Sum 41 frontman talks about anti-Bush song

Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley has lashed out at Rolling Stone over comments made by writer Mordechai Shinefield regarding the band's song "March of the Dogs," which has caused controversy for its references to the killing of the president. Rolling Stone didn't take issue with Whibley describing the president's death -- it berated him for later explaining that his lyrics were merely a ""metaphor for how Bush is so ineffectual and incompetent as a president." The Rolling Stone article said, "Punks pushing the envelope aren't new...but backing off your lyrics is weak. You're supposed to be punk, so act like it."

Whibley responded in part, "I don't want to kill the president! I believe in peace and non-violence and I would never encourage the killing of a president or anyone for that matter. I don't have murder in my blood. I am however a songwriter and a lyricist. and I chose to sing a song about the way I feel the president is ruining the world...I meant that it is a metaphor for how ineffectual and incompetent the president is at his job. AND I STILL STAND BEHIND THAT."

Regarding comments that he had no right to criticize an American president since he is Canadian, Whibley wrote, "Do you have to be German...to criticize Hitler? Do you have to be Iraqi to criticize Saddam? To dismiss my words and say they're not relevant because I am from another country is the easy way out for people who don't really know how to retaliate. I'm not anti-American in any way. I love America. I live in America! But the choices and decisions the president makes effect the whole world, not just America."

"March of the Dogs" is from Sum 41's upcoming album, Underclass Hero, due out on July 24th.

The group shot a video for the title track on Monday (May 7th) in Los Angeles.
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