Nickelback

Biography

Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta. The band's current members are lead vocalist and guitarist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair. The band has gone through several drummers, with Adair joining in 2005.

Formation and Early Years

The band was initially a cover band called "Village Idiot," consisting of brothers Chad and Mike Kroeger, their cousin Brandon Kroeger, and Ryan Peake. They primarily covered songs by bands like Led Zeppelin and Metallica. The name "Nickelback" originated from Mike Kroeger's time working at Starbucks, where he would often say, "Here's your nickel back" when giving change to customers.

In 1996, the band released a seven-track EP called Hesher and their first full-length album, Curb. "Fly" was the band's first single, released from both the EP and the album. Brandon Kroeger left the band in 1997 and was replaced by a couple of other drummers before Ryan Vikedal joined in 1998.

Mainstream Success

Nickelback's breakthrough came with their 2001 album, Silver Side Up. The single "How You Remind Me" was a massive international hit, reaching number one on both the American and Canadian charts simultaneously. It became the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single of the year for 2002. The album also included the hit singles "Too Bad" and "Never Again," which both topped the Mainstream Rock Chart. In 2002, Chad Kroeger co-wrote and sang on the song "Hero" for the "Spider-Man" movie soundtrack.

Their next album, The Long Road (2003), sold over five million copies worldwide and featured the hit single "Someday." In 2005, after Daniel Adair replaced Ryan Vikedal on drums, the band released All the Right Reasons, which became their best-selling album. It produced several hit singles, including "Photograph," "Far Away," and "Rockstar."

Subsequent albums like Dark Horse (2008), Here and Now (2011), No Fixed Address (2014), Feed the Machine (2017), and Get Rollin' (2022) continued to find commercial success. Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian bands, having sold over 50 million albums worldwide. In 2009, Billboard named them the most successful rock group of the decade.

Musical Style and Reception

Nickelback's music is generally categorized as post-grunge, hard rock, and alternative rock. Their sound often incorporates loud, emotional rock with a pop-friendly polish. Despite their immense commercial success, the band has faced significant criticism and has been a polarizing force in the music world. Critics and some music fans have often described their music as formulaic and unoriginal. The band's consistent radio presence and commercial success have also contributed to a backlash against them. However, they maintain a large and dedicated fanbase and continue to sell out tours globally.

Band Members

Current Members:

Chad Kroeger – lead vocals, guitar (1995–present)
Ryan Peake – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–present)
Mike Kroeger – bass (1995–present)
Daniel Adair – drums, backing vocals (2005–present)

Past Members:

Brandon Kroeger – drums (1995–1997)
Mitch Guindon - drums (1997-1998)
Ryan Vikedal – drums (1998–2005)