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After over a decade together, boasting four platinum-selling albums and numerous sold out world tours, guitarist Dave Baksh decided to quit the band he’d been in since high school, and with lead singer Deryck Whibley’s high profile marriage to pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne, the end of Sum 41 seemed imminent. With more than enough songs to produce a ‘best of’ for that final pay-day, few would have argued with a decision to go down such a route. But instead, the remaining trio started a clean slate, disposing of all their previous management and production team- they were to create the album that they wanted and very much on their terms. Gone were the men in suits demanding deadlines and a certain commercial sound, the album would be ready when they felt comfortable and, more importantly, proud of it.
Lead singer Deryck Whibley handed Gigwise an insight into the very different process of making and producing new album ‘Underclass Hero’. He explained: “I was only going to do an album when I was excited about it. After about six months we started getting our enthusiasm back. It was then a year of writing and then another three months of recording. With no deadline, we spent a lot longer on it and worked till we thought it was there. I produced it myself so it feels even more special. The lyrics are way more personal and more meaningful and our sound is more creative and energetic.”
Deryck is clearly immensely proud and excited about their forthcoming release, but there had been a time when he understandably harboured thoughts about giving it all up for a quieter life. He ponders: “There were lots of times when I wasn’t on tour or doing an album when I thought, ‘This is life, I could do this forever’. But it’s two different lives being married and being in a band and constantly touring. They are both equally great”. Even if Sum 41 did come to an end, this would not necessarily signify Deryck’s exit from music. It is a passion and an undying love as he admits: “I think I will always be in music, I don’t think I could ever switch off from that. Even if I was just making music and nobody heard it.” This view is echoed by their former member, Dave ‘Brownsound’ Baksh who since departing Sum 41 has embarked on a new project ‘The Brown Brigade’. His desire to play a more classical metal sound resulted in ‘artistic differences’ and the split was made.
Away from music, Sum 41 are involved in a lot more than your average pop-punk band, their on-going association with the charity War Child is close to Deryck’s heart and this was greatly enhanced by a frontline experience that nearly cost their lives. While out in the Democratic Republic of Congo the lads were suddenly caught in crossfire while making a documentary and their lives were very much in danger. If not for the heroics of a United Nations peacekeeper named Charles ‘Chuck’ Pelletier, the outcome could have been very different. He guided the Canadian punksters to safety along with 40 other civilians. Consequently their previous album was named ‘Chuck’ and dedicated to him.
When questioned on whether this near death experience made him more grateful and appreciative of life, Deryck explained: “Not really, but that is because we already did appreciate things - that was the whole reason we went over there in the first place. We did understand this whole side of life and that these things were going on in other parts of the world. We wanted to bring attention to it. It was such a crazy experience being caught in a war like that. You know, you grow up knowing how bad war is, but being in that made it so real and us even more against war. It really is the ugliest thing you could be involved in.”
Sum 41, are in London for a one-off show at the Astoria which, significantly, was the first UK venue they ever played. And a full UK tour is in the pipeline as Deryck reveals: “We are trying to come back to the UK as soon as we can. We love it here and the fans are so special. Maybe it will be around September but I don’t want to say anything definite yet.” With a week of America’s Warped Tour and then trips to Japan and Australia, the Ontario three-piece are certainly getting back into the relentless touring they were famed for.
When asked if a career as a producer was now a possibility, Deryck diplomatically played it down, stating: “I don’t suddenly think I’m a great producer, but if someone approached me and I felt I understood it and could maybe add to it, then yeah. But I’m not thinking ok I’m a producer now, im going to go and look for work”.
‘Underclass hero’, released 23rd July 2007, portrays issues deeply personal to Deryck, such as ‘Dear Father <Complete Unknown>’ which is about never meeting his dad and dealing with the fact he probably never will. While the gap left by the departed Dave Baksh is referred to on ‘So Long, Goodbye’. Deryck is certainly relieved he stuck at it and defied any doubters as he firmly believes ‘Underclass Hero’ is Sum 41’s best ever work. He declared: “This record has the greatest elements of everything we’ve ever done. We wanted to take what we felt we did the best and evolve and develop that. It’s definitely different lyrically and musically and by far the most personal to us.”
The story of Sum 41 is far from over as they embark on another chapter with added confidence and self-belief after going it alone, the trio have united against adversity and come out the other end all the better for it. ‘Underclass Hero’ promises to be the most creative and intelligent work they’ve ever produced.
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