Expert: Jon Katz - 2/22/2005

Question
where did the name barenaked ladies originate from? what compelled them to become a band, how did they find each other? whats the basic history of thegroup? whats the history of each band member? what songs and cds are they most knonwn for?

Answer
Hey Ashlea,
Thanks for writing about BNL. I'll try to answer your questions one by one.
The band's name originated from a phrase the members used to use when they were kids to mean a taboo subject. They weren't allowed to talk about something, such as finding pornographic magazines, so they just referred to it as Barenaked Ladies. They were all friends when they were growing up, formed in 1991, and released their first album in 1992. They are most known for their albums Stunt and Maroon. Their biggest hits are "One Week", "It's All Been Done", and "Pinch Me".
As for the personal history of each band member, this information can be found on sites such as barenaked.net or a number of other fansites.
I hope this helps!
-Jon