Sum 41 Congo Experiences On New DVD

Sum 41's well-documented experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be detailed in the Rocked: Sum 41 In Congo DVD, which arrives in stores on November 29.

The band traveled to the eastern region of the DRC to film a documentary detailing the devastating impact of the longstanding civil war on Congolese children. During their 10-day trip, Sum 41 (along with War Child Canada founders Dr. Samantha Nutt and Dr. Eric Hoskins) met with former child soldiers, victims of sexual violence, United Nations and aid agency officials, and many other Congolese victims of war.

A sudden and unexpected outbreak of violence between government soldiers and troops loyal to a renegade commander forced their much-publicized evacuation from the DRC, led by Canadian peacekeeper Chuck Pelletier, the namesake of the grateful band's most recent release.

"We went to Congo to show people what war is like, how harmful it is to civilians, and we ended up becoming war-affected ourselves," says Sum 41 drummer Steve Jocz.

"Our being there, hearing the bullets around us, the mortar fire, the injured being brought in for medical treatment, it reinforced our belief that more must be done to prevent war and protect innocent civilians," adds singer Deryck Whibley.

"The war in Congo is one the world's worst humanitarian disasters," says Hoskins, the president of War Child Canada and executive producer of Rocked. "Sum 41 went to the region with the intention of galvanizing public attention and support for the Congolese people, and in the process was caught in the crossfire of war themselves.

"But this isn't a documentary about a rock band from Ajax, Ontario dodging bullets. It is the story of a war that has left more than three million people dead. It is also the story of what we need to do as global citizens, and as Canadians, in order to help bring an end to this senseless tragedy."

All proceeds from Rocked: Sum 41 In Congo will help children affected by war through War Child Canada's international humanitarian projects.