You either love them or hate them, but Nickelback is probably one of the last bands standing today, besides the Foo Fighters. Since Kings of Leon’s demise last year, it’s probably safe to say that Nickelback is one of the world’s biggest rock acts. Nickelback is on the road to support their latest album, Here and Now and lead singer Chad Kroeger and guitarist Ryan Peake sat down exclusively with Examiner.com to discuss the new album and tour.
Do you consider there to be a lot of bands that sound like Nickelback and does that make your job any tougher?
Ryan Peake: I don’t know – I guess – I don’t know if there’s a lot of bands that sound like Nickelback. I think there’s always the cycle of music that’s what’s on the radio and what people are listening to, I guess.
Honestly, I don’t pay attention too terribly much I guess. I listen to a lot of stuff outside of work, so I guess it’s likely. But, yes, I’m not sure. I don’t really pay attention to much of it.
Would you rather play new material or old on this tour? Is it a good mix every night?What is the crowd’s reaction to your new material?
The new material went over great. And I think I realized how hard it is to sing some of the old stuff. So, we brought back – you know, we brought back, what did we, “Never Again” from “Silver Side Up.”
We stepped far way back in the set. We took out “Too Bad.” We took out “Saving Me.” And we put in – what’s off a new record? “This Means War,” that one’s no picnic to sing either.
“When We Stand Together,” “Bottoms Up,” and “Lullaby” off the new record and those ones seemed to go over really well. I think “Lullaby” was actually one of the high points of the night. Everybody was definitely screaming along to that one.
You have the career that people used to have. You put out CDs your fans buy them still physically and digitally. You tour big arenas and your tickets sell. That used to be the norm. Everyone knows that things are changing so much these days. You see artists who used to fill arenas in much smaller venues and having trouble moving units and moving tickets. How much time do you think about new technology having an affect on the band?
Chad Kroeger: Well, we try not to focus on that too much. We have other people that come to us – come to us with ideas to reach our fans, you know, this way. Let’s try to reach our fans, you know, another way. They’ve been really good to us and let us focus on the tour and the music. And they come to us with those ideas, thankfully, just because everything is changing and evolving so rapidly.
Our phone is constantly vibrating with updates from, you know, other people’s tweets and everything else, you know. And everything that’s getting released on iTunes. It’s like every 15 minutes there’s a some type of commercial coming across the phone.
Trying to keep up with all that is very difficult. So thankfully we don’t have to worry about that too much, thankfully. We’ve got other people to worry about that. And like I said, they’ve been really good in terms of just letting us focus on the music and coming up with, you know, when we want to blow things up in the set and when we when we want to stand on a flying stage that takes us across the arena and sets us down at the other side.
That being said as well, I think that’s the new aspect of things for sure. I think – I think we’re pretty – we’re pretty happy at this point. I mean you always – we always try to out do, you know, the last tour or at least make, you know, make sure that people walk away happy.
But we think we’ve we’ve really concentrated in the past on making sure that when people, you know, purchase an album or purchase a concert that they come to the show. And the main thing is that they’ll want to come back.
You’ve got to make sure that you give it everything, every night no matter where you’re playing. And it sounds ridiculous but it’s true, meaning that’s what – what we want to do. And we make sure that, you know, we have a career that extends past this – whatever album you’re on.
So I think we’ve tried to pay a lot of attention to that. Hopefully, that’s what makes the career. Is that there are return fans. We focused on that early on in our career, we like to kind of stick to that mantra.
What is the tour like and how it compares to past runs that you’ve done?
Chad Kroeger: I just don’t think this even compares to anything we’ve done before. This is – it’s so over the top. We’ve got this flying stage that comes down and picks us up. And takes us across the arena and starts spinning. And we were in pre-production for I don’t know – a week to ten days – just practicing everything, knowing where we’re supposed to stand, so, you know, one of our legs doesn’t get blown off. And we had never taken the thing up to show height. So we get on last – two nights ago at the first stop of the tour. We were like, okay, you know we’ve got this down. You know we’ve rehearsed a lot, we know everything — and then all of a sudden — we’re like twice as high as we’ve ever been in pre-production and we’re way up there. We are trying to focus. We’re trying to remember the words. We’re trying to, you know, play our part and look cool while we’re doing this. And I’m trying not to, you know, trying not to fall over. And, you know, this thing starts spinning.
It’s just absolute insanity. You know, we’ve got this massive screen. It splits apart in six different sections.We get on these conveyor belts. They transport us from, you know, parts of the stage to other parts of the stage. And I mean there’s just so much stuff going on.
Ryan Peake: There’s a – the interesting part is like this all the stuff, you know, that’s been dreamed up for this. The thing Chad came up with is the flying stage idea. We tried that out and then it comes to fruition the day you get there to see it all.
Then it’s in the crews hands and they’re, like, okay this is a pretty ambitious stage. We will be loaded out by 4:00 am. And then we have to load in by 4:00 am. So we need a time machine or teleporter to take us to the next venue because it’s – that’s just not possible.
So we’re, like, all right, so those are some of the elements in this tour that we’ve had to kind of overcome. Okay, how can we make this happen? It’s big, big thing to take on. And we’ve got, like, such a solid crew as well that this thing we finally, you know, pulled off for the, you know, the last night. We’ve got, like, an unbelievable crew that’s actually making it happen for us too. So that’s – that’s a big part of the show.
Prior to the group working on “Here and Now” I know you did some writing with other folks and things down in Nashville. And I think “Lullaby” was kind of born that way. I’m wondering what impact you feel like it had on the songs for this album?
Ryan Peake: Yes, it’s weird that we’re both sitting in the same room just looking at each other while talking to all these people and it’s very strange.
But, yes, I mean I love writing with other people. You know, and just getting in the room with anyone from Santana to Daughtry to all the people down in Nashville. To even most recently Avril Lavigne, we’ve been writing together in LA.
You always learn something new because nobody approaches it the same way. Everybody tries to tackle the demon differently. And like you were saying just in terms of this record alone. “Lullaby” definitely was given birth in Nashville.
You know, it started that way and then I was, like, oh, this is – this is too special to let someone else, you know, have this. There was too much of an emotional connection. You know, the story just reflected too much of my life and this one very personal instance. And so that definitely had to come back to the studio with us.
It’s kind of tough to put your finger on but, you know, I think they come out subconsciously. Like the way that people just look at things differently. Some people want to start in the chorus. You know, and they want a main theme to the song. And that’s usually a great way to do it. You know, if you’ve got that hook or some, you know, really – some funny phrase or tongue in cheek or something that’s very special. Start in the chorus.
Other people want to start right from the start of the story. And they have no idea, you know, one sunny day and off we go kind of thing. And everyone likes to do it different. So it’s – I absolutely love doing it. And it’s always a wonderful ending experience.
When I get to Nashville – everybody in Nashville – all the writers there seem to be pretty big fans of Photograph. They all want to – kind of, you know, like a trip down memory lane type of thing. You know, that’s a pretty popular theme in country music.
Chad Kroeger: When we told them story of “Lullaby” they seemed – it seemed the way you were telling it is that they latched on to that – like, when it’s a real story and it’s, like, a real connection.
Ryan Peake: Yes. They were just, like, they’ve got to sink their teeth into. And that – I think that’s – that’s why – I think that’s why it kind of came across as it does. It’s based on something from true feelings, so.
Chad Kroeger: Yes, those are – that was the best ones. Those are the ones that you give you, you know, the real goose bumps. And the one, you know, when everything on the back of your neck stands up and you get that feeling.
Those are – the ones that come from the real experiences are always the best. You know, when you’re just telling a story, those can be great. But I always find the ones that have truth to them to be the most impactful.
It seems like people are watching concerts through their video cameras and their phones nowadays. What does that feel like for you to look out there and not necessarily see people watching you but watching it through a lense. And do you feel like you might be a little more disconnected from the crowd because of that.
Chad Kroeger: I think they’re still taking it in there, you know. They’re just holding – I think just holding whatever phone or recording device in the air now. It’s just become second nature.
And you can tell the songs that they definitely want to put up there. Because when you see thousands of hands go up – the only thing I’m thinking is – oh, don’t trip, don’t screw up. Don’t do – you know, this is going to be on YouTube in seconds because it’s just like the world is watching, you know.
And it has that sort of pressure to it. I think – I think there’s a bit of a – there’s going to be a bit of a curve to it I feel. I’ve been a bit guilty of the same thing where I’m at a show and I’m just like, I’ve got to share. I’m like this is unbelievable. I’ve got to share that. It’s like you just share this with somebody else or I’ve got to remember this. And then I take the video, 30-second video or whatever it is. I go home and it’s never the same. It’s always you got to be there kind of thing. I don’t do it anymore because for that reason I like to just take it in. And I don’t have to – I’ve kind of learned my lesson in that sense. So I don’t know maybe it’s a bit of a learning curve for people to kind of get honestly.You know, you can take some things from memories I guess and – but it’s never — it kind of pales in comparison to what’s actually happening. So – from now on I put mine away.
You’re coming off such a mega successful album. Did you say, well, you know this worked for us last time? Why break what’s not broken? Or are you thinking – we’ve already been there, done that, let’s do something different. Or is it even a conscious thought in your mind when you go into it?
Chad Kroeger: You know, when we – when we get to – it’s kind like, you know, do you guys want to get back to the studio? Let’s get back to the studio, let’s try something. It’s – it kind of just – it just – it kind of rolls it. It’s not a lot of conscious effort. I think the only conscious thing that we – that we really pay attention to in the studio is like, okay, we’ve got this melodic song out of us. I think it’s time for a rock song.
And then we just sit there and try to write a rock riff. I mean and you try to grab something that’s inspiring whether it’s a lower tuned guitar or something. I mean I don’t think – I don’t think like a bluegrass album is believable from Nickelback.
Even though, you know, I’m big fans of the genre and what not I think at some point and as well, if you can’t – if you can’t pull it off competently then you know it’s like, you know, maybe I don’t think this is going to be the area for us. Unless I think, you know, what am I trying to say here?
You don’t think just going into the studio one day and say let’s be artistically creative and bring in an accordion for the song?
Chad Kroeger: Well, ukulele, we brought in ukulele.
Ryan Peake: Yes, there’s not a lot of outside. It’s more of like a lot of hands on thing. If I can’t do it, you know, Chad can’t do it then, like, maybe we should move on a little bit here so.
I suppose we could do a separate orchestral album like – wasn’t that what Metallica did? I mean there’s always those kind of elements I guess but that – that hasn’t come across the table for us yet. We still got more stuff in us.
Chad Kroeger: Yes, we have to be – we kind of got to be careful too. Like we don’t – it’s still got to be us, you know, when we do it. You know, if we’ve got jazz, flute, you know, and Ron Burgandy’s making an appearance it still has to be us at the end of the day.
We have gone down certain paths before and then we looked at each other and just been like – what are we doing – what are we doing here? It feels weird for us and, you know, I’m thinking how the fans going to take this. It’s, you know, so there’s a level of sort of self-editing that has to go on at certain times.
At the end of day we have to love these tunes. And we don’t want to put out one single song that we don’t dig. And I guess that’s sort of what we have to live by.
What do you think of Axl Rose’s decision to turn down the Rock and Roll Induction and do you think Nickelback will ever get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Chad Kroeger: Nickelback will never get into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I don’t think they’ll let us in. And I think – I think that’s crazy for – why wouldn’t he want to be celebrated, you know? Guns and Roses had they stayed together would still be one of the biggest bands in the world.
You know, it’s absolute shame when bands have to break up and they can’t see eye to eye on things. But when you look back on someone’s music and you want to celebrate it that’s just silly. I mean I find that incredibly self-centered.
And, you know, when your fans – when everybody – when the industry and just your genre – like everybody wants to celebrate you and that. And the things that you created and, you know, thanks for the good music and yadda, yadda, whatever have you. Then for someone to just be like not into it. That’s – I just find that a little bit pompous.
Here and Now is like a back to basics album for the band. Where you think it fits in the scheme of the band’s overall music catalogue?
Chad Kroeger: I, you know, it’s right up there with one of my favorites. How about that? You know, we just got in the studio and we just want – the one thing we always try and do is have a big balance. You know, we don’t really want 11 or 12 metal tunes, we don’t want 11 or 12 ballads. You know, we love it when there’s big balance of music and it just kind of ebbs and flows all over the place.
So that’s the only thing we really focus on is just making sure that there’s, you know, lots of different stuff on there. And make sure there’s balance to the record. It shouldn’t go – it shouldn’t sway too far in any direction. And there needs to be enough stuff on there for me to enjoy in every different mood I’m in.
So that’s really what we try and focus on and just in terms of writing. Like, we don’t really know from one day to the next what’s going to come out of anybody’s mouth. Or, you know, someone might bring in a riff or something.
It’s like, you know, the guys were in the middle of a social media meeting. You know, they’re talking about Twitter and Facebook and everything. And that holds my attention for about a second and a half. I turn into a goldfish for sure.
Then I’m like, you guys finish up with this. If you want me to tweet something, I’ll tweet something. If you want me to put something on Facebook I’m good. But, you know, in the meantime I’m just going to head back to the studio. So I went over to the studio I run off just to neighbor kind of hanging around this meeting. In about an hour and half when everybody got over there, the chorus of “When We Stand Together” was kind of sitting there. I’m like, guys what do you think of this?
You know, everyone was like, oh, this is really cool. You know, this could be great, you know, we just had the chorus there. And we’re like this is definitely, you know, a song about social awareness. And let’s go into the verses kind of pointing out how it’s too easy to just turn away from all the things that are going on in the world.
And away we went. And within a matter of hours, you know, “When We Stand Together” was sitting there in skeletal form. So that’s about as much forethought goes into anything. It’s, you know, there aren’t a whole lot of preplanned ideas anymore.
A lot of the stuff comes off the cuff. And sometimes we go way, way down the rabbit hole in the wrong direction. And we have to stop and, you know, turn around and come back and try some different rabbit holes.
Ryan Peake: And that’s the thing. It’s like – and it’s a gem- it’s the genuine love of like melody. You know, there’s lots of love, you know, just find a good melody and something that just – just rings all the bells which is usually hard. It’s just – it sounds great. And going with that that’s when – after three or four days of working on one song like that you’re like, okay, we’ve got to put this one away here. I need to hear something rock.
I mean I grew up listening to rock and metal and stuff. I need to hear something with some guitars. So it’s a bit of a multiple kind of personality thing sometimes in the studio where you’ve just got to – you’ve got to just switch gears and hit something else for a bit. And then come back to it. The album ends up sounding, you know, as kind of across the board as it does.
I see for the entire length of the Here and Now tour you got Bush, Seether, and My Darkest Days opening.
Chad Kroeger: We had to pay them to do that.
Tell me about the length of the show and how you settled on these bands. It’s kind of rare these days for a full tour to have the same opening act the whole time.
Chad Kroeger: Yes, we got lucky. You know, I think we’ve got a great package. And it’s the first night of – if any type of litmus test or indicator for the crowd. I mean counting singles throughout the entire night has got to be up around 45 or 50.
We even shortened our set up. It was usually about two hours. And we got off stage in about an hour and a half, just because that is a lot of music. You don’t want to bombard somebody.
Our weekends sets will probably get a little longer. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, people aren’t looking at their watches so much. People are kind of looking at the concourse going, how far is it to get another beer. You know, instead of, mm, I’ve got to work tomorrow.
So, yes there has been a little bit of shortening of things. And but it’s, yes, we’re so lucky, so incredibly lucky to have four bands with this much material that everybody can sing along with and enjoy.
How has your demographic changed since breaking out of Alberta? Do you still see a lot of your hometown folks come out to US shows? Are they hardcore still?
Chad Kroeger: Since we broke out of Alberta, we now have a demographic. You’d be amazed at how many people think – hey, I want to come see you guys in Vegas. Yes, I fly you out and see you Vegas then we can spend some time with you. How much of an original idea is like, you know what everybody wants to take a trip to Vegas to see a band and come hang out.
Yes, we still a lot of the other guys that kind of helped put us here I guess in a sense because – and they show up at the most bizarre places sometimes. So our demographic definitely has expanded.
I noticed this year that you guys usually don’t respond to the hate. You know, you kind of let it go and keep the peace and everything. There’s times there’s been some barbs, little tweets, and responses. Have you changed your tune a little bit with social media or are you having fun with it?
Chad Kroeger: No, we’re just laughing. We’re just laughing while we do it. I mean it’s just like when you got guys all sitting around together and we, you know, we’ll hear about something and, you know, we laugh. You know, whoever comes up with the most comedic thing it’s like – oh, that’s good.
That’s really – we have to tweet that. It’s one of those things like, now, that’s one of the good things about – about Twitter and Facebook and everything. It’s like when you come up with something really comedic and you want to share it with the world you actually can. So that stuff’s always fun.
When you’re performing with a band like Bush, who is a band that also had been around for a number of years and had a number of hits. Is there any kind of friendly rivalry that goes on in the set?
Do you guys after their set feel like, okay, we have to one up them or put on a better show. Do you guys pay attention from night to night to the guys who are performing with you? Is there any kind of friendly competition that goes on during those shows?
Chad Kroeger: I think that used to happen a lot more. I think like if we were opening or, you know, if we were direct support or something like that we would get out there and definitely have that in mind. Now, it’s just no matter what I just want to perform the songs to the best of my ability and, you know, I want to get off the stage without being hooked up to a defibrillator.
Or doing it – just getting through the show. Yes. And all I have is my band members looking at me well you wrote it. You had to come up with all those lines in there. You didn’t want to take any breath in the studio, you know, so it’s my own fault, that’s for sure.
But I think – I think every band when they get on stage and like you were saying, exactly, when we used to open it was like – this is your moment. You’ve been given this chance. Now, like, put on the best possible show you can.
It sounds ridiculous but it’s like you want to be the most, you know, have the most outrageous kind of just – display of your music. So that people will remember you. And you sometimes do one up so the next band after you has got to follow that. You’re like let’s give them something to follow. And I think that just makes for a better show all around. All the bands doing that? I think the fans are going to win. So that’s the objective here. Make sure the fans have a great time.
