Seemingly unconcerned with the glamour of the TRL-dominated pop world, Avril provided a new kind of role model for pop fans across the globe, and many pop artist followed in her wake, by adding rockier sounds and styles to their existing rosters.

Growing up in Ontario, Canada, Lavigne's musical ambitions were noticeable from an early age, and by her early teens she was already writing songs and playing guitar. In 1998, she won a competition to sing with Shania Twain on her first major concert tour, and appeared alongside her at a show in Ottawa to sing "What Made You Say That"?

However it was while singing country covers at a local bookstore that Lavigne was discovered by her first professional manager, Cliff Fabri, and during a performance with the Lennox Community Theatre, Lavigne was spotted by local folk singer Steve Medd, who invited her to sing on his song "Touch The Sky" in 1999.

By the age of sixteen she was signed up to "L.A." Reid's Arista Records, and with Reid's assistance Lavigne moved to New York and found herself surrounded by a whole host of prime songwriters and producers. But it wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles, hooked up with Nettwerk Management and was introduced to producer/songwriter Clif Magness, that she found the sound she was looking for. Magness tweaked Lavigne's melodic, edgy sound and her debut, 'Let Go', was the polished product.

'Let Go' was released in June 2002, reaching number two in the US and number one in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Just over one month after its release, it reached multi-Platinum status, and before the end of 2002 it was certified 4x Platinum.
The album was the best selling album of the year for a female artist, leading to Lavigne being named "Best New Artist" at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, winning a World Music Award for Best-Selling Canadian Singer, and being nominated for 8 Grammy's.

Lavigne's second album 'Under My Skin' was released in 2004, and it debuted at number one in thirteen different countries across the globe. Selling more than 380,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, the album went on to sell more than 8 million copies worldwide.

Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk co-wrote most of the album with Lavigne, though some tracks were co-written by Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence), and stepping into the production role was Butch Walker of Marvellous 3, Lavigne's former lead guitarist Evan Taubenfeld, Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida, and Don Gilmore.

What set 'Under My Skin' apart from its predecessor, was its decidedly darker tone. And this change obviously went down well with her fans, as 'Under My Skin' topped the US Billboard charts, producing the number one hit "My Happy Ending". Lavigne went on to win two more World Music Awards in 2004 for World's Best Pop/Rock Artist and Best-Selling Canadian Artist, as well as winning a Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Award.

Now she is back with her third album 'The Best Damn Thing', which is produced by Dr. Luke (Lady Sovereign, Pink), her husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, Rob Cavallo (Green Day), and Butch Walker. And if her hit single 'Girlfriend' is anything to go by we're sure we'll be seeing a lot more of Lavigne in the near future. So join us as we welcome her return and make a much more grown up Ms Lavigne our MTV European Artist of the Week.

HH