Barenaked Ladies : Public Stunts, Private Stories (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In the '40s, singer Tony Bennett claimed, in song, to have misplaced a vital organ here..." (more)
Key Phrases: rock spectacle, bed tracks, music camp, Barenaked Ladies, Brian Wilson, Juice Pigs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From geeks in short pants to multiplatinum artists, Barenaked Ladies are nothing less than a phenomenon. Now, for the first time in the United States, we can read their astonishing story.

Steven, Ed, Jim, Tyler, and Kevin have two Grammy nominations under their belts, they've appeared on The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, and their music is featured in commercials. They've even preempted the Olympics and rocked the vote on The West Wing. Their quirky, bizarre lyrics and unforgettable live performances have secured a rabidly loyal fan base across North America. They are Barenaked Ladies.

Want to know more about this Canadian quintet? It's all here, from the births of five Barenaked babies to the triumph of band member Kevin over leukemia.

All the stories, from goo-goo to glory

Photographs of the band, never before seen in the United States, including family photos, baby pictures, and shots from the early days of BNL

A list of BNL's favorite road games and instructions so you, too, can play

A detailed list of every musical project the Ladies have recorded or been involved with

More information on band camp and what gifted Canadian kids do for fun than you ever thought you wanted

Given exclusive access to the band, author Paul Myers gets inside the heads of five guys who drew on their eclectic backgrounds to generate a groundbreaking musical style.

Fun, frank, and sometimes frivolous, this is the naked truth behind Barenaked Ladies.

About the Author

Paul Myers is a Canadian musician and writer who first met Barenaked Ladies in the early '90s when they opened for his band, the Gravelberrys.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743238354
• ISBN-13: 978-0743238359
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #766,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Band, Good Book, December 22, 2003

By	MichaelH (East Coast US) - See all my reviews

Paul Myers' book offers a serviceable account of the history of Barenaked Ladies, from their beginnings through the making of 2000's Maroon.

What's missing is much in the way of insight from the band members. The book details their early Canadian success and struggle to build an American following before the 1998 album Stunt and its breakout single "One Week" made them stars. It touches on band member Kevin Hearn's struggle to overcome leukemia and various marriages and births.

But it doesn't explore much past the surface in any aspect. This band has been through some struggles, and the brooding melancholy that lurks in their lyrics has to come from somewhere. But the book emphasizes their clever wordplay, sense of humor and superb musicianship leaving much unanswered about what personal darknesses lead to songs like "When I Fall" or "Light Up My Room," or "Break Your Heart" or "Pinch Me."

I know there are some stories to tell, because I've read some of them in interviews with the band. Myers doesn't seem interested in offering a deeper examination of these fascinating people, and the book suffers as a result. The closest he comes is when he mentions the death of one of Ed Robertson's brothers as part of the meaning of the song "Leave" -- the way that a premature death can haunt those left behind. But even then he mentions it in passing and deals with the whole issue in one paragraph.

The other major failing is that Myers is infatuated with his own cleverness, and the text is peppered with puns and efforts to incorporate song titles into sentences. These devices might bring a smile or two used sparingly, but he seems to lack both self-restraint and a good editor.

It's a good book, and worth reading for any fan of the band, but it isn't what it could have been.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Paul Myers Presents BNL Featuring Paul Myers, December 29, 2003

By	Dan Amrich (Bay Area CA) - See all my reviews

Public Stunts, Private Stories (which was originally sold directly to fans at BNL concerts) would be an incredible biography if it weren't for the author's incessant, excessive need to insert himself into the proceedings. Paul Myers tries to emulate the anything-goes style of the band's live shows in his narrative, but falls entirely flat. He constantly uses first-person voice as he commits the sin that the Ladies are often unjustly accused of: being clever for the sake of being clever. It's a criticism I've never believed about the band, but Myers has no defense with pointless asides (such as the Willie Nelson Connection, which isn't really much of a connection at all), self-referential interviews, forced pop-culture namedropping, and mid-narrative lines like "Yes, I know I'm on thin ice with the bad puns and wordplay." More than you know, Paul. Step back and let the band's story be the star, please?

What's more, the book is not as complete as it should be for a historical account of the Barenaked Ladies' evolution as a band. There are references to Maybe You Should Drive being a traumatic experience, but no real solid evidence to suggest what the source of the tension was--Ben Mink, for instance, is not interviewed. Anybody who gave Myers a lot of face time for interviews (such as manager Terry McBride, whose interview is as chilling as it is informative) gets more attention in the book. It comes off as uneven.

And still, the grating elements are outweighed by excellent, honest quotes by the band, plenty of fun photos, amusing anecdotes, and a lovingly detailed recounting of the band's earliest days. Hearing so many of the stories straight from the band members themselves--especially when they're being embarassingly honest about their own flaws and the band's more difficult growth stages--gives this book a compelling flow. As the only decent BNL book out there, Public Stunts, Private Stories is #1 in a field of one.

The core of the material works so well that I'd love to see a revised edition in a few more albums, with Myers' extraneous influence toned down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for new fans!, November 26, 2006

By	Karen F. Cox "[e-mail]" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We bought the "Gordon" CD for our daughter when it was first out, but I am embarrassed to admit, I did not listen to it. But friends told us the music was appropriate for an 8 yo. I did not have a CD player in my car or at work and that was part of the problem. At any rate,we just recently saw BNL in concert in Rochester, and I was blown away by the music! I never realized how complex and different the music was. This got me wondering about the history of the band, and how they have stayed together so many years and still seem to have fun making music and entertaining. That led me to this book...and I took it out of my local library. I have to say, for a new fan, it is a great way to learn about the evolution of the band, their early years and the troubles they went through staying together. It almost reminded me of the work involved in a marriage. I would agree with the other reviewer that, at times, the author tries to be coy and it falls somewhat flat,and that is why I gave it 4 stars(I would have given it 4.5, but that's not available, but for a new fan, it's a great read. The book is on my Christmas wish list; it is something I can see reading over and over! If you are new to the band, make sure you read it!