Simple Plan - Anything

Simple Plan is a French Canadian pop punk band based in Montreal, 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 albums: Live In Japan 2002 (2003) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005).
Contents

* 1 History
o 1.1 Formation (1995-2002)
o 1.2 No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002-2004)
o 1.3 Still Not Getting Any... (2004-2006)
o 1.4 Next studio album (2006-present)
* 2 Side Projects
o 2.1 Simple Plan Foundation
o 2.2 Damage Control
o 2.3 Man of The Hour
o 2.4 Role Model Clothing
* 3 Miscellaneous
o 3.1 Patrick Langlois
o 3.2 Affiliation with "What's New, Scooby-Doo?"
o 3.3 MYplash
* 4 Musical style
* 5 Criticisms
* 6 Discography
o 6.1 Studio albums
o 6.2 Live albums & EPs
o 6.3 Singles
o 6.4 Soundtracks
o 6.5 Other releases
* 7 References
* 8 External links

History

Formation (1995-2002)

Simple Plan began in 1995 with the formation of a band named Reset by high-school friends Pierre Bouvier, Charles-André (Chuck) Comeau and Adrian White.[1] Reset toured around Canada with bands such as MxPx, Ten Foot Pole, and Face to Face, but only managed to gain modest popularity.[1] The debut album, No Worries, was released in 1997, and Comeau left soon after to go to college.[1] Two years later he met with high school friends Jean-François (Jeff) Stinco and Sébastien (Seb) Lefebvre who were in seperate bands of their own, and combined to create the band.[1] In late 1999, Comeau and Bouvier reacquainted at a Sugar Ray concert[1] and Bouvier left Reset soon after to join Comeau. David Desrosiers replaced Bouvier in Reset, but when asked to join the foursome, he too left the band.[1] This allowed Bouvier, who had doubled as the band's front man and bassist, to concentrate on the singing.[1]

The source 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.

No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002-2004)

In 2002, Simple Plan released their first studio album, No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls which led to the singles, "I'm Just a Kid", "I'd Do Anything", "Addicted", and "Perfect". Simple Plan is noted as saying that they were aiming at a pure pop-punk record.[2] The name of the CD echoes the popular tag line for the sport of rugby, "No pads, no helmets, no pussies."

The record was originally released in the United States with twelve tracks, ending with "Perfect". Enhanced and foreign editions came in many different versions with slightly different track listings. For example, the U.S. release contained the extra songs "Grow Up", and "My Christmas List", while the UK release contained the extra songs "American Jesus" (a live version of a cover of a Bad Religion song), as well as the two music videos, "I'd Do Anything" and "I'm Just a Kid".

The record also contained vocals from singers from other pop-punk bands as "I'd Do Anything" included vocals by Mark Hoppus from blink-182, and "You Don't Mean Anything" included vocals by Joel Madden from Good Charlotte.

In 2002, the year Simple Plan released the album, Simple Plan played more than 300 shows, topped the Alternative New Artist Chart, and played a sold out tour in Japan.[3] In 2003, the band played as a headliner on the Vans Warped Tour. The same year, they opened for Avril Lavigne on her "Try To Shut Me Up" Tour.[3] In addition to several headlining tours, they have also opened for Green Day and Good Charlotte.[3]

Still Not Getting Any... (2004-2006)

In 2004, Simple Plan released their second studio album, Still Not Getting Any... which led to the singles, "Welcome to My Life", "Shut Up!", "Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me)", and "Crazy".

As mentioned before, when writing "No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls", the members of Simple Plan were aiming at a pure pop-punk record. This time however, when writing "Still Not Getting Any...", the members of Simple Plan were noted as saying that they were not limiting themselves to the punk genre, but rather letting themselves write "good music".[2]

According to the bonus DVD of Still Not Getting Any..., while making the CD the members of Simple Plan thought of many names including "Get Rich or Die Trying" and "Danger Zone". They decided on the name Still Not Getting Any... for a list of explained reasons. The most popular and most likely reason is because the members of Simple Plan thought that they weren't getting any good reviews, Bouvier once noting that they only had one recent good review in Alternative Press. Another reason may be because they were still not getting any respect. There are many more variations the band members have given, as anything can really be put after the ellipsis, including "better", "smarter", "funnier", and the obvious sexual connotation. Comeau once described the name of the album as "versatile".

"Still Not Getting Any..." showed a dramatic change in Simple Plan's style as well. They still kept their style of downbeat lyrics matched to upbeat music, but managed to transcend from the standard pop-punk genre. Although many of the tracks on this CD still carry the feeling of teen angst that is probably most noticeable in the song "I'm Just a Kid" from the first album No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls, the general slant of this album tends toward slightly deeper and more mature lyrical themes, as well as a more mainstream sound that edges away from the pure pop-punk style of their last album. Some critics have pointed towards the inclusion of 'classic' or 'mainstream' rock elements, claiming the album 'de-emphasizes punk-pop hyperactivity in favor of straightforward, well-crafted modern rock'.[4]

In 2005, Simple Plan also released the live album, MTV Hard Rock Live, which contained songs from both the previous albums.[5] The album came in two different versions — a standard one, and a fan pack edition.[6] The standard edition included audio of the whole performance, an acoustic version of Crazy, two live videos of the performance of the first two songs "Jump" and "Shut Up!" and a small booklet of pictures of the performance.[6] The fan pack edition which contained audio and video of the whole performance in 5.1 surround sound, three acoustic tracks for "Crazy", "Welcome To My Life", and "Perfect", a 32-page color tour book, and an exclusive Simple Plan patch and pin.[6]

Next studio album (2006-present)

Since February 2006, the band has not undertaken any significant tours, and has begun work on their third CD. The working titles of four new songs are "Take My Hand", "Never Should've Let You Go", "Forever", and "Time to Say Goodbye". As announced in Bouvier's official Myspace blog, Bouvier headed to Miami as on about March 21 to work with an unnamed producer, who later proved to be Dave Fortman, who will be producing the CD.

"(I)t's something totally different that we're trying out. You know we figured this is our third album now and we needed to try stuff... just for ourselves, to keep it fresh and fun. Honestly I don't really know how its gonna turn out but I have a really good feeling!" — Bouvier

The band was to enter the studio for pre-production in Los Angeles on June 29, and the following day did a vlog with all members, Langlois, and Fortman.

Side Projects

In addition to their involvement in the band, members of Simple Plan have been involved in a number of side projects.

Simple Plan Foundation

The members of Simple Plan have helped nonprofit and advocacy groups by donating to many established organizations such as the MTV Asia Aid benefit, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), RADD (Rock Against Drinking and Driving), and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. However, after being frustrated because the members did not know exactly where their money was going to, the Simple Plan members created the Simple Plan Foundation,[7] a foundation that focuses on teen problems ranging from suicide to poverty to drug addiction.[7][8] As of Dec 09, 2005, the Simple Plan Foundation had raised more than $100,000.[7] The list of donors included venues on their November-December 2005 Canadian tour. No information regarding the foundation's activities has been released since then.

Damage Control

Damage Control was a reality television series hosted by Bouvier that first aired on MTV on March 6, 2005. On Damage Control, parents would tell their teenage son or daughter that they would be going away over the weekend, but in actuality, they are just a few houses down monitoring them with Bouvier via hidden cameras and microphones. The teenager would be placed in awkward situations, in which he/she must make decisions. Parents can earn money if they can guess what their teenager will do, and after the parents come back (usually at the worst possible moment), the teenager, still unaware of the filming, can earn money by confessing. Two seasons were filmed before any episodes aired, and no more were planned or filmed, due to the likelihood that once the episodes aired, potential subjects would quickly catch on to what was going on.

Man of The Hour

Man Of The Hour is a Simple Plan side project that features Sébastien Lefevbre and Patrick Langlois. It began as a clothing company, but has since developed into an internet radio show called "Man of the Hour Hour," which is hosted on idobi radio. The show can be heard on Thursdays, and can be downloaded as a podcast the following Monday.

Role Model Clothing

Role Model Clothing is a clothing line owned by Bouvier, Comeau (who are often seen wearing the shirts on stage and in the band's music videos) and Langlois. The line mostly markets shirts, which invariably include the words "ROLE MODEL" in the design. Erik Chandler, from the band Bowling for Soup, is often seen wearing a Role Model shirt.

Miscellaneous

Patrick Langlois

Patrick Langlois (also credited as "Patrick C. Cunningham") is a friend of the band who is responsible for merchandising (he is sometimes seen running the "merch stand"), and also acts as webmaster, photographer, and videographer.

Langlois 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 basketball 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?)", a video in which his pseudonym was used as the name of the drunk driver.

Affiliation with "What's New, Scooby-Doo?"

Simple Plan has a long standing affiliation with What's New, Scooby-Doo?. They perform the theme song and appear as themselves in the episode "Simple Plan and the Invisible Madman" in which excerpts of "The Worst Day Ever" (which is heard two separate times),[9][10] "You Don't Mean Anything",[11] and the beginning of "I'd Do Anything"[12] can be heard. Additionally, "I'd Do Anything" can be heard in the episode "It's Mean, It's Green, It's the Mystery Machine".

The song "Grow Up" was used in the 2002 movie, "Scooby Doo", and is on the movie's OST as well. The song "Don't Wanna Think About You" was used in the movie, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. The video for that song depicts the band racing across town to get to a premiere of a movie (the dog and other cast members appear at the premiere), only to arrive seconds late.

MYplash
The Simple Plan MYplash card
The Simple Plan MYplash card

In 2005, a Simple Plan MYplash was marketed. MYPlash is a reloadable gift card, acceptable wherever MasterCard Debit is accepted.[13]

Many of the MYplashes were music themed, other participants including Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne, and Breaking Benjamin.[14] The idea behind the MYplashes was that parents would like it because it would provide their teens with financial experience with no risk of overspending, as it was not an actual credit card, but rather a reloadable gift card.[15] Teens would like the band theme and that they were trusted with money that they could spend freely.[16]

The cards did not prove popular, likely owing to high charges attached to it, including overdraft fees and a 3% to 10% recharge fee, the lowest fee, 3%, only available when loading the card with more than $200.00.[17]

Musical style

While widely considered as a pop punk band, Simple Plan is also described as being a modern rock and emo band as well. Their first album, No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls was strictly made to be a pop punk album, as stated numerous by the members of Simple Plan. However, with the coming of their second album, Still Not Getting Any... displayed a much "rockier" sound, as stated by Bouvier. Songs such as "Thank You" and "Jump" still contained the same pop punk roots as the first album, but songs like "Me Against The World" and "Crazy" revealed a much more deeper and more mature rock sound.

Speculations that the band is emo come mostly come from their song's subject matter and lyrical themes, mostly penned my Comeau. Advocates for Simple Plan being an emo band point evidence of such song titles as "The Worst Day Ever", "Welcome to My Life", and "Me Against the World". However, others have pointed that the music of Simple is in actuality quite happy-sounding.

It is rumored that the third Simple Plan album, yet to be announced, will have a new, heavier sound.

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 are especially hostile towards the band as they see them as trivializing their culture. Moreover, the juvenile subject matter of some of their work (especially the first CD) provokes additional hostility from some music fans due to the fact that its members are now in their mid to late-twenties.

Despite the criticisms, 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.

Discography