Simple Plan

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This article is about a Canadian band. For the 1993 novel and 1998 film, see A Simple Plan.

Simple Plan is a pop punk band formed in 1999 in Montreal, Canada—all five members were born in and grew up in the province of Quebec. The band has released two original albums: No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls (2002) and Still Not Getting Any (2004); as well as two live CDs: Live in Japan (2002) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005).

Contents

1 History
2 Members
3 Criticisms
4 Role Model Clothing
5 Patrick's appearances
6 Discography

6.1 Studio albums
6.2 Live albums
6.3 Singles

6.3.1 From ''No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls.''
6.3.2 From ''Still Not Getting Any...''

6.4 Soundtracks
6.5 Other releases

7 Trivia
8 See also
9 External links

9.1 Related video

History

Simple Plan came about in stages that began with the founding of the band Reset in 1995, a Canadian punk rock band, by high-school friends Pierre Bouvier, Charles-André (Chuck) Comeau and Adrien White. Reset toured around Canada with bands such as MxPx, Ten Foot Pole, and Face to Face, but only managed to gain modest popularity. The debut album was released in 1997. Comeau soon left to go to college, but two years later he hooked up with Jean-François (Jeff) Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre, and again started making music. It was coincidence that brought Comeau and Bouvier back together at a Sugar Ray concert in late 1999, and Bouvier soon left Reset and joined his old friends. David Desrosiers replaced Bouvier in Reset, but when asked to join the foursome, he too left the band and joined the four friends.

The origin of the band's name is obscure. Band members have given various responses on this point, including a liking for the movie A Simple Plan; that the band was their simple plan to avoid getting a "real" job; and that the name was only intended to be temporary, but they never thought of anything better, and with shows coming up for the new band, they needed a name.

The band tours intensively, and in the period March 2005-March 2006, covered all six inhabited continents, plus Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Zealand. It has announced plans for a third original CD, to be released most likely late 2006 or early 2007. Joel Madden of Good Charlotte can be heard singing backup on You Don't Mean Anything and Mark Hoppus of blink-182 can be heard singing backup on I'd Do Anything, both on No Pads, No Helmets . . . Just Balls.[link]

Members

Pierre Bouvier - Lead Vocals/3rd Guitar
Chuck Comeau - Drums
Jeff Stinco - Lead Guitar
Sebastien Lefebvre - Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
David Desrosiers - Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals

Criticisms

Although Simple Plan maintains a devoted following and has produced two multiplatinum records with numerous hit singles, it has received its share of criticism.

Some members of the punk movement, as well as some fans of "true" new wave, are especially hostile towards the band as they see them as co-opting their culture. Moreover, the juvenile subject matter of some of their work prompts further accusations due to the fact that its members are in their mid-twenties. Some identify Simple Plan as evidence of the shameless corporatization of music in the relentless efforts of record companies to exploit every possible commercial demographic.

Nevertheless, the members of Simple Plan have stated quite clearly that they enjoy the backlash of critics, as they believe in the old adage, "all publicity is good publicity", and that they will never stop doing what they love. [link]

There are many "Simple Plan" haters out there but as Pierre Bouvier said many times "They can scream but i'll just scream louder. The haters will never stop me from doing what I do."

Role Model Clothing

Role Model Clothing, the label that Bouvier and Comeau are often seen sporting, was actually formed before Simple Plan by Comeau, Bouvier, and their friend Patrick Langlois, who is now responsible for merchandising and distribution via the web, as well as being videographer for the band. Langlois and Lefebvre also had their own side project, a label called Man of the Hour, which is inactive.

Patrick's appearances

Patrick (Pat) Langlois (a.k.a. Patrick Cunningham), the band's webmaster, videographer, merch guy, and best friend, has appeared in every Simple Plan video to date except for "Crazy." His appearances are often painful: He was kicked in the crotch in "I'd Do Anything", had a bowling ball dropped on him and his apartment destroyed in "Addicted", and was knocked down by the band in "Don't Wanna Think About You." He is also seen giving a thumbs up in "Perfect", as a valet in "Shut Up", in the crowd in the gym in "I'm Just a Kid", getting out of a car in "Welcome To My Life", and as an emergency services worker in "Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)" - (In the video for "Untitled" David, Chuck, Seb & Jeff also play emergency service workers, and only Pierre appears to be in the video unless you are familiar with the band members' faces.) Also in "Untitled", at the end, when the driver is photographed for a mug shot, the sign he is holding says "P. Cunningham".

Discography

Studio albums

No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002) #35 US [2x Platinum], #29 AUS, #8 CAN [4x Platinum], #1 JP (2x Platinum)
Still Not Getting Any... (2004) #3 US [Platinum], #6 AUS [2x Platinum], #1 CAN [4x Platinum], #6 JP [Platinum], France #12
3rd Studio Album (title not yet known) (Late 2006 or early 2007)

Live albums

Live in Japan 2002 (Japanese Import) (2002)
Live in Anaheim February 21, 2004 (2004) (never sold, offered as promotion)
MTV: Hard Rock Live (CD/DVD) (2005)

Singles

From No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls.

"I'm Just a Kid" (2001)
"I'd Do Anything" (2002) #51 US
"Addicted" (2003) #45 US, #63 UK, #10 AUS (2004 release)
"Perfect" (2004) #24 US, #6 AUS (2004 release)

From Still Not Getting Any...

"Welcome to My Life" (2004) #40 US, #7 AUS, #1 CAN, #1 SP, #12 France
"Shut Up!" (2004) #99 US , #14 AUS, #12 CAN, #14 SP
"Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me)" (2005) #49 US, #9 AUS, #3 CAN, #2 SP
"Crazy" (2005) #32 AUS, #4 CAN
"Perfect World" (2006) (iTunes Single, but not released as a CD single)

Soundtracks

Maybe It's Me — "I'd Do Anything" (2002)
Scooby-Doo — "Grow Up" (2002)
What's New Scooby-Doo? — Scooby-Doo theme song (2002)
Clockstoppers — "The Worst Day Ever" (2002)
The New Guy — "I'm Just a Kid" (2002)
The Hot Chick — "I'd Do Anything" (2002)
Cheaper by the Dozen — "I'm Just a Kid" (2003)
Grind — "I'm Just a Kid" (2003)
Daddy Day Care — "Surrender" (2003)
The Real Cancun — "Grow Up" (2003)
Freaky Friday — "Happy Together" (2003)
— "Don't Wanna Think About You" (2004)
New York Minute — "Vacation" (2004)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen — "Perfect" (acoustic version) (2004)
Smallville — "Welcome to My Life", "Untitled" (2005)
Fantastic Four — "Surrender" (2005)
Bad News Bears — "Promise" (2005)
The Perfect Score — "Crash And Burn" (2004)

Other releases

A Big Package for You (DVD) (2003)
MTV Hard Rock Live (DVD) (2005)

Trivia

Simple Plan has had their videos "Addicted" and "Untitled" retired on TRL.
Simple Plan have contributed 3 notable songs to the recent Scooby Doo revival - Grow Up is featured on the soundtrack to the first film, Don't Wanna Think About You was written exclusively for the second film, and they perform the theme song to What's New, Scooby-Doo?. They also appeared in an episode of the show, entitled Simple Plan And The Invisible Mad Man
Simple Plan's song "The Worst Day Ever" can be vaguely heard in an episode of the television show King of the Hill.
"Me Against The World" was also briefly heard in an episode of the television show "Desperate Housewives" and also in an episode of "Charmed".
Simple Plan's "Grow Up" was the original choice for the theme song for popular show The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody.
The Motley Crue song If I Die Tomorrow was originally written by Simple Plan for Still Not Getting Any... but it was never put on the album, most likely because the subject matter was too close to that of the song, "Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me)". Producer of the new Motley Crue album, Bob Rock, passed the song onto them with SP's permission - Rock produced Still Not Getting Any..

Won Favorite Canadian Band Award in Canada (MMVA). Simple Plan has won this award for a record breaking four years in a row beating Sum 41.
Pierre Bouvier got hit in the face by a bottle at a show in Stratford, Ontario, Canada on September 9, 2005 and had to be taken to the hospital. Police later reported the bottle was thrown by a girl who got caught up in the moment. No charges were filed.
Drummer Chuck Comeau once dated WWE Diva Ashley Massaro.
Simple Plan also make an appearance on the 2004 movie, New York Minute, starring The Olsen Twins.
Shut Up is played in one episode of Malcolm in the Middle
Simple Plan won their first juno in April 2005 for People's choice favourite canadian band.