In his poignant new memoir, the frontman of Sum 41, Deryck Whibley, exposes a harrowing tale of alleged coercion and non-consensual sexual encounters with their former long-standing manager, Greig Nori. Whibley claims that Nori, who also fronts the Ontario-based band Treble Charger, persistently pushed him into a sexual relationship he struggled to terminate, even concealing it from his bandmates.
"Greig relentlessly pursued situations where our intimacy escalated, despite my clear disinterest in men," Whibley writes, painting a vivid picture of feeling trapped and manipulated. "I found myself battling against my own will, each attempt to disentangle myself met with hostility and accusations of homophobia."
Titled 'Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell', this revelatory account delves into the raw, unfiltered life of one of Canada's most formidable pop-punk exports. Set to be released by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, on Tuesday, it promises to shed light on both the glitz and grit of Whibley's journey.
Contacted late Monday, Nori expressed ignorance of the allegations, prior to their online publication, insisting, "These are nothing but false accusations." He has since engaged the services of a defamation lawyer.
Whibley's memoir is a delicate dance between fact and fiction, separating the rockstar excesses—shattered hotel rooms, cocaine-laced Jack Daniel's shots—from the misconceptions, such as the misconstrued origins of the band's name. It chronicles his evolution from a restless suburban teenager to the depths of alcoholism, where he once spent $2,000 a week on booze, sequestered in a California mansion with the curtains drawn.
Nori occupies a pivotal role in nearly half of the narrative, with their relationship traced back to a Treble Charger concert where a teenage Whibley, aged 16, met the mid-30s manager. Their bond quickly blossomed, with Nori taking on the mantle of Sum 41's manager shortly after. Years later, Whibley reflects on the unusualness of their initial encounter, admitting, "The warmth of his smile when I snuck backstage now chills me to the bone."
He recounts the first kiss, occurring in a warehouse bathroom shortly after his 18th birthday, amidst the haze of ecstasy. Initially viewing their interactions as a drug-fueled experiment, sobriety brought a wave of unease. Whibley claims that Nori's persistent pressure left him unable to sever the ties until around 2002, when Sum 41 concluded their tour in support of their groundbreaking album, 'All Killer No Filler'.
The alleged relationship plunged Whibley into depression, and it was with the support of loved ones—including his wife, Ariana, and ex-wife, Avril Lavigne—that he began to comprehend the gravity of his situation, potentially amounting to grooming or abuse. He kept his struggles hidden, ashamed to confess that their trusted manager may have "manipulated and coerced me into a sexual relationship from a young age."
Whibley emphasizes that physical force was never employed by Nori, but the emotional and psychological toll was immense. The band ultimately severed ties with Nori after the 2004 'Chuck' tour. Moreover, the memoir details Nori's alleged attempts to capitalize on Sum 41's success, including trying to claim ownership of the hit 'In Too Deep' for his own projects and stealing songwriting credits, prompting Whibley to file a lawsuit that was reportedly settled out of court in 2018.
