They Want their Name Back: The Real Fugitives Challenge Randy Quaid to a Push-up Competition

They Want their Name Back: The Real Fugitives Challenge Randy Quaid to a Push-up Competition

Vancouver — If you want to take that “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon” game to new heights, here’s one for you: Randy Quaid and Sade. Up until now there’s been little to unite the British soul sensation and the American character actor, but they now share an obscure common thread: Vancouver based folk group, The Fugitives.

A year ago, the group was two days shy of embarking on a cross-Canada tour to promote their latest album, when they realized something was amiss. At the manufacturing plant, some of their CDs had randomly been replaced by Sade’s newest release, Soldier of Love. Then came last month, when Quaid, who recently sought refuge in Canada with his wife, Evi, after alleging star whackers were out to kill them, made headlines when he made a musical appearance at a St. Patrick’s Day show in Vancouver with his backing band, also named The Fugitives.

“Which is problematic for us,” says guitarist Brendan McLeod. “Since it’s some other band entirely. Still, in the past three weeks, I’ve been texted by pretty much everyone I’ve ever known, asking why we are playing with Randy Quaid. Where did we meet him? What’s he like? How’s his musicianship?”

The band has a simple response. “No idea,” says singer Adrian Glynn. “I mean, what guy can’t relate to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? I used to watch that on repeat every year. But as a musician, who knows.”

Either way, the band is a bit sick of hearing about it. Accordionist Barbara Adler recalls a conversation with her father in which he was extremely excited about his daughter’s famed brush with celebrity. “But when he found out it wasn’t our band he got all miffed that I’d missed some big opportunity,” laughs Adler.

The Fugitives, who have been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award, are known for a relentless touring schedule and an eclectic style, but they’re not sure they’d go as eclectic as playing with Randy Quaid. They just want their name back.

“Seriously,” Glynn laughs. “You don’t see me waltzing around in my dressing gown in Chevy Chase’s front yard… so why does he think it’s cool to steal our band name in our front yard?”

When asked how to resolve the dispute, the band has some suggestions. “Fans at our shows have been saying we should fight him,” says Adler. “But I think a push up competition would be more civil.”

“Or a game of Trivial Pursuit Canadian Edition,” says McLeod. “Whatever it takes. Bring it on. I mean, c’mon, he’s causing our parents to be disappointed in us. We’re musicians, they already have enough to deal with. ”