Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of Deryck Whibley (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Dave Baksh (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jason McCaslin (bass, backing vocals), Tom Thacker (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), and Frank Zummo (drums, occasional backing vocals).
Sum 41
- Kaspir (1994–1996)
- Supernova (1996)
- Pain for Pleasure
Ajax, Ontario, Canada
1996–present[a]
- Steve Jocz
- Grant McVittie
- Jon Marshall
- Richard Roy
- Mark Spicoluk
In 1999, Sum 41 signed an international record deal with Island Records and released its first EP, Half Hour of Power, in 2000. The band released its debut album, All Killer No Filler, in 2001. The album achieved mainstream success with its first single, "Fat Lip", which reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and remains the band's most successful single to date. The album's next singles "In Too Deep" and "Motivation" also achieved commercial success. All Killer No Filler was certified platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom and triple platinum in Canada. In 2002, the band released Does This Look Infected?, which was also a commercial and critical success. The singles "The Hell Song" and "Still Waiting" both charted highly on the modern rock charts.
The band released its next album, Chuck, in 2004, led by singles "We're All to Blame" and "Pieces". The album proved successful, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200. In 2007, the band released Underclass Hero, which was met with a mixed reception, but became the band's highest-charting album to date. It was also the band's last album on Aquarius Records. The band released the album Screaming Bloody Murder, on Island Records in 2011 to a generally positive reception, though it fell short of its predecessors' commercial success. The band's sixth studio album, 13 Voices was released in 2016, through Hopeless Records. IMPALA awarded the album with a double gold award for 150,000 sold copies across Europe. The band's seventh studio album Order in Decline was released on July 19, 2019. It was the band's last album on Hopeless Records. The band's eighth studio album, Heaven :x: Hell, was released on March 29, 2024, through Rise Records. In May 2023, the band announced that the album would be their last as they would be disbanding after its release and a worldwide headlining tour.
The band often performed more than 100 times each year and holds long global tours, most of which lasted more than a year. The group was nominated for seven Juno Awards and won twice – Group of the Year in 2003, and Rock Album of the Year for Chuck in 2005. Sum 41 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the song "Blood in My Eyes". From their formation to 2016, Sum 41 were the 31st best-selling Canadian artist in Canada.[3]
History[edit]
1994–1998: Formative years[edit]
Sum 41 has its origins in the band Kaspir, which was formed by Deryck Whibley and Grant McVittie in 1994, inspired by Weezer and Nirvana. As time went on, the band's founding drummer was replaced by Steve Jocz and the music became increasingly inspired by NOFX, particularly their 1991 album Ribbed. Seeing this change as too sonically dissimilar to their original sound, Kaspir decided to change its name.[4] The band originally changed its name to Supernova, performing live under this name for the first time on September 28, 1996. This date happened to be the 41st day of their summer vacation, which led the band to change their name to Sum 41.[5] The first lineup to use this name included Whibley, Jocz, McVittie and Jon Marshall.[4] Another early member was bassist Richard Roy.[6]
Their first televised live performance was at Jonopalooza, on the Canadian teen talk show Jonovision hosted by Trailer Park Boys star, and Canadian comedian, Jonathan Torrens.[7]
The band met their manager and producer Greig Nori, also the lead vocalist of the band Treble Charger, in 1996 at Jonopalooza,[5] and Whibley convinced Nori to watch his band perform.[5] Nori was not impressed with the band's songs or the original vocalist Jon Marshall and advised Whibley to be the vocalist instead causing Marshall to leave.[6][5] With Whibley moving to lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Dave Baksh a friend of Deryck and Steve, and fellow student at Exeter High School joined as lead guitarist.[6] Early on; the band was involved in a near-fatal car accident, resulting in Roy leaving the band.[6] Mark Spicoluk briefly filled in the position before Jason McCaslin, another friend of the band’s, and student at Exeter High School was brought in on bass to complete the new line-up.[8] In 1996, the band opened for Len.[5]
Side projects and collaborations[edit]
Before the release of Half Hour of Power, and up until the departures of Dave Baksh and Steve Jocz, Sum 41 occasionally played as an alter ego 1980s heavy metal band called Pain for Pleasure during shows.[205] The band appeared in Sum 41's music videos for "Fat Lip" and "We're All to Blame" and had at least one song on each of the band's first three releases.[206] The group's best known song under the Pain for Pleasure moniker is the song of the same name from All Killer No Filler, a track that remains the band's staple during live shows and features drummer Steve Jocz on lead vocals. During the Don't Call It a Sum-Back Tour in 2017, Pain for Pleasure appeared performing the song at the end of their show with guitarist Tom Thacker replacing Jocz as the vocalist.[205]
Sum 41 has collaborated with many other artists, both live and in the studio, including: MC Shan, Tenacious D,[207] Ludacris,[208] Iggy Pop,[209] Pennywise,[210] Bowling for Soup,[210] Unwritten Law,[211] Mike Shinoda,[212] Treble Charger,[213] Gob,[211] Tommy Lee,[214][215] Rob Halford,[215] Kerry King,[5] Metallica,[216] Ja Rule,[217] DMC,[218] and Nothing,Nowhere.[219]
Shortly after touring for Does This Look Infected?, Sum 41 was recruited by Iggy Pop for his album, Skull Ring.[209] Whibley co-wrote the first single from the album, "Little Know It All", and joined Iggy on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote it.[209] Following the band's show of September 11, 2005, in Quebec City, Quebec, the band went on a touring hiatus, although on April 17, 2006, Sum 41 played at a tribute to Iggy Pop, joining Iggy on stage for "Little Know It All" and "Lust For Life".[220][221][222]
During the band's 2006 touring hiatus, Whibley focused on his producing career: he produced two songs for Avril Lavigne's album The Best Damn Thing.[223] Jocz recorded his first video as director for a Canadian band, The Midway State,[224] and McCaslin started a side project with Todd Morse of H2O and Juliette and the Licks.[225] McCaslin's two-person band, named The Operation M.D., released its debut album, We Have an Emergency, in early 2007.[225] In 2022, Whibley was featured on the Simple Plan single, "Ruin My Life".[226][227][228]
Deryck Whibley
Dave Baksh
Jason McCaslin
Tom Thacker
Frank Zummo
Studio albums
