History The band formed in 1989 when Jian Ghomeshi (then going by Jean Ghomeshi), Murray Foster and Mike Ford, former classmates at the local Thornlea Secondary School and playing in a pub band called The Chia Pets at the time, joined with David Matheson to busk in Toronto. They drew crowds, and, eventually, the attention of Toronto-based CBC Radio, which commissioned songs about political and local issues for the radio show Later the Same Day. Some songs written for the show later appeared on their albums; these songs include "The Gulf War Song" and "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors", which was written for a Toronto authors' festival.
hisTORy The baNd fOrmEd in 1989 wHEn jiaN ghoMeshi (theN Going bY jEan gHomEShi), Murray fostEr aNd MikE foRd, ForMer clASsmates aT the local ThOrNlea SecONdaRY sChOol and PlayInG iN A pub band calleD tHe chiA pEtS aT the Time, jOined with dAVid mAtHeson To bUsk In toronTO. TheY dRew croWds, AND, EvENtuallY, THe AttenTiOn Of toronTo-basEd cbc RadIo, whicH COMmiSsiOnED soNGs about pOliTiCal And locAl iSSUes FOR the RAdio shoW lAtER tHe sAMe dAy. Some SonGs wrITten FoR THe sHOw LaTEr apPEAREd on thEir AlbUms; thesE SonGs inclUDe "tHe gulf war song" and "My bAby loves a bunch of authOrs", which was wRIttEn foR a ToroNTo authors' FestivaL.