ALL AGES zine had the chance to sit down and chat with Simple Plan drummer Chuck Comeau at the Warped Tour when it past through Chitown. All parties were pressed for time on the interview so we cut out almost half of the questions, but it turned out well anyway. Simple Plan gave an energetic performance that had the crowd bouncing from it’s opening track “God Must Hate Me” to their closing track, the radio friendly “I’d Do Anything.”
1. What role, if any, did Mark(Blink 182) have in your success thus far?
Mark is an old friend of ours. Our old band played shows with them when they were called Blink. It was really more of a selfish thing for us to do. We asked him if he would do it and he did. With him in the video and on the song it probably grabbed the attention of Blink fans, but overall it was more of a selfish thing for us to do.
2. Because of this you get compared to Blink a lot. How do you feel about this?
Hopefully we can have a career like that. Our goal has always been to get our music heard by as many people as we could.
Laura – Are you ever worried that your fame is going to disappear just as quickly as it came that your 15 minutes will be over before you know it?
MTV or radio didn’t even play us the first nine months the album came out. We had no press at all. We opened for Good Charlotte, Blink, Sugar Ray, played warped, but word of mouth helped us most. People label us sometimes as a one hit wonder, but that can happen to any band. But we have two singles now so booyah! We really don’t care about media opinions; we care more about what the kids think.
3. When is your next album due out?
Probably around spring of 2004. We are going to tour Europe and the states until Christmas.
Laura- Do you like headlining or playing direct support?
Both, we’ve opened for Good Charlotte and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It’s all about growing.
4. What has been the best part of doing Warped Tour 2003?
Seeing the other bands like the Used, Less Than Jake, and the Ataris. Going to hang out in the tent and meet the kids. Backstage is usually boring, so this is fun.
5. If you could play yourselves on any TV show from the Simpsons to Leno, which would it be?
We’ve done Leno, Kilborn, Kimmel, and Conan already and those were fun. I would like to do Letterman or Saturday Night Live or Striperella.
6. What CD is currently spinning in your CD player?
The new Recover EP, Anthem by Less Than Jake, Taking Back Sunday and the The Used.
7. What was the first punk rock song you ever heard
“American Jesus” by Bad Religion. We are playing that today.
8. What attracted you to the punk rock scene?
The energy of it. I saw NOFX, Face to Face, and Ten Foot Pole when I was a kid. There was no bullshit, no pyro, just guys in t-shirts and jeans playing. They had real life lyrics that spoke about their lives.
9. If you could play with any band past or present who would it be?
The Beatles. I have heard they can draw a crowd.
10. What was the best part of your local scene before you got signed?
The passion from the kids in Montreal. The shows were 4 times bigger than in the states. All of the bands were always there.
Laura – Do you miss the teen lifestyle of hanging out with your friends on a Friday night?
Well my 5 best friends are on tour with me, and this is what I want to do. I feel really guilty when I like go to a movie because I feel I should be working on the band stuff.
11. With yourselves, Avril Lavigne, and Sum 41, all coming out of Canada who do you think will hit next?
We are on the road a lot so I don’t get to see a lot, but our friends in Gob could or this band from Toronto called Not By Choice.
12. What is it like when a kid tells you that you’re the reason they started their band?
That is the best thing to hear. Anytime you’re involved with something that makes someone want to write and express themselves instead of being lonely or sad and depressed, it’s a great feel
