Jeff Stinco, Sebastien Lefebvre, and Chuck Comeau, members of the band Simple Plan, joined Cheddar News to talk about their TikTok trending song “I’m Just a Kid," their Blame Canada tour, and their newest song in support of Ukraine "Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)," which features both Russian and Ukrainian talent. "I think what really mattered to us was to make sure that we would tell a story that felt real and very authentic, and that's why we wanted to team up with people that had that personal connection," Comeau said. 

Between Bells

Simple Plan Talks Song Supporting Ukraine, Blame Canada Tour

and welcome back everyone after years of making a name for themselves. Our next guest definitely don't need an introduction fresh off the release of their latest album, harder than it looks. We're joined now by members of the band, Simple Plan chuck Jeff and Sebastian gentlemen, great to have you guys here now, the band, you guys have released this song called Wake Me Up When the Nightmare is Over this by the way, is aiming to support people of Ukraine. Why was it so important for you guys to make this song in support of that? Well, at the time when we came up with the concept for the video, it was like the war just started and it just felt like it was everywhere on tv and the song just felt like the lyrics kind of worked with the situation and and our director who had shot their last two videos was actually from Ukraine. So he had a very personal connection to the story and we talked about it and he felt like this would be so special for me to do, to help my country and help my people and we just jump on board and said that we were that that we wanted to help. And I read on top of that, it was all done by a whole crew of of Ukrainian people. What was sort of the creative process in creating the video for this. Actually, the most interesting part, I think, was the fact that we had some Russian actors, some Ukrainian actors and everybody just wanted to help out the cause, you know, so the whole the whole thing was really like a lot of love, a lot of like, people wanted to, you know, to make a difference, getting together to make that video. So it's it's definitely, you know, it's very performance driven, but it's also, there's a backstory, there's so it's really about, you know, what's going on right now, Is it challenging for you guys as artists and musicians to sort of channel all of the emotions that's happening with something like this in the creative process to sort of channel that in and to make a song that's like something for this. I think what really mattered to us was to make sure that we would tell a story that felt real and like very um like authentic and that's why we wanted to team up with people that had that personal connection. So for us, the song, it feels like it's interesting because we wrote the song almost two years ago. So obviously it wasn't about this specific topic, it wasn't about the pandemic either, but it feels like it can apply to so many different things on a personal level, but also on a, like more social levels. So it's it really lends itself. I think that's the power of music. It's also cool about a video, you could give it, you could give the song a second life different meaning altogether. Look at kate Bush experiencing that right now, that's the power of music and I think when you write a great song, it can, it can really just, it can hit in so many different ways. So God knows how many other songs you guys have written over the years that are going about have another life like right after this is over, we're gonna, let's, we'll talk about that here. No, because I'm fascinated. Well actually, let's talk about this because how does it sort of feel that that's become a Tiktok trend, you know, like that you guys, you know, for as long as you guys have been a rock group, you guys are still having this long longevity, longevity. Even with these younger kids who are now making this into a whole thing here. It was kind of crazy because we were home like waiting for us to get back. We had no clue. It was our first break in years, you know, and trying to figure out when are we going back on the road? And then suddenly a friend of ours calls us up and he's like, dude, you should really pay attention to this Tiktok thing. That's kind of what it was, It was pretty well, I wish we could take credit and we could say it was our idea and we, it's this person, I think in New Jersey or new york that did the first one and somehow it caught fire now it's part of the pr playbook of every Subway, that's exactly the Patrol back show or whatever and it's like five billion impression one guy Gillian I heard this is even higher. The highest number you could get. Was there one video maybe in particular that really stood out to you guys of somebody that basically did it just massive celebrities like, like the kid from the Sandlot I saw very tempting to say will smith before the slap call them all. Simple plan fans. Obviously the cast of friends are huge fans. Uh Ed Sheeran is a huge fan now as well. So like, it's crazy for me as a big tennis fan. I know that the U. S. Open is coming when I think it was venus and serena Williams did it. That was like, wow, that's next level. And by the way, speaking of sort of the fan And um that you have your, by the way on on tour right now with some 41. I mean, nostalgia plays such a huge role into why so many of us still love your music because you guys have been banned since 1999. I mean, that's 23 years you guys have been together. What's it been like sort of yeah, like sort of re engaging and being back with your fans, especially after the pandemic, It's been great to be back on stage. Yeah, I I think it's kind of crazy now because because it's so easy to get back to music, you know, to old libraries and stuff like that. People are throwing back, they're very interested in bands that their favorite bands were listening to. So people just, you know, like it's sort of like you put a playlist on and suddenly a song attracts your attention, you dig deeper and then you end up at the show. I think that's what's going on right now. But every night, every night when we step on stage, you can tell how much people missed it. Just going to shows and all that and that. It's very strong and you sort of enjoy when you're out on tour with sum 41 all these other sorts of groups that, you know, we listen to and you guys went on tour with, I'm sure back in the day as well actually, you know what, it's kind of weird. We have such very similar careers, but we have never toured together, really was the weirdest thing, but I think we have so many common fans and it's, it's insane how music just takes you back. I think a lot of people out there just want to relive some of their teenage years and some of these moments and you play one song and it takes you back exactly where you were 20 years ago. I think that that's what people come to see at the show, but then there's also all the new people that literally have never been to a show are like, we're not even Born when the record came out. And now they're fans, which has been amazing for us and we'll so that gets to sort of my next question. I mean, as I mentioned, you guys have been banned since 1999. Do you feel like you guys have evolved as a, as a band over all these years, or you guys or you guys, or do you kind of still, and I sort of the same playbook that you guys started with at the beginning. I think it's interesting that we we try to, you know, change it up a little bit without kind of like changing everything, you know? So it's about evolving, bringing new influences, trying new things. But I think what's great right now is that we know precisely who we are, we're comfortable with it. Our fans expect us to sound like simple plan. It's sort of like sounding like Simple Plan now is the thing, you know? So we just pay tribute to that. I think we embrace it. I think like there's a moment in your career when you try to do something else and then you realize, oh, people love this and we love this and why not just jump in and embrace it and and just be who we are and it's been great. Is there a particular city you guys are really looking forward to on this tour. I'm not gonna be the homer, but for sure, new york city, This show was postponed because of Covid, we had some issues and we're finally doing it four months later, we had it circled on our calendar. I mean, this is an iconic brand new pier 17. We've never played, we were supposed to play I think two or three times and every time the pandemic kind of mess with that. So to finally be able to come here, have a sold out show, play this amazingly beautiful venue and the best city in the world. It's gonna be, it's gonna be insane. That's the one for me while he's doing this interview in new york. So no pressure whatsoever. House in New Jersey is the best banter insane in New Jersey. And by the way, any dream collaborations for you guys, do you guys want to work with somebody down the road maybe on a future simple playing album, interesting. I think always there's people I think Pink, we've been saying for 20 years, so hopefully she's watching this right now, but hopefully she's watching this right now. But we've been very lucky. We had the chance to work with a lot of people that we love. We work with Mark Hoppus from blink on the first album, we work with the guys from charlotte, we work with with Sean paul, we work with Rivers from Weezer. So it's been actually pretty amazing. But even the fact that we're touring with some 41 now, like we've been like kind of talking badly about each other for like 20 years and there's a bit of a feud and I was talking to the guys recently and they were like, we were kind of jealous, weren't you? Absolutely, It was a bit of that, I think, and now, like, I think, you know, we're basically honoring our fans were telling like, let's get together, let's let's make this the best festival that we could be together, because, you know, even as a kid, you know, as a music fan, you wanted your favorite bands to tour? Absolutely. And I think we're finally mature enough to finally able to sort of bury any sort of weird from back in the day, guys, congratulations by the way on all your success, You guys are so incredible, you have so many fans here and I agree with you, I think New york city is gonna be one of your best shows as well. Thanks to chuck Jeff and Sebastian members of Simple Plan