Jason McCaslin
The steady, anchoring bassist whose low-end rumble and backing vocals have been the consistent heartbeat of pop-punk band Sum 41 for over two decades.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Canadian musician·Birthday: September 3·Generation X
Biography
While frontman Deryck Whibley commanded the spotlight, Jason 'Cone' McCaslin provided the foundational groove that made Sum 41's pop-punk anthems hit. Joining the band in 1999 after their debut EP, McCaslin locked in with drummer Steve Jocz to form a rhythm section that was both thunderous and precise, driving hits like 'Fat Lip' and 'In Too Deep.' His stage presence was understated but essential, often seen headbanging in the background while supplying the crucial backing vocals. Beyond performance, McCaslin grew into a key creative contributor, co-writing songs and eventually stepping into production roles. His tenure with Sum 41 is a story of quiet endurance, surviving the band's internal struggles, hiatuses, and Whibley's serious health battles. Alongside Whibley, he is one of only two constants across the band's entire discography, a testament to his dedication to the music and the unit they built together in a small town outside Toronto.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jason was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has performed on every one of Sum 41's studio albums, from their multi-platinum breakthrough 'All Killer No Filler' onward.
- Co-wrote numerous songs for the band, including tracks on albums like 'Underclass Hero' and '13 Voices'.
- Toured globally for over two decades, playing major festivals and headlining arena shows as part of the early 2000s pop-punk wave.
- Served as a record producer for the band's later work, including their 2019 album 'Order in Decline'.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Cone' originated in high school due to his tall, thin frame.
McCaslin is an avid hockey fan and played the sport growing up in Canada.
He initially played guitar before switching to bass when he joined Sum 41.
He and his bandmates once purchased a house together in Los Angeles they dubbed the 'Sum 41 House'.
“The bass line has to hold it all together, even when everything's going crazy.”
