When Simple Plan first played Malaysia in 2004, the Canadian pop-punk band had no idea that a country halfway across the world would become one of its most meaningful fan bases.
In an exclusive virtual interview with StarLifestyle, Simple Plan guitarist Sebastien Lefebvre said Malaysia was among the earliest places where the band truly realised just how deeply its music resonated with audiences.
“We know it’s one of the places in the world where people love to see Simple Plan live.
“To be on the other side of the world and see so many people show up and sing our lyrics back to us has always been surreal.
“I think we’ve built a really good relationship with our fans in Malaysia,” he said.
Three years after bringing its Harder Than It Looks Tour to the country, Simple Plan is set to return on Nov 21 for a concert at Idea Live Arena in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
@simpleplan This is where we belong!Thank you again, Austin, for another amazing evening on the “Bigger Than You Think!” Tour. Best summer ever!#ontour #simpleplan #poppunk #elderemo #nostalgia Where I Belong (feat. We The Kings) - Simple Plan & State Champs
The Malaysian leg will mark Simple Plan’s first Asian stop in its 25th anniversary The Bigger Than You Think World Tour.
“We’re really excited because we have been very busy touring the United States, Canada and Europe,” Lefebvre, 45, added.
“I think it’s only right that we come and say ‘Hi’ to everyone in South-East Asia more often.”
Journey to success
Simple Plan’s lineup originally consisted of five members – Lefebvre, lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier, drummer Chuck Comeau, guitarist Jeff Stinco and bassist David Desrosiers.
Before Simple Plan was formed, Bouvier and Comeau had already been making music together as teenagers after founding the band Reset in 1993.
They later reunited with high school friends Jeff Stinco and Lefebvre, along with former Reset bassist David Desrosiers, to form Simple Plan in 1999.
In 2002, the band released its debut album, No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls, which sold more than four million copies worldwide and spawned hits such as I’m Just A Kid and Perfect.
The success paved the way for a string of fan favourites, including Welcome To My Life, Shut Up, Crazy, Jet Lag and more.
Simple Plan’s lineup changed in later years, with Desrosiers taking an extended hiatus in 2017 to focus on his recovery from depression before ultimately leaving in 2020, following sexual misconduct allegations made against him on social media.
Despite selling millions of records and touring the world for over two decades, Lefebvre said there was never a single defining moment when the band felt it had truly “made it”.
“It’s the little things here and there, you know? Each time you think you’ve achieved something, there just always seems to be more.
“I think the ‘I made it moment’ for the band was when we realised we could pay rent, eat well and didn’t have to get another job to make a living,” he said.
Still, one milestone stands out above the rest: selling out Montreal’s Bell Centre in 2005.
“That was a big deal because this was where we grew up going to shows and watching the Montreal Canadiens (Canada’s professional ice hockey team) play, so it’s such an iconic venue for us,” Lefebvre said.
Beyond its artistic accolades, Simple Plan has also found purpose away from the stage.
The band actively gives back to the community through the Simple Plan Foundation, which supports young people facing challenges such as mental health issues, drug addiction, poverty, serious illnesses and more.
Since launching in 2005, the organisation has raised over US$3mil (RM12.2mil) in donations.
In 2017, Simple Plan’s charitable contributions earned its members the Meritorious Service Cross by former governor general of Canada David Lloyd Johnston.
Lefebvre said: “Every time we hold a Simple Plan Foundation event and realise how many people we’ve helped, we think, ‘This is quite an achievement too.’
“Whenever we write our most personal songs and fans tell us they relate to the lyrics, that’s also something we never saw coming.”
From friends to brothers
As Simple Plan celebrates its 25th anniversary, Lefebvre credits the band’s longevity to the strong relationship between its members.
What began as a friendship has blossomed into something much deeper.
“We’re more like brothers than friends now. There’s a bond that was created through this band.
“After touring and living together for so many years and experiencing many ups and downs together, we’re always going to have each other’s backs,” he said.
That connection is something Lefebvre doesn’t take for granted, having seen many other bands fall apart over the years due to various conflicts.
“There are some bands where all these guys don’t talk or ride in different vans, but that isn’t the case for us.
“We’ve been fortunate that much of our story has been very positive, and we haven’t gone through those horrible times that can break up a band.
“It’s been more than 25 years now, and that says a lot,” he said.
The chemistry between the members is also captured in Simple Plan’s 2025 documentary, The Kids In The Crowd, which chronicles the band’s history.
“It’s interesting because a lot of those early things in the documentary focuses on Pierre and Chuck and their first band,” Lefebvre said.
“I think the dynamic they had back then is important to how Simple Plan functions these days,” he added.
Simple Plan’s music has also evolved over the years, albeit in subtle ways.
“Someone who may not be familiar with Simple Plan may see our very first album and our most recent album kind of fitting together,” Lefebvre explained.
“But if you asked me, I don’t see any of these songs from our last album – or any of the upcoming songs – being on the first album.
“I think if we wrote a song that was really in the spirit of the first album, we would probably approach it differently,” he added.
While Simple Plan’s sound has matured, Lefebvre reiterated that the band’s overall essence hasn’t changed.
“We want to keep our style of music and continue writing with that same energy... That passion is always going to stay,” he said.
Embracing a new era
If there is one thing Simple Plan is truly known for, it’s turning themes of loneliness, heartbreak, rebellion, insecurity and feeling misunderstood into powerful anthems for listeners.
Looking back, Lefebvre believes those songs resonated because they gave audiences permission to acknowledge emotions that were often brushed aside.
“I think back then, it was a little harder for some fans to say, ‘This band understands what I’m going through because they feel the same as I do.’
“I do hope that the mentality of ‘feeling a certain way is a sign of weakness’ disappears.
“We all have our moments, and we have to acknowledge these feelings in order to better take care of ourselves,” he said.
The music industry itself has also transformed dramatically since Simple Plan’s debut.
The days of discovering new music through CDs, MTV, magazines and radio have largely given way to streaming platforms and social media algorithms.
While Lefebvre admitted that he occasionally misses the nostalgia of discovering an artiste through traditional media, he has embraced the digital age.
“The beauty of streaming and social media is that it allows us to stay connected with our fans, and that’s something that’s always been important to us,” he said.
Lefebvre laughed when recalling how the band’s promotional strategy these days involves making light-hearted videos on social media.
“I never imagined that the best way for us to let people know about Simple Plan was to make silly videos of us on TikTok.
“I didn’t see that coming, but I’m having so much fun doing it. I think we’re doing pretty good for a bunch of middle-aged men,” he quipped.
Tickets to Simple Plan’s The Bigger Than You Think! Tour in Malaysia, priced between RM288 and RM448, are available at Ticketmelon and Fantopia’s official website.
