Sum 41

Playing hopped-up emo, Yellowcard scammed its way into a major-label deal by deploying the most bullshit gimmick in the shady history of the music industry: Sean Mackin’s violin. Hell, the Tri-Lambs’ climactic fiddle jam in Revenge of the Nerds was more punk. Shame on you if you’ve purchased, downloaded, or sung along to music by this band. Seriously.

Sum 41 formed 10 years ago in Ontario, when its members were in 10th grade. The group’s inaugural hit was 2001’s “Fat Lip.” Even when they were snotty teenagers, they stood out by rocking a little harder and having true fun.

Six years later, how Sum 41 has grown: It’s the only group to have collaborated with Slayer guitarist Kerry King, Iggy Pop, and Avril Lavigne. (She’s married to singer and lead guitarist Deryck Whibley.) Of course, it’s a friends list that doesn’t exactly firm up Sum’s punk cred, but we’re willing to concede that Iggy may well know something we don’t.

Expect a handful of tunes from Sum’s ambitious new disc, Underclass Hero, a couple random covers (the band has been known to take requests), and — most important — no freakin’ violin.

This article appears in Sep 12-18, 2007.