hearn recovered sufficiently to rejoin the band on tour and has continued performing since his recovery. He contributed to the band’s sound on albums that achieved significant commercial success, including Stunt, which reached number three on the Billboard 200. Hearn provided artwork for the liner notes of the 2008 children’s album Snacktime!, which won a Juno Award. His multi-instrumental abilities have expanded the band’s sonic palette in live performances and studio recordings.
Outside of Barenaked Ladies, Hearn has released four albums as the frontman of Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle since 1995, along with three solo albums featuring members of Thin Buckle and other musicians. His solo work blends alternative rock and jazz with eclectic influences. Hearn has balanced his work with Barenaked Ladies and his side projects throughout his tenure with the band. He has participated in the group’s environmental initiatives through the Barenaked Planet project and charitable work. Hearn performed at the 2018 Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony when Barenaked Ladies was honored.
Andy Creeggan
Andy Creeggan joined Barenaked Ladies in 1989 initially as a percussionist and drummer before leaving for a student exchange trip to South America in 1990. He returned to the band in early 1991 playing keyboards, congas, and other percussion instruments after Tyler Stewart had taken over drumming duties. Creeggan performed with the band from 1991 until 1995, appearing on albums including The Yellow Tape, Gordon, and Maybe You Should Drive. He was a member during the band’s rise to mainstream success in Canada with the platinum-selling debut album Gordon, which included hits like “If I Had $1000000,” “Brian Wilson,” and “Enid.”
Creeggan contributed keyboards and percussion to the band’s sound during a formative period in their development. He played on Gordon, which was certified platinum by the end of August 1992 and became one of the band’s best-known releases. Creeggan also performed on Maybe You Should Drive in 1994, though the album was less commercially successful than its predecessor. According to Steven Page, Creeggan had considered leaving during rehearsals for Maybe You Should Drive, but the band convinced him to stay for that album and its subsequent tour. He became disillusioned with the band’s direction and uncomfortable with their growing fame.
Creeggan left Barenaked Ladies in 1995 to study music at McGill University. Tyler Stewart suggested that Creeggan never fully accepted being replaced as the band’s percussionist when Stewart joined in 1990. Following his departure, Creeggan formed the Brothers Creeggan with his brother Jim and Ian McLauchlan. The group recorded four albums between 1995 and 2002 as a duo and trio. Andy Creeggan has released several solo albums, with his most recent released in 2021. He reunited with Barenaked Ladies for a one-time performance at the 2018 Juno Awards when the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, though he was not inducted alongside the other five members. There are reportedly no plans for another reunion.
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