From http://www.bnlmusic.com

A MESSAGE FROM BARENAKED LADIES
By mutual agreement, Steven Page will be parting company with the remaining members of Barenaked Ladies. Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart will continue recording and touring together as Barenaked Ladies. Steven Page will pursue solo projects including theatrical opportunities while the band enters the studio in April 2009, and hits the road in the fall.

Page says "These guys are my brothers. We've grown up together over the past twenty years. I love them and wish them all the best in the future."

The band also wish Steven well in all of his endeavors. Ed Robertson says: "It's the start of a new chapter for all of us. Here's to the future!"

Everyone is looking forward to making new music and thanks their fans for their support.

Wow…just…wow.

I'm not sure how to feel about this.  Ed has always been my favorite, but I just don't know if BNL can be BNL without Steven Page. hmmm…

'the fuck?

I hope this means more Vanity Project…but damn…this really sucks.

I guess I'll have to fill in for Steve.  I'll just wait here by the phone for Ed to call…

too late…Ed just called me…I am in.

Wow…I had an idea this might happen, but thought after the cruise, maybe things had worked out.

Its hard to imagine BNL without Steve.

Ed's always been my favorite…but yeah.

I am sad.

WOW

What the hell?

WTF WTF WTF??????  Wow is right.  I am really bummed to hear this, but I have a feeling he will be back…

This is sad indeed. Many of my favourite songs were Steve songs. I wonder if that means they won't do them or if Ed will take over.

Either way, this is shitty news.

What makes me sad is this….this band. This group of guys is what brought US together.

Our friendships(which will last forever despite the band) came about over this group of guys who turned out to be extremely talented musicians, showmen and just all around fun to watch live.

My life was forever changed for the better the day I discovered this band and eventually this board. I cherish every one of my bnl friends past and present and am lucky to know you all.

*sobs*...okay…now I am getting downright sobby.

wow…I'm shocked.

No surprise to anyone present on the last 2 cruises. This one especially you could see the strain between the band and Steve. We had front row tickets to the 3rd/final show on the cruise and after the curtains closed, we all looked at each other and agreed this would be the last they all performed together. You just got that vibe.

I won't miss the incredibly annoying and inapropriate heavy duty making out between Steve and his g/f everytime they are within 1 foot of each other. She actually got up at the TVP set and sang a song with him, and, well, it was bad.

Oh well, I met alot of great people via this band as well, and am disappointed, but not surprised at all.

So there's a Yoko in the equation??  Interesting…

I know that when I say this,
I may be stepping on pins and needles;
But I don't like all these people slagging her
for breaking up the Beatles.
Don't blame it on Yokey
If I was John and you were Yoko,
I would gladly give up musical genius
just to have you as my very own
Personal Venus.

Wow, i'm speachless! I think that someday he will be back thou!

I'm…shocked…it is hard to imagine the boys without Page.

I'm with David…these guys are the reason WE all know each other.  I can't imagine my life without all of you.  Not that WE are breaking up, but you know what I mean…

Oh, I see how you are Taz…you're giving us the "we can just be friends" speech???  ;o)

Ok, so I just ran across this…sad that the media tied the two things together, but at the same time…

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lead-singer-quits-barenaked-ladies-after-drug-bust/19314

Lead singer quits Barenaked Ladies after drug bust

By Reuters

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The lead singer of popular Canadian band the Barenaked Ladies, who was charged with drugs offenses in the United States last year, is leaving to pursue a solo career, the group said on Wednesday.

Steven Page, 38, was arrested in July 2008 and charged with drug possession after police found the singer with cocaine at an upstate New York apartment. In October, the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor.

"By mutual agreement, Steven Page will be parting company with the remaining members of Barenaked Ladies," the band said on its Web site, saying Page would be pursuing solo projects.

The five-man group was best known for hit songs such as "One Week", "Pinch Me" and "If I Had a Million Dollars" and received two Grammy nominations. The remaining members of the band plan to stay together.

"These guys are my brothers. We've grown up together over the past twenty years. I love them and wish them all the best in the future," the statement quoted Page as saying. It did not mention the drug bust.

I don't understand why Perez Hilton is covering the break up but here it is ...

http://perezhilton.com/2009-02-25-barenaked-ladies-split-with-their-singer

Well, now I'm feeling extra sad about missing the cruise. And I just had to read this while listening to a bunch of Steve songs.

I'm speechless. Can't talk about it now.

now I understand why you posted BYH on facebook, David…

I'm totally speachless…

have to admit I'd not decided between Ed and Steve until recently, and then I did decide that I like Ed better, but still… BYH is one of my favourite songs of all time, *any* song not just BNL, and it wouldn't be the same…

sad.