2002 – Simple Plan
SIMON: They have make popularity of the Canadian music scene. Simple Plan, formerly known as Reset back then has broken ground since they made their major debut in 2002. As our Stacey Patton reported and appeared back then when Simple Plan filmed a music video in Toronto back in June of that year, Simple Plan has lots of opportunities down the road.
[Cut to scene of the “I’d do anything” music video. It lasted for a few seconds, but as the video continues to play, a voice over comes up.]
STACEY PATTON: Hey Canada, meet Simple Plan. The guys behind Simple Plan are: Pierre Bouver, Chuck Comeau, David Desrosiers, Jeff Stinco and Sebastien Lefebvre. Those guys hail from Montreal, Quebec and we caught up of them in Toronto filming their new music video “I’d do anything”. We caught up with Pierre Bouvier, the lead singer in Simple Plan and Chuck Comeau, the drummer.
[Cut to Pierre Bouvier and Chuck Comeau, sitting in chairs]
PIERRE BOUVIER: It’s a really good music video. There’s one bodyguard who is guarding the doors to our performance and the fans wanted to impress him on seeing us in concert. Sometimes, it’s really funny.
CHUCK COMEAU: There was one scene when our sidekick Patrick is trying to impress the doorman on going in to see our concert; but as a result, the guard kicked him in the balls! (laughs)
[Cut to scene in which doorman kicks patron in private parts]
STACEY: Quite weird, eh?
CHUCK COMEAU: Sure is……
[cut to scene of the music video shoot]
STACEY PATTON: The weather was bearably hot during the shoot and all the band members and crew have to take drastic action. We meet up with Sebastien Lefebvre and David Desrosiers in a warehouse where they were filming a scene inside a warehouse, in which the band performs in front of a crowd.
[Cut to David Desrosiers and Sebastien Lefebvre, both sweating]
SEBASTIEN LEFEBVRE: This is hottest scene we have to film in. We’re sweating and we are going to collapse real soon….
DAVID DESROSIERS: This is getting so ridiculous! I’m sweating like a kettle! [laughs]
[Cut to performance inside the warehouse, fans jumping in the background, band playing]
STACEY PATTON (Voice Over): Lots of fans lined up on getting a chance to make an appearance on Simple Plan’s music video. I managed to talk to one of the fans who got his opportunity on meeting the band and making a big step on getting famous [Cut to interviewer talking to fan] What’s your name, little one?
FAN: Dakota Arsenault.
STACEY PATTON: You are the person who is with a few girls impressing the doorman on entering to see the band Simple Plan first hand, correct?
FAN: Yup. One of the girls is sporting a “Simple Plan” tattoo…[laughs]
STACEY PATTON (asking to one of the girls): How long did it take for you to create that particular tattoo?
GIRL: Almost up to 2 days…[laughs]
[Cut to video]
MARK HOPPUS: I close my eyes, and all I need is you…..
PIERRE BOUVIER: I close my eyes, I try to sleep, I can’t forget you…
BOTH: Na-na-na, na-na-na…
STACEY PATTON (Voice Over): Mark Hoppus, known for his role in blink-182 made a cameo appearance in Simple Plan’s music video. I spoke to him during the break.
MARK HOPPUS: Me working with one of the members of Simple Plan, broadens my horizons and to be recognized almost in a global scale.
STACEY PATTON: How will fans of Blink-182 will impact on your appearance in Simple Plan’s song?
MARK HOPPUS: Well, [laughs] the results will be huge.
[Cut to the members of Simple Plan]
CHUCK COMEAU: We came a long way from our humble beginnings of Reset, now we are currently in the process on promoting ourselves to the world; we have to research every step seriously to make sure that the fans will appreciate our music in the long term.
JEFF STINCO: We performed for many shows in our lifetime and we are planning to perform in the Warped Tour this summer. It’s going to be very challenging for us.
[Cut to the last few seconds of the music video with fans rushing towards the door knocking down the doorman]
STACEY PATTON: Simple Plan’s debut album, “No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls” is in stores now. In Toronto, Stacey Patton, Newswatch.
[Cut to reporter in the “flashback” backdrop]
SIMON: Dakota Arsenault, seen in that report had denied our request for an interview. Mark Hoppus of the now-defunct band Blink-182, who was also seen in that report was later in his new band that drummer Travis Barker collaborated called +44 (Plus 44). Simple Plan meanwhile had come a long way to stardom. Simple Plan had toured in various parts of the world and released many albums and a documentary DVD. As it turned out, they recently released their self-titled third album, after a four year gap from the last album, “Still Not Getting Any” in 2004, which is the predecessor from its debut album, “No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls” back in 2002. Sebastien Lefebvre and his sidekick for the band, Patrick Langlois (under his alias Patrick Cunningham) has their own podcast called “Man of the Hour”. Pierre Bouvier and Chuck Comeau meanwhile have their own clothing company called, “Role Model Clothing”. Simple Plan continues to tour and meet with fans worldwide to this day. Next week on Flashback, families who lived for generations protested a controversial project: a proposed airport in North Pickering. We’ll see you then.
