Barenaked Ladies Guitarist Quits Band

Barenaked Ladies' singer-guitarist Steven Page said Thursday that he decided to leave the band because he felt like his contributions as a songwriter were being diminished.

A day after Page announced he was leaving on the band's Web site, he said a big reason for the split was that he felt as though the then five-member band had so many songwriting voices, his was occasionally squeezed out.

"Frankly, the band itself was a five-way democracy and one of the great things about it is that it's been about the five-way collaboration, but it's also one of the things that's made me decide to be a solo artist," he said.

Page said he will pursue solo projects, including theater.

The news comes several months after drug charges against Page were dropped in the U.S. His arrest came after the band, known for its clean-cut image and whimsical lyrics, released an album of children's songs titled "Snacktime."

Page, his girlfriend and her roommate were charged with drug possession in July after police found cocaine at an apartment in New York state. In late October, all three secured a deal to have charges dropped if they stayed out of trouble for six months.

The band was formed in Toronto and released 12 albums, producing hits such as "If I Had $1,000,000," "Brian Wilson" and "Too Little, Too Late."

The other members: Ed Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn and Tyler Stewart plan to continue on as the Barenaked Ladies, and have no immediate plans to replace Page.

They will return to the studio in April and will tour in the fall.