Hate To Love: Nickelback – A Documentary on the Success and Controversy of a Rock Band

Explore the journey of Canadian rock band Nickelback, from their humble beginnings to their rise to fame and the subsequent backlash they faced. Discover the personal stories, challenges, and achievements that have made Nickelback one of the most polarizing bands in rock history.

The Journey of Nickelback: From Humble Beginnings to Global Fame

Nobody picks up a guitar with the intention of being in the most hated band in the world. This sentiment is echoed by Ryan Peake, guitarist of the Canadian rock band Nickelback, in a new documentary that delves into the story of one of rock’s most successful yet reviled acts. The film, titled “Hate To Love: Nickelback,” will be shown in UK cinemas for two nights only this week.

( Credit to: Kerrang )

The documentary sheds light on the blood, sweat, and beers that propelled Nickelback to their current status. It is truly impressive to witness their journey, which began in the small farm town of Hanna, Alberta, and to consider the unlikely derision they have faced over the years.

Nickelback’s path to success was far from easy. They faced familial discord, brushes with the law, the challenges of touring in a country with a sparse population and extreme weather, and countless loans from banks and expectant relatives. However, watching this 100-minute film, it is impossible to doubt their work ethic. Their hard work paid off with the release of their hit single “How You Remind Me.” Despite initial reservations from bassist Mike Kroeger about its potential as a single, the song skyrocketed to success. At its peak, it was played on U.S. radio approximately every three minutes. This success paved the way for their third album, “Silver Side Up,” which sold 250,000 copies in its first week, despite being released on September 11, 2001.

Overcoming Challenges and Rebounding: The Rise of Nickelback

Their fourth album, “The Long Road” (2003), did not achieve the same level of commercial success. The venues became smaller, and it seemed like the end was near. Fortunately, their label at the time, Roadrunner Records, encouraged them to persevere. Nickelback bounced back with “All The Right Reasons,” one of the best-selling records of all time. The accompanying tour, complete with pyrotechnics, lasted for 18 months and catered to the different lifestyles of the band members with family and party tour buses.

However, with increased success came a backlash. Nickelback faced criticism from music fans, comedians, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, as Governor of California, listed the band alongside undesirable things like haemorrhoids, root canal, and herpes as things preferred over Congress. The rise of social media provided new avenues for ridicule, with memes mocking the band and likening lead singer Chad’s curly hair to that of a poodle. The toll of this criticism is evident, with bassist Mike’s son discussing being bullied because of his father’s profession.

A Divisive Band: Exploring the Controversy Surrounding Nickelback

“Hate To Love: Nickelback” is part-biography and part-exploration of what it means to be a divisive band. It could be argued that the film focuses too much on the latter component, but the depth of feeling the band evokes, both positive and negative, deserves exploration. Along the way, the documentary offers interesting insights. Chad demonstrates self-awareness by acknowledging that he hasn’t always made things easy for himself. He suggests that life only has to be as difficult as you make it, alluding to the added scrutiny he faced during his two-year marriage to fellow Canadian music star Avril Lavigne.

The band also admits some of the criticism leveled at them, particularly regarding their more lascivious lyrics. Bassist Mike reasons that sometimes people want to hear vacuous, dumb shit. Chad, too, has adopted a philosophical perspective. He acknowledges that he plays Nickelback songs for Nickelback fans who want to hear them, and he wants to sing them.

The film delves into deeper personal experiences as well. It reveals that Mike suffered a stroke at the age of 40, which required him to learn to walk again. This event made him contemplate his mortality, while Chad wonders about his own thoughts on the matter, as he genuinely doesn’t know despite being Mike’s older brother. Chad also admits to the fear he felt when vocal issues forced the cancellation of a significant portion of their tour a few years ago, but little else is revealed about what truly drives him.

The Enigma of Chad: Unraveling the Mystery of Nickelback’s Frontman

The most surprising aspect of the film is how Chad, despite being a ubiquitous presence since the early 2000s, remains somewhat of a mystery. He is evidently someone who has lived a hard life but is dedicated to his work, a loving individual who also experiences fragility and tends to be somewhat of a loner. Even his mother struggles to sum him up.

In the end, Chad’s final words in the film reveal his noble intentions. After the band returns to Hanna to perform a fundraising show playing covers from their pre-Nickelback days as Village Idiot, Chad reflects on his legacy. He hopes that during his time on this planet, he has created songs that people can enjoy and that he has made someone’s day just a little bit better.

“Hate To Love: Nickelback” shows that Chad has certainly accomplished this mission. However, despite all the talking heads in the film, we never truly learn at what cost these achievements have come.