Big thanks goes out to Chuck for taking the time to do this interview, he was super nice. Some parts may be transcribed incorrectly, the Ataris were playing and sometimes the music was louder than Chuck.
Joanne: State your name and what you do in the band.
Joanne: What got you into making music?
Joanne: What's your favorite venue to play at?
Joanne: Do you have a least favorite venue?
Joanne: What's your favorite song to perform live?
Joanne: What's your favorite song on the CD?
Joanne: How has the Warped Tour been so far?
Joanne: What is your most embarassing moment?
Joanne: If you could meet any person dead or alive who would it be?
Joanne: What are your favorite bands to perform with?
Joanne: If you could put together your own tour, what bands would be on it?
Joanne: What was the last CD you bought?
Joanne: What color is your toothbrush?
Joanne: Coke or Pepsi?
Joanne: What is your favorite Disney movie?
Joanne: What question are you sick of answering?
Joanne: What advice do you have for up and coming musicians?
Joanne: Any last words or shout outs?
For More Information:
Chuck: My name is Chuck and I play drums in Simple Plan.
Chuck: Ah, we were in high school together, me and Pierre were in the same class, and we just got into a lot of music and a lot of bands like Pearl Jam and that kinda stuff. And then we saw a show by a band called NOFX and Face to Face and Ten Foot Pole playing together, and that's when we were like we gotta be in a band, we gotta start a band, we gotta start writing songs and we started. And we never stopped ever since, like ten years ago.
Joanne: Yeah, I watched Face to Face earlier.
Chuck: Yeah, they're really good.
Chuck: We've played some amazing clubs, I mean I like the Warped Tour because it's outside every day and I really like outdoor festivals, because they really look amazing and it's such a good time. Kids always have a good time. The Gorge (?) in Seattle was pretty cool. I dunno, there's so many great venues, like we play in Japan and they're amazing. We've been lucky, we've played…anything from the small 20 people clubs to like 50,000 people giant stadiums, you know what I mean? I like changing it up. I dunno…I think any venue that has a bunch of kids packed in is cool.
Chuck: A least favorite? I don't like when the barricades is super far away, that sucks. I like when kids are…Warped is perfect, it's close but not too close. It's right.
Chuck: Addicted. Yeah, that's my favorite song, since that's the song that the most people know. And it's probably the one that people go off the wall with, they really jump and they really sing and everything. And I just like playing it, it's a cool song.
Chuck: Favorite song off the CD has to be 'Grow Up' and 'Perfect'. I like 'Grow Up'…I dunno…'cause it's a fun, super fast like...short song. You know…I dunno, I just like it. And I really like 'Perfect', probably the most personal song that we have. That we ever wrote. And it's just slower, different, I really like it.
Chuck: It's definitely our favorite tour we ever did. This year, it's what we did last summer.
Joanne: Yeah, you guys were on it last year right?
Chuck: Yeah we did three weeks last year, now we're doing 2 months and a half, and we did like 2 shows the year before. So it's like always stepping up. So it's really cool, I just like Warped Tour because it's rad, all the bands are great, ya know? We love Rancid and AFI was on, and the All American Rejects…
Joanne: AFI bailed on Boston…
Chuck: Yeah, it's a bummer. The Starting Line, and we like, tons of bands, like Less Than Jake, just an amazing lineup this year, The Used and…I dunno, it's just a fun tour. I love hanging out with the kids and having a good time, ya know?
Chuck: Most embarassing moment? Uh, do you mean in life in general?
Joanne: It doesn't matter, run with it.
Chuck: Everytime I get on stage is pretty embarassing for me.
Joanne: Why?
Chuck: I'm not that good of a drummer I just try to do my best…
Chuck: Uh…that's tough. I dunno who I would want to meet. Let me think for a second, that's a tough question.
Joanne: That's what everyone says.
*long pause*
Chuck: God dammit. John F. Kennedy, how's that?
Joanne: Why?
Chuck: Why? I don't know. *laughter* He's part of history and a very smart guy, I like to be around smart people. It compensates for me. *laughter*
Chuck: The Warped Tour this year.
Joanne: All the bands?
Chuck: Rancid, definitely, the most amazing guys in the whole world, they're truly amazing. Blink 182 are among the nicest people we ever met in our lives. Uh well, I really really really like…
Joanne: Gob?
Chuck: Yeah, Gob are dope! The All American Rejects are really cool too.
Chuck: Blink 182, Rancid, and Simple Plan.
Joanne: Okay. I'd go to that.
Chuck: Yeah, fuck yeah.
Chuck: Vendetta Red.
Joanne: Oooh, nice.
Chuck: White and purple.
Chuck: Neither, I don't like sodas. But Coca Cola because *says something, can't hear*
Joanne: What's your favorite…
Chuck: Actually, Pepsi, because we just did the Pepsi Smash show yesterday…
*laughter*
Chuck: I never watched a Disney movie in my whole life.
Joanne: You're missing out.
Chuck: Why did you name your band Simple Plan.
Chuck: Advice is don't ever let people bring you down, always believe in yourself, and do your thing, and don't let people tell you that you suck or whatever. Or let them tell you but ignore them and just keep on doing what you're doing. Be persistent and be persevering.
Chuck: I want to say thank you to Rancid because they've been amazing to us, and go to simpleplan.com for all our news and tour dates and you can email us.
• Simple Plan Official Site: www.simpleplan.com
• Lava Records Official Site: www.lavarecords.com