Sum 41 signed an international record deal with Island Records in 1999, launching a career that featured Steve Jocz as a founding member and drummer. Across several global tours and five studio albums, the Canadian musician became a fixture in the rock scene before transitioning into roles as a music video director and session performer.
Early Career and Sum 41
Born in 1981 in Ajax, Ontario, Steve Jocz joined the rock band Sum 41 in 1996. Following his graduation from Exeter High School in 1999, the group released their debut EP, Half Hour of Power, in 2000. Their subsequent studio effort, 2001's All Killer No Filler, secured platinum certification in the United States and Canada. The lead single, Fat Lip, reached the top position on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Jocz participated in the recording of four additional studio albums: Does This Look Infected? in 2002, Chuck in 2004, Underclass Hero in 2007, and Screaming Bloody Murder in 2011. During his tenure, he frequently performed as many as 300 shows annually.
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Jocz utilized the stage name Payne while performing vocals for the band's alter-ego project, Pain for Pleasure. He also contributed to various external recordings, including drums for Treble Charger’s 2002 album Detox, Iggy Pop’s 2003 release Skull Ring, and two tracks on Avril Lavigne’s 2007 album The Best Damn Thing. In 2008, he joined The Operation M.D., a spin-off group involving Jason McCaslin, maintaining involvement until 2012 and returning as a contributor in 2017. Additionally, he toured with The Vandals on the Vans Warped Tour in 2008, later performing with the group in Hawaii, Europe, and Japan between 2017 and 2024.
Departure and Current Status
In April 2013, Jocz announced his departure from Sum 41 via social media. He later explained that the decision stemmed from exhaustion and a desire to prioritize his family, which includes his wife, Jessy Moss, and two sons. In 2023, he shared a tribute video to the band on Instagram, later confirming his reasons for leaving in an October interview with DJ Immortal. While he was named as an inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame alongside his former bandmates on March 30, 2025, he did not appear at the ceremony. In 2024, he launched a YouTube channel titled Stevo32Drums.
Fast facts
- Born: 1981, Ajax, Canada
- Primary Occupation: Drummer
- Band: Sum 41
- Education: Exeter High School
- Residence: Indian Wells, California
- Wife: Jessy Moss
- Hall of Fame Induction: 30 March 2025
- Religion: Atheism
Questions readers ask
Why did Steve Jocz leave Sum 41?
Jocz cited burnout, extensive touring, and a desire to spend time with his young family as the primary reasons for his 2013 departure.
Did Jocz work with other artists besides Sum 41?
Yes, he recorded drums for Avril Lavigne, Iggy Pop, and Treble Charger, and served as a contributing member of The Operation M.D. and The Vandals.
Achievements
- Instruments: drum kit
- Genres: punk rock
