SIMPLE PLAN: Pop-punk revival, MGK & being on MTV (Pierre Bouvier interview)

Pierre Bouvier joins to talk about Simple Plan's career, the pop-punk revival, MGK and Travis Barker, being in the Mary Kate & Ashley Movie, dealing with haters and more, his MTV show "Damage Control" and more.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 - The Pop Punk Revival
00:02:37 - The Resurgence of Early 2000s Pop Punk and the Influence of MGK
00:05:07 - Reigniting Pop-Punk in the Mainstream Spotlight
00:07:52 - The Importance of MTV and TRL in breaking bands
00:10:28 - Behind the Scenes of MTV's TRL with Pierre
00:13:03 - The Impact of Movie Placements on Music Careers
00:15:38 - Discovering Bands in the Age of Monoculture
00:18:09 - A Zoo of Pets and a Pop Punk Band's G-Rated Image
00:20:54 - The Evolution of Simple Plan's Sound
00:23:38 - The Evolution of Simple Plan's Sound with Arnold Lanni and Bob Rock
00:26:21 - Reflecting on past albums and the evolution of their sound
00:28:58 - The Evolution of Simple Plan's Music
00:31:35 - Playing the Hits and Practicing Gratitude in Music
00:34:06 - Longevity in the Music Industry
00:36:45 - The Controversial Reception of The Band and Touring Experiences
00:39:13 - Dealing with hate and the teenage phase of developing taste
00:41:45 - The rise and fall of the band's clothing brand, Role Model
00:44:12 - Reviving Role Model Clothing Company and Pierre's Experience on MTV's Damage Control
00:46:51 - Pierre's Experience Hosting "Damage Control"
00:49:17 - Simple Plan in the Mary Kate and Ashley movie, New York Minute
00:51:41 - The Best Day of My Life: Inspiration Behind the Song
00:54:15 - Focusing on the Positivity in Your Life

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Support the show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/thepunkrockmba Get every episode early, VIP Discord channels and more

[@benjaminwatt2436]

Pop-punk has main stream appeal. Its lighter and less political than punk and usually deals with issues like relationships that any generation can connect to. besides punk thrives on fun riffs and catchy lyrics. its no surprise to me that each generation discovers it and gains a following.

[@mynameislove1704]

It's like the perfect music to listen when you're just having fun with life imo

[@plaguedoctor4519]

Couldn't have said this better!!

[@chrishastings8888]

The word “pop” means mainstream. 00s is known as emo, it’s not. It was as all pop punk on the radio. Only mainstream artists I can think of is Saves the day with their one hit which I hated, and Dashboard. If Through being cool came out in 03, shoulder to the wheel would have a big chance being a radio hit.

[@benneilson1185]

The word “pop” is short for “popular”

[@ItalianCanadianGuy94]

Great interview! Would love to see you get Deryck Whibley on here!

[@benjaminwatt2436]

yeah i love seeing bands talk about their careers retrospectively. I appreciate how raw and honest pierre is about his writing. there is a stigma toward pop, but it made him famous

[@Lurklluciano]

This is so fucking awesome!!! Simple Plan was my favorite band back then. Even started to learn English because of their songs. Used to cover their songs all the time too. Loved this interview!!!

[@NytesMusic]

Such a great interview! They're my favourite band and to say I've had the pleasure of interviewing them as well is just so great. They seem like super down to earth guys and seem to have always put their fans first!

[@uppercut613]

Pierre’s old band Reset is still a thing to this day believe it or not. I saw them in 2017 and they played to a grand total of 7 people in the audience (no exaggeration). They’ve been fronted by the metalhead guitarist for the past couple of decades. That dude’s level of dedication is insane.

[@myleneb4429]

I was probably at that same show lol

[@uppercut613]

@@myleneb4429 in Ottawa ?

[@jimgagvez]

I will see them this summer before MXPX.

[@myleneb4429]

@@uppercut613 In Montreal in a bar around Halloween. Different city, same thing lol It was a cool show

[@MichaelSims-rn6vu]

Aaah simple plan. Memories maaan. I remember my heavy metal friends couldn't believe i could listen to simple plan and slipknot in the same day. Much respect.

[@jeremiahthompson7266]

Hard agree! I definitely looked the part of a metalhead/hard rocker in my younger days. All my metal/rock friends would give me so much shit for listening to anything that wasn't metal/hard rock. I always quoted a line from Stevo on "SLC Punk" to these guys. "You don't live your life by lyrics, man."

[@MichaelSims-rn6vu]

Lol dude the posers always try the hardest.

[@eschalle89]

I remember in high school, I loved a band called From Aphony from Seattle and as they started to get more popular so many people were like “man, they’re getting so big now… I’m bummed” but now From Aphony doesn’t exist anymore… you should always root for the music you love to get popular so they can continue to make money and have the ability to devote time to making music

[@orionswift349]

From Aphony had some jams! It’s a shame they broke up when they did

[@alexedwards9152]

I am 29 currently and when i was about 10 years old the first 3 CD's i bought with my pocket money were Ocean Avenue, Sticks & Stones and No Pads, No Helmets. To say Simple Plans music has had a huge impact on my life is an understatement. When they toured their 3rd album they came to Bristol in the UK where i am from and my mum took me to their meet and greet before the show in the HMV near the venue, i must have been about 14 years old at the time and i still remember how genuinely nice everyone in the band was and my mum and I still talk about how good their show was to this day. I remember Pierre singing Untitled from the sound desk at the back of the venue for the encore and i was stood right beneath him. I loved this interview, you can just see how much of a nice person Pierre is and it absolutely warms my heart. Thank you Finn for this interview and thank you Pierre for your music, I still listen to Simple Plan all the time now!

[@diogogualter7]

Thank you for this interview! Insane sum 41 and simple plan this year in Portugal and DAMMMM the best moment and concert of my life! So much energy!!

[@alang4769]

That's awesome! I have a lot of love for Simple Plan, don't listen to them as much anymore but they have always seemed like super cool guys who are very self-aware and really enjoy what they do. So stoked to see you got to chat with Pierre.

[@tucky3929]

Yeah like American Pie 2 opening with Going Away To College and finishing with Hit Or Miss is just so Epic!

[@Quicklost182]

Thanks big bro Finn! Making my commute to work on Thursdays so much better!

[@danntozer]

I love these interviews Finn! I'm just some guy from Western Australia. But Simple plan were on the list of inspirations in high school when I was playing bass and singing in pop punk bands! - Along with the videos you've done with Fat Mike, and your content in general! Huge fan Finn, always love your videos! Keep 'em coming, I always say! ❤🙌

[@edwardmooneyhan1928]

Pierre has a great perspective. Gotta play the fan service songs. Everyone else at the show has mundane tasks with their jobs and they do them 40 hours a week for decades. Bands complaining about having to do the songs that made them who they are is frustrating.

[@Algore-rk8mh]

Thank you for the memories Pierre. I will listen to alternative snd remain in the 2000s until i die.

[@Kotsoros37]

My home town boys, love Simple Plan, so cool to see you interviewing Pierre!

[@lHarshlizerl]

Pierre is such a good and sweet guy, I loved Simple Plan back in the day and still do 💜

[@sub-zero710]

They're Canadian... They're nice by nature. 😂

[@lHarshlizerl]

@@sub-zero710 it seems like it is lol

[@robcatagas5489]

This is awesome, loved this band since I was a little guy lol met Pierre when they played in Winnipeg in like 2016/2017 , around then. I was the only guy in a crowd full of women who waited in the back of the venue to meet the band as they packed up and left lol awesome memory.

[@uppercut613]

Been waiting for this one !

[@aimeeaztec4601]

Really cool guy and some great insight. Your interviews are pretty high profile these days! A talk show with a studio audience could be in the pipeline. Thanks Finn!

[@QuincyKane]

This was a great interview!

[@imjustanasshlesometimes3488]

Omg I love Dr. Drew. Talked to him a few times on IG live. Such an awesome man. Love this interview. I was definitely one of those pop punk chicks in the early 2000's. Loved that bit about the mom's first time away from her kids in awhile. Idk why but I csn totally relate.

[@davidhoff9628]

Saw Simple Plan on their Blame Canada tour and they were great live!

[@steakhouse89]

Gotta love the Thrice shout out. There might not be a more underrated band ever.

[@pil3driverwaltz164]

Great interview. Really thoughtful questions.

[@timidstein888]

Seems like a legit nice dude. As much as I cringe listening back to parts of Simple Plan's albums, they have some great bangers and are really good live. Respect to them

[@JeanetteTaurozzi-wo2tw]

Great interview Finn!!!! Always loved simple plan still so glad this pop punk era is making a revival. 🎶 🎸 🎧 💚 Blink 182, Simple Plan, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, like them all. 😅 miss being 18 not 38 though!

[@BlackmetalSM]

Pierre, Tabarnak!

[@mickey2ky]

I enjoy this. I’m joinin the patreon soon lol

[@ryanrowe1975]

Great interview!

[@PS_Bass]

Re.Set is good! Never heard of them until this podcast. Thanks!

[@dabmonstr7108]

They have done well. My 7 year old nephew LOVES Simple Plan and that's him coming across them on his own means. "I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare!" Will always resonate with the youngins!

[@echoingmelodies]

I was so happy when i finally got to see simple plan at the last warped tour

[@smyers3423]

Borderline relieved to hear him mention MGK as the focal point of the resurgence. Dude can drive me nuts but there’s no denying he put this scene back on the map and bringing attention back to it.

[@hamm8934]

It was really peep, MGK just took his style

[@revolution4189]

Simple plan is really down to earth and can be real about stuff even if the dont agree with everything

[@quieteyes881]

That third album is really underrated. Its not my favorite album, but it has some of my favorite songs.

[@utubedosal]

So wholesome!

[@allergic2life]

Undergrads was the mtv show that came out with mission hill which is so good to this day!

[@JeanetteTaurozzi-wo2tw]

I get Pierre’s point of view completely. In high school in early 2000s I got so much crap said about me just because I liked pop punk and other types of music I got called a poser and things like that all the time. I did like other kinds of music like pop and alternative rock. Never liked anything like metal or heavier rock. Funny it was mostly the kids that liked metal or heavier what they considered “real punk” that bothered me the most. 😂😂😂😂 oh well now in late 30s I realize that people who are assholes are gonna asshole! I love you Pierre and Simple plan always!! 💚💚💚 Don’t give a you know what people think about me anymore Greta part about getting older. Kinda like being hated now anyway we’ll ok not by everyone but some! 😅

[@keytoawesomeness]

what you're talking about at around minute 40:00 reminds me of the point made in the song I'm gay by bowling for soup, who have had a similar problem

[@ryanross3824]

If anyone has a chance to see simple plan live. I’d advocate for you to do so, the energy they bring to the stage is something to behold

[@NickHodge91]

Love him randomly singing throughout this interview, saw them on the Sum 41 tour last summer and they were great! Great interview!

[@nova-jo1649]

Hell im hyped

[@nomad.est93]

The 'catch you on the flip side's gave me Pistol Pete vibes. What a nice dude

[@vkmtvstudios]

Simple Plan is my favorite band and yes the third album is my favorite...

[@stephanieegeee]

Finn, what a great interview 👏🏻 Pierre seems like such a wholesome dude. Really enjoyed this.

[@TWendo0311]

Me "Dude, the third album will always be my favorite" Pierre "The biggest fans will say that's their favorite" He called it lol.

[@vincent-antoinesoucy1872]

Un fleuron québécois! J'ai beaucoup aimé durant mon adolescence!

[@nicholasreans6697]

I really enjoyed Simple Plan in my youth, the first two albums were great but for some reason nothing really stuck with me after Still Not Getting Any. Still a respectable pop punk band and definitely have some bangers in their discography.

[@selfgain9458]

I'm just a kid is still one of my favorite songs by this band 🤣

[@santiagotendero]

Been waiting to get a video about Simple Plan since Pierre mentioned you in his instagram. Thanks for making this interview! Had a meet and greet with this band last March during their Asian tour. Big fan from the Philippines 🇵🇭 🤘🏼

[@RyansGuitars]

I love this interview. I swear Pierre said “Exactly” about 100 times lmao.

[@ashtongarcia6894]

I think another reason is a lot us gen z late teen/young adults grew up with hearing that on the radio and in tv like with simple plan’s scooby doo so it’s not like a random thing ppl just suddenly got into. Basically a lot of us grew up on this music and heard it even if we were young at that point

[@isabellouis3833]

LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS INTERVIEW ❤

[@ChristopherJames1993]

Just did a song with Busted as well. Fantastic for both bands. Busted fans will grow the fanbase.

[@rklss_andrey]

Pierre just needs to have a pod, he was just on E.N.D. last week

[@jessiesdroneadventures7464]

I'll Say This - when I first heard MGK's song " tickets to my downfall" it took me right back to the time in 2003 when I first heard Simple Plan ............... And I was like " where did this sound come from!"

[@LordMorgoth90]

He's so nice that I understand some people hate him lol Love Simple Plan

[@igorferreira1997_]

pierre is such a wholesome dude

[@ShadyConductor]

Amazing interview!! Can we get Fred Durst next???

[@icon3ras]

The Killers play Mr Brightside first at all the shows

[@chrishastings8888]

Did they talk about his collaboration with state champs? It’s a great song.

[@crimson7106]

I met Pierre at the Warped Tour in 2002, he was kind.

[@MrLense]

Damn, it's nice to have the man himself appear to your show

[@drewjonespdx]

Simple plan is the best

[@c.jarmstrong3111]

Simple Plan was fucking HUGE here in Canada when i was a kid.

[@jonathansalmon4186]

Simple Plan are the best pop punk band in my eyes, never released a bad album and an amazing band live

[@gehehbeebhehehsh9484]

What a top guy

[@DaveBudness]

would love to see an interview with the lead singer of 'Mest'. Tony

[@cyndaxero3363]

The self titled SP album is still a top 3 album for me

[@chrishastings8888]

Yo, when you’re doing something good, the haters come at you.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Nice 👍

[@vtwelve2453]

14:35 Khruangbin did he say? I also love the band.

[@hanes2]

Would had loved to see Deryck from sum41 in a interview or something, talking about the journey, would had been cool

[@alexmonro1711]

Their first album has some pop punk classics on there

[@RavencrowProductions]

Pierre seems really cool.

[@InkAndPoet]

I loved how Pierre talked about how he grew to be glad that bands he enjoyed like Green Day were getting successful and people got to see what all the fuss was about. I used to feel that way too, but now I'm happy to see a band I like get updrafted to a notable label. There's this band I enjoy called Static Dress who released an album last year that I loved and was kinda sad that no one was talking about it. Now they've been signed to Roadrunner Records and the album is being re-released. Given what Roadrunner has done for bands like Motionless In White, Code Orange, and Turnstile, i hope the same happens to Static Dress.

[@benjaminwatt2436]

I was browsing youtube and like there's simple plan. I love that guy

[@nevermindgaming6848]

Star of oscar winning movie new York minute

[@tinydancer19971]

met simple plan at a coffee shop i worked at a few years ago and they were so nice

[@aarondwood6628]

I remember being into simple plan before anyone in my school knew who they where and I kept trying to get my friends to listen to them 😂. I think I first heard them on some disney skateboarding video game demo. Then I bought their first album and they started to get bigger with songs in movies and stuff .

[@benjaminwatt2436]

I always enjoyed their clean, fun songs. Its important to have some contrast from so many dark bands, especially in 2003 after bands like Korn and Slipnot that had driven such a gloomy mood and asthetic

[@aarondwood6628]

@@benjaminwatt2436 yeah it was a great time for it with good fun songs especially as a young teenager at the time

[@viniciusgmachado1204]

@Finn Mckenty Hey, Finn! My name’s Vinny. This is the first video of yours I’m seeing right now! I read your bio, it saying that you’ve with several popular brands, all of which I’ve heard of before that you’ve mentioned for years…except for Virgin. What is _that?_ Also, your bio says you’ve worked with countless popular rock *_bands,_** none* of which I’ve heard of before that you’ve mentioned all nearly 19 1/2 years of my life to this very day…except, perhaps, for A Day to Remember. But I _barely_ remember that one! Telling me more about that one and all those others you’ve brought up would greatly help, Finn. 👍🏻 Finn, I think your channel is _exactly_ what I’m looking for. I mean, pop-emo-punk-rock? That genre *alone* makes up nearly *_all_* the music I listen to today! Hell, I even listen to Tool occasionally! I once made it through all of “Schism” in one sitting! Finn, I would like to be welcomed into the music community by you. I would also like to be friends with you, if that’s okay. Trust me: I’m too young to have ever remembered emo, but perhaps that’s for the best. It’s actually very impressive that I am only nearly 19 1/2, yet I’ve been exposed to the wonder of good ol’ rock, not like _today’s_ music. One more thing, Finn: I’d like you to make separate videos dedicated to Creed and Crossfade; both bands are *SO* underrated, and *_NEITHER_* of them get _NEARLY_ enough recognition today!

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

You’ve never heard of Tide, Nike, Nintendo, Red Bull or Hollister?

[@viniciusgmachado1204]

@@FinnMckentyPRMBA Huh? Oh, gosh! You misread me! I’ve DEFINITELY heard of all of those. Hollister to a lesser extent, though.

[@viniciusgmachado1204]

@@FinnMckentyPRMBA I’m sorry, Finn! My comment is long, but I was trying to think of a way to perfectly introduce myself and my passion for pop-punk to you. Example: Bowling for Soup? HARD yes! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@fiilisboa]

Simple Plan will always be the Scooby-Doo band for me.

[@elcheekoful]

Don't wanna think about you!

[@lastphil666]

I recall seeing Reset (their first band) when I was 15 in an church basement in front of 50 people. good old days

[@drewjonespdx]

I always loved simple plans unique polished backup vocals

[@havoc_theory]

Gonna see them in 2 weeks

[@chrishastings8888]

Cheesy. Who doesn’t like cheese??? Cheese doesn’t take itself seriously, just eat it, it tastes amazing.

[@stevester9148]

Tattoos and beard are looking good on Jason Sudeikis

[@pescaitor2532]

Hey man, I'm a follower from Brazil who watches your videos every week, I just wanted to leave a tip of Brazilian bands that are very good but sing in Portuguese and not in English like Sepultura. Here they are: Raimundos, Planet Hemp, Comunidade Nin-Jitsu and Chico Science & Nação Zumbi.

[@vdblucas]

I'm also a big fan of the channel! Shoutout from Belo Horizonte-MG!!!

[@pescaitor2532]

@@vdblucas legal irmão, sou de Santa Catarina

[@Loserkid420]

😭😭😭😭 HOTEL DIABLO !!!!

[@txques]

Pierre listens to Khurangbin? Fucking based.

[@rips187]

IM SORRY I CANTT BE PURRFECTTT😩😩

[@SconnerStudios]

17:41 Pierre, the corporations may have made you sell more initial records, but you were (and still are) popular long-term because you had a great sound and resonated with the youth, not because corporations wanted you to be successful. Dont sell yourself short. Also, the corporations still pick the initial successes, it's just different corporations now. Now Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk decide initial popularity, but content still has to be somewhat high quality at a minimum to have staying power.

[@benjaminwatt2436]

I've always said people give too much credit to coorperations making culture. They tried a lot of things and artist and not everything stuck. its more a give and take with young people.

[@Shawnzy1]

I loved simple plan. Sadly they came up when pop punk wave was dead , and then nu metal was everything . And no metal was so cringe at that point minus linkin park

[@ravenpiece]

Im a simple man. I see MGK and i click the vid. P.s. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌💯

[@arinareutskaya4816]

Pierre is so extremely sweet 😍

[@nathanthomson1931]

Dude, have you heard of Alex Melton yet? He's a KZbinr who does pop-punk covers of popular songs as well as mash-ups and stuff. The dude is brilliant and I think you'd love him

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Yep! Did a podcast with him a couple years ago!

[@nathanthomson1931]

@@FinnMckentyPRMBA he dropped a Jimmy Eat World/Blink mash-up today that absolutely slaps. We need to get this guy more-known. I'd love to see you do something with him

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

What's the band he mentions at 14 minutes? I'm curious.

[@pakxenon]

The captions say crying Ben but yeah what would it be

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

@@pakxenon yeah he admits he has no idea how to pronounce the band. I listen to a lot of noise and ambient, I don't even like pop punk.

[@Anon92456]

Probably Khruangbin

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

@@Anon92456 thank you for your service, you're a gem. I'll check them out. 👍😎🙏

[@havoc_theory]

What's new scooby doo