As a ’90s kid, the early 2000s were all about Blockbuster, Tamagotchis, Saturday morning cartoons, and, of course, the golden age of pop-punk. Back then, listening to music required patience—whether it was waiting on the radio, catching music videos on MuchMusic, or playing the CDs I was lucky enough to get for my birthday. I can’t forget saving up for Big Shiny Tunes CDs either—a now-discontinued series featuring a hodgepodge collection of rock and punk hits from Canadian radio.
One of the biggest names in pop-punk stardom was none other than Canadian icons Simple Plan. Founded in 1999 by Pierre Bouvier, Chuck Comeau, Jeff Stinco, and Sébastien Lefebvre, the Montreal-based group became an international sensation in the early 2000s. Now, after selling over 5 million albums, streaming 700 million songs in the United States alone, and 26 years since their formation, the documentary Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd has been released. It covers everything from the founding members’ upbringings to their resurgence via social media.
At the time, my music taste was shaped by whatever was on the radio, MuchMusic, Guitar Hero, or the CDs I got for my birthday. So, outside of their hits, Simple Plan was a bit of an enigma to me. Like with any popular band, my understanding of who they were mostly came from what kids at school would say if you brought up a song. A lot of context was missing. Looking back, my childhood music taste could best be described as fair-weather. Watching The Kids in the Crowd gave me a newfound appreciation for Simple Plan—and a strong urge to revisit the bands that shaped my early radio experiences.
Thanks to the band’s unofficial fifth member—photographer and journalist Patrick Langlois—who catalogued nearly every conceivable moment, the documentary truly feels like a piece of history. With nearly every reference, studio session, and show accompanied by camcorder footage, there’s a unique sense of intimacy as you follow the band’s journey.
While a music career is a moonshot dream for many—and actual stardom even more so—the archival footage makes Simple Plan’s dream feel relatable, even achievable. The band members openly express that they had something to say, and that anyone who does should let their voice be heard. It’s a sentiment they embodied while navigating Quebec’s underground punk scene. That same camaraderie, however, wasn’t always there once they became “too pop”, especially when they self-identified as a pop-punk band.
Their journey was hard-fought, but not without friends. The documentary features appearances from long-time supporter and Blink-182 founder Mark Hoppus; Avril Lavigne, who gave them their first taste of an arena tour; Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden; and Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath. One standout is drummer Chuck Comeau, whose dedication and perseverance pushed Simple Plan forward at many pivotal moments early in their career. He was a driving force behind the band landing their record deal.
Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd is as much a time capsule of the past 25 years as it is a lesson in striving for better and chasing your dreams. It’s a story of overcoming gatekeepers, staying true to yourself, and letting your own story lead the way.
