(5.15.02)- Shortly after completing their fifth and latest album, Gravity, the four members of Toronto-based Our Lady Peace (OLP) ventured into emotionally-wrenching territory. A medical emergency forced lead singer Raine Maide to take some time off from the group and forced the rock quartet to reevaluate their priorities. Fortunately, Maide made it through the scare and is now doing well. "It was just like a member of our family," says soft-spoken OLP drummer Jeremy Taggart on the phone from Dayton, Ohio (one of many tour stops). "He's doing fine now. He's on a special diet."

So much has happened to OLP during the past few years, that it's hard to boil the group's history down in just a few sentences. The group has, since its inception, been a popular contender for Canada's MuchMusic Video Awards and Juno Awards (it topped the nominations at both awards shows this past year); OLP's singles have flown to the top of the charts on Billboard's Modern Rock chart; they replaced longtime OLP guitarist Mike Turner with talented guitarist Steve Mazur; and, if that wasn't enough, they organized the Summersault tour last year, with such acts as Garbage, Crystal Method, Eve 6 and Fuel.

Gravity is not only their most recent album, but it also "gives OLP fans a fresher sound," Taggart, who most recently made a cameo in Nickelback's "Hero" video, points out. The album, recorded starting in November 2001 in Maui, with the help of producer Bob Rock (Metallica) and mixer Randy Staub (POD/Nickelback), bursts forth with melodic rock and sensitive lyrics. The result is another potential hit record for the band. Taggart, who adores jazz legends Miles Davis and John Coltrane, explains: "We just wanted to make music when we started the band, it wasn't about fame. This album is more mature and simple than any one of our previous albums."

Maturity is only a natural progression for a group that has already recorded four successful albums. The first single from Gravity, "Somewhere Out There," debuted in the Top 30 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks after being at radio for only two weeks. A video will debut soon on MTV and MTV2. But will this newest cycle of fame change the band in any way? Taggart's answer is short and sweet: "we're just focused on making good music."


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