Page 36 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 104

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twenties, they made decisions that, at the time, love to jump out of his body, forget who he is and with the band, therefore when people criticise
they didn’t realise how crucial those choices everything he’s done and listen to one of Simple the band it feels like they’re criticising you di-
would turn out to be for the band’s continued Plan’s records, or watch one of the band’s rectly. It’s very easy to tie your self-worth to
success. videos, from another person’s point of view, to whatever people think about the band and that’s
“The whole time we were investing so much see what he’d think of it. As time has passed, is a common thing that everybody, that every
of our energy in playing so many shows. It was Chuck now able to at least look at the band’s band, every artist does and I think it definitely
fun, we were just excited and we would go any- past work from a different perspective? happened to us. It still happens now. I mean, if
where, we would do anything because we were “Somewhat, but the toughest thing about we put out this record and everybody hates it I
21, 22, 23 years old. It was like, ‘You want us to writing the music and being in the band and think it would be very difficult: it would be crush-
play this country? Sure we’ll go!’ I think all that playing the shows, is that no matter what, you ing. It’s like you’ve poured a year and a half of
investment, all that effort, it’s still paying off always see whatever ambition you didn’t accom- your ideas, your energy, your inspiration into it,
today because all of the fans that we made at plish with whatever song,” he answers. “What- so obviously you want people to like it. Although
that time; a lot of them are still there with us and ever shortcoming or flaw that you see - in the I really feel confident this [upcoming] record will
we’ve built fanbases around the world. We music, or in the recording, or in how it came to- be received well.”
would go to places most bands wouldn’t go; we gether - for the people outside that are not privy Talking about people’s expectations of how
wouldn’t just play to every- they think Simple Plan should sound, Chuck ad-
the US and the “e whole time we were investing so much of thing that mits that the band has realised that, although
UK, we would go goes on they always want to change and evolve, there is
and play all over our energy in playing so many shows. It was fun, and all something quintessential about what they do
Europe, we would we were just excited and we would go anywhere, the deci- that people appreciate and it’s okay to embrace
go and play in we would do anything because we were 21, 22, 23 s i o n s , that and to not try and run away from it. “With
South America, they have this record that we’re making right now, we’re
Mexico, we would years old. It was like, ‘You want us to play this no idea just kind of like, ‘you know what, this is who we
play in Southeast country? Sure we’ll go!’ I think all that invest- and they are and there’s nothing wrong with who we are
Asia, Japan and ment, all that effort, it’s still paying off today.” - just kind and we’re going to embrace it,’” Chuck says.
Australia. We of appre- “Obviously we’re going to try to stretch the en-
were really able to Chuck Comeau ciate it for velope of that, but I think in the past, we’ve tried
build a truly global what it is. sometimes a bit too hard to get out of our style,
fanbase and I think that’s saved the band in a So, I think you will always look at things and kind with great results sometimes and sometimes
way,” observes Chuck. “I think that when you do of remember the context and how it was made; with results that were not as good. So now I
go through those little ups and downs, if we why you did this and why you did that, I think it think we’re just trying to be like, this is who we
would have only had a fanbase in the US, the always colours your perception of it. But, with are and that’s okay. We’re going to embrace it
UK or in Canada, it would’ve been pretty hard to time you can kind of look back and, I guess, ap- and make it the best version of Simple Plan pos-
sustain the band on just having three places to preciate things a bit more. I think for me, if I sible. It has been helpful for the band because
go and play. Whereas because we expanded speak personally, I don’t know for the other this way we have our guiding light or that true
the band and we really made the effort to go and guys, I’m just making a lot of effort to be more north. We know what we need to do and we
play everywhere, even in the infancy of the band grateful for what we have accomplished and know what we’re aiming for. It’s not always easy
when we were just starting out, we still had that what we’ve done and what we have as a band. but we have the target and we kind of know what
vision and that goal. I think the work, the seed I think that has helped me to appreciate every- we need to accomplish.”
that we planted there, really paid off for us years thing. Even now, playing these shows, for exam- With every album that they have made, the
later. We could go back and play all these places ple. Even though we work really hard and we band has challenged itself. Chuck tells us that it
and people would show up and they were in- obviously have some level of talent that got us was the making of their fourth release, ‘Get Your
vested with the band because they had seen us, where we’re at, a lot of it was luck that we are Heart On!’ when they reconnected with who they
you know, right when we came out. A lot of what still here today doing this. I think once you re- were as a band and as musicians. “We kind of
seemed like fun, no-brainer, kinds of decisions alise that, you realise how lucky you are and made peace with the fact that we write high-en-
for us ended up being some of the most impor- how privileged your position is…” Chuck pauses ergy, up-tempo, catchy music and also we have
tant and vital decisions that we’ve made.” momentarily before he continues his trail of this side that writes emotional, heartfelt songs.
In 2017 the band toured to commemorate thought. “How many people would literally die to Songs that hit people with feelings - that’s what
the 15th Anniversary of ‘No Pads, No Helmets... be in our position, to be in a band that travels the essence of the band is,” Chuck states. “The
Just Balls’. We ask Chuck whether revisiting the and gets to do this for a living, doesn’t have to fourth record was one of my favourite records
album in that way and seeing how the audience have a second job, you know what I mean? To we’ve ever made and it was really successful for
still responded to those songs helped to inspire fully commit to their passion for the last 20-23 the band. That’s when we started to have fun
the direction of their sixth album, which the band years, whatever it is, it’s quite remarkable! So, again with the music; the third album [self-titled,
is currently working on. that perception, for me, has changed, where it released in 2008] was a detour where we took
“I think in some ways it did,” Chuck re- was a lot easier when I was younger to compare ourselves maybe a little too seriously. We tried
sponds. “I think it gave us clarity on what kind of ourselves and always feel like, ‘Oh man, this to do something that...I mean, I’m still very proud
band we want to be and what we realised is, we band has this much more than us,’ or ‘This band of the album, I think it’s great but it definitely was
want to embrace and be very proud of our past. is playing in this venue way bigger than us’, or, a little bit of a departure from the DNA of Simple
I think we’ve done a lot of great things and we’ve ‘These songs are so good I wish I wrote them’. Plan; I just feel like with the fourth record we re-
had music that’s really connected with people I’m kind of able to shift my perspective and just captured that. With this new one coming up,
and that was important in people’s lives; that is realise that there are bands that are doing dif- we’re more in control of our identity, so it’s going
something that we have to celebrate and be ferent things, but it’s pretty good what we’re to be exciting to see how people react to it; if
proud of. It was special to see something we’ve doing as well. I’m just trying to have more ap- we’re right or if we’re completely off. But I have
done over 20 years ago still mean so much to preciation for where we’re at. That’s how my per- a good feeling that people will agree with us, that
so many people. I think that was quite cool to spective has changed.” we found a really good balance.”
discover, because sometimes you kind of take it Over the years, during interviews, members If you follow Simple Plan on social media,
for granted when you just play a few songs off of the band have expressed how upsetting and you may have seen the video update the band
it; but to see that even the most... I wouldn’t call stressful it is when people criticize Simple Plan’s recorded not so long ago which captured Chuck,
them obscure, but the songs that were less fea- music for, ‘not sounding enough like they think Pierre, Sebastien, Jeff and David in the studio
tured, that has less of a spotlight on, still really Simple Plan should’. We tell Chuck how we re- singing about how the sixth album is, “Going to
connected and still meant a lot to a lot of people; cently watched the Taylor Swift documentary, be the best record ever”. We ask Chuck what,
that was pretty cool. It made us want to create ‘Miss Americana’. In it, she said, ‘When you are for him, makes it the best record.
new songs that would hopefully give the same living for the approval of strangers, and that is “When you feel, as a band, as songwriters,
feelings to people, well not the same exact feel- where you derive all of your joy and fulfilment - as artists, like you’ve put everything you have in
ings because it would never be the same, but one bad thing can cause everything to crumble.’ it, you’ve invested every thought, every inspira-
the same high level of passion for our music. I Chuck nods in acknowledgement and admits tion that you have and you’ve really poured into
think it kind of drives you and inspires you.” that it is something he can relate to in some way. it and you didn’t cut any corner; you made what,
“I mean, if you’re in a band and that’s what you at the moment, is the best version of who you
ack in 2004, in an interview for Black do full time, all the time for 20 years, obviously are as a creator. We pushed ourselves for a year
BVelvet #42, Pierre said that he would there will be some elements of you that identifies and a half, making this record - recording it, writ-
SIMPLE PLAN