The men of Simple Plan

Simple Plan was here two years ago as opening act for fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne’s Try to Shut Me Up Tour. They put up a good show and won lots of fans. Now these admirers who were not able to get their fill of this punk band from Quebec will get another chance to watch the band in action. Simple Plan will be back in town for a one-night performance at the Araneta Coliseum on Aug. 4.

Time now to brush up on the good-looking, hip, sexy and talented members of the group. Here now, culled from various sources are some items you might want to know about the men of Simple Plan.

Pierre Bouvier is on lead vocals and guitar. He is the frontman of the band. It is his face that is the most identifiable among the guys of Simple Plan and that is his voice you hear in those soaring solos. He was born on May 9, 1979 in Montreal in Northeastern Canada. He was a 15-year-old cook in a barbecue restaurant when he went off to form a rock band with his friend Chuck Comeau. He once hosted a show for MTV titled Damage Control. He co-owns a fashion line called Rolemodel Clothing with Chuck. He is also an animator for Asterix cartoons.

Jeff Stinco plays the lead guitar. He was born on Sept. 17, 1978 also in Montreal and is the oldest among the guys of Simple Plan. Aside from his guitar you can also tell who Jeff is by the tattoo on his upper arm and the two piercings on each of his ears. He was a guitar teacher before he decided to become a rocker. His real name is Jean Francis. His band mates took to calling him JF and that is how his name became Jeff. He is part Italian and loves Italian food and sushi.

Sebastien Lefebvre on backing vocals and rhythm guitar. Sebastien was also born in Montreal. His birthdate is on June 5, 1981. He worked as a janitor while he was in high school. After this he went straight to Simple Plan, which was founded on 2001. He never had guitar lessons. He learned how to play by watching the hand movements of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.

David Desrosiers on backing vocals and bass guitar. David whose middle name is Phillipe, is from Quebec. Like all of the other guys in the band, he also attended College Beaubois High School. He once worked at McDonalds in his hometown of Sept-Iles. But he loves eating at Taco Bell, his favorite food is sushi and he likes watching SpongeBob.

Chuck Comeau on drums. He was born Charles-Andre Comeau on Sept. 17, 1979 also in Montreal. He was studying to be a lawyer at McGill University when he decided to join Pierre in forming Simple Plan. He was also a writer for a music magazine. He loves sushi, hip-hop music, Beach Boys music and surprise! the color pink and his Rolemodel wardrobe.

Simple Plan has recorded three albums. The first had the intriguing title of No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls. It yielded hits like Addicted, Perfect, The Worst Day Ever, I’m Just a Kid and I’d Do Anything. Even better was the second album, Still Not Getting Any. It was proof that Simple Plan was no flash-in-the-pan. Most remembered among the single releases were Welcome to My Life, Jump Shut Up!, Crazy and Untitled: How Could This Happen to Me.

The band’s new album is simply titled Simple Plan. It is their best so far. Production is first-rate and their musicality now embraces other styles. Aside from their usual punk, the CD also has emo, power ballads, dance and even a bit of hip-hop. With so much improvement and increased versatility, I will not be surprised if Simple Plan is planning to go to other ways and other styles in their future releases.

Take note of the way the arrangement of first single release, the punk tune, When I’m Gone, is heavily synthesized. Emo lovers out there should take note of Save You, the best cut in the CD. This is the first time I heard Simple Plan go all out for feeling. The other titles included are Take My Hand, The End, Your Love is a Lie, Generation, Time to Say Goodbye, I Can Wait Forever, Holding On, No Love and What If.

Remember, it is a date at the Big Dome with Simple Plan on Aug. 4.