STEVEN on the original Gordon cover: We realized that we probably could have sold about 800,000 copies if we had a decent record cover. I know a lot of people got that album in the mail and the radio station would say, �What the fuck is this?� &Naked And Shameless

ED on The Old Apartment: The neatest thing about the song is that it tricks people into thinking someone�s breaking into his old girlfriend�s apartment. But actually, this guy and his girl are revisiting the building from which they�ve recently moved, and it�s painful to them. Things have changed there, and they�re thrown by it, thinking, �Hey, don�t people understand how important the physical evidence of memories is?� Because even the addition of a handrail on the steps where you once played as kids can ruin your ability to ever have a game of tag there again. It�s a song about how you identify with places and structures that you had almost created for yourself by living and growing in them. This is the sort of stuff Steve and I write about, and like our live shows, it�s funny and sad to us at the same time.@

STEVEN elaborating: As a result some people in our audiences may resist the roller coaster of our concerts, but when the crowds are willing, they see the larger picture, which is that red, for instance, is not just the color of blood but also of clown�s noses.@ billboard

ED reflecting on It's All Been Done: I think it's all been done but that's no reason to not enjoy it all over again. I think there are various archetypes. There are only six plays, there are only eight songs, whatever it is, it's not going to stop me enjoying the new variations on those themes. The beauty of the music of the society that we live in now is all the mixture of the various kinds of music. I would like to see more and more elements embraced of different kinds of music.

STEVEN on Stephen Duffy: He was my hero growing up. He called himself Tintin for a while and was in a band called The Lilac Time, and I was always a huge fan...I think I learned a lot about discipline from him...He's a very disciplined writer--I'm really scattershot. (???)

STEVEN on the name "Barenaked Ladies": When we were teens Ed and I were at a Bob Dylan concert bored out of our minds and we started making fun of bands that did not exist. One was Barenaked Ladies. It made us laugh and reminded us of when we were 8 years old, and would look at the women�s underwear section of the Sears catalog. When Ed got us our 1st gig he told them we were called Barenaked Ladies, and after that there was no backing out. Because if we changed our name how would the 7 people that were there find us again?

BNL on Kraft Dinner: It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye. It's definitely fun to have that kind of in-joke with your audience, so we still like it. Just keep the cheese packets sealed!!! We like to eat them like candy after the show.

ED on the band's title: We chose the name as a reminder of our lives previous to our sexual awakenings. "barenaked ladies" were this mysterious, taboo thrill that made us feel like the 7-year-olds we still are.

ED on performing live: There�s a lot of improvisation in what we do and the humor is a big part of that. The songs and tracks we make about local topics and strange occurrences--whether it�s the Olympics during an Atlanta show or a dead body found on the fire escape at the Orpheum theater in Boston on the morning of one of our concerts-�we just deal with what each day brings. The aim is not to pander to the locals but to let them see we do know we�re playing in their town.@

STEVEN on his audience: The worst thing about being in the audience is being excluded. We also want them to see us surprising ourselves with a new on-the-spot arrangement or a high-risk attempt at connection, because that�s the charm, the magic part.@ billboard

STEVEN on censorship: I love it. I think people have to careful not to hurt other people. But it's a scary line if you try to legislate what hurts and doesn't hurt other people and the that they can make sensible decisions on their own.

ED on the Andy-Kevin switch: It was scary. I didn�t know if I could do this band without Andy. He was a big part of it for me. It was horrible to think of going on without one of the members of the band. When it came down to making the record as a four piece, it was the best time we ever had. The tour right after with Kevin Hearn playing with us was a really positive thing. It was one of those things you dread happening and when it does it�s the best thing for you. *Extreme, Steve Berketo

STEVEN's writer's block advice: I would say give it a rest, read and listen to other kinds of music. Then come back to it. It's a craft, not just an art. You don't often hear of carpenter's block.

ED on Humor: We've always thought that wackiness and earnestness coexisted. We never had a big focus on humour, we just liked funny things and said funny things. ^Network Paul Myers

ED on Canadian music: The whole cultural scene in Canada is just starting to open up and it�s great to be a part of it. Canadian music has an eclectic, quirky slant to it. It comes from being the northern neighbor to a work giant and all of the culture that flows over the border. Canadians take the cultural mosaic approach rather than the melting pot approach like in the U.S. (???)

STEVEN on being Canadian: We are first and foremost a Canadian band because that is where we live and how we identify ourselves. We know that most of our fans identify us as a Canadian band and we are proud to be one.

Again: Yee-Ha, I'm a flag waving Canuck.

STEVEN on Judiesm: I certainly identify myself as a Jew but I'm not the rock n' roll equivalent of Philip Roth but perhaps someday I'll be. For better or for worse.

STEVEN on his high school experiences: I was a "new waver" so I was kinda geeky and popular with the small group of people, but most people called me a fag.

STEVEN on the internet: We have all succumbed to the cyber-revolution, although I refuse to believe that the Internet exists.

STEVEN on his fave muppet: I guess from Sesame Street my favorite muppet is Ernie, and most people say I identity with Bert, but they're wrong. I am truly Ernie. Does Al Jareau countas a muppet?

STEVEN on G&T: I enjoy a good alcoholic beverage or seventeen I know when to say no, I just choose not to.

STEVEN on newfound popularity: In some places we're getting Top 40 radio play, which is the young crowd. That spread in Hustler did a lot for us too. #IMPACT: Jennie Punter

STEVEN's self-sex analysis: I certainly don't consider myself sexy, I won't speak for the other members of the band. Although I do consider the rest of the world other than myself sexy.

STEVEN on his role models: Nell Carter, Charlotte Raye, and I'd have to say Scott Baio from Charles In Charge.

STEVEN on "who gets to sing": A lot of times the person whose musical idea it is gets to sing the song. Occasionally, it gets flipped around. Plus Ed paid $25,000 cash to sing more songs on this record.

TYLER on spankings:There's nothing wrong with a good spanking to put things in perspective. I'm surprised at how many people enjoy spanking. I'm not one for receiving pain. [Steve] likes a little discipline now and again. Jim wouldn't like to be spanked. Ed just became a father, so he's probably developing his spanking chops. I'm not saying he's going to spank his young daughter, Hannah, but as a dad I think you have to be sure of where you stand as a spanker or a spankee. Let's see, the new guy? Kevin Hearn? He's such a swell guy. I think you could spank him, but I think the spanker would feel bad about it. Because he's such a sweetheart. *SPANK

TYLER on Kevin's ... to the band: Well, we haven't had any spanking ritual...We've been treating him like a dog. Usually we have him hang all the lights and stuff like that, so not only does he have to be the new keyboard player, he's gotta run the lighting rig. He's got an extra hard job. *SPANK (Carly Milne)

TYLER on butts (again): 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 has a nice butt to the touch. It�s totally firm, Jimmy �muscle butt� Creeggan, I call him. $Orbit PJ Jacokes

TYLER on his favorite band: You never know when the Beasties will rear their heads at a ladies show, expect the unexpected

STEVEN on pop music: I like to write pop to fool people with the hooks, but inside, I hide all the sweetness, darkness, and musicianship found in the grandest themes of a great mythic rock song For me, pop is a tight, strategic little package that�s second to none.@ Billboard

TYLER on the band's ex-obsurity: It's like we're Pierre Berton or Farley Mowat. Everyone knows who we are but no one buys our books.

ED on the band's overall personality: We tend to all enjoy Coen brothers' movies.