It's been fairly quiet for Canadian pop punks Simple Plan this year. However, the boys have always been on the ball with social media in keeping their fans engaged with exciting content even when there's no new album to promote. While the guys are all fulltime dads on the side, frontman Pierre Bouvier has probably had the best time off this year by ramping up his TikTok account with cool, weird and wholesome covers of his own band's songs. Meanwhile, guitarist Sebastien Lefebvre has kept busy with his weekly 'Man of the Hour' podcast.
More recently though, Simple Plan have been ramping up the band's TikTok upon the exciting drop last month of their brand new single 'The Antidote', the first release from Simple Plan's forthcoming sixth album (TBA). To get you even more excited for the year of SP ahead, we called up Seb inbetween his podcast recordings to tell us about all his fav music releases and highlights from 2021...
TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2021
#5. Big Red Machine - How Long do you Think It's Gonna Last?
#4. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
#3. Bleachers - Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night
#2. The Offspring - Let the Bad Times Roll
#1. Weezer - Van Weezer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXGt7sAg4mU
TOP 5 SONGS OF 2021
#5. Face to Face - 'Farewell Song'
#4. Tai Verdes - 'A-O-K'
#3. BTS - 'Butter'
#2. Bleachers - 'How Dare You Want More?
'
#1. Weezer - 'I Need Some of That'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEs9J4T5Y-w
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2021
'The Antidote' by Simple Plan — Wait till you see it 😳
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9E9vWIdnx4
LAST GIG YOU PLAYED BEFORE COVID HIT
In February 2020, we were opening up for Bowling For Soup in the UK and it was an amazing tour to be on. We totally finished on a high note before this forced break. At the exact moment, we were literally hours away from going to the airport and flying to a gig. Then the world shut down.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RETURNING TO THE STAGE?
For the most part I feel great about it. Not only is it about time we do so, but we are kicking it off in Canada where the situation is very under control, AND with one of my favourite all time bands, The Offspring. Their latest album embodies all the reasons I love this band. The great songs, the cool arrangements, the punk rock vibes, their unique quirkiness… It’s gonna be an amazing feeling to see our fans again and play new songs for them, touring our home country in arenas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2KTzNTdLmw
HOW DID YOU STAY BUSY THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS?
We put the final touches on the Simple Plan album. I personally have a radio show / podcast I’ve been doing for the past 15 years called “The Man of the Hour Show” on IDOBI radio, or anywhere you get your podcasts, and that’s a weekly thing. I’ve also kept composing for TV and ads… All the guys in the band have kids, so for the most part, being a dad was basically 90% of what I did. My wife went to work every day and I was in charge of breakfast, homework, laundry, making dinner… I loved it.
BEST ADVICE GOING INTO 2022?
I would tell most to take their time in the new year. There’s about a million things we missed in the past 20 months or so, and even if it would be great to jump back into everything at once and at full force, maybe easing back into things might be a better option. And remember that nothing is permanent, everything is temporary. So, if you feel at any moment that you don’t know where you are going, or that you are in an uncomfortable situation, it will pass.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022?
A sense of normalcy. Not being afraid of hugs. Small parties with close friends. More dad stuff. Plenty of new SP music. Delicious coffee. Playing shows. Snowboarding season. Family vacation. Traveling far for a show perhaps. After the past year, any little positive thing will feel like a win.
Written by Sebastien Lefebvre @seblefebvre
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