Last week, SimplePlan.cz caught up with Simple Plan before their performance at Rock For People in the Czech Republic and got to interview Chuck Comeau and Jeff Stinco, who gave us the most time out of any of the other media (for which we’re extremely grateful!).
In the interview, we decided to focus on some of the more important current topics and questions that have been in the minds of many fans recently and in this post we’d like to put down a summary of them in case you don’t have the time to listen to the full interview (which we wholeheartedly recommend, though!). Let’s get to the important stuff then, shall we?
ON CONTINUING WITHOUT DAVID
For the past few years, many fans have still been quite unsure about the current situation in Simple Plan after the rather vague announcement of David’s departure from the band, following the sexual misconduct allegations. In this interview, we decided not to ask but rather give the guys space to tell the fans how they feel about the situation without putting them on the spot with any specifics. And while it is still a very sensitive subject, which the guys can’t talk about in details, we think they made it clear that at least for now, the only way to go is to continue as a four piece. No plans on adding a new member to the band are on the horizon.
THE FUTURE OF SP CREW
For many hardcore Simple Plan fans, it has been a sad few years after their official fanclub SP Crew, which used to offer some amazing perks such as soundchecks with the band, has stopped functioning. The band knows this is an important feature in the fandom and they told us it is on their to-do list to bring it back in some new form. The fans however need to be aware that when it is back, they must not expect it to be the same as it used to be, but the band is trying to come up with a concept that would work out both for the band and for the fans and offer them something worthwhile.
SNGA AND GYHO ON VINYL
We also raised the question about the possible release of the not-yet-released Simple Plan albums on vinyl – Still Not Getting Any and Get Your Heart On. The guys said that that is another thing that is in works and they are thinking about either releasing them either separately or perhaps even as a boxset.
MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘ICONIC’ FEAT. JAX?
By asking the guys two seemingly unrelated questions, we might have actually made them spill the beans about a secret project. Judging by Chuck’s “secretive hints”, it looks like Simple Plan might be releasing a music video for the song ‘Iconic‘ (which has been a hit on many radio stations at least in the Czech Republic for a while now) and that release might actually feature a collaboration with Jax, an American singer/songwriter, mostly popular for her viral song ‘Victoria’s Secret’. We can’t wait to find out more!
TOURING PLANS FOR 2024
A question we could not have not asked was about Simple Plan’s touring plans for the foreseeable future. According to Chuck and Jeff, the band still aims to visit places they haven’t been to after the pandemic – and that is Australia and South America. Besides that they also revealed to us that their plans include a European tour very early in the new year (2024).
NEW MUSIC ON THE HORIZON
It is not just touring that the guys have their minds set on, though. They still have some new songs left over from the recording session of Harder Than It Looks and they are trying to come up with ways how to release them – possibly similarly to their EP from 2013 that came out after Get Your Heart On with a few unreleased tracks.
25th ANNIVERSARY PLANS
During the interview, the boys have also mentioned that Simple Plan’s 25th anniversary is coming up in 2024, which deserves to be celebrated, so it is possible that some of the previously mentioned things – such as the vinyls or the EP might be tied to this special anniversary next year. And of course knowing Simple Plan, we can always expect a lot more exciting stuff!
You can check out the full video interview below (the audio quality isn’t the best, so make sure to turn on the English subtitles we’ve already provided!):
