Deryck Whibley is on a mission to wrap up one hell of a two-decade ride with Sum 41, but instead of fading out quietly, he’s doing it with a double album, a farewell tour, and a memoir. Because why do one chaotic thing when you can do three? The new record, Heaven and Hell, is out now—half pop-punk, half metal—and the memoir, Walking Disaster, is dropping in October. It’s like Whibley’s cramming all the noise of the past 25 years into one last raucous party.
The decision to call it quits wasn’t sudden—apparently, he’s been wrestling with the idea since 2019. “When we got back on the road after the lockdown, I thought that break would change things,” Whibley says. “But it didn’t. I still had that feeling that I’d done all I wanted to with Sum 41.” In true Whibley fashion, though, he made sure they went out with one of the best albums of their career. “I mean, Tom Petty made Wildflowers at 44,” he says. “That’s one of his best records. Why not end on a high note?”
If you think it’s just some nostalgic cash grab, think again. Whibley’s brain doesn’t work that way. The record’s split between upbeat, pop-punk throwbacks and heavier, metal-influenced tracks, and he says the inspiration came from a mix of fatherhood and old-school punk. “My kid would stop crying when I played old-school punk rock, so I went down a rabbit hole of NoFX, Pennywise, and Epitaph bands,” he says. “It made me feel the way I did in high school, and I wanted that energy back in the songs.”
But just because he’s feeling inspired doesn’t mean he’s sticking around. “This is it,” he admits. “It’s weird because we’re not even broken up yet and people are already asking when the reunion is. We’re like, ‘Can we finish saying goodbye first?’”
It’s not just the band that’s calling it a day—Whibley’s also reflecting on his own chaotic history. His new memoir doesn’t shy away from the mess: addiction, burnout, and yes, a few choice stories that didn’t make the final cut, like his infamous run-in with Don Henley. “I called him an asshole,” Whibley laughs. “Turns out a lot of people feel that way. I thought people would be mad I picked on him, but everyone just nodded like, ‘Yeah, screw that guy.’”
It’s been a long and wild journey since the days of thrashing through Fat Lip and In Too Deep. Whibley’s seen his fair share of chaos—partying to the brink, burning out, getting sober, and somehow managing to put out four albums in four years while the wheels were basically falling off. “We were a mess, but people wanted that. It was almost like everyone missed the crazy rock-star lifestyle from the 80s. So when we showed up, it was like, ‘Finally, someone’s drinking and breaking stuff again!’”
One of the most unexpected sparks of creativity came from his son, who would only calm down when punk rock was blasting. “That was surreal,” Whibley admits. “I never thought my kid would be the reason I fell back in love with punk. But here we are. I guess punk rock babies are a thing now.”
There’s also the matter of Chuck turning 20 this year—a landmark for an album that proved Sum 41 could go heavy and dark without losing their roots. “We were just out of our minds back then,” Whibley says, reflecting on how that record marked a pivotal moment. “But it was raw and real, and that’s why it stuck.”
What’s next? Whibley’s not sure, but he’s open to new sounds and directions. “Maybe I’ll pull a Joe Strummer and do something completely different,” he says. “I’ve always written songs that don’t fit Sum 41 anyway—acoustic stuff, loop-based tracks. I’m just following my gut, like always.”
As for whether this really is the end of Sum 41, Whibley’s leaving the door cracked open just enough to keep people guessing. “I don’t know what’s next, but I know I’m listening to myself more than ever,” he says. “Whatever happens, I’m just gonna do what feels right.”
It’s a bittersweet farewell, but Whibley’s not about to let Sum 41 fizzle out. With Heaven and Hell cementing their legacy and a final tour that’s more of a celebration than a funeral, it feels like the band’s last chapter might just be one of their strongest. Until the reunion rumors start up again, anyway.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
