The Long and Winding Road 

Fronted by the distinguishable Chad Kroeger and famous for that song, no other rock band gets more stick than Nickelback, so what could be more apt than for uk-fusion to quiz the band's drummer, Ryan 'Nik' Vikedal, on the eve of their new album The Long Road

You were relatively unknown outside Canada until 'How You Remind Me'. Does it bother you being known for one song?
No, not really and that partly ties in to why we called this album The Long Road.  When you do get to a point where you get a successful song, there is the thing of following that up and continuing on. That's kinda the long road because it took us a long time to get to this point and it’s going to be even harder. Hopefully we can maintain staying at the successful level that we’ve achieved with this new record and with records to come.
How many times have you played that song?  
I think we did 230-some shows on our last tour so including the studio, it would be well over 1000.
Is this something Canadians are very good at?  Bryan Adams’ was number one with ‘Everything I Do’ for 17 weeks in the UK.
Yeah, that was insane. It lasted so long he moved here, heheh!
Is it quite a strain to be travelling on the road for months?
We’re eased into it now. Our last tour (for Silver Side Up) was 18 months so we’re more prepared [for the month long US tour starting on 12 October]. Sometimes it gets a little hard but for the most part of it, it’s good.
What’s the maddest thing they’ve done on tour?
The craziest thing I’ve done on tour? Oh it’s like a blur! Probably something that I was way too drunk and blacked out to remember.
Do you prefer playing to 'hardcore' audiences, or are you happy appealing to a wider fan base since your chart success?
Obviously I enjoy playing the larger places and having the wide fan base but I’m also a big fan of stuffing a whole bunch of people into a small, hot room where everyone gets sweaty. It’s more of an intimate setting and we feel more attached to the audience than we do when we’re in the big arena shows. But it's nice to play the arena venues where the pyrotechnics go off, adding to the adrenaline rush. For some reason the fire pods are a lot hotter here than they are in North America.
You've had more success this side of the Atlantic than similar bands like Creed or Puddle Of Mudd. Does it feel good to be spearheading something of a mini grunge revival, or would you rather be distanced from the scene?

I don’t necessarily like to be categorised into any kind of theme with any type of band. Now with the success of Silver Side Up, hopefully we can define as we put out more records, we get our own definite style but yeah, it is weird and flattering that those bands haven’t achieved the same type of success that we have over here. It’s taken me by surprise because I was under the impression it was more poppy and dance sort of stuff that is seen around the Top 40 charts so for ‘How You Remind Me’ to start crossing over really took us all by surprise.
What does your new album The Long Road draw upon - more glum songs?
Basically getting to the point that we’ve gotten to. We obviously didn’t expect the level of success from the last record and now it’s also the push forward of getting more defined and getting away from that comparison thing that you go through when you’re a brand new band. We’re going out and getting our own identity and that has taken a really long time – it’s a reflection on that. 
Is it going to be a hard act to follow Silver Side Up (which went platinum five times in the US alone)?
Um, no I don’t think so. Maybe there was a slight pressure there but we can’t just reflect on a successful record. You still have to push yourself; you can’t stop just because something was successful and go, “Oh right, I think we’ve got a handle on it.” 
Your videos have very strong narratives, is this something you specifically want to illustrate from your songs?
Nigel Dick [director] is our guy. He helps to connect what we’re trying to get across; he just has an idea and a great concept no matter what style of music it is, which is a special gift.  You can ask every band member and they will say 'How You Remind Me' is probably the least favourite video that we’ve ever done but right after that we did ‘Too Bad’, and that’s when Nigel jumped on board and that song ended up winning awards ‘cos of the video. 
Are you aware of the stick Chad gets from the music press here?
I’m not really in tune with a lot of the stuff that’s going on. What’s the latest thing? 
Well Kerrang! voted him the ugliest man in rock a year ago or so…
Is he still there?
Then some bands started to agree as well.
Oh really? What’s going on? Give me the gossip, c’mon!  
Er, they just say he’s ugly.
Well, we play rock!
What about his new hair cut?
It’s all changed – he’s a new Chad.  
Do you think he looks like the Lion King?  
The Lion King? Maybe personality-wise, heheh. Does he look like a lion? I think he has a tail! (giggles) I am the drummer so on the next show we do, I’ll be able to tell!
When are you playing live dates here?
We’re on the road in December - I just never really know what’s going on. Pete, our tour manager, is always saying, "You gotta get more in tune with what's going on"  but I'm always in a different world!