Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Bif Naked: Toronto Mike'd #1467
Episode Date: April 8, 2024In this 1467th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with his neighbour Bif Naked about life, love, I Bificus and Rod Black's brother. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery..., Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes, We Are Open podcast from Moneris, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com
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Welcome to episode 1467 of Toronto Miked, proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery,
a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and
brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA.
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and Oakville.
The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, the best baseball in the city outside the dome
with Rod Black's mustache returning for the home opener at Christie Pitts on May 12th.
RecycleMyElectronics.ca, committing to our planet's future, means properly recycling
our electronics of the past.
The Advantage Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, valuable perspective for Canadian
investors who want to remain knowledgeable, informed and focused on long-term success.
Season 6 of Yes We Are Open, an award-winning Monaris podcast hosted by FOTM Al Gregor and Ridley Funeral
Home pillars of the community since 1921.
Today, making her return to Toronto Mike is our rock, our punk goddess.
It's Biff Naked.
Woo!
I have to talk to you about this baseball.
Anything.
No, wait.
So hold the phone, Stallone.
Did you say Rod Black's mustache?
OK, we have to talk.
OK, talk to me.
OK, like Rod Black from Winnipeg.
Yep. OK, so like I went out with his brother.
Oh, my God.
I feel weak like I'm going to faint.
I'm going to faint. So Derek Black.
So Derek Black was a bodybuilder and he's the reason I started dating bodybuilders when
I was like 16 years old.
So listen, this is how I got into dating bodybuilders by accident when I was like a young woman.
So I was an adolescent girl.
Yeah.
Started Winnipeg.
Yep.
And started dating like bodybuilders.
I was actually the perfect bodybuilder girlfriend.
I would like to point out on Super Channel right now,
which is the which are helping with my documentary that's going to be coming out.
We're in editing. We've been filming it for four years.
OK, we'll talk more about that in a moment.
But I need more of this black story.
Becoming. Yeah, there's the film.
There's a Biff naked documentary coming. There's a there's but I need more of this black story. So they have becoming, yeah, there's the film. There's a Biff Naked documentary coming.
Yes, there's one right now which is becoming Olympia.
That's on, you gotta watch it.
How could I not watch a Biff Naked documentary?
Well that one is not out yet.
Wild Horses could not drag me away from you.
That one's not out yet, that one's still in editing.
And that one we've been filming for four years.
Okay, so much to catch up on,
but finish the Rod Black thing.
So Rod Black's brother, because Rod, of course, he's been over many times.
He was over a couple weeks ago.
We talked about Rod Black's over the time over that he's been over.
You know, I dated his brother.
No, like this is news to me.
But we talked about his win.
Dating was a loose term because we were adolescents.
Wow.
Okay.
So and Rod Black's brother was a bodybuilder.
Yeah, he was Mr. Manitoba.
Oh my God. See, because Rod never talked to me about his brother, but Rod, who is involved
with the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. So let me give you a gift off the top. There's
a book in front of you that you're taking home with you, Biff Naked, on the history
of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. Because everybody talks about this hockey
team. Because everybody talks about this hockey team. What? I want to dedicate this right now to Steve Ewen
of the Vancouver province, who is a sports writer.
Who is my cancer coach and a cancer warrior.
Thank you. No, thank you.
I dedicate this to Steve Ewen right now.
Beautiful. Now they play their games at the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team,
play their games at Christie Pitts. And I've been telling everyone who will listen that yeah,
for May 12th, which is the home opener at 2pm, it's going to be a big deal. I'm going to be
there Biff. I'm going to be set up to record at Christie Pitts. And I don't know what you're doing
on May 12th. We have so much catching up to do here. I just had my mind blown by this Rod Black's brother weightlifting experience.
Bodybuilding.
Body, sorry, as you can tell by looking at me,
I know nothing about this.
This explains why you and I, we were just friends
because you have a thing for the bodybuilders
and I don't look like I've ever built a body in my life.
I have no taste.
You've lost me.
I mean, I have no specific taste I mean I have no specific taste.
Okay okay just a step step. Wow so much ground I want to cover but I you know if you showed
up on May 12th I would put you on the mic and I would introduce you reintroduce you
to Rod Black who will be there and it would be a magical moment. Wow. Toronto Mike's history.
Wow. May 12th. May 12th 2 p.m. Christie Pitts. It's a bluer. I know Christie Pitts very well. I know where that is.
Uh, Grace and I've walked there many times.
Well, we'd love to see you there.
Christie Pitts. And did you know that I was on a team,
a slow pitch team in Vancouver before I moved here, which is now,
I've been your neighbor now for almost,
I'm going to say like going on six years,
seven, almost seven years.
Let me tell you this, okay?
The first time we met was May 2018.
That was almost exactly six years ago.
And you dropped by for episode 331.
And all I wrote in the description is Mike chats with rock goddess, Biff naked about
everything.
That's when I found out we were neighbors, which blew my mind.
Cause I always thought of you as like a Vancouver, uh, rocker.
30 years. I lived in Vancouver.
30 years. Okay. So you went, did you go Winnipeg, Vancouver, Mimico?
Yeah.
Okay. Of those three places, uh, what's your favorite place to live?
If you had to choose between Winnipeg, Vancouver and Mimico,
which for those who don't know is simply a neighborhood in Toronto, not far from here.
I love it here.
So you're staying here.
Cardinals.
You don't have Cardinals in Vancouver?
No.
Really?
No.
What else are you missing in Vancouver?
Well, I mean, you know, I have a lot of friends in Vancouver.
Yeah.
But I've made so many friends here
and there's Cardinals here.
There is the Butterfly Sanctuary at Humber Bay Shores
that I really can't now, I can't give it up.
Right.
And you know, it's 33 kilometers between my building
and my manager's house.
Who's your manager? Peter Carroll's been my manager since house. Who's your manager?
Peter Carroll's been my manager since 1992.
And he's got co-writing credits
on a lot of my favorite Biff Naked songs.
Ah, that's really nice.
Well, he couldn't just stand by and watch me write songs
with all these lousy guys.
Let me ask you about him, and I know you're still close.
I'm not trying to cause trouble,
but you have some managers who like,
part of the deal is they get a co-writing credit even if they didn't contribute to the song. Is this legitimate co-writing credits?
Oh, I mean with Peter? Yes, absolutely. And production credits. Yes.
We're gonna play a bunch of songs that he was he's got co-writing credit on because
And production credits. Yeah, he's yeah,
because he was in your band.
Yes, and still still plays in my band.
Okay, and you got 33 clicks between you.
Yes.
Do you ever bike ride between the two locations?
Do you ever ride your bike?
That's a weird way to say it.
No, I have not, but I have walked.
It is a five hour walk.
Okay, that's like Ben Rayner style.
I like walking.
So many questions for you.
And before it because I know you have questions for me as well
And I'm gonna just tease that what I want to do with you today is I want to dive deeper into
Ibifacus because it's celebrating an anniversary. Let me ask you off the top
Do you know how long it's been since the release of Ibifacus?
Well, we started celebrating the anniversary when it was like 25 years that I think that we're going into like the 26th year now.
Isn't it in 1994 release?
Well no it didn't get released in 1994. In 1994 I started my record company Her Royal Majesty's.
The first record came out in 94.
So it's not so I so...
Ibificus actually officially came out in 96
but then wasn't released on 7550 because the lady pulled the plug on it and wanted to shelve it and then we were
Fighting for it. So I'm gonna just show the I Bifid kiss. Yes after they made it. Yes. Okay
So can we just tease this we're gonna do some catching up
I'll give you some gifts and you just we are talking about what's going on in the sky today. We have to give the gift
I don't need any gifts. Mike,
my name is yes. I love you very much. Biff, neighbor Biff.
Now realize now friend zone because I'm not a weightlifter.
This is all making sense to me now. Now Biff, uh, can we please do a deep dive?
Even though it's not the anniversary I thought it was,
and I screwed up my research.
Can we do a deep dive into I Biff a kiss cause I loaded up some songs and I want
to just dig into that release a little further. Yes, because of how much I personally loved this
album I Bifid kiss. I owned it on CD and I very much loved it. And I will say I still
do. Oh, thank you. I still do too. Wow. Okay. We're going to dive into that. That's like
a big tease for everybody. And I do have a bonus jam that it's an orchestral mix of one
of the big singles off of I Bificus. So
this is all just a tease biff because, you know, I may not be
the CBC, but look at me selling future segments on this episode.
Two Night Owls when Two Night Owls learned you were dropping
by again, wrote, Yes, sir, can't wait. So Two Night Owls. Hello.
Thank you. Awesome. And glitter noise. These are great
handles says love her. I think whenever, when I tell people that Biff naked is going to
drop by, they have this like very positive reaction. Like everybody says, I love her.
Like you're beloved. Well, that's very nice. I think that not everybody says that.
Names of people who don't say that. I would like to know who's not saying that.
There are people that probably don't say that
and that's okay.
I've had to come to terms.
These are all Xs.
Well, I have a few and that's okay to you.
Hey, no judgment here.
Are you kidding me?
Better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved and lost.
That is a fact.
Can we mention there's a third,
I was gonna say a third person.
That's not true. There's a third creature in this room and it's not like a centipede or whatever.
My daughter. Okay. My dog daughter. Are you gonna hold up this dog daughter for the photo afterwards?
I can hold her up right now. Okay, put, yeah, we have a camera on you and then tell us the name of
this daughter and just... This is Grace Violet. Oh my goodness. Should I open a mic for Grace?
This is Grace Violet.
Say hello, honey.
Say hello to the lovely.
What kind of breed is this?
Can I guess?
Yes.
That's a Maltese.
I'm just going to put her.
No, she's not.
Is that a Yorkie?
A Yorkshire Terrier?
Yes.
I don't have any papers on Grace.
Grace was rehomed to us when she was six months old from a wonderful family and
came into our family. You know, my dog had passed away seven years previously. My dog
was 17 when he died. And hopefully, you know, Grace will live as long and as happy a life
as my last little baby dog.
So no papers that means
we don't have we don't know how old Grace is is that correct? I know Grace for
sure is a 2020 baby so Grace will be turning four this year. So sort of like a
COVID baby right? Probably and again you know dogs are basically toddlers in fur
coats it's very different from a cat. Grace has four other dogs in her household and two cats.
Grace is cute as a button.
And I did bump into you once I was on a bike ride
and I'm biking by a park.
I'll just call it a local park.
And I kind of glanced to my right,
cause you know, I like to look at this world around me
when I'm on a bike ride.
Here, I'm doing this like, this is not how you bike.
I don't know why I'm doing this.
It's your feet peddling.
It's my feet peddling.
Oh yeah, it's like the universal thing.
I'm biking.
And I look to my right and I see, I go, oh my God,
is that Canada's punk goddess, Biff Naked?
I just see Biff and I go, that's Biff Naked.
I just get off this bike and I'm like, you Bifficus.
Biff Naked walking Grace.
And that's the last time we chatted.
Yes, it was like last, it was when it was still last summer, maybe or last fall,
early fall.
But it was amazing to see.
And I remember when I saw you, I was like, uh, the cockles of my heart were
swelling and I was so happy to see you.
Yeah, it was fun.
My neighbor Biff is Cliff Lumsden Park.
Yes.
Okay.
I didn't know.
I didn't know if you want to tell me where Biff can be found.
I heard he worked with Marilyn Bell. Wow. I did not know. I didn't know if you want to tell people where Biff did you come. I heard he worked with Marilyn Bell. Wow. I didn't know that. No, no, I did. That's
another Lake Shore swimming legend. Interesting. I love it. See, there's just a great history.
And I believe I just learned this from Brad Jones at Ridley Funeral Home that they had
the funeral for Mr. Lumsden. He only lived and he was there that Brad was at the funeral
at Ridley Funeral Home.
Wow. And they were talking about, we were talking about the, you know, popular funeral music.
And we talked about how Marilyn Bell and Lumsden, I think, maybe it's Marilyn Bell's funeral. I don't
know. It's something, any of my stories I'll conflate in now, Biff, because I haven't done my crack research here.
But there is a story there and it all ties back to Ridley Funeral Home. And that's why you have a green measuring
tape you're taking home with you courtesy of Ridley Funeral Home.
Are you kidding?
You're now my neighbor. So literally like so nice when you die in 75 years, we're going
to get rid of God's ears.
By the way. Oh, that's wonderful. God's always listening to Toronto. My don't forget that
never misses an episode. That's very nice. So you've got that you got the Toronto. Iikes. I'm a big fan of Ridley Funeral Home by the way. Have you ever been there?
No, but I did through Home Hospice Association. I did right before the pandemic. I was taking
the Death Dula training. Wow. Yes, I was very excited. Aren't you also like a, you're also
like a wannabe police officer and EMS person.
I was trying to take first responder training as well. Yes.
You're kind of a all over the place. Jack of all trades, Biff of all trades.
All like to help society.
Well, I don't know if I'm all that, I'm,
You're rescuing dogs.
I'm not that much of a help.
Yes, I like to do that. There, our does angel flights for dogs out of a few different.
You're the angel.
No, I think that, um, yeah, it's like they say, look for the helpers.
I think that, uh, yeah, I think I like being a helper.
I can't believe this, uh, this, this angel helper, this rock goddess lives in my hood
here. I'm just, I rock goddess lives in my hood here.
I'm just, I can't believe we have you now.
I mean, Vancouver, every day you wake up in Vancouver
and they're like, how did we lose Biff?
Like to me, this is like when Drake said in a concert
he was gonna move to Houston or something like that.
And I'm like, what the fuck did we do wrong
that Drake is going to Houston?
Vancouver must feel that about,
like how the hell did we lose Biff?
And to lose Biff, at least Houston, whatever,
but to lose Biff to Toronto, like that's got to piss off the entire city of Vancouver.
Well, no, I think that Canada is like, you know, Canada is pretty loosey goosey.
Is it though? I heard that outside of this GTA, Toronto is pretty universally hated in this country.
I don't understand that.
But you must feel it.
Like when you go to.
That's a sports thing.
Actually, no, actually, I've moved here and discovered it's also a music thing.
It's a music. So when you're let's say you're in Alberta, let's say,
let's say you're in Edmonton.
When was the last time you've been in Edmonton anytime recently?
Yes. OK, you're in Edmonton.
Yes. You're going to play in Edmonton, let's say.
And someone says, I don't know, somebody asks you, where are you from?
I'll bet you, I'll bet you, you say, Oh, I'm from Winnipeg, but then I moved to
Vancouver, like I'll bet you only tell West of Ontario places you've lived and
you probably don't overstate the fact that you're now a proud Toronto resident.
Everyone knows that I live in Toronto.
They all know it's like, it's like I live in Toronto. They all know.
It's like, it's like I defected.
Right.
Oh, no, they all basically like feel I defected.
Okay.
Well, to be, I'm glad you're here.
Now, let me get a little health update on you.
A couple of fronts.
One mainly is that we both broke our wrists in, I think it was March 2020.
Anyway, I broke my wrist.
I think you broke your wrist around that time. My most July. No. No mine was August 2020
Okay, so I got out in front of you. I got dr. Lopez. I think chose warmed up for you, but you needed the surgery
So how's the rest? I was actually thinking about my wrist just this morning when I was carrying two bags
It's my left to we both have the left. Yes. I can't believe I was carrying these bags. And she's my left too. We both have the left left. Yes. And I can't believe I was carrying these bags.
One had oat milk and orange juice in the bag.
And I thought, look at me.
I can actually carry these.
That's Dr. Lopez.
Yep.
And he was very happy because he sewed together the tattoo.
Wow.
And showed all his colleagues that he perfectly sewed.
Well, that's probably a test of your skill.
Like otherwise, like how do you prove that you're a perfect like
sewist when it comes to post-surgery?
So you can't really tell.
Amazing.
Okay.
So your wrist is better than if you're carrying oat milk and orange juice.
Like I have to say, I don't, I'm not a bodybuilder like Rod Black's brothers.
So I struggle to have orange juice and oat milk.
Oh yeah.
I'm lazy though.
I'm lazy.
I don't, I'm not like I was at 35. I was very into working
out and fitness and...
What is your exercise of choice these days?
Walking and...
Walking is sort of like a cardio best practice thing, but it's not really like intense workout.
Like, do you do anything with more intensity than walking?
Performing.
Yeah.
I do things that are built for performing.
So a lot of, and also I find that things have changed
for me as a woman in a woman's body who is aging.
I find that I like swimming and pilates and stuff like that.
And I'm not the same intense person I was at 30.
I was very intense.
Very intense.
Can I ask you about aging?
Because you're only like a titch older than me,
but I'm about to hit the big five-oh.
Exciting, exciting, Mike.
That is exciting.
Can I tell you this?
And again, I won't be heard if you can't be there,
but June 27 from six to nine PM, this is a Thursday.
Are you gonna be at the brewery?
Yes, but they either we you gonna be at the brewery? Yes, but they knew it. They're gonna be at the brewery for TML X 15.
And that's the day I turned 50. I see. I see. I'm just like, I'm just wondering if it's my daughter's grad in Oakville.
OK, we'll talk. We'll talk. I'm very excited for you because it's a very important milestone for anybody to turn 50.
And I think it's you shouldn't be very excited
about it. Well give me you know you're ahead of me right like it's like seeing
the future like how has it been since you turned 50? I felt so happy on my 50th
birthday. It was this this I don't know it was like I can't even describe it it
was the most it was this weird serenity that kind of washed over me.
And it was like, I don't know, I'm allowed to swear on your, on your show. It was like this weird
fuckery thing. It was like, suddenly I was like, it was like, it wasn't like, oh my God, I feel so
happy. It was like, oh my fucking God, this is awesome. It was the weirdest thing.
And it was like, um, it was like suddenly I just kind of my shoulders kind of went rolled
down my back and I suddenly like, I just like kind of exhaled and went, Oh, I could finally
relax. I didn't feel anxious for some reason.
Like you made it because you have had, let's be honest, you've had some health scares.
I anticipate many more, like we all will have, because I think that the body ages and also
I was just talking with a girl who's our age the other night and she just said as we get
older things are starting to amp up as far as us losing people, whether it's our
parents or our cousins or our friends. And it just seems to be, regardless of how pragmatic
we are, and I'm sure your buddies at Ridley will tell you, no matter how prepared we feel,
it just seems like all of a sudden it's a, you know, a runaway train and we start losing people and we feel unprepared for all of the shock
and then things compound.
And yes, that also comes with age as we get older.
And I think that, I don't know, I think that it becomes a really special time.
And no one can tell us that because all of the generations before us, perhaps they didn't, maybe they didn't reflect
on it that way or maybe they didn't have those descriptives or whatever the case or maybe
they weren't, I don't know.
The generations under us are very kind of weird and awkward.
So we being Gen X, you're referring to the boomers.
Well, the boomers are different because they're a bit future surfy
So they future surf a lot more than us and they worry but the Gen X's are like, you know, we still
we still play beer pong and
We're still like we stared at a loser right at the Sun during the clifters
No one cared about us. No, we're losers.
We're latchkey kids and we still like, you know, try and, you know, chug beer and yeah,
we're still losers.
We still wear our battle vests out, you know, to see bands and we don't know why we're
sore three days later because things ache and we're trying to get kids to school.
But you know, and I think it's funny.
And I think that we also don't take ourselves as seriously.
So we think things are funny, right?
Like all of my girlfriends that I run into in Vancouver,
when we see each other, we're laughing.
Like some of my girlfriends from high school are still smoking and we laugh.
I'm like, why are you smoking? And they laugh like, I don't know.
And they're laughing and we just kind of just,
there's nothing we can do about it.
One of the biggest, I have a 20 year old
who's currently attending McGill University.
And congratulations.
Yeah, she's just finishing year two.
I'll be picking her up at the end of the month actually.
So I'll be in Montreal at the end of the month.
If you're in Montreal and you want to hang, let me know.
You can help us move actually.
We'll be picking my goddaughter up from Queens and Kingston at the end of the month. If you're in Montreal and you want to hang, let me know. You can help us move actually. We'll be picking my goddaughter up from Queens and Kingston at the end of the month.
Okay, well then I can get you free lodging at Geir Joyce's house, okay? He's offered
a free room if you're passing through Kingston. Just let me know. But one of the biggest differences
I've noticed is, and maybe it's similar to what you were mentioning there, that I laugh
at inappropriate stuff. Like I make jokes out of inappropriate. I'm not like, I'm a progressive modern human.
And, but I can see dark themes and things
that are maybe delicate or out of bounds.
If they arise and cause they exist
in this real world of ours, I can joke about them.
Like I can sort of laugh at them,
like sort of like a dark humor
where my 20 year old is appalled.
Like certain things are like, you can't joke about that.
And I'm like, oh, I guess I can't, but I don't know this
because I feel like we came from a period
where it's like dark humor
and it's just different breeding ground.
And I have trouble adapting that my 20 year old,
that certain things, there's no joke to be found there.
Like, well, this kind of jokes everywhere if you look in the right places. I have trouble adapting that my 20 year old that certain things, there's no joke to be found there.
Well, this kind of jokes everywhere if you look in the right places.
Yes, agreed.
Agreed 100%.
But I like laughing.
Yes, it's very, it's a great coping technique.
Thank you.
You know, I always, you know, when it's these heavy times and themes, I'll crack the joke
because it's like, well, someone's got to add a little levity here because otherwise
we'll all be balling here.
You know, exactly correct.
Yes, we should hang more neck
Let me know from now on when you're at Lumsden Park. They're walking grace
I often can't go that direction because I find that she's so smart if I turn right out of my building
She thinks she's going to the groomer which is in Mimico and she starts to shake violently and looks at me like oh
How could you get to spin her around?
Go left and go the long way down Queensway. Otherwise, she just looks at me with this accusatory glance.
Where will grace be during this very rare phenomenon today that we're going to experience
here?
The solar eclipse.
Will you make sure grace is unable to look at the
sun? Is there any concern there?
Well, you know, it's funny. We were talking about how life is so funny. So my best friends
and who's 86, we all kind of share transporting her. And so Grace and myself and four other little dogs, two Chihuahuas and two Pomeranians,
and my friend and her girlfriend and the 86 year old aunt will all be transporting between
Oakville and Mimico in a car.
In a car.
During the eclipse.
Okay. Do they have special glasses?
I don't think they'll be looking out the window there, but they are all very reactive in
the vehicle. Now we should say it's really cloudy right now. Like, so as we speak, we had a hug and
then we came inside and I was asking you where the sun was. Like I couldn't, I was trying to get my
bearings. Like where is the sun right now? And I couldn't find it. So as we speak here, again,
it's 12 11th, we have a couple hours before this thing starts and then we have a few hours before this thing peaks or whatever, we don't have any visibility
of the sun in Toronto.
It's very cloudy.
No, and I know that there's, I have a lot of friends who have, you know, purchased glasses
and they've taken the day off of work and all this other stuff.
No one's working this afternoon.
I, which is fascinating and fantastic.
Good.
Enjoy.
But do you have any interest in yourself in looking at this eclipse?
I hadn't thought about it either way.
You know, I didn't, I kind of hadn't...
You will be dead, shadow of the really funeral.
Next time this happens in Toronto.
Yeah, I don't know.
I guess, yes, I guess that's probably true.
I hadn't really given it a lot of thought. That's why you're here here. I gotta point
out as far as we know, a Marilyn Bell is still alive. So it was, it was Lumsden's funeral
at Ridley Funeral Home. Oh, very nice. I want, I don't want to kill somebody off. Of course.
Yes. But I will say we have a mural in New Toronto. That's where you are right now of
like Lakeshore legends where you can see like there's Oscar Peterson
Yes, Marilyn Bell is one of the Lakeshore legends that is commemorated here
So, you know not only Oscar Peterson, but Marilyn Bell. These are this is where you are. You're not in Vancouver anymore
That's right. Shout out to Art Bergman who I had a great chat with
Fairly recently. Oh, very nice told it was the best interview of his life.
And I just want Alan's wife to know that.
Oh, I'm not surprised.
I'm not surprised.
Lovely, lovely chap.
He's a, yeah, fascinating, interesting guy.
So, absolutely.
Great FOTM.
Okay, so mopping up here,
because obviously I'm excited you're here
and I wanna just point out that, yeah,
you were here May 2018,
and then you came back in January 2019 and
that was episode 424.
And I wrote at the time, Mike catches up with rock goddess Biff naked before playing and
discussing her 10 favorite songs of all time.
So you kicked out the jams with me in January 2019.
Just want to say that that was a great experience for me.
It was for me as well.
Okay, but you came, you came back that same year, September 2019.
In fact, I want to just touch on this because I tricked you a little bit because I wanted
you in the basement.
That sounds like it's, you know, Taylor, what's this going to know?
This is all up and up and up here.
We caught up and then I had Mishy Mee sneak in through the side door.
This was a lot of planning on my part, Biff, but I wanted, I said, okay, I love Biff naked.
Like this is our punk goddess, okay.
But then I also, I also love Missy Me.
And I think Missy Me is our hip hop goddess
in this country.
So I'm like, oh my God, like here I am,
some loser, some Gen X loser in his basement
who has this, somehow has this ability to get Biff Naked to visit the basement and
let her guards down, right? And get Mishimi to drive here and slide in through the side
door so that Mishimi and Biff Naked will be on together. And that happened.
It was amazing. It was amazing.
But there has not been a collaboration between you two. Like I had envisioned it would, the
next step would be something you guys would do something together
musically.
It could happen.
Okay.
You never know.
Like it could happen.
One thing I have discovered is life is long.
Oh, that's an interesting, because most people would say life is short.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
I think life is long and that can be taken two ways.
One is life is long. And the other one is, you know what, keep going because you can
still do it all. You really can. You can do it all. You're inspiring the shit out of me.
But it's true. It's long. It's long enough. Just keep doing it all.
Not long enough to get another total eclipse of the sun there though, unless you want to
travel, I suppose you can go to like Africa and other places.
I might get it at some point in your lifetime, but okay.
You Biff Naked or can I describe you as straight edge?
How would you describe yourself?
Straight edge is really a sociopolitical way of being, especially, you know, when we were young, it was one thing,
you know, like all the sober kids were like AA kids and they were recovering and that
was in recovery. But the straight edge kids, it was a different mindset. You know, we really
wanted to be like our punk rock heroes. We really wanted to be like Ian McKay. We wanted
to be like Henry Rollins. Like we, you know, we kind of wanted to identify
as being straight edge because it was more of a statement.
It was more political like that.
So it was like,
would you identify as straight edge?
Well, you know, if you drink coffee,
a lot of straight edgers will take your straight edge.
Okay, you have a Coca-Cola.
I can say that they're not a sponsor of Toronto Mike,
but they should be. And so there's a lot of people drink a Coke.
Well, no. And a lot of people don't want you to drink Coke because it's a big
company and they could support things that people don't like.
You know,
and so if you get a Coke at a gas station on your way to Mike's house,
like I did today, you know, that's, that's very naughty, but I try not to put it in camera.
OK, well, I would have gotten a water.
But you know, that's what they had in the machine that like these rules, right?
Because everybody has those rules like, you know, like, you know, I've been a vegan
since the 90s, for example, but I never married one out of all three of those
rotten husbands, not one of them was a vegan or a vegetarian.
Okay, so just now again, don't bury the lead here, because last time you were here, you
only had two rotten husbands.
Okay, now we won't dwell on it.
But you did have somebody with you when you kicked out the jams.
And that's okay.
That's nice.
A reptile.
I did.
I did.
And that's nice too.
But that reptile is no longer part of your
Romantic life it happens and that's okay. Yeah. Yeah, that's nice
Is it prying to ask what your what is your current status? Are you?
You know what? No, I'm definitely a little gun shy and I find that happens
For me, you know, I, I was married when I was 18. I was married again when I was,
you married your drummer. I did indeed. I did later. Well,
it's like, you know, people date at work and that's basically what happens
proximity. You know, you wind up falling in love with your coworker and that's
what happened in for me a couple of different occasions. And, uh,
and I got married when I was 36 and then I got married again when I was
in my forties, I am not going to rule out getting married again in my lifetime.
Cause I always look to Liz Taylor and I say, well, you know, the, that girl,
she got married several times.
She was always happy.
You know, I always say I love weddings.
I love weddings, especially my own.
Um, so I'll never say never, but probably I won't probably get married again.
Probably not.
But never say never.
You never say never.
And remember, remember, you're not like your average.
You're not your average gal.
Right. Like you're a rock star.
So I feel like three marriages for a rock star is like one marriage
for like a regular person or whatever.
Like, like I am. I'm on my second marriage. And if I were a rock star, I probably
would be knowing myself. I'd be on number five or six.
But it wouldn't be. And also you guys hit the jackpot. You know what you really did.
You guys hit the jackpot on your second and you have great kids. You have a wonderful
life and you know, you're happy. And I know a lot of people who, you know, they do hit the jackpot and they get it right.
And I can't say I didn't hit the jackpot every time.
I just think that sometimes, you know, people, things change and everybody's shared goals
maybe change.
But you got married, so you were married in your first time to the drummer.
How old were you when you got married that first time? I was 18. 18. Okay. Well, 19, 19 or 18,
which one is it? Biff? Come on. You're lying now. You were you lying then. That's what I want to know
here. I met him when I was 18 and yeah, I was 19. I got married at 21 my first time. That's nice,
but not to my drummer. I never had a drummer. I wish I had a drummer. Okay. So, uh, I will say
that's almost twenties, right? So then you had a marriage, twenties, you got. I never had a drummer. I wish I had a drummer. Okay, so I will say that that's almost 20s, right?
So then you had a marriage 20s. You got married and you had a marriage in your 30s
You had a marriage in your 40s. Yeah, and who knows what the future holds have a marriage in your 50s
Just invite me to this one if it's in yeah, you never can tell you never can tell I just never say never
You said gun shy, which is human nature to be gun shy
Well, I feel like you know gun shy. Yeah, I just, well, I feel like, you know, I'm, yeah, I'm just, uh, yeah, I'm good.
I'm good right now.
And I would think from, so let's say, okay, let's say in a, um, alternate universe,
like a hypothetical scenario where I'm completely single, let's say a single and available.
Okay. So completely single and available.
I think there would be huge intimidation in dating Biff Naked.
Like I think it would be,
a lot of guys would be hesitant to even ask you out
because oh my God, like this is Biff Naked.
Like it would be some intimidation there, I would think.
Look, I dated Rod Black's drummer.
I mean, brother.
You know what?
If you told me he was a drummer now,
I'd be like, he's a bodybuilding drummer. It's Rod Black's drummer. I mean, brother, you know what? If you told me he was a drummer now, I'd be like, he's a bodybuilding drummer.
Rod Black's brother.
That's when you're the Winnipeg Biff is early punk Biff.
Like that's it's Vancouver.
I wasn't. I was a Derek. I was not a punk girl. No. Okay.
I was a girl going with my best friend to the gym.
And I think Derek was actually a bouncer also. And I think
we were sneaking into that. We may or may not have been under our age sneaking into
the bar.
Okay. So that's even so this is, but that's, that's, that's Winnipeg Biff and then Vancouver
Biff is the Biff we're going to talk about shortly who releases I Bifficus. And I have
some inside baseball questions. Shout out to Rod Black and the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team.
But now we've got Mimico Biff who is available, loves her pets,
and is just a sweetheart angel as discussed.
And I just wanted to just point out the fact that the reptile
who was in the room for a previous episode is no longer a part of your romantic life.
That's all. I just wanted to close the communication loop on all that.
Very nice.
Because people are going to be wondering about that.
Okay.
So the Missy Me episode was the last time you were on Toronto Mike.
That was episode 510.
Glad you're back now.
The whole straight edge thing though, just so we know.
So no drugs for you.
No, sir.
I like it when you call me sir.
Well, that's not actually true.
So I do actually, I have, I'm a migrainer as they call it, a migrainer.
So they have a lot of different things that they like migraine.
But that's prescription drugs, no?
Or is this like a...
Well, they like to try prescription things for migraines.
It don't always work.
I don't know if anyone else gets migraines, but...
But straight edge people can take doctor prescribed drugs if they have ailments.
It depends.
It really depends. And some straight editors say you can't. And also, also there
is a section of the vegan community who says, well, I don't think you should take that,
that medication. Yeah. Because in case you know, they do in Canada, they do have rules
that say that they can't make this medical grid thing because
they're going to test it on animals because it's a law in Canada. So there's, you know,
there's lots of layers of different things where people, so it's hard to say, you know.
Okay. So you're not in the fact you did buy a coconut at the gas station.
Also, you know, also no, no. So, so no, they take away lots of different
recreational drugs. Let's call it that. Right. No alcohol. So no Great Lakes beer for you.
Not for me, but my whole band loves, loves Great Lakes.
Well, you're taking some Great Lakes with you.
They would be. And I do hope I see you on June 27th at Great Lakes brewery.
Because they have a, it's called hop pop.
And I just had it with Ed Keenan last week because Ed Keenan also does not partake.
And it's delicious.
It's just a, like a, what do you call it?
Like a carbonated beverage though,
with like the flavor of the hops, but no alcohol.
Oh, how nice.
So you could have that.
That's very sweet.
Thank you too quickly here,
since they're gonna feed us at TMLX15
at Great Lakes Brewery on June 27, which by the way, everyone's invited,
not just Biff. So come on everybody. I just want to say thanks to Palma Pasta, who's going
to feed everybody who comes. So, and we can make sure there's a vegan meal there and you
can enjoy that as well. Okay. So no, no recreational drugs, no alcohol. Is there anything else?
Like obviously you can still get tattoos and stuff, right?
Well, you would like to be the first to know that bamboo tattoo right over there on Lakeshore.
No, it's on the Queens way. Yeah. Over New York. They do have a selection of vegan inks.
Amazing. Yes, they do. Made out of like blueberry or something.
I'm not really sure, but it's like it's available
and it's amazing and we love going there.
Okay.
For our tattoos.
Very good.
Do you wanna hop in the time machine with me
and go back 25 years ago or so?
I do, I would love to hop in a time machine.
So you might know, Bill Clinton had a scandalous affair with Monica Lewinsky.
You did indeed.
Yes.
Teletubbies were all the rage.
And this is the era when not that I've ever needed it, Biff.
I just want to put that on the public record, but Viagra got the green light.
So exciting times.
If we're now in the time so this is the
time when your second album is released I Bificus at the time I listened to a
lot of CF and why 102.1 the edge and that station played many many of the
singles that come off of I Bificus and I would hear them and I would be like I
like this sound I like this woman and I'd never imagined that
one day I could get this woman to visit me in my basement.
So can you share with us some inside details?
You kind of alluded to it earlier, but like the writing the album, producing the album,
releasing the album, what's the nuts and bolts of iBificus?
Oh my goodness.
If you can.
I'll try and do it in a nutshell. Um, or I was, I was, I, I had many a boyfriend much like, uh, the one you're describing like snake. Um, you know, I fall in love with, with, weren't really cutting the mustard and my manager at the time got frustrated because it
wasn't really going anywhere and so he sat down with me and said why don't you
try writing to these riffs and he started playing riffs and the very first
song I wrote with him was Space Man and the second song I wrote with him was
Moment of Weakness and so we put those two songs on a cassette tape.
We just recorded it on a four track tape machine and sent it to Sony 550.
And Michael Kaplan heard it and called Peter the very next day.
Peter Carroll.
Yep.
And he's only 33 kilometers away.
That's right.
Down in Oakville.
I'm paying attention.
Straight down Lake Shore.
And that was it.
Michael Kaplan flew to Vancouver and we had a nice meeting.
He smoked big, huge cigars, big Cuban cigars like Tony Soprano.
Yeah, it was lots of fun.
And and that was it.
We had Glenn Rosenstein come to Vancouver and John Patoker from Los Angeles was the engineer
He came to Vancouver and we were in a big fancy studio and recorded the record
now just to give a little context of where you're at at this point is you have one album under your belt because I
Heard on the aforementioned 102.1 the edge. I heard a song called
My daddy's getting married. Is it my daddy or daddy's getting married?
Daddy's getting married.
No, my required.
That's like when you call the song, what's the great Kim Mitchell song, go for soda.
A lot of people call it go for a soda.
And then he will correct you.
But this is called daddy's getting married.
And I liked daddy's getting married.
The first time I heard it and I dug it.
But that was from the first album.
What was the first album called?
Was it self-titled?
Yeah.
Okay.
So is that an independent release?
Yes, it was.
It was originally on Plum Records, which was distributed in Canada by A&M.
And then the week, around the week after we put the record out, the label folded.
And so we kind of had to negotiate getting the record from
the label and putting it out ourselves because A&M didn't really want it. They
said yeah we don't really want it and they told Peter you're not gonna get a
girl with tattoos on the radio. Really? Yeah and so we had to form our own
record company and put it out that way but nobody in Canada wanted it. Even in
the 90s they didn't think that they could get a girl of tattoos on the radio.
No, it was 1994 and they just thought it was just impolite.
They just thought I was impolite.
So why did I hear?
So why was I hearing daddy's getting married on the radio?
Is it just that I was listening at the right times or like, I like how I got lucky.
How much exposure did that song get in this country?
I was lucky.
We made a video for it.
Lucky sounds like the name of a song you should probably record.
Well, that song was actually turned down for my first record.
I'd recorded it for my first record and the record label said no,
that they didn't think it was worth putting on the record.
And I just kind of just submitted it for my second record because I really
believed in the song and it got accepted for my second record.
Yeah. Okay. Now I need, I want to play some music. So while we talk about, but I do want to tell the listeners See, and it got accepted for my second record. Yeah, okay.
Now I need I want to play some music.
So while we talk about, but I do want to tell the listenership that so the last I don't
know four minutes listening to you very closely because I'm fascinated by all of this.
I could hear I was hearing something.
So I'm just gonna tell you, I was like, is that I was thinking, is my hearing like some
kind of construction sound like if somebody got a saw going door, right?
Yeah, I know.
We're gonna rebuild it it in a minute.
And then I started thinking, is there like, is it my phone?
No. And I'm starting to get, because I'm picking it up in the distance.
It's not going to mess the recording. I wouldn't care if it did anyways,
but I'm like, I'm, you know, I record a lot down here and I'm like,
I know how everything sounds and I'm like, what is that sound coming from?
And then I realized grace is snoring. Yes.
Oh my God. And I'm looking around like, why do I hear somebody,
is somebody doing construction next door?
Like is somebody upstairs running some kind of a coffee
grinder or something like that by the Grace's?
Okay, so you've dropped the name of three songs now
that are all found on Ibifacus.
And I have many more questions, but I'm going to start by
just playing a little bit of this.
And then we'll talk about this song specifically, because it sounds like this song should have
been on the first release.
Biff Naked.
But here's Lucky on Toronto Mic'd. Never be the reaper with love only
What could I say to you except I love you
And I'd give my life for yours
I know we are, we are the lucky ones
I know we are, up on the cutting room floor for this self-medal.
I'm glad I got onto iBifidus.
I listen to that and I just think my voice is so tiny.
I'm young.
I can hear, I have a young voice.
You can hear the youth.
You can't teach youth, you know.
I mean, you can't teach-
My voice is much lower now.
Okay, well it's working for you.
I'm telling you right now.
You sound good in the headphones here.
So Lucky, so who wrote Lucky?
I wrote Lucky with my drummer boyfriend, Brad McGivran. I wrote a couple songs with Brad. All right.
And that was in 1994.
And this is a drummer boyfriend, not the drummer husband.
Right. Brad was a drummer in a band in Vancouver called DSK, Dead Surf Kiss, and they were a great, very, very, he's a
very technical drummer. And as a result, he was a very technical guitar player and had
these very odd backwards and forwards fingerpicky riffs. So we wrote this song and a couple
other songs for the second record. Okay cool. Now I'm also curious about the order of things when it came to life.
So maybe I'll bring down Lucky here.
Everybody knows Lucky. It's a great song. And later I am gonna play like a
different version of Lucky that I think is kind of a neat little thing. But you
mentioned you got the deal because you made that four track like almost like
an EP or was it just like a proof of concept demo?
It was just a demo.
Okay.
And what label again is putting out Ibificus?
At the time we worked with Sony 550 which was Celine Dion's label.
And Social Distortion at that time.
Okay hold on, I'm turning it up because I like...hold on. It's a hooky song.
It's funny to me.
I mean, because we recorded it so long ago.
Recording has changed.
There was no auto tune back then.
So I hear all my sliding notes.
I'm glad that you can hear like imperfections. It's what makes a rock song a rock song.
I don't think we want everything auto-tuned and sanded down, you know, we want a little bit of sandpaper.
You're killing it here. Hold on. We are the lucky ones there, there.
We are the lucky ones there.
We are the lucky ones there.
What was the first single released from I.B.I.F.I.C.A.S.?
Really a jog in your memory. I think in Canada it was Space Man and in
the States it was Moment of Weakness. So what is the logic there and having a
different lead single for the different markets? Like was there any method to the
madness? It depends on the genius behind the radio marketing. Who's running the show here? OK, so in Canada, I'm pretty sure in Canada it was
Space Man.
OK, and again, I have questions.
Space Man is an interesting single, too, because there's a remix
which is kind of more popular than like, like, so this song here,
I'm going to play it right now and you can tell me, hold on this version.
So fun. See it's dancey, right?
You've got like dance elements and electronic elements. That's the album version. Okay, so this is the album version.
Okay, so this is the album version.
I'm guessing.
Yeah, I mean, I think so.
I think I pulled it from Ibifacus.
So who did the remix?
Can you give me the Spaceman story again?
So this is your lead single though, but it's not a, this is not a straight up rocker because
you've got like some stereo MC elements in here,
like some connected stuff going on here.
Yeah, for sure.
And that was, so Glenn Rosenstein was the producer who came up and produced the Imbificus
record.
And ultimately, you know, I think that he did a masterful job of transforming that song
into what it became. I mean it was, you know when I wrote
it with Peter, it was just a little lilting little tiny ballad. You know it was a tiny
little Patsy Klein-ish country ballad when I wrote it.
Almost went to Katie Lang, but no you said I'm keeping this one for myself. It was just kidding. Yeah, but it was just like, it was just like a little,
a little song of longing.
You know, okay, lead single now where,
whereabouts does the remix come into the picture?
So it, I think it was the boom tang boys who did a remix of it
as well as a couple other, there was an industrial mix in Germany
there was a another mix that came out of like Sweden I think and then and some unsolicited
mixes that came from Finland there was one in Japan and
So what do you think it is about this song? So you and Peter write this song, right? Yes. Okay, so again another hooky, catchy,
catchy jam, but what is it about this song that lends itself to the remix? And
what is it? It's just because you got the bass there and then you can kind of
flesh out the the elements that surround it. What is it about this song? I think that the thing about
songs that get remixed are... I think they're singable.
You can sing with them.
And I think that...
Power pop hooks.
I think people like singing Spaceman Come Rescue Me.
I think that that's something that ultimately everyone can relate to because you're saying
basically Calgon take me away.
And I think that that's something that everyone loves
to shout out or sing out.
And then every time something in the news
regarding outer space, maybe not so much.
I was trying to think, is there a good
Bith solar eclipse jam?
I don't know. Yeah, maybe.
But like when we do eventually like realize,
oh, we fucked up the planet, we're off to Mars.
Right? Like that's your songs.
It's going to have a rebirth.
It's going to be like your mouth to God's ears.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Well, how could it not?
It's like I need, you know, it's like today,
how many people today are spinning Bonnie Tyler's
total eclipse?
Yes.
You're looking for the eclipse.
Absolutely.
Yes.
I need a spaceman jam.
You're going to be, oh, we got David Bowie.
Yeah.
No, I need something a little. Maybe I need some can con. Maybe I need something more modern. Yeah. B need a spaceman jam you're gonna be oh we got David Bowie Yeah, no, I need something a little maybe I need some can-con. Maybe I'm you saying more modern
Yeah, if to the rec rescue very nice. There you go. Okay. So in Canada again, I'm mr
History here. We're archiving the history of this country this city biff naked
So I need these answers spaceman the first single released from I, Bifficus
in this country of Canada.
But in the States, you're telling me, not Spaceman,
you're going with another hooky rocker moment of weakness.
Is that correct?
That is correct.
That was the first single in America.
I'm really looking for an excuse to kick this out here. So just a little bit here. I stand in the pouring rain
Couldn't even be there to pick me up
Taking me for granted again
Running out of time and you're out of luck
Just a moment, oh weakness
It should've sounded my head
Just a moment, oh, we glanced
I never meant a word I said
I was sick with the patient flu
You just better not to come home
A week later I got your love
Kissing the girl who was my girl
Just a moment, oh, we glanced
I should've examined my head Just a moment, all weekend, should have said in my head
Just all morning, all weekend, never meant a word I said
So Biff, as you're listening to, you know, we're going back, you know, over two decades now.
Are you proud of your efforts? Like when you listen as you go like, I did that. I am proud
of Ibificus. What do you think of Ibificus hearing it in 2024?
I love it. I love it. I love the songs, but I mean, I do these songs every concert.
So I play them every single night.
You're not allowed, you would never let your fans come to see a Biff Naked show and not
perform Moment of Weakness.
You're going to deliver that every single time.
And it's hard.
Do you change it?
It's hard to sing.
How has the song evolved between this album cut?
I love this too.
That's a pause jam, okay?
We once kicked out pause jams, F-L-T-M's like yourself.
I love songs that just shut it down for a moment.
Yeah.
But that's the moment of weakness.
That's right.
It is the moment of weakness.
Very good, Mike.
Very good.
Did I tell you I was a gifted student?
Very good, yes.
No, that song was written as a ballad.
So this song was written as a ballad. So this song was written as a ballad.
And so I do perform this song. Do you have a version of that song available somewhere where
it's in its ballad acoustic state? Yes, it's on the acoustic record as a ballad. And it was written
as a ballad. And I perform it acoustically as a ballad, but performing this in the rock concert is very
vocally stressful because I am, you know, I'm well.
Also, now I need, I can imagine now I can, it's important I get you as a, you know,
Canada's punk goddess. I need to know, what do you like better, the songs that just boom,
we're done or fade out? Like, do you have a preference?
Oh, it depends. Like, you know, if we're obviously
when we're performing the songs, it really depends.
I like doing the cold stops a lot
because they have a lot of impact.
Yeah.
And this song, this song, okay, so let's hear the end again.
Listen, listen close.
["Word of the Day"]
Like there's something about like my heart rates, that song gets my heart rate going. It's kind of like it's an up temple.
We're going rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock,
Hi, I'm here.
Oh yeah, so Grace, make sure Grace is okay.
And you know, here, let's do this.
You tend to Grace, because I have another gift for you.
And I wanna make sure you get this
because you did not get this
the last time you were on Toronto Mic.
So in fact, it comes with a, yeah, nice to meet you, Grace.
I have met you at Lumsden.
Is it Cliff Lumsden?
I don't know.
Okay, Cliff Lumsden Park, buried at Ridley Funeral Home.
Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home.
Here's a handy QR code for you and a message for you at FOTM. This is custom. I didn't point this out. These cards. So I kind of dig the
background noise. So great. No, please. Love means never having to say you're sorry. So
I mentioned that today's episode is brought to you by Monaris and they have a podcast
called Yes, we are open. I want you to know when you read that later, Al Grego has customized
that for FOTMs like you and you're receiving that wireless speaker.
What? Yeah. And it sounds fucking amazing. Amazing. Thank you. Now you can listen to
anything you want. I'm going to, uh, I hope, you know, you can listen to air supply. You
can listen to Celine Dion. You can listen. My sister loves air supply. It's a calming,
relaxing music, right? No shame in that game. But you also have to listen to,
this is important, season six of Yes We Are Open, which is the award winning podcast from
Minaris hosted by Al Greggo. He went to Calgary, not, you know, we're back in the West, the
Western part of this wonderful country. He went to Calgary and he had a conversation
and I'm going to bring up the details because I, you know, I don't live in Calgary and he had a conversation and I'm going to bring up the details because I don't live in Calgary but with Sal Howell and her staff at River Cafe on Prince's Island in
downtown Calgary and this is an amazing story of resilience you won't believe.
So Al's been traveling the country talking to small business owners and he gets their
great stories and then he shares them with us on Yes We Are Open which that I mentioned
is an award-winning podcast unlike this one you're on right now Biff. So where are my awards?
You should be winning awards.
Thank you. See what you can do. But season six is now dropping every week. That's the
first episode with the River Cafe people and Sal, Al and Sal, and you now have a wonderful
speaker to listen to.
Thank you. Very cool. Very cool is that song I just played,
A Moment of Weakness.
Can you speak to how things went?
Like, I'm sure the goal,
and I don't wanna put words in your mouth,
but I'm sure the goal was to make you massive
in the United States,
which is a market 10 times as big as the one
that we're in right now.
And I'm just curious,
as things are unfolding with I.B.F.I.C.H.A.S.,
did things fold in a manner
out fold in a fold okay did things I'm all did things unfold thank you I'm folding shit
and I should be unfolding things thank you Beth but did things unfold in a manner that
you like okay this this was a great great release a great moment, but, or were there any disappointments that
you aren't living in Bel Air right now in some kind of mansion, which is where you probably
belong?
I would never live in anywhere else than Canada, number one.
I love Canada.
Love it.
Um, no matter what, uh, transpired in any other music market, we simultaneously released in...
That's your ringtone, right? Okay, Biff, it's okay. You did not turn off your ringer,
but what is that song that is your ringtone? You want to answer it?
It's Rosalia.
Okay. Who's Rosalia?
I'm like, I didn't... Sorry, my...
No, it's okay.
She's sleeping on my phone.
I did say to Biff before we started, I said, this is not the CBC.
And she took it very literally.
So the dog can wander around, the dog can snore, your phone can be...
I thought that my phone was turned off, but it wasn't.
But that's okay.
I like hearing what are people's ringtone songs.
That reveals a lot about you.
Who is that artist?
Yeah, who is that artist?
So I'm going to show you the album, because it's an artist that you should know Rosalia
is actually I think from Spain. I'm just going to bring up the whole album. You know, the
rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains. Okay, so Biff is on her phone. I'm giving play by play now. So the audio presentation, she's pulling up something.
Rosalia.
Okay, here you go.
Okay, okay, Rosalia.
I'm looking at this now.
Moto ma'am.
Yeah, great.
Are you sure it's not Rosalia?
Well, I see Rosalia.
It might be Rosalia.
It sounds like a little dyslexia.
That's okay. But I'm looking here.
OK, this is an artist I need to know about.
And I mean, when an artist gets to be Biff naked ringtone, they've arrived as far as
I'm concerned.
That's like the the ultimate.
It's off now.
My ring.
It's OK.
Mine might go off in a moment, too.
Here.
Who knows?
What did you ask me?
Well, now I've given you that gift.
I'm just going to bring it back to I'dificus because there's another song I want to play
in I Bificus, but I'm curious if you could speak to how did it do?
Like how did I Bificus to in domestically and then, you know, internationally?
That was actually a great segue because we did play in Spain quite a bit in Madrid and
Barcelona and all over Europe at the same time that we were playing in the States and Canada.
And it just seemed like we were on tour for a number of years, kind of trying, you know,
you do a release, it releases in a country and then you go tour there for like 10 weeks
or whatever the touring cycle was.
And you kind of didn't notice whether or not it was doing better in one place or
another place or anything like that.
Cause you're just constantly working. And when it came out in America,
we were doing Lilith fair and the warp tour and touring with the cult and touring
with kid rock. And we were also doing Canada and we were all,
so all these things were happening at the same time and we kind of didn't notice
anything.
The only thing for me that was different is we got to do the tonight show.
And so that was something my parents were impressed by, which is Jay Leno is the whole.
Yes.
Jay Leno was still the host and Kevin Eubanks, who was in flex magazine.
And so for me, that was like the epitome
because why?
Bodybuilding.
It all comes back to Rod's brother.
Derek, exactly.
Derek Black.
So for me, that was like a big deal.
And it was all about Flex Magazine and Metarex bars
and like talking about, you know, bodybuilding things. But you're the only person who has like an audience with Kevin Eubanks and wants to talk bodybuilding things.
But you're the only person who has an audience with Kevin Eubanks
and wants to talk bodybuilding.
It's like, not music, but bodybuilding.
And his family's actually a great music family
and jazz musicians and stuff like that.
So I mean, stuff like that was very impressive for us.
And we got to do Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Can I ask about Buffy?
Because we played Lucky, but Buffy, this is kind of. Can I ask about Buffy? Because he played lucky.
But Buffy, this is kind of a big deal.
I think this is a big fucking deal.
Virginity to the song.
And the show is a show like in the show, obviously.
Yes, we lost it before you.
Who knows?
But Buffy loses her virginity to your song.
Lucky on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
Apparently that's amazing.
You must have seen this episode.
Yes.
And we performed in it to write because you're you've been in on Buffy the Vamp.
That's a big deal.
It was amazing.
She was incredibly lucky.
Is that the idea?
That's exactly Bingo.
Wow.
Very nice.
Yes.
I was gifted.
Yes.
Very nice.
So much ground to cover.
So other than meeting bodybuilder
extraordinaire, Kevin Eubanks, uh, like, like how, for example, you dropped Kid Rock's name.
I got to ask you, like, was Kid Rock kind to you on that tour? He was very polite. He
was extremely, um, it was, he was, uh, eloquent. I still think one of my guilty pleasures,
I'm, you know, I could
ball with the ball.
Ball with a ball.
Yeah, of course, because it was for the question that don't have any answers.
Yeah, right.
It was it was and it was a magical time.
My name is Ken and Josie was there.
That's right.
And it was a magical time for them as a as an artist.
And that entire era that summer was very nice.
And so he was signed to Lava Records.. And so he was signed to Lava Records.
Biff Naked was signed to Lava Records. So it makes sense. This is why. And also Fat
Joe was on that label. Also, it was Matchbox 20. You know, there was a lot of different
things happening.
Rob Thomas is because, you know, so I was the other day was on a bike ride.
It was Saturday, Saturday or Sunday.
I think it was doesn't matter anymore.
But one of the days was really sunny and I addressed like it was I don't know.
I just and then I realized I had overdressed because I was really hot.
And then I was going to swim at my mom's condo.
Okay.
So I'm going to take a nice swim at my mom's condo.
Yeah, it's all lovely.
Okay.
And then I said, my mom goes, how are you?
And I said, in the words of Rob Thomas, when he collaborated with Santana on Smooth, I
said, it's a hot one.
That is funny.
That is very funny.
And I didn't know I'd be talking about Matchbox 20 so shortly thereafter.
But it's really good.
And that was a nice collaboration he did with Santana.
Was like number one for like 100 years or something.
I think it's still in the top 10.
I gotta check it out.
I think he also rescues animals.
Okay, I like anybody who's kind to animals.
Has Kid Rock rescued any animals as far as you know?
Probably.
I see him shooting animals.
I didn't, yeah, Don't know. No,
he just shoots deer cans. We don't know he shoots animals. Okay. One more song, please.
You've been wonderful, but I don't often get to dive deep into Ibifacus and then I'll get back
to that question because I'm not sure it was completely answered, but. Biographical. I was just out of high school, in my first band
And I married my drummer, our love was grand
I thought it was forever, till death do us part
And then he cheated on me, and he broke my heart, Choti
So young, so confused
What was I to do?
I'm so sorry Choti
But I couldn't keep you
I hope you can forgive me
I hope you can forgive me
My baby I think Choti is my favorite song on Ibifacus. Oh that's so nice.
I'm so happy to hear that.
Well something has to be your favorite song.
So you know, if it wasn't Chody, it'd be something else.
And you'd also be happy to hear that, right?
It makes me very happy because he's a really good person.
So Limo, who it's about, has also been married three times since our wedding.
Limo?
Well, because he's so tall
This is Nickname. I need to know these things. Yeah, okay. All right amazing now, okay sales don't matter
What is fame you would be living in Canada regardless and you seem very happy you look healthy. Thank you. You're feeling okay
Absolutely, we have a new record coming out
Which is my first studio album in 14 years.
Really?
What's the name of this album?
Champion.
Okay, appropriate title.
Yes, and yeah.
When does it come out?
This summer, this spring, late spring, like in a month.
So, I hate to say it, but I got gotta get you back here to talk about Champion when I can hear this thing.
So Champion, so there is new Biff Naked.
And the documentary is coming out in the fall.
You're gonna be busy, okay? You know what, I'm not gonna be able to get you cause you're gonna be busy talking to Ian Henomancing on the national.
That's what's gonna happen.
That's okay, I think Ian and I should just come here.
Well, Ian promised me he'd be here next time he has some time in Toronto,
because he doesn't work out of Toronto. But you and Ian are 100% welcome to come on together.
I would love it. I would love it.
That would be fun.
We got to talk about Champion. We got the documentary coming out.
Does it have a name? Is this documentary called Ibificus or something?
What's this documentary called?
No, I don't think so. I'm not sure.
But who's making it?
They're naked.
So, well, I mean, it's like, you know, so the director,
her name is Jennifer Abbott and she did the corporation.
The famous.
Hold on, I like this part. Hold on.
Hold on. This song slays by the way.
You should be very proud.
I mean the whole album is great.
I just, we only literally only played four songs from this album, but all four people
would know, even if they didn't own this album, they would know them well.
Just from the radio, from much music here.
Okay, so sorry, you were saying who's making this documentary?
So the director is Jennifer Abbott and most people probably remember Jennifer from the
corporation.
But I implore everyone to go and check out a feature that she did called The Magnitude
of All Things,
which parallels basically it's a really beautiful parallel between climate grief and the death
of her sister from breast cancer.
Okay.
But anyway, it's just, I don't know what to expect. We've been filming for four years and the,
the, the film crew followed us from, to,
to France, um, to Mexico, uh,
followed us on tour and, um, really, you know, I hope that everyone,
I mean, I don't know what to expect. I just,
so you, when do you get to see it? Do you have to see it like during the premiere or do you get an advance?
I don't know. I don't know. I
Don't know. Okay, I'm like
Sweating even talking about I'm just things. I'm sweaty because you want it to be good. Well, I don't know what to expect I think that um
Yeah, there were a lot of people who've been interviewed for it. I don't know what they say. I
I don't know. I say. I don't know.
I can't imagine.
I know that I'm in good hands with Jennifer.
But to be fair and to be truthful,
Jennifer is a fierce feminist.
And the lens with which she sees the world
and with which she sees the entertainment industry is very
specific and I know I'm in you know very good hands but it's not...
You don't have editorial privilege.
Definitely not.
Which is why you're afraid like that's it.
I'm not afraid.
But you won't you know this album Champion if you didn't think it sounded good you don't
have to put it out.
But we don't have this power. We this power wanting to put champion at since 2020.
Right.
We saw that we released Jim, the first single in 2020.
Right. Right. Right.
Was it 2020? No, it was 2020.
Yeah, it was 2020.
OK. And then, of course, you know.
But if champions sucked, you can you can delete that.
Yeah. OK. If if this documentary maybe and again
I can't imagine it's gonna be anything but glowing because you're such a sweetheart
It's glowing or not. It just tells the facts right okay, so if the facts
I don't know whatever lens you're viewed in if it's not as glamorous as you want or whatever
You can't stop it from coming out
This is not a biff naked production.
You're the subject and you agreed to be followed
for a few years, but you're in her hands.
And that's if you have any anxiety,
and I'm not even trying to put anxiety on you,
but I feel now a little bit of anxiety.
Like I want this to be fucking great.
And I want you to be like, to appear as wonderful in it
as I know you to be.
So I can't wait to see the documentary.
Thank you.
Hopefully it will be this year at TIFF
is what we're hoping.
I mean, you're going to go right up
against the CFNY documentary.
Is there a CFNY documentary?
Which is going to be like a TIFF as well.
So this will be like a GenX paradise.
Like you got your CFNY doc, you've got your BIF naked doc.
It's all coming together here.
I can't wait to hear champion.
Oh, cool. Like I can't wait to hear champion. Oh, cool. Like
I can't wait to hear it. I'm sure you'll send me a link or something. Yeah. And then before
I go in the car, okay. And we'll get you back here. And, uh, just cause this person took
the time to write the letter here, the note here, Dwayne claiming says, I think Biff sang
a bit of backup on the strapping young lab album, The New Black. Curious if she runs
into Devin Townshend, I hope I'm saying Townshend right, it's like Pete Townshend, right? Anymore
and what she thinks about Canada's greatest musician and vocalist. What do you say about
Devin? What do you say about... About Devon? Yeah. Yeah. Devon, I'm the biggest Devon Hound fan, obviously.
He is a genius, obviously, artistically.
Because I live here, I don't run into him.
No.
Yeah, but I was...
How did you come to appear on...
What song did you appear on?
Lucky.
I was so lucky to be on his record.
You know, obviously I'm a big fan and there are a few different collaborations I've done
in my career that I could die happy about.
SNFU, DOA, and of course strapping.
And I don't know. I think that, you know, I'm obviously very, I feel very fortunate that I'm a solo artist, but I'm sometimes I feel, you know, still like a, you know, a school girl that I get to collaborate.
What's the name of this strapping song that you're on?
Um, um, I have to think about it.
Is it fucker?
Um, I'm like, I have to think about it.
So long ago, all of them, all of them, all of them
Dead you fuckers!
We're all fired up and ready to go
To give it all up
As the metal show
Now play it dumb
And don't play it slow
Just play this shit
On the radio
Fuck off
Yeah, fuck off
It kinda like goes right there with
Air supply
Yeah, it's like yeah
He's amazing. I
Encourage anyone to go explore all of his music
Strapping and his solo stuff. Okay amazing So I wanted to get thank you Dwayne for that that note and you just came back from France here just before we say goodbye
like
What's next like when can we see some biff Naked live in the GTA like is there anything scheduled? I hope summer
we usually we tend like every like a lot of bands in Canada we tend to play in
summertime I think that they're going to be doing some show announcements in the
coming weeks I we may or may not be playing in the area at a very big show that will be
announced soon, that's in July, with a number of other bands that are from the
area, but I'm not allowed to announce it until they do the announce. Okay, you can
tell me afterwards. I'll hold the water. They have an announce date they like to do, so I'm like, ah, I can't, ah.
Okay, great.
And I do realize now, because I did load it up when you were coming, that there is a different
version of Lucky than I heard for the first time recently.
Like an orchestral version of Lucky.
Which is an Atmos mix that we did right here at Iguana Studios.
Amazing.
Yes.
It was a Monday when my lover told me, never appear the reaper with love only.
What could I say to you? And I'm told this orchestral mix is also a part of the 25th anniversary reissue of Ibificus.
That's right.
So let me say this.
Let me shout out a podcast called the Advantage Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada,
where Chris Cooksey interviews experts and analysts and gives you best practices and
great advice.
And even if you manage your own financial investments or if you have somebody you
will learn a great deal from the Advantage Investor and I know you're big
on Mother Earth and saving the planet and I urge everybody to go to
RecycleMyElectronics.ca to find out where they can drop off all the electronics and
cables and devices so it can be properly recycled and the chemicals do not end up in our landfill.
So you got the Advantage Investor to subscribe to, you got RecycleMyElectronics.ca.
Ibificus, I want to thank you very much, my neighbor Biff, that you came by again and
I'm going to find any excuse to get you back here.
I just love spending time with you and I got to say thank you so much for carving out some time for your neighbor, Toronto Mike.
I really appreciate it.
I do too.
Hey Vic, my lucky into my lowest of the low here.
Beautifully done here.
That Peter managed for a while.
See, you're dropping that bomb on me as we're saying goodbye here. This Peter
gentleman, will I ever meet this wonderful Peter Carroll who's in Oakville? I hope so.
It'd be a lot of fun. Make that magic. Anybody that you like that much, I need to have in my life.
And how long? He managed. Okay. I wonder if he made the lowest of the low. Maybe it's a different...
Maybe it's a different lowest of the low. I Lois O'Lo. You can think about it.
I didn't even think you people out in Vancouver knew about Lois O'Lo.
That's what the Watchmen told me.
Oh, the Watchmen's from Winnipeg, and I played with them too.
We should have more collaborations between the Watchmen and Biff Naked.
Because, you know, the Watchmen gave me this picture here of a local guy
you might not know named Brian Linehan.
But thank you to the Watchmen.
Thank you to Biff Naked.
Thank you to Rod Black.
All these great Winnipeg people.
And Fred Penner too, right?
I'm trying to think of one.
I know Fred.
Okay.
Have you collaborated with Fred Penner?
I have not yet.
It's not too late.
Life is long.
Life is long.
And that brings us to the end of our 1467th show.
You can follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky.
I'm at Toronto Mike.
I think Instagram's your jam.
I always...
I have not been on Twitter in a while.
Good for you.
Yeah, it's been hard.
A hard habit to kick.
A lot of people often my DMs, it was weird.
It got weird.
Yeah, it's fucked up over there now.
Yeah. I'm trying to fucked up over there now. Yeah.
I'm trying to escape too, but Instagram,
follow Biff Naked on Instagram.
You'll find out what's going on in her life.
Maybe you'll even learn more about Grace.
Shout out to Grace who just made her Toronto Mic debut.
And much love to all who made this possible.
That is Great Lakes Brewery, who's hosting us all in June 27
and everybody should come out 6 to 9 p.m.
South Etobicoke campus.
Palma Pasta, who's gonna feed us all.
Recyclemyelectronics.ca.
Raymond James Canada.
The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. I'm gonna try to get Biff to come out to Christie Pitts on May 12th.
I'll see what I can do.
May 12th. I'll see what I can do. May 12th. Menaris, who gave you that wonderful speaker that you're taking home with you.
Very nice. And Ridley Funeral Home, who buried Cliff
Lumsden. See you all Wednesday when
Jeremy Hopkins, the official Toronto historian
of the Toronto Mike podcast drops by to talk about 10 structures,
buildings, 10 places that we demolished but we shouldn't have. It's gonna be
fascinating. See you all. You can check that out. Maybe one is the old Maple Leaf
Stadium where the Toronto Maple Leaf baseball team used to play. Tune in
Wednesday. See you all then. I'll play this guitar just the best that I can
Maybe I'm not and maybe I am
But who gives a damn because everything is coming out
Rosie and Grey