New York, NY December 12, 2003 – Simple Plan announced today that Fuse, the only viewer driven, all-music network, will be the exclusive television media partner for the band’s upcoming U.S headline tour. The band announced the tour and sponsorship live on Fuse’s signature daily show IMX: Interactive Music Exchange. Considered by many to be one of this year’s biggest success stories, Lava Recording artists Simple Plan will tour in January and February of 2004, sharing the bill with MXPX. The multifaceted partnership is grounded in Fuse’s commitment to music and fan feedback, with online interactive elements including exclusive online diaries and photos from the road, song downloads, viewer contests and streamed interviews.
Simple Plan’s tour kicks off on January 26th in Kansas City, Missouri and wraps up in Seattle, Washington on February 28th. The rambunctious rockers released their platinum debut, “NO PADS, NO HELMETS…JUST BALLS,” on Lava Records in 2002. The album, features 12 rollicking, anti-anthems of adolescent alienation, including the hearty shout-it-out-loud “I’d Do Anything,” the simply addictive “Addicted,” And their current Top 5 pop smash single “Perfect.” In addition, the band recently released A Big Package for You, a comprehensive DVD package which chronicles the band’s unprecedented antics from past to present, containing nearly three hours of footage including the band’s entire video repertoire.
“Last year, Simple Plan showed up in the Fuse offices, plugged in their amps and blew us away with an impromptu performance in the middle of our hallway,” said Marc Juris, President of Fuse. “From that moment, the entire Fuse family got behind the band to help them break through. I am thrilled that today, Simple Plan is kicking off their first headlining tour, and Fuse is once again there to support them. This tour brings our relationship with the band full-circle and proves what Fuse is really about – the music.”
“Fuse’s support of Simple Plan’s 2004 tour underscores the network’s commitment to rule-breaking, innovative strategic partnerships that support established and emerging artists and ultimately give music fans experiences and opportunities they cannot get anywhere else,” said Mary Corigliano, Vice President of Marketing at Fuse.”
The tour will be aggressively promoted by Fuse with on-air and online efforts and supported by local and national print advertising, radio and television spots. It will also include customized “Fuse-presents” on-air spots, featuring Simple Plan and fellow tour mates MXPX. Fans will have a chance to get the entire tour experience through Fuse’s programming and website. The band will be featured in exclusive weekly tour segments on Fuse’s signature daily show, IMX: Interactive Music Xchange. Also on IMX, each week for a month viewers will have a chance to win a piece of band equipment from Simple Plan’s “Perfect” video. Online at www.fuse.tv fans will have behind-the-scenes access with the band, in the form of a diary and photos from the road. Fans can also log on to the Simple Plan/MXPX dedicated feature area on the website to view tour dates, listen to streamed interviews and download MP3s of songs.
Dates for the Simple Plan/MXPX tour are as follows (some dates subject to change):
| Day | Date | City/State | Venue |
| MON | 26-Jan | Kansas City, MO | Beaumont |
| WED | 28-Jan | Minneapolis, MN | Quest |
| THU | 29-Jan | Milwaukee, WI | Eagles Ballroom |
| FRI | 30-Jan | Chicago, IL | Riviera |
| SAT | 31-Jan | St. Louis, MO | Pageant |
| MON | 2-Feb | Cincinatti, OH | Bogarts |
| TUE | 3-Feb | Cleveland, OH | Agora Theater |
| WED | 4-Feb | Detroit, MI | State Theater |
| FRI | 6-Feb | Boston, MA | Avalon |
| SAT | 7-Feb | New York, NY | Roseland |
| SUN | 8-Feb | Washington, DC | 9:30 Club |
| MON | 9-Feb | Philadelphia, PA | Electric Factory |
| WED | 11-Feb | Boynton Beach, FL | Ovation |
| THU | 12-Feb | Orlando, FL | UCF |
| FRI | 13-Feb | St. Petersburg, FL | Janus Landing |
| SAT | 14-Feb | Atlanta, GA | Tabernacle |
| MON | 16-Feb | Dallas, TX | Next Stage |
| TUE | 17-Feb | Houston, TX | 610 Arena |
| THU | 19-Feb | Phoenix, AZ | Celebrity Theater |
| FRI | 20-Feb | Las Vegas, NV | House of Blues |
| SAT | 21-Feb | San Luis Obispo, CA | Cal Poly Rec Center |
| SUN | 22-Feb | Los Angeles, CA | Palladium |
| MON | 23-Feb | Los Angeles, CA | Palladium |
| WED | 25-Feb | San Francisco, CA | Warfield |
| FRI | 27-Feb | Portland, OR | Crystal Ballroom |
| SAT | 28-Feb | Seattle, WA | Paramount |
About Fuse
Fuse, a network of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, is the nation’s only all-music, viewer-influenced television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts and specials — all rooted in the music experience. Fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms that are at the center of their communication and entertainment – TV, online, and interactive games – and by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into its on-air and online programming. For more information about Fuse, log on to www.fuse.tv.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.
About Simple Plan
Simple Plan is: Pierre Bouvier (vocals), Chuck Comeau (drums), David Desrosiers (bass, backing vocals), Sebastien Lefebvre (guitar, backing vocals) and Jeff Stinco (lead guitar). Simple Plan’s certified platinum debut, “NO PADS, NO HELMETS…JUST BALLS,” was released on Lava Records in 2002 and spawned several top 10 hits including “I’d Do Anything,” “Addicted” and “Perfect.” Simple Plan intends to spend 2003 bringing the adrenaline-fuelled tunes of “NO PADS, NO HELMETS…JUST BALLS” to their fans by doing what they have done from the get-go -hitting the road. And hard.