About
Since the mid-'90s, Alberta's Nickelback (singer/guitarist Chad Kroeger, bassist Mike Kroeger, guitarist Ryan Peake and Daniel Adair, replacing original drummer Brandon Kroeger) have evolved from sounding like a Pearl Jam tribute band to becoming icons of radio-friendly, post-grunge modern rock. Nickelback's popularity first gathered steam with the single "Leader of Men" off their second self-released album, 1998's The State. The song was in heavy rotation on Canadian radio, and soon American label Roadrunner signed them (and reissued The State). They then toured with Creed, and in 2001, Silver Side Up yielded subsequent hits, such as "Someday." In 2005, Nickelback returned with All the Right Reasons, featuring members of ZZ Top and Pantera, which pushed them into contemporary heavy-rock territory and made them one of the decade's biggest bands in alt-rock, thanks to hits like "Photograph" and "Savin' Me." For 2008's Dark Horse, they brought in producer Mutt Lange (Back in Black, Pyromania) to add extra punch to their arena-rock anthems and power ballads.
- Eric Shea
