Musicians and drugs. Wow, there\'s a shocker!

Tag : children's stockings

Sex, drugs, Syracuse and rock 'n' roll. The story pretty much hitfor the cycle.
In particular, I thought the Citizen's presentation of his mug shoton the front page Friday -- blurry, way over-enlarged, tabloidmessy -- was particularly lurid. No, I shall never have a corneroffice.
It is rather doubtful Mr. Page is a hardened drug user. No realaddict would be so stupid. You have cocaine on the kitchen table at2 a.m. in the United States, where they imprison jaywalkers, andthere is a knock on the door. So you just let a cop stroll in andhave a look-see?
I suppose it's jarring because the band appears innocent andcartoonish. Their name is silly, some of their material is campyand they just seem so damn wholesome.
Many baby boomers grew up with their stuff, lo these 20 years,which might explain the rush to defend, or mock. Hero worship doesnot become us. We adore weakness in our idols.
Mr. Page, meanwhile, built a profile outside the band. He let it beknown that he drove a hybrid car, had a strong eco-streak andpalled around with Jack Layton. So, he sides with the angels.
What Mr. Page may have done temporarily -- guilty or not -- isspoil the Barenaked Ladies' long-standing appeal to youngaudiences, right on the heels of the band's first full-lengthchildren's album.
Snacktime! is just out, with such
titles as Pollywog in a Bog and The Humungous Tree. Sounds cute,unlike, say, snorting cocaine.
I know a little of these Ladies. In November 2005, my son was luckyenough to be chosen to sing with the band on the stage of theNational Arts Centre. Probably the best gig ever for the juniorchoir at Elmdale Public School. The children wore white tops anddark pants. I can still remember the crisp new shirt I picked up atthe Gap. The choir sang I Saw Three Ships, We Wish You A MerryChristmas and Oh Hanukkah.
The stage was decorated with a large Christmas tree in white lightsand a massive fireplace, upon which the band's stockings were hungwith care.
During rehearsal, Mr. Page, who has three children, seemed moredetached than the others, but this is merely a superficialobservation and certainly not a criticism. Ed Robertson was moredirectly engaged with the roughly two dozen children, shaking manylittle hands. Backstage, Jim Creeggan, the tall, redheaded bassplayer, was an absolute sweetheart.
The rehearsal concluded with a short photo session featuring thekids and the musicians. Parents snapped away. There was, given theweek's news, a curious remark made by Mr. Robertson as the camerasclicked away.
"Gosh-darn paparazzi," he said, to a chuckling gaggle of Mas andPas. "And momma-razzi!"
So cute. And doesn't Mr. Page know it, today?