Pop-punk icons Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley reunited onstage over the weekend for a surprise performance of Sum 41’s “In Too Deep” during Lavigne’s headlining set at the Vans Warped Tour stop in Washington, D.C.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Eight songs into her June 15 set, Lavigne brought out her ex-husband — and Sum 41 frontman — to deliver one of the most iconic anthems of the genre. “What do you say we bring one of the OG Warped Tour bands back out here tonight to join me right now?” she told the crowd. “Let’s hear it for Deryck from Sum f—ing 41!”
Whibley, who had recently announced his retirement from music following Sum 41’s final album Heaven :x: Hell, responded with his signature smirk: “Holy s—, goddamn. I thought I f—ing quit music. But how the f— can I miss the Warped Tour, right? I’ve come out of my three- or four-month retirement for two reasons: to be with the Warped Tour family, and to be with the one, the only, the motherf—ing princess.”
The two, who were married from 2006 to 2010, launched into the 2001 hit backed by Lavigne’s live band, creating one of the most buzzed-about moments of the Warped Tour’s comeback weekend.
After the show, Lavigne posted a carousel of photos from the set with a caption celebrating the reunion: “This legend @deryckwhibley from @sum41 joined me for one of the best pop punk anthems of all time ‘In Too Deep.’”
The moment marked Whibley’s first return to the stage since Sum 41’s retirement announcement earlier this year. The band wrapped things up following the release of their double album Heaven :x: Hell, citing Whibley’s health issues and a desire to go out on a high note.
The performance also came after a turbulent year for the frontman, who filed a lawsuit against former manager Greig Nori with claims of abuse. Nori denied the allegations and countersued.
Still, in D.C., none of that overshadowed the shared nostalgia onstage. Lavigne summed it up best: “Headlined Vans Warped Tour last night and it was everything I would have expected and more!”
