Nickelback rock on
n the 1960s and 70s politics, protest and music were comfortable bedfellows.
However, Nickelback bass player Mike Kroeger reckons politics and music don’t and should never mix. It’s near impossible to walk the walk and talk the talk under the spotlight of being part of a multimillion-selling international rock band.
“Talking is really easy,” the bass player and brother to singer Chad Kroeger says. “Fully walking that talk is much harder.”
Which is why it’s interesting the Canadian band’s latest album No Fixed Address, which they released last year and tour through Australia this month, features a song called Edge of a Revolution. Kroeger, 42, admits that the sentiment of the song, which he co-wrote, goes against his rules.
“This wasn’t about Occupy Nickelback or a call to revolution,” he explains. “At the time we wrote this song, Occupy Wall Street was going on and it really was just a commentary on what was going on around us.
“I had a big part in writing those lyrics because I’m plugged into global geopolitical issues. I know a great deal about what’s going on in that space.
“I’m not a writer that writes about girls and sex. It’s not my wheelhouse.”
Given Nickelback are infamous for lascivious songs such as 2003 single Figured You Out, Kroeger says he doesn’t own the lyrics other people in the band write.
“Any time I can chip in with lyrics, that’s great, but I largely leave that to Chad. I get involved with the words I can really connect with and issues I’m interested in, things like WikiLeaks.”
Formed in 1995, the quartet is one of the most divisive bands in rock’n’roll.
They have passionate fans and equally passionate haters. Both groups are vocal about what’s wrong (check out the lyrics to Figured You Out) and right (they rock live) about the band known for songs such as Photograph, How You Remind Me and Rockstar.
Nickelback have dozens of awards but are yet to take home a Grammy despite having chalked up 50 million in sales across eight studio albums.
Kroeger, his brother and their best friends are now all in their 40s and the musician says it’s crazy to think they’re 20 years down the track.
“Years ago I remember seeing an interview with Mick Jagger and he was being asked how long he thought the Stones would go on.
“He said he’d be thrilled if they made it through to next week.
“I’ve always remembered that and tried to give everything to the task immediately at hand and it ends up where it ends up,” he says.
Nickelback plays Perth Arena on May 26. Tickets from Ticketek.
