Avril Lavigne coming for concert Feb. 16

MANILA, Philippines - Good news for Avril Lavigne fans.

The queen of pop-punk is bringing her The Black Star Tour in Manila on Feb. 16, 2012, live at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Since Day One of her career, Lavigne has always chosen not to play it safe. When she entered the music scene at 17, she refused to resort to skin-baring gimmicks, preferring to entice the record-buying public with her powerhouse voice, high-spirited melodies and straight-talking lyrics.

Staying steadfastly true to herself and putting music before image paid off both critically and commercially for the Canadian-born artist. In 2002, Lavigne shot to global pop stardom with the six-time platinum Let Go, followed by 2004’s three-time-platinum Under My Skin and 2007’s platinum The Best Damn Thing.

Over the course of her three albums, Lavigne scored a string of international hit singles, including Complicated, Sk8er Boi, I’m With You, Losing Grip, Don’t Tell Me, My Happy Ending, Nobody’s Home, Keep Holding On, Girlfriend, When You’re Gone, Hot and The Best Damn Thing. She earned eight Grammy Award nominations, won seven Canadian Juno Awards, and sold more than 30 million albums and nearly 20 million tracks worldwide over the past eight years. The singer-songwriter’s songs have been used as soundtracks for such popular films like Sweet Home Alabama, Bruce Almighty, Legally Blonde 2, The Princess Diaries and The House Bunny.

Lavigne also launched a second career as an entrepreneur by creating a well-received fashion and lifestyle brand (Abbey Dawn), two fragrances (Black Star and Forbidden Rose), branched out into film work (Over the Hedge, Fast Food Nation), and further committed herself to the philanthropic activities she’s participated in over the years by establishing the Avril Lavigne Foundation.

With her multiple creative endeavors and impressive musical success, it’s worth pointing out that Lavigne is all of 26. She may be young by veteran performer standards, but she has evolved as a person and as an artist since releasing The Best Damn Thing. Lavigne brings the maturity and insight she’s gained from her experiences to her next labor of love, her fourth and latest album, Goodbye Lullaby, which featured the chart-topping hits, What The Hell, Smile and Wish You Were Here.

(Note: For more information about Avril Lavigne’s The Black Star Tour – Live in Manila, call Wilbros Live at 374-2222 or the TicketNet box office at 911-5555.)