The Province had the opportunity to interview Sébastien lefebvre before starting their Canadian tour where he spoke of their albums, their latest album “Get Your Heart On!”, Collaborations that took on this album, their song “This Song Saved My Life “and more.
Simple Plan takes time to execute
Simple Plan only has four studio albums.
It’s a shocking realization, really. Especially considering how long the Canadian pop punk band has been on the mainstream musical landscape – they officially formed in the late ’90s – topping charts, earning Junos, Teen Choice, and other awards, not to mention selling out arenas and headlining festivals at home and abroad.
So, again, four albums in more than a decade? Really?
“The thing is, we have fans all over the world so when a record comes out it takes us at least a year and a half to go see everyone,” says Sebastien Lefebvre, guitarist for the Montreal quintet. “So then writing and recording – definitely we don’t have the same turnaround as, let’s say, some pop artists that put out a record, then tour for a year while people write their next record, come off the road to sing for a week, and then the record’s ready to go.
“So we don’t have as quick a turnaround as other people, but I like to think that we take our time to make our records because we want them to be as best as possible, and we always feel that the record we put out is the best one we’ve ever made.”
The band’s best and latest is the hit-filled Get Your Heart On!, which dropped last summer and which has once more set them out for another calendar and a half, including the cross-Canada tour that brings them to the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver Saturday night.
For the most part, the album sticks with the Simple Plan, er, plan, featuring huge singalong choruses, infectious pop hooks, radiofriendly melodies and universal youth emotions and ideas.
But perhaps the biggest, most noticeable thing about the affair, when compared with the three previous efforts, is the number of collaborations that appear on it. And it’s an impressive guest list that features Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, singer Natasha Bedingfield, Alex Gaskarth from touring mates All Time Low, Quebec chanteuse Marie-Mae and Canadian hip-hop artist K’naan.
“We wanted to try something new and collaborate with a lot of people and it turns out all you gotta do is ask. We kind of feel like this record is a little bit of a party, it’s a fun record so if you don’t invite people to your party, it gets kind of boring,” Lefebvre says before noting it was also nice to have some girls at this bash. “We still don’t have the ratio down correctly – there’s waaay too many dudes, but we’re getting better.”
And while the stars who said yes for Get Your Heart On! speaks to the clout that the veteran act has earned – something the musician calls “flattering” – the number of people who appear on the disc’s final cut says even more about the love and respect they’ve earned from their audience. The lyrics for the ballad “This Song Saved My Life” is made up of Twitter responses from the band’s fans, to the question of what Simple Plan has meant to them and, generally, to the power of music.
The outpouring, Lefebvre says, was humbling. The fact 25 of those lyricists went to Vancouver to take part as an amateur choir in the recording of the tune made it all the more memorable. It “was possibly the most touching moment on all of our records – I still get goosebumps whenever I hear that part,” he says. “It puts it all together; it’s kind of fantastic.”
A new competition is out for fans of Simple Plan. This competition is to win a hockey stick autographed by the band and a pair of tickets to see their show on Feb. 23.
The contest “Stick and Show” by Simple Plan
Are you a fan of both the Canadiens and Simple Plan? If yes, we’ve got the contest for you! Simply upload a video of yourself singing your favorite Simple Plan song while wearing a piece of Canadiens gear and you could win a limited-edition Sher-Wood Simple Plan hockey stick signed by the band AND a pair of tickets to see them live at the Bell Centre on February 23!
Contest Details
-To be eligible, participants must complete the entry form below click here, including a link to their video (YouTube, Vimeo) prior to 4:00 p.m. EST on February 16, 2012.
-Between 10:00 a.m. EST on February 17 and 5:00 p.m. EST on February 19, fans will be able to vote for their favorite video among the chosen finalists.
-The winner will be contacted on February 20, 2012.
Prize Details
-One pair of tickets to see Simple Plan at the Bell Centre on February 23, 2012.
-One limited edition Sher-Wood stick, signed by the band. This stick is also available for purchase through retailers across Canada. For more details, visit simpleplanfoundation.org or The Simple Plan Foundation Facebook page.
After performingt his first show of their canadian tour Get Your Heart On!, Chuck had the opportunity to join the team “Penticton Vees” for 2 hours to play a hockey game where they ended up winning.
The Canadian magazine Flare had the opportunity to interview Pierre after returning from his Asian tour, and talked about touring, Canada, and how to maintain a long distance relationship with friends, family and girlfriends, when the band is on tour worldwide.
ON THE ROAD WITH SIMPLE PLAN’S PIERRE BOUVIER
“Jet-lag”-ed is right. Canadian rock band Simple Plan have been on the road for the past five months, riding the success of their monster hit “Jet Lag”—their first platinum single in Canada. After spending the past month in Asia, they kick off the Canadian leg of their tour in Penticton, B.C. on Thursday, February 9. The 13-date tour will take them from Vancouver to Halifax. But first, Montreal’s Pierre Bouvier talked to Flare.com about coming home.
You’ve toured all over the world. What can you only get in Canada that you look forward to?
Poutine and a good smoked meat sandwich.Poutine and a good smoked meat sandwich.
Are Canadians the same across the country?
There are a few differences here and there but Canadians all have one thing in common: we’re very friendly people. It’s so easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger and end up becoming friends.
How do you pass the time when travelling?
We watch a lot of TV. I love Suits, Boardwalk Empire, American Dad and Bored to Death amongst others. It’s a great way to pass the time on those long flights and boring bus rides.
How do you maintain your relationship when you’re on tour?
Being in a relationship definitely comes with its challenges but it’s not too hard when you’re with someone who’s strong and smart and when you’re truly in love. It’s nice to have someone to talk to when times are tough on tour and coming back home is the best feeling when you know you have an amazing person waiting for you. If anything, it makes touring easier. I also believe that being apart sometimes reminds you how much you care and can’t be without the other, so in a weird way it can help a relationship.
Students will sing This Song Saved My Life with Simple Plan
Some school students of Penticton and Princess Margaret had the opportunity to make a single chorus singing “This Song Saved My Life” with Simple Plan for a show that made the band in Penticton. Originally the band wanted to two students for this opportunity, but the community center “South Okagan Events Center” persuaded the band to have 10 students from each school in the choir.
CHBC News was filming the students while they practiced for the big show of Simple Plan in Penticton few weeks before and also their reactions to the fact that they were going to sing on stage with Simple Plan.
Through the official page of Simple Plan and through their twitter, Simple Plan announced that they will do a webchat this Saturday 11 with a special guest of the band All Time Low, Jack Barakat.
The webchat will happen in Vancouver and will be broadcast through SimplePlan.com and then the announcement:
“You wanted it and got it! Simple Plan will sit to talk with you this Saturday night, straight from the Canadian tour in Vancouver! All you have to do is log on SimplePlan.com this Saturday and join us.
Want to make sure you are arriving on time? (I hope I have correctly listed all):
2/11/12: 6pm PST | 7PM MST | 8pm EST | 9pm EST
2/12/12: 12am (Brazil) | 2am (London) | 3:00 a.m. (Italy, France, basically the timezone GMT +1) | 9am (Jakarta) | 10am (Singapore) | 11am (Tokyo) | 1pm (Sydney) | 3pm (New Zealand) ** Chile 11 pm | Argentina 11 pm | México 8 pm | Uruguay 12 am | Colombia 9 pm | Venezuela 9 pm | Ecuador 8:30 pm | Paraguay 11 pm
Just after they finished their Canadian tour, Simple Plan appears on 3 March in Montreal to go to the Salon de la Jeunesse as one of the many guests for a performance and also do an autograph session.
The salon de la Jeunesse is an event for young people in the province of Quebec from 12 to 17 years, takes place in both Montreal and Quebec City. In this show, teens have the opportunity to go to find and test new products and services that may be of interest. The Montreal event will be held from 2 until 4 March and apart from Simple Plan, acts as “The New Cities” will be present.
It is expected that the two events (in Montreal and Quebec City) should attract up to 150,000 visitors. You can review the complete schedule of events aquí.
The Japanese journal InRock had the opportunity to interview Sébastien Lefebvre about how he uses his free time and how he uses it with the guys in the band.
“Hello to all our fans in Japan! I think some of you may be wondering what makes Simple Plan when we are on the road between the tours?. Well, I have just returned from Australia and each of us has a pair of weeks at home to rest for the upcoming tour of Canada, I thought now would be the perfect time to tell you how I spend my free time. ”
“When it comes to band members, I know you enjoy spending time with friends and family when at home. Pierre also likes surfing (we all think it’s a very brave man!) And David likes to spend time with their dogs (which just bought a new one!). But when it comes to talking exactly what makes a person when not only on the road, the only person who can speak for me. What is said here is what I, Sébastien Lefebvre, I like to do when I’m touring and I have free time for me ”
“Overall, my first days at home are spent trying to get back to the time zone of the house. It is very rare after the U.S. tour we have more than a couple of weeks at home. There is no problem that we have no to fight against fatigue due to the time zone (jet lag), then we can return to the climate of “normal life” very quickly “.
“But when we come back from places like Japan or Australia, it is very difficult to get rid of the tour. Often literally, I have to turn my body clock backwards just hoping to have the opportunity to feel good when I wake up to the next morning. not a game the song “Jet Lag” – It’s a real fatigue, possibly, the only downside of all trips we make to see our fans around the world in places that are full of culture and different ways of life. ”
“After those first days, you have to prioritize their remaining time. Depending on how long I have, I have to decide who I will spend the time. Family and friends always come first, of course, but the random encounters can be fun too. always make sure I have to go out with my friend Patrick Langlois (yes, the Patrick who used to tour with us!) so we can record some episodes of “Man Of The Hour” our online radio program ( http://manofthehour.ca) But I have to spend time with my mother and father, brothers and sisters is very funny, even when we have free time to the music remains an important part of my life. So sometimes I like spend my time off the road and sitting in the studio writing songs for the band, for me, the songs written with / for others and ultimately, songs for fun. ”
“Something you might not know is that I love to cook. So no matter what my plans when I’m home, I always make time to go to market and buy delicious fresh ingredients. These ingredients are used to make different dishes of fish, chicken , homemade soups and sandwiches for the next few days. I like eating out (believe me I have to do it every day on tour), but nothing compares to a good home-cooked meal. ”
“Coming from Montreal, I feel I must tell you a little about the city I call home. Montreal is one of those small towns with all the same. I say small because, although there are plenty of things to do and a lot of fun areas to explore, most of the stuff is near the center of the city. not have much movement as Tokyo or Osaka. Walking around is the best way of knowing, no doubt. The old part of Montreal is a good place to start, as it has a more fresh, fun and plenty of bars, pubs, restaurants and interesting architecture to see. Most bands like to come play in Montreal too, so you have to have eye on who is playing here if you are planning to visit. ”
“So after seeing the people I’ve been counting the days to see, after a drink, watch some hockey games, after spending a few hours in the study of” Man Of The Hour “taping episodes for a program radio or music to be finally released, it’s time to pack up and back on the road! ”
Honestly, I’m not going to lie, as a band, we treat very well. Going to all these amazing places and still be able to have a bit of a normal life when we are home, away from the rush is not bad!”
Simple Plan post a new video on her official YouTube channel, where they talk of the beginning of their Canadian tour with the band All Time Low, Marianas Trench and These Kids Wear Crowns.
Simple Plan has not been nominated at the Juno Awards this year but still seems the band might have something to do with the event this year.
According to the poster promoting CTV, on February 24 in a press conference for Juno Awards, Simple Plan will be present to make a “special announcement”.
The Juno Awards 2012 will take place on April 1 this year, the date fits perfectly with the agenda of the banda – considering leaving on tour in Europe until the end of March, and will have a few days off before returning to the show in Moscow, Russia, April 13 – leaving the possibility of returning to Canada and participate in the awards.
