Simple Plan is a French-Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec. The band has released five studio albums: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002), Still Not Getting Any... (2004), Simple Plan (2008), Get Your Heart On! (2011), and Taking One for the Team (2016). The band has also released an EP titled Get Your Heart On - The Second Coming! (2013), in addition to two live albums: Live in Japan 2002 (2003) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005).

The band performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 2001 to 2005, and in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The band also performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony, along with The X Factor Australia. In December 2012, the band performed at Mood Indigo, the college festival of IIT Bombay in Mumbai, India. In 2004, the band participated in the movie New York Minute, starring the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. Simple Plan also performed at the 2016 NHL Winter Classic.

History

1999-2001: Formation and early years

In 1993, Lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier and drummer Chuck Comeau were in a band named Reset. In 1998, Comeau left soon after to go to college. In mid 1999, he met with high school friends guitarists Jeff Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre who were in separate bands of their own, and combined to create Simple Plan. In late 1999, Bouvier and Comeau reacquainted at a Sugar Ray concert and Bouvier left Reset soon after to join Comeau. Bassist and backing vocalist David Desrosiers replaced Bouvier in Reset, but he too left the band six months later to join Simple Plan. This allowed Bouvier, who had doubled as the band's lead vocalist and bassist, to concentrate on the singing and Stinco, who had doubled as the band's lead guitarist and backing vocalist, to concentrate on the guitar.

The origin of the band's name is obscure. Band members have given various responses, including that the band was their "simple plan to avoid working at McDonald's", or other fast food restaurant chains. However, the name may be derived from the 1998 film and novel of the same name.

2002-03: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls

In 2002, Simple Plan released the debut studio album, No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls, which contained the singles I'm Just a Kid, I'd Do Anything, Addicted, and Perfect. The band was aiming at a pure pop punk record.

The record was originally released in the United States with twelve tracks, ending with "Perfect". Enhanced and foreign editions came in several different versions with up to two additional tracks in addition to the original twelve. Two pop punk singers contributed on vocals: "I'd Do Anything" included vocals by Mark Hoppus from Blink-182, and "You Don't Mean Anything" included vocals by Joel Madden from Good Charlotte.

In 2003, the band played as a headliner on the Vans Warped Tour — an appearance memorialized in the comedy slasher film, Punk Rock Holocaust, in which four of the five band members are killed. The band also played short stints on the Warped Tour in 2004 and 2005. That same year (2003) the band opened for Avril Lavigne on her "Try To Shut Me Up" Tour. In addition to several headlining tours, the band has also opened for Green Day and Good Charlotte. The album had sold one million copies in early 2003 then went on to sell over four million copies worldwide, making it the band's best selling album to date.

2004-06: Still Not Getting Any...

In 2004, Simple Plan released its second album, Still Not Getting Any... which was produced by Bob Rock and led to the subsequent singles, Welcome to My Life, Shut Up!, Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me?), Crazy, and (in some markets) Perfect World.

According to the bonus DVD of Still Not Getting Any..., while making the CD the members of Simple Plan thought of many names including Get Rich or Die Trying and In The Zone. The group decided on the name Still Not Getting Any... for a list of explained reasons. The most popular and most likely reason is that the members of Simple Plan thought that they were not getting any good reviews, Bouvier once noting that the band only had one recent good review in Alternative Press. Still Not Getting Any... was a musical departure from the group's previous album. The band still kept its style of downbeat lyrics matched to upbeat music, but managed to transcend from the standard pop punk genre. Although many of the tracks on this CD still carry the feeling of teen angst that is probably most noticeable in the song "I'm Just a Kid" from No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls, the general slant of this album tends toward slightly deeper and more mature lyrical themes, as well as a more mainstream sound that edges away from the pure pop punk style of the group's last album. Some critics have pointed towards the inclusion of 'classic' or 'mainstream' rock elements, claiming the album 'de-emphasizes punk-pop hyperactivity in favor of straightforward, well-crafted modern rock'.

2006-09: Simple Plan

After nearly a year and a half in support of Still Not Getting Any..., the band ended most touring in February 2006, playing only a few shows, taking some time off, and beginning work on the third studio album. Bouvier headed to Miami as on about 21 March 2007 to work with Dave Fortman. The band entered the studio for pre-production in Los Angeles on 29 June. On 15 July the band returned to Montréal, to record at Studio Piccolo, the same studio at which the band had recorded Still Not Getting Any.... The band finished recording and headed back to Miami and LA to mix the album. The final part of making the record was done in New York and it was officially completed on 21 October.

When I'm Gone, the first single from Simple Plan, was released on 29 October. The album was produced by Dave Fortman and Max Martin. On 17 February 2008, the band achieved its highest charting single in the UK. After the first two albums just missed the UK top 40, "When I'm Gone" gave the band its best chart position in the UK, coming in at number 26.

Simple Plan held an extensive tour schedule in support of the album. After completing an around-the-world promotional tour, Simple Plan played several December 2007 holiday shows. After continued promotional tours in January, Simple Plan played a triple bill in Camden Town, London on 27 January 2008, with the first show featuring songs from the band's first CD, the second from the second, and the third from the new release. The band played four U.S. shows in late February, and completed a European tour running until late April. The band played four Japan dates, followed by several European festivals and headlining dates. On 1 July 2008, the band gave a free concert on Québec City's Plains of Abraham, attracting a crowd of 150,000 to the Canada Day show. After a return to the Far East in late July and early August, the band played a Cross Canada Tour with Faber Drive, Cute is What We Aim For and Metro Station. After dates in Germany, Mexico, and Australia, the band played its second full European tour of the year from 28 October to 29 November, playing Estonia and Poland for the first time. The band also played Tel Aviv and Dubai in early December—shows at which the band played as a four-piece, with Desrosiers absent due to a family emergency and Lefebvre on bass.

2010-13: Get Your Heart On!

The band's fourth album Get Your Heart On! was released on 21 June 2011. The album marks Simple Plan's second time since No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls to feature collaborations with other artists, including Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, Marie-Mai, Natasha Bedingfield, K'naan and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low. In April "Jet Lag" was released in English and French versions featuring singers Natasha Bedingfield and Marie-Mai respectively. The band was on the roster of Warped Tour 2011 for selected dates in June and July 2011.

In September and October 2011, Simple Plan performed four shows in Australia, on the "Get Your Heart On" tour, with supporting bands Tonight Alive and New Empire. During the Australian tour, Jenna McDougall from Tonight Alive featured in Jet Lag. We The Kings supported Simple Plan in Europe on a tour in spring 2012. The song "Last One Standing" was featured on the NASCAR The Game: Inside Line soundtrack.

An EP titled Get Your Heart On - The Second Coming! was released on 3 December. Consequently, Simple Plan uploaded the DVD to the official Simple Plan YouTube channel, in high quality for free as a gift to the fans.

2014-present: Taking One for the Team

In March 2014, the band members started recording the first demos for the album, it was announced through 3OH!3 member Sean Foreman's Instagram that 3OH!3 are working with Simple Plan on the next album. This information was later confirmed by Comeau; the band estimates to release the album on the second half of 2015, plus the band discussed the band’s future projects. On 30 July 2014, the band formally stated that music writing for the next album had begun. In December 2014, Simple Plan started to choose which songs would be included on the album. "Saturday", was released on 21 June 2015, although the band stated this song would not be in the album.

In April 2015, Simple Plan performed with up-and-coming Canadian singer Andee at the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy Tour at MUCH in Toronto.

Simple Plan toured on the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, performing a total of five shows.

On 28 August 2015, the band released "Boom", a song from the upcoming fifth album. On the same day, a music video was released for the song, which contains footage from the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, The Alternative Press Music Awards, and a performance in Montreal at New City Gas; the video contains cameos from members of the bands MxPx, All Time Low, New Found Glory, PVRIS, Pierce the Veil, The Summer Set, Silverstein, Black Veil Brides, Parkway Drive and Issues.

On 18 September 2015, the band released a second song from the fifth studio album, "I Don't Wanna Be Sad," and a third called "I Don't Wanna Go to Bed," featuring rapper Nelly on 16 October 2015.

On 17 October 2015, it was leaked by Pierre Bouvier there will be a song called "Kiss Me Like Nobody's Watching". On 30 November 2015, the band revealed the title of the album would be Taking One for the Team. The group set the release date for 19 February 2016, along with the album cover and the first tour dates of the "Taking One For The Team World Tour", with shows scheduled in European countries.

"Opinion Overload", the second single from Taking One for the Team was released on 5 February 2016. Simple Plan released their 3rd single “Singing In The Rain” internationally on April 12, 2016. The album was released on 19 February 2016. The album was described as a "pure, no-frills, feel-good fun, a start-to-finish crowd-pleaser for fans of that classic pop-punk sound."

Musical style

Simple Plan's style of music has been described as pop punk by the Calgary Herald, The Torontoist, Channel News Asia, AllMusic, NME, MTV, The Guardian, the BBC, Rocklouder About.com, Entertainment Weekly and VH1; punk rock revivalist by The New York Times, "Dude Rock" by Digital Spy; with Rolling Stone reviews describing No Helmets No Pads... Just Balls as "new-punk". Atlantic Records marketing material has described the band's style as having "classic punk energy and modern pop sonics". Also, Simple Plan has been described as emo.

Simple Plan Foundation

The members of Simple Plan created the Simple Plan Foundation, which focuses on teen problems ranging from suicide to poverty to drug addiction. As of 9 December 2005, the Simple Plan Foundation had raised more than $100,000.

A fundraising event was held in September 2009 in Montréal. In October 2008, the band announced a special release, on iTunes, of the single "Save You", to benefit the Foundation, with a special composite video featuring cancer survivors. The song was inspired by the struggle with cancer of Bouvier's brother Jay.

On 15 March 2011, the Foundation stated it would donate $10,000 in aid after the 2011 earthquake that hit Japan.

In 2012, to mark the band's tenth anniversary, the book Simple Plan: The Official Story was released, which was used as a fundraiser for the Simple Plan Foundation.

Band members

Current members

• Pierre Bouvier - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bass
• Jeff Stinco - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Sébastien Lefebvre - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• David Desrosiers - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Chuck Comeau - drums, percussion

Discography

Main article: Simple Plan discography

Studio albums

• No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002)
• Still Not Getting Any... (2004)
• Simple Plan (2008)
• Get Your Heart On! (2011)
• Taking One for the Team (2016)

Awards and nominations

Radio Canada/La Presse Awards

• 2013 Nominated for Arts and Entertainment Award

CASBY Awards

• 2002 Won CASBY Award

Juno Awards

• 2012 Won Allan Waters Humanitarian Award
• 2009 Nominated for Juno Award
• 2009 Nominated for Juno Award (for the group itself)
• 2006 Won Juno Fan Choice Award
• 2005 Nominated for Juno Award
• 2005 Nominated for Juno Award
• 2005 Nominated for Juno Award

Kerrang! Awards

• 2008 Nominated for Kerrang! Award

MTV Asia Awards

• 2006 Nominated for Favourite Pop Act

MTV Europe Music Awards

• 2014 Nominated for MTV Europe Music Award (Best World Stage- WS Monterrey)

MTV Video Music Awards

• 2004 Nominated for MTV Video Music Award
• 2003 Nominated for MTV Video Music Award

MuchMusic Video Awards

• 2012 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award (Best International Video by a Canadian)
• 2012 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award (UR FAVE VIDEO)
• 2011 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2009 Won MuchMusic Video Award
• 2008 Won MuchMusic Video Award
• 2008 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2008 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2006 Won MuchMusic Video Award
• 2006 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2006 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2005 Won MuchMusic Video Award
• 2005 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2005 Nominated for MuchMusic Video Award
• 2004 Won MuchMusic Video Award
• 2003 Won MuchMusic Video Award

NRJ Music Awards

• 2012 Won NRJ Music Award
• 2007 Nominated for NRJ Music Award

Teen Choice Awards

• 2008 Nominated for Teen Choice Award
• 2005 Won Teen Choice Award

ADISQ

• 2006 Won Artiste québécois s'étant le plus illustré hors Québec
• 2006 Won Album de l'année - Anglophone

[ Source: Wikipedia ]