Sum 41 was a Canadianrock band formed inAjax, Ontario, in 1996. The band's final lineup consisted ofDeryck Whibley (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards),Dave Baksh (lead guitar, backing vocals),Jason McCaslin (bass, backing vocals),Tom Thacker (rhythm and lead guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), andFrank Zummo (drums).
In 1999, Sum 41 signed an international record deal withIsland Records and released its first EP,Half Hour of Power, in 2000. The band released its debut album,All Killer No Filler, in 2001. The album achieved mainstream success with its first single, "Fat Lip", which reached number one on theBillboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and remains the band's most successful single to date. The album's next singles "In Too Deep" and "Motivation" also achieved commercial success.All Killer No Filler was certified platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom and triple platinum in Canada. In 2002, the band releasedDoes This Look Infected?, which was also a commercial and critical success. The singles "The Hell Song" and "Still Waiting" both charted highly on the modern rock charts.
The band released its next album,Chuck, in 2004, led by singles "We're All to Blame" and "Pieces". The album proved successful, peaking at number 10 on theBillboard 200. In 2007, the band releasedUnderclass Hero, which was met with a mixed reception, but became the band's highest-charting album to date. It was also the band's last album onAquarius Records. The band released the albumScreaming Bloody Murder, onIsland Records in 2011 to a generally positive reception, though it fell short of its predecessors' commercial success. The band's sixth studio album,13 Voices was released in 2016, throughHopeless Records.IMPALA awarded the album with a double gold award for 150,000 sold copies across Europe. The band's seventh studio albumOrder in Decline was released on July 19, 2019. It was the band's last album on Hopeless Records. The band's eighth and final studio album,Heaven :x: Hell, was released on March 29, 2024, throughRise Records. The band disbanded in March 2025, following afinal worldwide headlining tour and their induction into theCanadian Music Hall of Fame.
Sum 41 has its origins in the band Kaspir, which was formed byDeryck Whibley and Grant McVittie in 1994, inspired byWeezer andNirvana. As time went on, the band's drummer was replaced bySteve Jocz and the music became increasingly inspired byNOFX, particularly their 1991 albumRibbed. Seeing this change as too sonically dissimilar to their original sound, they decided to form a new band and to change their sound because they sounded "like the early nineties rock music we used to listen to, and don't anymore".[2][3] The band chose the name "Sum 41" after looking at the calendar and counting how many days it had been from the start of their summer break to the day theWarped Tour was on and seeing that it was forty-one days.[2] The band debuted its new name duringSupernova's Battle of the Bands on September 28, 1996.[2][4][5] The first lineup to use this name included Whibley, Jocz, McVittie and Jon Marshall.[3] Another early member was bassist Richard Roy who shortly replaced McVittie.[6]
The band met their manager and producerGreig Nori, also the lead vocalist of the bandTreble Charger, in 1996 at Jonopalooza,[4] and Whibley convinced Nori to watch his band perform.[4] Nori was not impressed with the band's songs or the original vocalist Jon Marshall and advised Whibley to be the vocalist instead causing Marshall to leave.[6][4] With Whibley moving to lead vocals and rhythm guitar,Dave Baksh, a friend of Deryck and Steve and fellow student at Exeter High School, joined as lead guitarist.[6] During the band's first tour inNew Brunswick, the band was involved in a near-fatal car accident, when theirFord Econolinevan wasbroadsided by anF-150; Roy, who was driving the van, quit the band after returning home.[6][8]Mark Spicoluk briefly filled in as the band's new bassist in 1998, until he was replaced byJason McCaslin, another friend of the band's and student at Exeter High School, in 1999.[9][10] In 1996, the band opened forLen.[4]
After signing withIsland Records in 1999, Sum 41's first EP,Half Hour of Power, was released on June 27, 2000.[13] The firstsingle released by the band was "Makes No Difference", which had two differentmusic videos.[14] The first video was put together using the video clips sent to the major label, and the second showed the band performing at a house party.[15] The album was certified platinum in Canada.[16]
2001–2003:All Killer No Filler andDoes This Look Infected?
Sum 41's first full-length album,All Killer No Filler, was released on May 8, 2001.[17][18] The album was very successful; it was certified platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America in August 2001.[19] "Fat Lip", the album's first single,[20][21][22] achieved significant chart and commercial success; it topped the USBillboard Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as many other charts around the world.[23] The song remains the band's most successful to date. After "Fat Lip", two more singles were released from the album: "In Too Deep" and "Motivation".[20][17][24] "In Too Deep" peaked at number 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, while "Motivation" peaked at number 24 on the same chart.[25] The album peaked at number 13 on theBillboard 200 chart and at number nine on theTop Canadian Albums chart.[26] The album was a commercial success, and was certifiedPlatinum in the United States, UK, and triple platinum in Canada[27][28] The album's name was taken from the initial reaction from Joe Mcgrath, an engineer working in the studio.[29]
The band spent much of 2001 touring; the group played over 300 concerts that year before returning to the studio to record another album.[30] The band took part in the 2001 Vans Warped Tour[31] and the Campus Invasion Tour.[32] In April 2002, the band went on a month long tour called theSum Like it Loud Tour.[30]
On May 3, 2002,Spider-Man was released in theaters which featured an extended version of the song from Sum 41's first album "Half Hour of Power" called "What We're All About",[33] which in the album was combined with another short song called "Dave's Possessed Hair". The song was listed on the album as "Dave's Possessed Hair/It's What We're All About".[34]
In October 2002, the band went on a month long tour called theSum on Your Face Tour.[35] On November 26, 2002, the group released its second album,Does This Look Infected?[36][37] The special edition came with a DVD,Cross The T's and Gouge Your I's. Whibley said of the album: "We don't want to make another record that sounds like the last record, I hate when bands repeat albums."[38] The album featured a harder and edgier sound, and the lyrics featured a more serious outlook.[39] The album peaked at number 32 on theBillboard 200 chart and at number eight on the Top Canadian Albums chart.[40] It was certified Platinum in Canada and gold in the United States.[41][42]
In late May 2004, the band travelled to theDemocratic Republic of the Congo withWar Child Canada, a branch of the British charity organizationWar Child, to document the effects of thecountry's civil war.[47] There had been a stoppage in fighting for almost a year and a half, yet days after arriving, fighting broke out inBukavu near the hotel where the band was staying.[48][49] The band waited for the fighting to die down, but it did not.[50] AUN peacekeeper, Charles "Chuck" Pelletier, called for armoured carriers to take the hotel's occupants out of the hot zone.[50] After nearly twenty hours, the carriers arrived, and the band and forty other civilians were taken to safety.[50]
In honour of Pelletier, Sum 41 named its next albumChuck; it was released on October 12, 2004.[49][52] The album charted at number 10 on theBillboard 200 chart.[53] It also peaked at number two on the Canadian Albums chart.[54] The album received positive reviews,[55][56] and was certified Platinum in Canada and gold in the United States.[57][58]
The first single from the album was "We're All To Blame",[59] which peaked at number 10 on the Alternative Airplay chart.[60] It was followed by "Pieces",[61] which reached the top of the charts in Canada.[62][63][64] In 2004, the band went on a co-headlining North American Tour withGood Charlotte.[65] The band joinedMötley Crüe on their Carnival of Sin summer tour as an opening act.[66]
A documentary of the band's experience in Congo was made into a film calledRocked: Sum 41 in Congo and later aired onMTV.[67][68][69][70] War Child released it on DVD on November 29, 2005, in the United States and Canada.[67][68][69][70] Following the album's release, the band went on a tour withGood Charlotte until 2006.[71] On December 21, 2005, Sum 41 released alive album,Happy Live Surprise, in Japan.[72][73] The CD contained a full concert recorded live inLondon, Ontario.[73] The same CD was released March 7, 2006, in Canada under the nameGo Chuck Yourself.[72][73] The band played videos before its set that were deemed "unsuitable for children".[74] Controversy arose over some of the videos' violent content.[74]
On May 10, 2006,Dave Baksh, via a statement through management, announced that he was leaving Sum 41 to work with his new band,Brown Brigade, which has a more "classic metal" sound.[4][75] Baksh cited "creative differences" as the reason for his departure, but claimed that he was still on good terms with the band.[75]The next day, Whibley confirmed Baksh's official departure and announced that the band would only replace him with a touring guitarist, who would not have any decision-making power in the band or be in videos, photo shoots, or albums.[76] The band hiredGob frontman and guitaristTom Thacker to replace Baksh.[4][76]
Sum 41 playing live at Club Oxygen on March 7, 2008
On April 17, 2007, the band released a song oniTunes, "March of the Dogs".[77][78] Whibley was threatened with deportation from the United States for the song, because he metaphorically "killed thepresident" on it.[78][79] The band's fourth studio album,Underclass Hero was released on July 23, 2007.[80]
The album, backed by the first single and title track, "Underclass Hero", was released on July 24, 2007.[78][77][81] Despite mixed reviews,[82] the album was a commercial success, debuting at number seven on theBillboard 200[53] and at number one on theBillboard Rock Albums chart, the band's highest US chart position to date.[83] It also peaked at number one on the Canadian Albums chart[54] and on theAlternative Albums chart.[84] Two more singles were released from the album, "Walking Disaster"[85] and "With Me".[86]Underclass Hero was certified Platinum in Canada.[87] On September 15, 2007, the band headlined theHouse of Blues withYellowcard.[88]
In October 2007, the band began theStrength in Numbers Tour, a tour of Canada with Canadian bandFinger Eleven;Die Mannequin opened each of Sum 41's shows.[89] During the tour, Whibley sustained aherniated disk.[89] As a result, the group cancelled the rest of its shows.[89] After Whibley recovered from his injury, the band continued theUnderclass Hero tour in March 2008 and toured until early July, when the group began preparation for its next album.[90]
Sum 41 released a greatest hits album in Japan titled8 Years of Blood, Sake and Tears in November 2008.[91] The album included a previously unreleased song, "Always", and a DVD, which contains each of the band's music videos.[91] On March 17, the band released the worldwide version of the album, titledAll the Good Shit.[92][93]
2009–2012: Thacker's official arrival andScreaming Bloody Murder
In July 2009, the band was an opening act forThe Offspring on their Shit is Fucked Up Tour.[94] Drummer Steve Jocz confirmed that Tom Thacker was now an official member of Sum 41, and would take part in the writing and recording.[95] On November 5, 2009, Whibley posted a blog on the band'sMySpace page announcingGil Norton as the producer of the band's upcoming album, also saying that 20 songs were already written for the album.[96] In an interview withTom Thacker, some working titles for songs for the new album were confirmed, including "Panic Attack", "Jessica Kill" and "Like Everyone Else".[97] Pre-production for the new album took 13 days in December 2009, with the band officially entering the studio to begin recording atPerfect Sound Studios on January 26, 2010. The new studio album, titledScreaming Bloody Murder,[98] was expected for a late 2010 release, but was delayed until early 2011.[99] The band finished recording on June 24, 2010, just before joining the 2010 Warped Tour. While the group was on the tour, the new album entered thepost-production stages ofmixing andmastering.[99] A new song called "Skumfuk" was leaked online on July 6, 2010.[100] In an interview withCanoe.ca, Steve Jocz said that while producer Gil Norton was originally hired to engineer the new album, he was only around for a week and Sum 41 self-produced the record.[99] From October to November 2010, the band headlined theEastpak Antidote Tour [de].[101][102]
The first single from the album, "Screaming Bloody Murder", was released on February 7, 2011, in the United States.[103][104] On February 28, 2011, a stream of "Blood in My Eyes", another new song from the album, was released for free listening on Alternative Press.[105] The albumScreaming Bloody Murder was released on March 29, 2011.[106][107][108] On May 28, 2011, Sum 41 performed a live set forGuitar Center Sessions onDirecTV.[109] The episode included an interview with program hostNic Harcourt.[109]
"Baby You Don't Wanna Know" was released as the album's second single.[110] A music video was also produced for the first single, "Screaming Bloody Murder", but it was left unreleased due to its content and difficulties with executives of the band.[111]
On August 9, 2011, Sum 41 released the live albumLive at the House of Blues, Cleveland 9.15.07 – a live recording of a show that took place on September 15, 2007, inCleveland, Ohio, while the band was touring its previous albumUnderclass Hero.[112] A week later when the band was touring the US as part of theVans Warped Tour, they were forced once again to cancel all remaining dates, when Whibley re-injured his back after playing three shows.[113] It was announced on the band's official website that they would be postponing indefinitely all upcoming tour dates for 2011 while Whibley underwent treatment.[113] In 2011, Sum 41 was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the song "Blood in My Eyes", but lost to theFoo Fighters.[114][115][116]
In February 2012, the band shot a music video for the song "Blood in My Eyes", the third single from the album, with director Michael Maxxis inLos Angeles.[117] It was released officially released on September 10, 2012.[118]
From November to December 2012, the band undertook theDoes This Look Infected? 10th Anniversary Tour, touring the United States to celebrate the album's release in 2002.[119][120][121]
On November 26, 2012, the band members revealed that they were taking a break from touring in 2013 to begin work on a new record.[122]
In 2015,Dave Baksh (top) rejoined Sum 41, whileFrank Zummo (bottom) was recruited as the band's new drummer.
From March to April 2013, the band co-headlined the Dead Silence Tour withBilly Talent.[123] On April 18, 2013, drummer Jocz announced he would be leaving the band on his officialFacebook page,[124][125][126] leaving Whibley as the sole founding member of the band.[127]
On May 16, 2014, Deryck Whibley posted on his website, explaining that he had liver and kidney failure due to excessive drinking. He also said that he had some ideas for new songs, and that the band would be soon starting to make a new album.[128] On June 9, 2014, Whibley said on his Facebook page that he was working on new Sum 41 music out of his home studio to get ready to record some new tunes.[129]
On July 9, 2015, the band launched aPledgeMusic campaign for its comeback album.[130] On July 23, 2015, the band played its comeback show at the Alternative Press Awards, which featured former lead guitarist Dave Baksh, joining the band on stage nine years after his departure.[131][132] The band's set also featuredDMC as guest.[133] It also introducedFrank Zummo fromStreet Drum Corps as the new drummer.[134] Sum 41 confirmed Baksh's official return to the band on August 14, 2015.[133] On December 26, 2015, Sum 41 teased two new songs on theirInstagram profile.[133]
The band performed on the 2016Warped Tour.[135] On May 11, 2016, the group announced its signing toHopeless Records.[136][137] The band announced on June 6, 2016 that their sixth album would be called13 Voices and would be released on October 7, 2016.[138] That same day, they also revealed album's track list and cover art.[138] The first song from the upcoming album, "Fake My Own Death", was released on June 28, 2016, throughHopeless Records' officialYouTube channel, along with a music video for the song.[139][140] The song was performed onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 3, 2016.[141] The album's first official single, "War", was released on August 25, 2016.[142][143] On September 29, 2016, the track "God Save Us All (Death to Pop)" was officially released (along with a live music video).[144][145]IMPALA awarded the album with a double gold award for 150,000 sold copies across Europe.[146][147]
On September 29, 2016, it was announced that the band would be headlining the2016 Kerrang! Tour.[148][149] From October 2016 to August 2017, the band went on theirDon't Call It a Sum-Back Tour in support of 13 Voices. The band played nearly 100 shows in the Americas,[150] Europe,[151] and Asia.[152] The band invited fans to record a music video for "Goddamn I'm Dead Again" that was released on May 3, 2017.[153] In April 2017, the band co-headlined the 2017 Canadian Tour withPapa Roach.[154] From April to May 2017, the band co-headlined the We Will Detonate Tour withPierce the Veil.[155] The group embarked on a 15th anniversary tour ofDoes This Look Infected in 2018.[156][157]
From April to May 2019, the band embarked on an intimate tour called the No Personal Space Tour.[158] In April 2019, the band announced via social media its return with new music.[159][160] On April 24, 2019 they released the single, "Out for Blood" throughHopeless Records.[160][161] The same day, the band also announced their seventh studio album,Order in Decline, with a set release date of July 19, 2019.[159][160][162]
In September 2019, the band started a North American tour called theOrder in Decline Tour.[172][173] On top of supportingOrder in Decline, the tour was also done in support of the 15th Anniversary of their studio albumChuck.[172][174] From November to December 2019, the band went on a co-headlining tour withThe Offspring.[175][176] On May 28, 2021, the band released a version of "Catching Fire" featuringNothing,Nowhere, along with a music video.[177][178][179]
2022–2025:Heaven :x: Hell, final tour, Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction, and disbandment
On February 22, 2022, the band announced a U.S. tour withSimple Plan called theBlame Canada tour that ran from April to August 2022.[180][181][182]
On March 23, 2022, the band announced their eighth studio album,Heaven :x: Hell, a double album.[183][184][185][186]Heaven will return to the pop punk sound of the band's early career whileHell is a continuation of the band's more recent heavier metal sound.[183][184][185][186]
On October 8, 2022, during theirDoes This Look All Killer No Filler Tour, Sum 41 performed at theUnipol Arena inBologna, Italy, drawing over 14,000 attendees, the band's largest concert ever held in Europe.[187]
On February 22, 2023, it was announced that the band would be playing atWhen We Were Young on October 22, 2023.[188][189] On May 8, 2023, the band announced it would be disbanding following the release ofHeaven :x: Hell and a worldwide headlining tour.[190][191]
On September 19, 2023, it was announced that Whibley was hospitalized forCOVID-19,[192] andpneumonia.[193][194] The next day, it was announced that he was responding well to his treatments and was discharged from the hospital.[195] Despite being discharged from the hospital, Whibley stated that he was "not out of the woods yet" but is "staying positive".[196][197] On September 24, the band launched a Laylo website, hinting fans that "Something is coming..."[198]
The first single of the album, titled "Landmines", was released on September 27, 2023, along with a music video. The song is a return to the pop-punk sound of the band's early career, making it part of theHeaven side of the album. The band also announced that they signed withRise Records.[199][200] The second single, "Rise Up", was released on December 12, 2023, along with a music video.[201][202] The song is in the style of the band's more recent heavier metal sound, meaning it will be part of theHell side on the upcoming album.[201][202] The album was released on March 29, 2024.[201][202]
On January 16, 2024, the band announced dates for theirfinal tour, with their last show taking place on January 30, 2025 atScotiabank Arena inToronto.[203][204] The band played "Landmines" onJimmy Kimmel Live! on February 8, 2024.[205][206] On February 22, 2024, the band released "Waiting on a Twist of Fate" as the album's third single.[207][208] A music video for "Dopamine" was released on March 29, 2024, the same day as the album.[209]
In a 2025 interview with The Canadian Press for Sum 41's final Canadian tour dates, McCaslin and Baksh said they learned of the group's disbandment through an email sent by Whibley to all of the members in early 2023.[210] Both said they were shocked and it took each of them speaking directly with Whibley by phone to understand the decision.[210] Whibley described years of finding excuses to keep Sum 41 together and only reaching certainty on his decision to break up the band after returning to a tour life after theCOVID-19 pandemic closures.[210]
On March 28, 2025, the band released a cover of "Sleep Now in the Fire" byRage Against the Machine.[211] The band was inducted into theCanadian Music Hall of Fame on March 30, 2025 during the 54th annualJuno Awards.[212] Founding drummer Steve Jocz was also inducted but did not attend the ceremony.[213] After the induction, the band released their final music video for the song "Radio Silence" on April 1, 2025.[214]
Before the release ofHalf Hour of Power, and up until the departures ofDave Baksh andSteve Jocz, Sum 41 occasionally played as analter ego 1980sheavy metal band called Pain for Pleasure during shows.[217] The band appeared in Sum 41's music videos for "Fat Lip" and "We're All to Blame" and had at least one song on each of the band's first three releases.[218] The group's best known song under the Pain for Pleasure moniker is the song of the same name fromAll Killer No Filler, a track that remains the band's staple during live shows and features drummer Steve Jocz on lead vocals. During theDon't Call It a Sum-Back Tour in 2017, Pain for Pleasure appeared performing the song at the end of their show with guitarist Tom Thacker replacing Jocz as the vocalist.[217]
Shortly after touring forDoes This Look Infected?, Sum 41 was recruited byIggy Pop for his album,Skull Ring.[221] Whibley co-wrote the first single from the album, "Little Know It All", and joined Iggy on theLate Show with David Letterman to promote it.[221] Following the band's show of September 11, 2005, inQuebec City,Quebec, the band went on a touring hiatus, although on April 17, 2006, Sum 41 played at a tribute to Iggy Pop, joining Iggy on stage for "Little Know It All" and "Lust For Life".[232][233][234]
Sample of "Fat Lip" fromAll Killer No Filler. "Fat Lip" has been described as pop-punk, much like the band's other material.[241] Unlike the band's other material, the song contains rapping during the verses.[242][243]
In a November 2004 interview, Deryck Whibley said: "We don't even consider ourselves punk. We're just a rock band. We want to do something different. We want to do our own thing. That's how music has always been to us."[265] Dave Baksh reiterated Whibley's claims, stating "We just call ourselves rock... It's easier to say than punk, especially around all these fuckin' kids that think they know what punk is. Something that was based on not having any rules has probably one of the strictest fucking rule books in the world."[266]
^"R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30"(PDF).Radio & Records. No. 1613. July 1, 2005. p. 50.Archived(PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. RetrievedOctober 6, 2019.
^"R&R Canada Rock Top 30"(PDF).Radio & Records. No. 1599. March 25, 2005. p. 62.Archived(PDF) from the original on October 17, 2020. RetrievedOctober 6, 2019.
Cousin, Loïc (March 11, 2017)."Les Sum 41 mettent le feu à Talence" [The Sum 41 set fire to Talence].Bordeaux Gazette (in French).Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. RetrievedDecember 27, 2023.
