The lyrics to "If I Had $1000000" inspired fans to throw macaroni and cheese at you guys.  Aren't you begging for trouble with a new single called "Pinch Me?"

Luckly, the fans don't get that close to the stage--though I want them to be right at the front edge.  I don't mind if they pinch my toes.

Does "If I Had $1000000" mean something different to you now that you're rich?

No--certainly when we wrote that song we thought we'd never have any money at all.  Steve and I were just singing together to make each other laugh.  And now we're twelve years into a very fortunate career.  I still enjoy playing that song.  It's about still buying stupid little things whether you're wealthy or not.  And I still buy stupid little things.

Any recent idiotic acquisitions?

I bought a production cel from the original Lord of the Rings animated feature--that was $100.  Even better, a Fisher-Price Happy Apple baby toy at a garage sale for twenty-five cents.  I'ts an old baby toy that's featured on our song "When You Dream."  When you shake it, it's got bells in it, but they're beautifully muted by the closed in plastic.  they stopped making them--perhaps they were a choking hazard--now I find them on eBay.

Tell me about Brian Wilson's visit to the studio, which Don Was arranged while you were making "Maroon."

That was bizarre.  It was a textbook post-modern moment:  Brian wilson entered the studio to play us his version of our song "Brian Wilson," and asked us "Is it cool?"  He looked me straight in the eye, and I was like, "You're asking me if your version of our song is cool?  It's fucking unbelievable."

Were there any other famous visitors?

Bette Midler was hanging around quite a bit.  Don's working on her record, and she was popping in periodically, going, "This is fabulous.  I love this stuff."

This album digs a little deeper.  There's a song called "The Humor of the Situation," but you guys seem more serious.

That's probably true.  I don't think this record is any darker than our other reocrds, but maybe it's a little more personal, and perhaps that makes it feel closer to the bone.  There's more "I" and "me" and "you," as opposed to "he," "she" and "they."

Cearly this record has more of a life-and-death sense of the world.

Well, we've certainly been pretty close to it, but I don't think this is a morose record.

For the record, who's the Cute One in Barenaked Ladies?

Kev.

And how is Kevin doing these days?

He's doing great.  He did this record with us.  He's been touring with us, and he looks amazing.  He's playing great.  Basically, Kev's back.  He's been cancer free for two years now, and he's rocking.

What was the first record you ever bought?

"The Gambler," by Kenny Rogers.  I'm loving the new Wyclef record that features Kenny Rogers.  It's amazing to hear Kenny going "Yo, this is Kenny Rogers, and I'm chillin' with my man Wyclef."

As a live band, you guys are known for your covers.  How likely is it that your beloeved Hall and Oats medley will return?

Oh, very likely.  I love Hall, and I also love Oates.  I was an Oates man for a long time, then I switched over to Hall.  But finally, you've really got to realize the magic combination of Hall and Oates.

Lastly, did you ever squeeze any good Shannon Doherty stories out of your buddy Jason Priestley?

Jason is very diplomatic--not even diplomatic--he's really a very charitable guy.  He rarely disparages anyone.  trust me, we dig--we totally dig.  And Jason's like "No, she's fine.  She's cool."  He's not a dirt-slinger.  I think he's had his share of dirt slung at him.  He's a gentleman.

Were you a Jason man, or did you prefer Luke?

Oh, fuck yeah, I was a Jason man.  Of course, he's a Canadian boy.  And that hair, those eyes--come on.