Simple Plan Help Out the Kids

Just in time for the season of giving, Simple Plan have announced the formation of their own charity for troubled teens. The Simple Plan Foundation will raise funds for a variety of teen problems -- from suicide to poverty to addiction -- and also promote music education as a means of helping young people get by.

"There are issues that we wanted to address and that had a lot to do with family experiences and people around us," says guitarist Jeff Stinco.

Simple Plan are no strangers to activism. This year, the Montreal rockers took part in MTV Asia's Tsunami Aid concert in Bangkok and performed at the Canadian version of Live 8. The band has also previously partnered with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and RADD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving) on international campaigns, and worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. But this time, the members wanted to oversee the effort themselves. "We've dealt with some charities in the past," says Stinco, "and it's so frustrating not to know how the money is going to be spent, or if the money is actually getting to the people who need it." To this end, the band is going to "administrate from the road."

Singer Pierre Bouvier, drummer Chuck Comeau, bassist David Desrosiers, guitarist Sebastien Lefebvre and Stinco were the first to add to the pot, donating an undisclosed sum and encouraging various Canadian corporations and companies to follow suit: Sennheiser Canada, their booking agent S.L. Feldman & Associates, their label Warner Music Canada and venues including Montreal's Bell Centre.

"We decided to partner with some of the venues we've played at and give a part of the merchandise sales," Stinco explains. "It's about getting people to step up and put some money into a good cause." Nearly $100,000 has already been raised.

Simple Plan are currently in the midst of a nineteen-date Canadian arena tour behind 2004's Still Not Getting Any..., and will tour Europe for a month beginning in January. Then they hope to get back into the studio. Says Stinco, "I think we'll have a record by the end of 2006."