Mit ihrer Dokumentation „The Kids in the Crowd“ feiern Simple Plan 25 Jahre Musik, Freundschaft und Durchhaltevermögen. Im Interview mit unserer Redakteurin Jana spricht Drummer Chuck Comeau über die Anfänge in Proberäumen mit Kellercharme, echten Zusammenhalt in schwierigen Zeiten, über Lektionen, die manchmal wehgetan haben – und darüber, warum FaceTime vielleicht die unterschätzteste Erfindung aller Zeiten ist.
Frontstage Magazine: In the opening scenes of the documentary, we see you rehearsing in a basement back in 2002, with Pierre joking, „Because we suck.“ And now, 25 years later, Simple Plan is filling massive venues around the globe. Looking back on this incredible journey from the rehearsal room to the world stage – what would you say to your younger selves?
Chuck: That’s a good question. I think we always had this deep desire to be in a band, to write songs, have our music heard, and get people to come see us play. It wasn’t just ambition in the classic sense. It was more like a need – this had to happen. There was no plan B.
So, to my younger self, I’d say: Keep going. Your attitude is right. Work hard, because when you work hard, you get lucky. Looking back, I’m proud of how resilient and persistent we were. We didn’t take no for an answer. And even though it’s not always considered „cool“ in rock to care that much – we really cared. That’s what made the difference.
I think the only thing I would tell my younger self is to appreciate it more along the way. Enjoy the moments. We didn’t always realize how special those milestones were.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve talked about resilience and the determination that brought you here. But when you look at the big picture of your career – what do you personally admire the most?
Chuck: That we stuck together. We didn’t let conflicts or misunderstandings break us apart. Most bands in our genre split up or went on hiatus. We never did. We kept going, even when it was hard.
Being in a band affects your friendships. You’re making decisions that impact everyone’s lives. But we always managed to talk, to communicate, and to move forward. We treated what we have with care. That’s something I’m very proud of.
Frontstage Magazine: Your documentary “The Kids in the Crowd” beautifully captures the highs and lows – from sweaty garage shows to global hits like „Welcome to My Life.“ You emphasize friendship, brotherhood, and perseverance. How did you manage to keep that „give-it-your-all and never give up“ mentality for more than two decades?
Chuck: Part of it is just who we are. We really wanted this – all of us. Sure, I may have been the more ambitious one, but we were always on the same page.
And the fact that we were friends before we started this band made a huge difference. We talk a lot. Maybe even too much sometimes. But we value every member’s input and always make decisions together. That’s a life lesson in itself – communication is everything.
Frontstage Magazine: That kind of long-term teamwork requires strong communication. Was that something you already knew how to handle back then – or did you have to learn it over time?
Chuck: No, we learned it the hard way. Pierre and I had a band before Simple Plan, and it fell apart because we didn’t know how to handle things. We were immature.
That experience taught us the importance of not crossing certain lines when things get heated. That moment was one of the hardest of my life, but also one of the most valuable. Without that breakup, Simple Plan might not have survived.
Frontstage Magazine: So would you say that friendship is the foundation of Simple Plan?
Chuck: Absolutely. It’s a mix of friendship, brotherhood, and family. If one of us is going through a hard time, we’re there for each other. Not many people in your life are that constant.
Being in a band changes your relationships, sure. But the key is sticking with it. Not giving up on each other. That’s what has kept us going.
Frontstage Magazine: Do you feel like being in the band taught you how to be a better friend – or even a better person?
Chuck: Definitely. Being in a band has shaped my entire life. It made me a better friend and even a better person. You meet so many people who tell you how your music helped them. That gives you perspective. It teaches you empathy and patience.
I try to remember that every interaction might be a fan’s once-in-a-lifetime moment. That mindset keeps you humble.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve mentioned that the band meant everything to you from early on. But did you ever have a plan B in case music didn’t work out?
Chuck: Rationally, yes. I thought I’d go back to law school or do something else in music – maybe be a manager or work behind the scenes. But emotionally, no. I never really had a plan B. Music was it.
Luckily, the band is still growing. Old fans return, new ones discover us, and it feels like we can keep this going for as long as we want.
Frontstage Magazine: Let’s talk drums – if you could go back and do it all again, would you take drum lessons now?
Chuck: Honestly, I should! I skipped a lot of the basics when I started because I jumped straight into a band. Now I see the value in those fundamentals. It would be cool to go back and improve technically.
Frontstage Magazine: One of the funniest anecdotes in the doc is you pretending to be your own manager „Charles“ to get a record deal. Were there any other lost gems or surprises you found while digging through your archives?
Chuck: Yes! I found a forgotten box of tapes at my parents‘ house, including our very first show in a friend’s basement – literally our first time playing in public. And another tape showed us rehearsing and joking around at 13 or 14.
Seeing that footage was magical. We were just kids having fun with no pressure, no audience to please – just pure joy and love for music. It reminded me why we started this in the first place.
Frontstage Magazine: After 25 years and a reflective documentary – what’s next? Do you feel like this chapter has opened new doors or sparked fresh goals for the future?
Chuck: Making the documentary was special because we rarely take time to look back. Now, it feels like we’re entering a new chapter.
We released a new song for the film, „Nothing Changes„, which feels like us in 2025. The future holds more tours, more music, and hopefully reaching new people who discover us through the movie. We’re excited to see how far we can still go.
Frontstage Magazine: Last but not least – will we see you again soon in Germany?
Chuck: Absolutely! We’re touring with The Offspring in October – it’s already sold out! And we’re looking at our own headline tour in Germany again in 2026.
Frontstage Magazine: Okay Chuck, before I let you go – here comes my favourite part. At Frontstage Magazine, I love to close things out with three quick Wonder Questions. No pressure – just tiny if-then brain teasers to end with a smile (or maybe a smirk).
Chuck: Alright, I’ll try my very best.
Frontstage Magazine: If everything went perfectly tomorrow – no jet lag, no missing drumsticks, everyone on time – then…
Chuck: I’d spend the last few days at home with my family before our big U.S. tour.
Frontstage Magazine: If you could bring one item from the future to your 2002 self – then…
Chuck: Definitely FaceTime. Back then we were away from home for months and could only call. Being able to see our families would’ve changed everything.
Frontstage Magazine: If you were a fan in the crowd for one day – then…
Chuck: I’d love to see Simple Plan live as an outsider. To feel the energy, hear the songs, and experience it from a fan’s perspective. That would be so cool.
Frontstage Magazine: Thanks for the honesty, the warmth, and all the insight, Chuck. Talking to you felt like having a backstage pass to the heart of Simple Plan. Here’s to 25 years of music, memories, and meaning – and to everything still ahead.
Chuck: Thank you – this was a real pleasure.
Fotocredit: Skyler Barberio
