I saw Sum 41 give their Manchester fans perfect send-off at emotional Co-op Live gig - full setlist

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Sum 41 showed that they are still at the top of their game as they bowed out with an explosive performance at their final show in Manchester.

At Co-op Live, the band pulled out all the stops on the stage in a two-hour set that featured a whopping 32 songs. It was a visual masterpiece too as pyro, lasers, balloons, confetti and even a giant skeleton were used throughout the evening, in a fine display of showmanship that celebrates the band’s contribution to the punk rock scene.

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To reach almost 30 years together as a band is an incredible achievement, and a testament to the longevity of the Canadian punk rockers. To celebrate their final show in Manchester, everyone got a chance to shine. Dave Baksh produced a riveting performance on the electric guitar, Frank Zummo took centre stage for a drum solo and Jason McCaslin led the band in a rendition of Slayer’s ‘Raining Blood’. And then there was frontman Deryck Whibley.

Deryck Whibley does his thing with Sum 41 at Co-op LiveDeryck Whibley does his thing with Sum 41 at Co-op Live
Deryck Whibley does his thing with Sum 41 at Co-op Live | Photo by Christian Evans

Sporting a Black Sabbath t-shirt, Whibley was at his imperious best and was a huge highlight on the evening. The frontman’s energy was infectious, he raced around the stage throughout the evening and cut a genuine figure on stage as he expressed his love and gratitude for the fans, who he affectionately referred to as his “family”.

Throughout the evening, Whibley was in a candid mood as he reflected on the band’s legacy and suggested that “the world has had enough of Sum 41”, but the chorus of boos that followed hinted otherwise. However, this was a perfect and bittersweet farewell for the band, especially given Whibley’s wish for the punk rockers to go out on a high, and it’s safe to say they did so.

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After an opening set from LA punk rockers The Bronx, the band took to the stage as AC/DC’s ‘TNT’ boomed out in the background and the legendary band’s track set the stage for what was to be an explosive performance from Sum 41.

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With the audience’s voices suitably warmed up following singalongs of ‘American Idiot’, ‘The Anthem’, ‘All The Small Things’ and ‘Misery Business’ in the interval, the Canadian rockers got off to a red hot start as Whibley belted out ‘Motivation’, ‘The Hell Song’ and ‘Over My Head’ to an electric response from the Mancunian audience.

Whibley expertly controlled the pace, the mood and the crowd throughout the evening as the band shifted from uplifting, rousing and energetic songs that had the crowd punching the air in unison and saw the walls of the auditorium bouncing with the likes of ‘Welcome to Hell’, ‘No Brains’ and ‘Walking Disaster’ to reflective, thought-provoking and delicately paced tracks such as ‘With Me’, Some Say’ and ‘Pieces’.

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It is very hard to pick one moment that stood out to me the most in a show full of highlight moments. ‘Makes No Difference’ was a moment of unrivalled joy, ‘Summer’ brought an electric singalong, ‘The Long Goodbye’ was a fitting and eye-watering farewell, ‘Landmines’ was a moment of euphoria and one that saw me temporarily lose my voice and Whibley playing the role of conductor as the audience belted out ‘Fat Lip’ was another major highlight.

However, for me ‘In Too Deep’ was the biggest highlight from the evening. Every soul inside the arena was singing their heart out, everyone was bouncing and knowing it was the final time we’d ever see it made it even more special.

Sum 41 Manchester Co-op Live setlist

  • Motivation
  • The Hell Song
  • Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
  • Screaming Bloody Murder
  • Underclass Hero
  • War
  • Rhythms
  • Landmines
  • Dopamine
  • We're All to Blame
  • Some Say
  • No Reason
  • Walking Disaster
  • With Me
  • Makes No Difference
  • My Direction / No Brains / All Messed Up
  • Drum Solo
  • Preparasi a salire
  • Rise Up
  • Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
  • Fake My Own Death
  • Smoke on the Water
  • Raining Blood
  • Master of Puppets
  • Pieces
  • Fat Lip
  • Still Waiting

Encore

  • Summer
  • Waiting on a Twist of Fate
  • In Too Deep

Encore 2

  • So Long Goodbye
  • Machine Gun

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