Infamous Tea & Honey show
It’s been over 12 years since Canadian pop punk band Simple Plan first formed, but it’s the first time the Platinum-certified quintet is performing in Shanghai. Ahead of their show this month, lead guitarist Jeff Stinco chats about near-death experiences, getting mobbed and singing in French.
The new album, Get Your Heart On!, sounds very arousing.
It was meant to be a simple, fun record, but that was actually quite hard! It was difficult to throw back to the energy of the first two records. Compared to the last album, there’s more of a summer feel to it.
So you’re saying your third record, Simple Plan, was less fun and energetic?
The third record is an introspective record. There’s a lot of exploration. We’re trying different things. I personally see it as a transitional record. It’s very hard for a band to find its identity and to stick to it, but also try different avenues.
What made you decide to release your recent single, ‘Jet Lag,’ in both English and French versions?
Why not French? Our first language is French, even though the first bands that influenced us were American. We were kind of emulating, in the early days, the bands that influenced us. And now we’re at a point where we try new things.
There are several songs featuring guest vocalists on the new album. Did you actually meet the artists or were their parts recorded separately?
Pierre, our singer, spent a lot of time with Natasha Bedingfield to work parts out. Sebastien and I spent time with Marie-Mai. The best part was shooting the video [for 'Jet Lag']. I was kind of shy during the video shoot because I was thinking ‘you girls are not wearing much!’ I was trying to be gentlemanly about it. But afterwards we had a rap party and Natasha Bedingfield just threw it down, she was just like one of the boys.
Who were you most excited to work with?
Mark Hoppus from Blink-182, he was definitely very important for us. But having Rivers Cuomo from Weezer was an honor. He’s got such a distinctive voice and we’re all such big fans. There are moments in the song that are very Weezer-ish.
If you could work with any artist in the future, who would it be?
It would be great to work with Pink. I think her voice is very strong, powerful. She has fans that are very intense and she treats them in a very respectful way. Gwen Stefani from No Doubt would also be someone we’d appreciate working with.
Seems like you're eyeing the ladies. Your second album was entitled Still Not Getting Any…Are you getting any now?
I sure hope so! At our age it would be pathetic if we didn’t! Some of us have girlfriends, some of us are single. We always find a way to manage. It’s very manageable…
What’s the most rock and roll thing that’s ever happened to you?
One of our bus drivers fell asleep at the wheel on the way to Chicago. The bus almost flipped. It reminds me of Almost Famouswhen the plane is about to crash.
In Malaysia, I remember having a signing in the music store and there was a riot on our exit. People were banging on the bus as we were leaving and security asked us to bend down because the windows were about to shatter. People were running after the bus.
Some of your songs have been banned by China’s Ministry of Culture. What was your reaction when you heard that?
My first reaction was, really? Why? To me, it was interesting that we got banned with very big artists like Lady Gaga. The news made the world go to us.
We respect the government’s response and the way they handled it. And at the end of the day, fans will find a way to listen to our music. We have a very social mission without the band but within the music there’s not really a very strong political content. There’s very innuendo-driven content but there’s nothing very sexual to what we do.
Earlier this year, you had to cancel tour dates in China because of Pierre Bouvier’s vocal injury. What happened?
As a band you have to make tough decisions and sometimes you expect too much. Pierre did too much and his vocal chords got strained. Luckily, he reacted quickly and took the time off that he needed. We accepted that and waited for him to recover. And we readjusted our way of thinking. Over the years we may have pushed the machine a little too hard.
You’re set to continue touring until well into next year. Do you have concerns about your future health?
For sure. But at the end of the day you want to put out the best show possible. In the past, the philosophy of the band was to do everything, 300 shows a year. The schedule now is intense but it’s nothing like it was before.
Did you cut back because you’re just getting too old?
Oh, we’re so old! No, I think we’re better now than ever. I look at pictures from before and think ‘Oh wow, you partied your ass off!’ Realistically, you just can’t be doing 300 shows three years straight. At some point it’s just too much.
A number of songs on your new album make it sound like you're sick of touring.
Human beings have a knack for complaining. We’re not an exception to that. When you’re at home you want to be on the road and when you’re on the road you want to be at home. Touring is definitely a lot of work and luckily for us Skype exists! Lot of advantages to technology!
You have to remember that songs are written at a moment of vulnerability. And in songs you tend to complain about the bad sides of your life. Good moments with your family, you’re not writing those sides. That’s why the album reflects that. That’s not to say that we are always depressed!
What are you most looking forward to about coming to Shanghai?
A modern city! I’ve seen a lot of pictures and testimonies and travel blogs, but I’m kind of curious to see how our fans at the shows will be reacting.
We always say that fans around the world react the same way, but it’s not true. In Brazil, it’s pure madness, a lot of people recognizing us on the street, fans basically locking us into a building! Elsewhere it takes a while to rile up the crowd.
Plans for the future?
2012 will be no exception to our hectic schedule. We’re playing a full tour of Canada, US, South America. And at the very end of they year, we’ll be recording our new album.
Having toured so extensively, you must be an expert on all worldly matters. Who would win in a fight between a polar bear and a tiger?
I would bet on the polar bear, I think; bet on strength and massiveness. I would say the polar bear would succeed on that level. Tigers would tend to be speedy, but I think overall the polar bear.
// Simple Plan is performing in Shanghai Jan 7. RMB260 (in advance) or RMB350 (at the door), 8pm. The Mixing Room, Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Expo Avenue 世博大道1200号(400 181 6688). A shuttle bus will be running from Xintiandi (Madang Lu, by Zizhong Lu) and Yaohua Lu Metro (exit 4) to the venue at 6.30pm.
To win a pair of tickets and a Muse VIP card with RMB2,000 spending money, complete the title of this Simple Plan album:
No Pads, No Helmets…
The first correct answer to win@urbanatomy.com takes ‘em
