all about avril

Her Humble Beginnings
This young Canadian was born on September 27, 1984 in a 5,000 population town called Napanee, which is located in Ontario, Canada. Avril Lavigne (Av-reel Lah-veen) was an aspiring young seventeen-year-old who knew from day one that she would be famous. As the middle child, she always tried to grab the attention when it wasn't on her. She was in many talent shows as a child. She even sang on-stage alongside Shania Twain (she had won a radio contest). She remembers that it was very natural and she wasn't scared or intimidated at ALL standing alongside the superstar. She got her first guitar at a young age. She broke out of Napanee, Ontario when she was 16. She dropped out of school because she didn't see what the point was if she knew what she would be doing the rest of her life. She had been writing her own songs ever since she got her first guitar and discovered that she wanted to be a songwriter. While she was in New York, she got signed to Arista Records by its head honcho, L.A Reid.

She Discovered Herself
"I don't like it when people say that Antonio "L.A" Reid discovered me. I discovered myself." Avril says. It pisses her off if anyone says something about L.A discovering her. This eighteen year old is very unique. She wrote every single one of her songs. "Everytime I got home, I went to my guitar and wrote a song about what happened to me that day. I don't care if nobody cares because it's the way I'm feeling and that's what I'm going to write about." Avril says, about the inspiration for her songs. That's what makes Avril so unique. She writes her own songs and she refuses to do something that she doesn't want to do. For instance, take a photo shoot. "At one photo shoot, they tried to glam me all up and I didn't like it. They just wouldn't listen to me." she says.

Let GO
Let Go was released on June 4, 2002. It was exactly what music fans at the time needed. It was guitar-driven, original, in your face, and catchy. Prior to that, "Complicated", was released as a single in April 2002 and was getting heavy airplay on radio and on MTV so music fans quickly picked up this album. She was the ANTI-BRITNEY, the perfect antidote for anyone sick of all the pop fluff. Avril's music was real. It made a few people a little upset. People thought that Avril was contrived and not who she was really claiming to be. But Avril's success silenced the naysayers, to say the least. In August 2002, Avril attended her first American awards show - the MTV Video Music Awards. She wasn't expecting to win anything (She was nominated as Best New Artist in a Music Video) and was enjoying the night. She had performed Sk8er Boi and Complicated at the preshow and Jimmy FALLON had just gave her a shoutout in his opening monologue by dressing up as her and singing his own version of "Complicated". Much to Avril's delight, she won! She ran up to the podium and gave a big "YEAHHHH!" - something that only Avril and Avril alone could truly pull off. That - right there - was proof enough that Avril was here to stay. She later would win 4 Juno Awards (out of 6 nods), World Music Award for World's Best Selling Canadian Singer, and would be nominated for a Grammy.

Grammy Nominated
If you're nominated for a Grammy, that means you are IT. Avril was nominated for not 1, not 2, but eight Grammy nominations. If that wasn't enough, Avril was asked to perform. Instead of wearing a traditional dress and pull out all the stops for the awards ceremony, Avril wore a black tuxedo. When the jacket was opened up, it revealed the words "Rock On" written with masking tape. Avril did not take any Grammy's home that night, but performed an energy filled rendition of "Sk8er Boi".

Darker Avril
Fans were eagerly anticipating Avril's second album. She was in the studio for an entire year! She had many experiences to draw inspiration from. In late 2003, Avril did small mall tours to test out her new material on the audiences. She played acoustic shows alongside lead guitarist, Evan. The response was overwhelming. Fans lined up for hours just to see/hear Avril and were in love with the sound and were just happy to be able to see Avril again. On May 25, 2004, "Under My Skin" was released. It was full of 12 harder, edgier tunes that showcased a much maturer and more personal Avril. In fact, she got really personal. The track "Slipped Away" was a tribute to her grandfather, who passed away while she was doing a show. The song is moving and powerful and truly unforgettable. There's also some classic Avril songs on there, such as "Don't Tell Me", a sassy song about a girl telling a guy he can't have any. :) The album was an absolute success, charting at #1 in its first week.

Lights...Cameras...Avril!
On June 25, 2005, Avril became engaged to longtime crush and boyfriend Deryck Whibley (of Sum 41) while visiting Italy. She has also performed with some of her favorite musicians ever, such as Johnny Reznik from Goo Goo Dolls and Alanis Morissette. She also signed a modelling contract with Ford Models, an agency that represents some of the top models of today. Avril is looking to expand her horizons and become an actress. She provided the voice to Heather the Possum in 2006's "Over the Hedge". She attended her first Cannes Film Festival that year, promoting OTH and an independent expose on the fast food world entitled "Fast Food Nation".

Fans who have followed Avril's amazing evolution know that Avril has longevity. Her music has evolved immensely and is becoming more grown up, more personal, now that Avril has more of a say of what her music will portray.

On July 15, 2006, Avril Lavigne married Deryck Whibley in a traditional non-denominational ceremony that lasted 30 minutes in Montecito, CA in front of 110 people. It was every bit the "happy ending" Avril had hoped for.

In February 2007, Avril released a catchy song entitled "Girlfriend", a departure from her angsty sophomore album. Fans and radio immediately embraced it and its video became an internet sensation, with views now over 50 million (1.15.08). The video featured a dark haired Avril trying to steal a boy away from a red-haired geek (also played by Avril) and featured Avril dancing. Her backup dancers and Avril choreographed the video and it wouldn't be the last time she would dance. The album, The Best Damn Thing was released on April 14, 2007 and became #1 in almost every single country it was released. The album was hailed by critics (many of whom credited Avril's new sound to her happy marriage to Deryck Whibley) and fans embraced it.

Avril did a number of performances supporting the multi-million selling album. She had backup singers/dancers and a pink microphone emblazoned with a sweet white skull. Avril was clearly happier as her music was tongue-in-cheek, "fuck you haters", upbeat and fun.

A few months later, Avril graced the cover of Blender. It looked as if she had been topless, with large letters covering her cleavage saying "Hell Yeah, I'm Hot!" This generated some negativity among the Avril community, with some fans praising it and others saying she's going the Britney route. Avril later did an interview on a radio station saying that she was wearing a tube top.

Her next single, "When You're Gone" was a gorgeous video with clips of people in love. It fared well on the radio but her next single, a critic's favorite (notably with Blender magazine) was Hot. It featured Avril in a neon green corset moving on a stage, accompanied by dancers. The video premiered on TRL and became a hit. The song also received favorable airplay as well.

In November 2007, Avril announced her The Best Damn Thing tour at the Whisky-a-Go-Go, a trendy yet small venue in Los Angeles, California. It would start in March 2008 and last all year, taking her to every single country. Avril also hosted a New Years' Eve party at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, where she rung in the new year with her hubby, Deryck, who are now entering 2 years of wedded bless.

In January 2008, rumors circulated the internet that Avril Lavigne was pregnant. This was later denied by her representatives. Avril had said in numerous interviews that she would wait ten years before she had a child.

It is now 2008 and Avril is still on top. This year, Avril will launch a headlining tour that will take her from country to country. It is a sold out tour that is sure to be talked about for years to come.

This little girl from Napanee has certainly come a long way.

Biography copywritten to Natasha B.June 9, 2002. Revisions were made on January 15, 2008. Do not remove from this web site without permission.