Chad Kroeger: It’s Nice that Nickelback Is No Longer ‘Public Enemy Number One’

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Chad Kroeger Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images / Nardwuar: William Jans, CC BY-SA 3.0 US, Wikimedia Commons
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For a long time, Nickelback used to be the butt of many jokes; however, in recent years, it seems that people have started to ease up on those jokes, and some have even come around to defend the band. Recently, pop star Lizzo talked about how much she likes the band’s song “How You Remind Me” and said, “Nickelback gets way too much shit.”

During a new interview with Nardwuar, Nickelback members Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake were asked a variety of questions about the band’s career.  Towards the end of the conversation, Nardwuar asks questions related to the band’s near-unanimous hatred in pop culture, including a poll where they lost in popularity to a pickle. Kroeger explains from his perspective what was happening, saying (as transcribed by The Pit):

“I think we were at the apex of the hate at that point in time. It was a little tough to get away from Nickelback on radio and on TV and whatnot at that point in time. I think we could’ve lost a popularity contest to just about anyone at that point in time.”

Nardwuar follows up the question by asking about Kroeger’s ex-wife Avril Lavigne, noting she would come to bat in defense of Nickelback. Kroeger concurs, saying, “She’s a staunch defender of the band. Anytime somebody’s taking low blows… the nice thing is there’s been a softening on the band. Which is great, it’s nice to no longer be public enemy number one when it comes to just making music.”

While Nickelback may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the band does deserve a lot more credit for making solid rock. Hell, Kroeger even deserves some metal cred; per Devin Townsend, the prog master claims the Nickelback singer is “more of a metalhead” than he is.

Prior to this point about folks softening up to the band, Nardwuar asked the Nickelback members what it was like to see ex-United States President Donal Trump tweet about their music. Kroeger replies and says:

“We’ve really run the gamut here, starting off with our incredibly humble beginnings and to go from that to a question like ‘What’s it like to have Trump tweet out something about…’ I think it was ‘Photograph,’ I think it was something like that. Bizarre, very bizarre. That one is  really tough to put words on.”

Peake had a more blunt response, saying, “I could’ve done without it, put it that way.”

Below you can watch the full interview featuring Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake.

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Devin Townsend Says Nickelback's Chad Kroeger Is 'More of a metalhead' Than He Is