Sum 41 evacuated as hostilities break out in Congo

Posted by adam on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at 8:35 AM (EDT)

This story has appeared in several Canadian newspapers today. Ajax, Ontario pop-punk band Sum 41 was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo to appear in a documentary titled From The Front Lines. A peace accord in the area was shattered as violence suddenly broke out between government soldiers and troops loyal to a renegade commander. The band was evacuated from the area and returned back in Canada on Tuesday. Here's an excerpt from a Toronto Star article:

The popular band was there with War Child Canada to shoot a documentary on the plight of children in war zones when violence escalated between rival factions of the Congolese army in the town of Bukavu, near the Rwandan border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"There were a couple of moments when I thought, 'This is it, we're going to die,' so we (the band) reflected on everything we went through and talked about our lives back home," [Deryck] Whibley said in an interview.

The band, tour manager, a music video director, a documentary filmmaker and two doctors from War Child Canada were holed up in the hotel for 25 hours. Mortar rounds exploded outside the hotel's shattered windows and sent panic through the 40 or so foreign visitors staying at the complex...

For the full story check out the Toronto Star article or a National Post article.

Island Records (93 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Shindo (adam) (June 2, 2004)

Yeah I know seeing a Sum 41 article here is a bit weird. This is rather interesting though. It's nice to see them working with War Child. -adam

Fuzzy (justin) (June 2, 2004)

It's nice to see bands trying to do something positive with their fame. Them having to be evacuated alone is going to make a few more kids aware of the situation there.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

what the hell were they doing there anyway?

Someone (June 2, 2004)

how the hell do I read again...

Someone (June 2, 2004)

It isn't weird at all. I've always thought of this as emo/pop-punk central.

thirtyseconds (June 2, 2004)

Anyone who says "Damn I wish they would have died" is a dick

Someone (June 4, 2004)

i am just a giant cock

jamespastepunk (June 2, 2004)

I dislike Sum 41 as much as the next guy, but I don't wish death on any of them. Doesn't mean I have to like their music, though.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

yes it does.

hitlerbadzakgood (June 2, 2004)

sum 41 is a good band. and that sounds like a real scary ordeal. i really hope theyre doing ok. thats something i wouldnt wish upon anyone.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

shut UP!!!

sincerelyme (June 2, 2004)

yep, you're very wrong.

hitlerbadzakgood (June 2, 2004)

you mean being caught in a warzone ISNT scary???

sincerelyme (June 3, 2004)

I mean sum41 are definitely not a good band.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

I'll be the first dick to wish death on them. Plus their music really, really sucks mad cock. Justification.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

yay

CrookedSuperhero (June 2, 2004)

Damn, sounds rough

skankin_in_the_pit (June 2, 2004)

If I was that Deryck dude in that situation I would of reflected much more on Paris Hilton then what the band has gone through.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

paris hilton is a mad scanky ugly crack-whore-looking chick. why the fuck would you wanna fuck that. - stevejones8770@yahoo.com - jones the bones

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Same with Hilary Duff, shes fucking ugly!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Will you cool it with the absurdly ridiculous inflammatory comments. The Duff is beautiful.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

fuck the duff. lohan forever

Someone (June 2, 2004)

jones the bones' mom is a mad scanky ugly crack-whore-looking chick. -jones the bones bones other guys in the ass

Someone (June 2, 2004)

actually, my mom isnt too ugly, but she's kind of fat, so....if you got some problem with her, you obviously havent seen her. oh, and, yeah, about boning other guys in the ass. sorry about tearing your asshole up so much last night, but i thought you can take it seeing as you told me it wasnt your first time - stevejones8770@yahoo.com - jones the bones

Someone (June 2, 2004)

AND, bullshit you fuckwads "h8" or dislike them now and look down on their music. When that first song was being played all over every single one of you pricktastic bitches was into it and that entire album. We call this: Punk cliche rule #3 - Post immense fame hating

Someone (June 2, 2004)

um no.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

That's the dumbest thing I've read all day.

sincerelyme (June 2, 2004)

I liked the first single, before it was released and before I heard any of the rest of their songs which were all doggy dog shit. Now that single's overplayed there's nothing going for that band.

Aubin (June 2, 2004)

Of all the places in the world I wouldn't want to go, Congo would be among the first. Besides the ethnic struggles, civil war and conflict with neighbouring countries like Rwanda and Uganda, I think every single leader they've had since the Belgians left in 1960 have made things worse. In the last six years, it's estimated that at least 3 million people have been killed, either by starvation or being hacked to death by rampaging rebels and nine armies. The country is essentially divided into two right now, with a little more than half being controlled by the Congolese government, and almost half by RCD rebels. It's unfathomable what it must be like just to visit, not to mention living there. Say what you will about Sum 41's music, but they've got some serious courage to spend time in this country.

xmidipunkbastardx (June 2, 2004)

courage - or lack of knowledge if it's courage - then these guys are great (well, still doesn't make their music better though)

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Well i would choose Congo over U.S.

opivykid (June 2, 2004)

That's bullshit, and you know it...

Fuzzy (justin) (June 2, 2004)

A friend of mine is from Zimbawbwe and her Dad works in the Congo. There's been times he's been shot at, and jailed simply for being there. It's the one place I said I refused to go on my Peace Corps application.

sincerelyme (June 2, 2004)

I'm not sure it's really unsafe, I can't imagine they'll be going anywhere that puts them in any real danger. I spent a fair while in uganda which has seen an equal amount of genocide and is still at war and i didn't come close to being hacked up. sure if you're actually living there it's horrific but them getting caught up in tribal conflicts? I don't think so.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

ooh when there's trouble aboot run back over the boarder, ay?

Someone (June 2, 2004)

there was a comment about courage/lack of knowledge. well this guy obviously takes the cake for lack of knowledge - stevejones8770@yahoo.com - jones the bones

Someone (June 2, 2004)

You must be Canadian. Is jones the Bones that puppet on Wienerville?

Someone (June 2, 2004)

naw. its just some stupid tag i use to piss people off cause they think i am an attention whore - stevejones8770@yahoo.com - jones the bones

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Eh, you fucking idiot, eh.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

It's good to see that some rock stars actually do something useful with their time and money...

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Bono?

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Thrice?

Someone (June 2, 2004)

There is a thin line between bravery & stupidity.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

wow. so much shit talking on sum 41, when they are, in fact, one of the better bands on the radio. i cant believe that so many people excited for the new tfp and who listen to fucking audio karate and probably new found and good charlotte think sum 41 sucks. - you dorks - stevejones8770@yahoo.com - jones the bones

Someone (June 2, 2004)

The new tfp is great. www.thenjscene.com

Someone (June 2, 2004)

i'm stoked for VELVET REVOLVER! and all y'all should be too! scott weiland, slash...tight pants, heroin~skanky white male specimens. tasty

Someone (June 3, 2004)

guns n' roses was better.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

i dont wish that they died, but maybe if they all just lost a couple fingers so they couldn't play music anymore. that would have been nice.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

I don't mind these kids so much. I mean, in comparison to poppy punk in the mainsteam, at least they aren't whiny and screamy. -sickboi

Someone (June 2, 2004)

they remind me of propaghandi. thats cool.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

"Popular band"?!?!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

That's cool that they did that in the first place. Onto their music, the first 2 records kind of really sucked, but "Does This Look Infected?" is a pretty good cd, and so is the track from the Rock Against Bush comp. And speaking of the Rock Against Bush comp, the Alkaline Trio song is fucking awful, and probably their worst original song ever.

maverick (scott) (June 2, 2004)

Worst Trio song ever? Nay. That goes to either "Steamer Trunk" or "Dead End Road." -Scott

xmidipunkbastardx (June 2, 2004)

"steamer trunk"? oh, you mean, their BEST song?

maverick (scott) (June 2, 2004)

You must live in Polar Opposite Land. -Scott

sickboi (chris) (June 2, 2004)

I really like that song, but then again I like "Good Mourning". -sickboi

Someone (June 2, 2004)

n/t

Someone (June 2, 2004)

I would say sleepyhead is their worst song.... but whatever.

maverick (scott) (June 2, 2004)

First Story Of The Year gets beaten up, then Sum 41 almost gets blown up... Something tells me Mark Hoppus just built a bomb shelter. -Scott

Someone (June 2, 2004)

i was thinking more along the lines of nfg./

Someone (June 2, 2004)

You're a dork.

thriceequalsgod (June 2, 2004)

Scott, you fucking rule.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Get off of Scott's dick, faggot.

jamespastepunk (June 2, 2004)

Quality.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Sum 41 are good. Your heroes Kevin Wade (http://www.punkrocks.net/display_review.php?id=594) and Jordon Baker(http://www.pastepunk.com/viewcdreview.php?id=601) like them, so should you.

lieutenant (June 2, 2004)

Make that, Kevin Wade ( http://www.punkrocks.net/display_review.php?id=594 ), Jordon Baker ( http://www.pastepunk.com/viewcdreview.php?id=601 )

Fuzzy (justin) (June 2, 2004)

JordAn Baker.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

the band was "returned"...i don't live in canada (thank god), but send 'em back! for god's sake, send 'em back!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Thank GOD you don't have decriminalized weed and lower drinking ages! Now THAT would fucking SUCK!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

i know, right!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Don;t forget free healthcare and a serious lack of Bush.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

I know, I just want to be an american, i hate not living in a country run by a fascist.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

damn first story of the year now this i guess its shitty pop punk bands that are really on the front lines

hungryjoe (June 2, 2004)

Congo was a pretty cool book. At least they didn't get attacked by those super-smart apes.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

But the film sucked, look its real monkeys, no its men in king kong (circa 1920's) suits. Damn, wasted 10 mil again.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/v29/rachelll/AASDF.jpg http ://img4.photobucket.com/albums/v29/rachelll/ho020.jpg this bitch's tits are DISCUSTING. Burn in hell rachel!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Anyone else think Godsmack may be behind this?

theTruman (June 2, 2004)

I DO!!!

Someone (June 3, 2004)

Yes................godsmack have been planning this since 1960, starting civil wars and encouraging human rights violations just to get rid of a pop punk band. GET SOME ORIGINALITY!

Someone (June 3, 2004)

Get a sense of humor.

ChristaMT (June 2, 2004)

Surprisingly enough, Sum 41 is one of the few mainstream pop punk bands I actually semi-enjoy.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

wow and you actually put a name to that comment...someone's looking for a beatDOWN!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Dammit, i told those fools not to go down there!!

Someone (June 2, 2004)

i dont like sum41 either, but i heard their new album isn't going to be the same pop-rock they've been putting out, but instead it's going to be more of a metal album.

CrookedSuperhero (June 2, 2004)

Yeah, like the last one. Sarcasm. Metal sucks by the way

Someone (June 2, 2004)

Did they actually think that this wouldn't happen? I mean come on.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

what would make you think that..

Someone (June 3, 2004)

........read it from the tea leaves.

Someone (June 2, 2004)

maybe i'm going to sound like an ass, but unless you're going to a poverty-stricken, war-torn country to actually provide aid or you're the one making the documentary (or whatever it is to publicize what's going on there), you shouldn't be there in the first place. you'll most likely be injured, killed, or captured by terrorists/rebels.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

or flying monkies

Someone (June 3, 2004)

...........or aliens, no, sorry, that's texas.

Someone (June 3, 2004)

i actually saw them live, and i have no problems on saying that i quite enjoyed the show. im not much of a fan, but they did put out a good show. and even if i did hate them, i wouldnt wish for their death...that's just sick...

Someone (June 4, 2004)

From Paris Hilton to Congo. I'd say those are a little bit different lifestyles.