'''Simple Plan''' is a pop punk band formed in 1999 in Montreal, Canada—all five members are French-Canadians who were born and grew up in the province of Quebec. The band has released two original albums: ''No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls'' (2002) and ''Still Not Getting Any...'' (2004); as well as two live CDs: ''Live in Japan'' (2002) and ''MTV Hard Rock Live'' (2005).
History
Simple Plan came about in stages that began with the founding of the band '''Reset''' in 1995, a Canadian punk rock band, by high-school friends Pierre Bouvier, Charles-André (Chuck) Comeau and Adrien White. Reset toured around Canada with bands such as MxPx, Ten Foot Pole, and Face to Face, but only managed to gain modest popularity. The debut album was released in 1997. Comeau soon left to go to college, but two years later he hooked up with Jean-François (Jeff) Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre, and again started making music. It was coincidence that brought Comeau and Bouvier back together at a Sugar Ray concert in late 1999, and Bouvier soon left Reset and joined his old friends. David Desrosiers replaced Bouvier in Reset, but when asked to join the foursome, he too left the band and joined the four friends.
The origin of the band's name is obscure. Band members have given various responses on this point, including a liking for the movie A Simple Plan; that the band was their simple plan to avoid getting a "real" job; and that the name was only intended to be temporary, but they never thought of anything better, and with shows coming up for the new band, they needed a name. Recently, however, Bouvier told a journalist that the band's name was thought of when the members were sitting around, and they decided that "creating a band would be a simple plan to get really rich."
In 2003, the band played as a headliner on the Vans Warped Tour. The same year, they opened for Avril Lavigne on her "Try To Shut Me Up" Tour. http://www.avrilbandaids.com. In addition to several headlining tours, they have also opened for such bands as Green Day and Good Charlotte.
The band tours intensively, and in the period March 2005-March 2006, covered all six inhabited continents. However, since then, it has given few concerts, but has announced plans for a third original CD, to be released most likely in early 2007.
Criticisms
Although Simple Plan maintains a devoted following and has produced two multiplatinum records with numerous hit singles, it has received its share of criticism.
Some members of the punk movement, as well as some fans
