Whibley suffered what has been called a near-death experience in 2014 after suffering liver and kidney failure due to excessive alcohol consumption, which led him to being hospitalized for a month and warned by doctors that he could die if he continued to drink.

He has since sobered up and that new found sobriety fueled a very productive year. He tells fans in his online post, ""as the year comes to an end, i can honestly say that 2015 has been one of the best years of my life. it has been a year of accomplishments. learning to walk again and getting back on stage were some of the hardest things that i've ever had to do. getting my life back on track and my health in order, while at the same time making a new Sum 41 album, almost seemed impossible this time last year, but now the record is almost done and i feel stronger and better than ever. the band is sounding bigger and better as a 5-piece, and it's so great to have dave 'brown sound' back again after almost 10 years.