Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta, formed in 1995 by Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and then-drummer Brandon Kroeger. While largely a rock band, the group has also experimented with various other musical styles such as pop and country, aside from their hard rock and post-grunge base. Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold over 35 million albums worldwide. Nickelback ranks as the 11th best selling music act of the 2000s, and is the 2nd best selling foreign act in the U.S. behind The Beatles for the 2000s. In December 2009, Nickelback were ranked 7th on Billboard Magazine's list of "Artists of the Decade" - both the highest-ranked band and the highest-ranked rock artist in the list. Billboard Magazine also named Nickelback as the Adult Pop Artist of the decade. The band has sold 21,000,000 album copies in the U.S.The band is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its name originates from the nickel in change that band member Mike Kroeger gave customers at his job at Starbucks; he would frequently say, "Here's your nickel back."The band is signed to EMI in Canada and Roadrunner Records for the rest of the world. In July 2008, the band signed with Live Nation for three touring and album cycles, with an option for a fourth. The contract includes recordings, touring, merchandise and other rights.
Nickelback was formed in 1995 by members Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger, and Brandon Kroeger. Nickelback's first release was a seven-track EP called Hesher in 1996. In the same year, Nickelback also recorded their first full-length album Curb. "Fly" was included on both Hesher and Curb and was the first single produced by Nickelback. On 1997, Brandon Kroeger left the band and Nickelback searches for a new drummer. In later 1997, Mitch Guindon join the band, but he decided to leave in 1998 because he started working in a Car Company. In Summer 1998, Ryan Vikedal joined the band. Roadrunner A&R Ron Burman told HitQuarters that one of his West Coast scouts sent him the self-released album and, suitably impressed, he travelled to Vancouver to see them perform live. Although an unknown property in the industry at the time, the venue was packed out. In Burman's words: "I immediately got the chills! I thought their song "Leader of Men" was a smash hit." Off the stage he was impressed by their industry and initiative in managing their career: Despite this it still took Burman three months for him to convince his label bosses' to approve the signing, a decision that would mark Roadrunner's first move into mainstream rock. Nickelback signed a record deal with EMI and Roadrunner Records. In 1999, Roadrunner Records signed Nickelback because the band sold more than 10,000 copies of Hesher and their first albumCurb as an independent label.
The State, was released by Nickelback in 2000 by Roadrunner Records and EMI. The State, was Released in Europe in 2001. It spawned 4 singles from the album, Old Enough, Worthy To Say, and the smash hits "Leader of Men" and "Breathe" which were Top 10 rock hits and resulted in the album being certificated gold in the United States in late 2001. It reached Platinum status in 2008, after the succes of three consecutive multi-platinum efforts.Nickelback toured with other bands such as Creed, SevenDust, and 3 Doors Down in their, State tour. Nickelback won a Juno Award in 2001, for best new group. The State has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The album entered the Billboard 200 albums charts in position #130, it also entered the Billboard Top Heatseekers albums charts in position #3 in 2000.
In 2001, Nickelback released the Silver Side Up album. The single "How You Remind Me" was a #1 single on the Mainstream and Modern rock charts, as well as the pop chart. It also peaked at #2 on Adult Top 40. "How You Remind Me" became the Billboard Hot 100 #1 single of the year for 2001. The next single was "Too Bad", which also reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and had a small amount of success on the pop chart. The final single from the album was "Never Again", another #1 hit on Mainstream Rock.
In 2002, Chad Kroeger collaborated with Josey Scott and Gaige Corvo who played the lead guitar on the Spider-Man theme song, "Hero". This also featured Tyler Connolly, Mike Kroeger, Matt Cameron, and Jeremy Taggart. In 2002, Nickelback released their first DVD Live at Home. In 2002, Nickelback re-released it's first album Curb, with RoadRunner Records. Silver Side Up has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
In 2003, Nickelback released The Long Road. It spawned five singles, which were Someday, Figured You Out, See You at the Show, Feelin' Way Too Damn Good, and Because of You. The lead single was "Someday" and the album went on to sell five million copies worldwide. The band also released "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good" as a single, which peaked at #3 on the Mainstream Rock Charts. "Figured You Out" was also released as a single and topped the Mainstream Rock Charts for 13 consecutive weeks.
Nickelback's fifth studio album, All the Right Reasons (2005), produced five U.S. Hot 100 top 20 singles: "Photograph", "Savin' Me", "Far Away", "If Everyone Cared" and "Rockstar". Three of these became U.S. Hot 100 top 10 singles. All the Right Reasons had sold 7,357,944 copies in the US to June 19, 2010. In total, All the Right Reasons has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide since its 2005 release. Aside from all the success of All the Right Reasons, lead singer Kroeger began his own label named 604 Records in 2005 and holds the position of executive producer. In early 2005, Ryan Videdal left the band and 3 Doors Down's drummer Daniel Adair joined Nickelback. The group was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2007.
