Avril Lavigne: 'Goodbye Lullaby' Made With Ex-Husband Deryck Whibley

Don't call "Goodbye Lullaby" a breakup album. After all, it was made with an ex.

Avril Lavigne opened up to Rolling Stone about the making of her new album, a mix of her famous pop punk and softer, acoustic tunes. While the introverted nature may make it seem like a sad reflection on her divorce from Sum41 star Deryck Whibley, that's not quite true; Whibley produced half of the album, which Lavigne says "is about life."

"Deryck is the most talented person I know," she said. "He produced, mixed, played guitar and bass. I wouldn't say it's a breakup record. It's about life. I went into it with a mind-set of not trying to write hits. People will make assumptions, but they'd be surprised what certain songs are about."

The two remain close outside the studio. "Everyone's always surprised that we're still so close," she told the magazine. "Like, 'Really?!'"

What most people don't know is that they go so far back.

"I made out with him the first day I met him. He gave me my first shot of Jäger. I had a tie on -- it was back in the days of the tie. I was 17," Lavigne remembered.

Talking about the divorce with Chelsea Handler in February, Lavigne spoke about her relationship with Whibley.

"We're not doing each other but yes, we're friends," Lavigne said. "I really respect him as a person and as an artist so it's all good."

Whibley's Sum41 released their first new album in four years on Tuesday, and unlike Lavigne, many of his songs have to deal with the split.

"I wrote a lot of these songs in a dark period, because, going through the divorce period was a very hard, dark time," Whibley told MTV. "And what I realized, I guess, is, when you're going through something -- whether it's a death in the family, a divorce, something that's very unexpected and painful -- you go super, super low, and then when you can come out of it, what you thought was your highest point becomes even higher."

For more from Lavigne, click over to Rolling Stone.

Comments

[Music4AW]

06:29 AM on 04/08/2011

2 things: First, she does write her own songs and plays the guitar, drums, and piano. Live and in the studio. Second, that "we're not doing each other" quote is kind of out of context - you know how talk shows like that can be unserious and funny? That was one of those joking moments. Not at all classy, just part of the atmosphere.

Avril's songs have always been meaningful and amazing. Listen to "Innocence" or "Why" - beautiful, touching songs. Generally the people who say that she sucks don't even really know her music - they're just judging based on random stupid things they hear about her, not on any realities.

Goodbye Lullaby is amazing - better than her last album! Definitely buy it!

[kinogod]

12:29 AM on 04/04/2011

"We're not doing each other, but yes we're friends." Sounds like a real classy lady.

[Just a passerby]

06:26 PM on 04/02/2011

"we're not doing each other"

Wow, such a way with words! No wonder her songs are so deep and speak to so many people!

Not.

[rebekahstarrband]

06:06 PM on 04/02/2011

again, i wonder.....how do these artists, who don't even play a musical instrument, legitimately take credit for songwriting.... lame. she never impressed me. gimmie a taylor swift or a sheryl crow over this imposter any day.

[Flaggy]

09:02 AM on 04/03/2011

You know Taylor Swift and Sheryl crow have a team of song writers that work for them, also they are just as manufactured as avril is. pretty much every "artist" you hear on the radio has a 100 people that helped them get to that point. so what you hear is the most manufactured crap in the world.

[CeleSlam]

11:50 AM on 04/02/2011

The almighty dollar reigns.

[Jimmy Boy]

10:30 PM on 04/01/2011

Its always good to hear that people can be mature, even in a divorce. Wish them all the best.

[WYHKTai-Tai]

08:13 PM on 04/01/2011

Great to hear Sum 41 has a new album out! My kids LOOOVE them & I certainly don't mind listening to them either. We may even get this new one from Avril. Could be good.

[whizkid]

07:30 PM on 04/01/2011

I dig her. And saw the Rubinoos years ago. Great band.

[gingerland62]

02:22 PM on 04/01/2011

Can we get rid of the term "punk pop" it is a horrible oxymoron? This girl, as well as Sum 41 have nothing to do with punk music. Just because someone sneers doesn't mean their music is punk.
Besides isn't she a plagiarist?(Rubinoo's- I wanna be your boyfriend)

[rebekahstarrband]

06:07 PM on 04/02/2011

yep, she is a plagiarist. and not even a good one.