NICKELBACK play Belfast's SSE Arena on October 10 and have promised to bang out their impressive catalogue of hits in their usual energetic way.
The band have played countless shows across the world and have become renowned for their powerful and slick performances. Bassist Mike Kroeger tells me that years of hard work and dedication seem to have paid off.
“I honestly can't begin to remember the number of live shows we have played over the years and I would love if someone could come up with the exact amount. I think it would be a pretty staggering number.” reflects Mike.
“The live thing is far and away the most important part of what we do. We kicked off in an era where you had to go and play gigs to get your music heard. Whether we played to 10 people or 100 we absolutely gave it everything we had. Things are a lot more instant today for a lot of artists but when we began this journey there was no easy route. It was all about constant touring and constant playing.
"The benefit of that of course is that not only do you get your name and your songs out there, you also learn your craft and learn how to put on a show so that when the 10,000-seater arenas came along you know what you're doing.”
Nickelback certainly know what they're doing – millions of albums sold, sell-out shows worldwide and a huge international fanbase are tribute to the effort involved and Mike reckons Belfast will be another high point.
“We're really looking forward to playing there in October and we think the show will be just one big party. We do have a lot of fans in your part of the the world so I know it will be a very memorable show. I hope to see some of the old faces that have followed us for years just having a great time and being as into it as we are."
The band's latest release is a stomping cover of Don Henley's Dirty Laundry, something which they stumbled upon while jamming through new ideas in the studio.
“We were just working on some new songs and we thought let's take a break and maybe play around with a cover version. Chad [the band's frontman and Mike's brother] and I had a lot of ideas and it was me that actually suggested Dirty Laundry. We got into it and we were so pleased with what we had done with it that we decided to put it out.
"In some ways it has come full circle because Chad and I were looking at old family photos the other day and in one photo the two of us as small kids were pretending to play guitars with a tennis racquet and a broom which is funny since we ended up playing for real in later life... but in the background of the photo is a copy of Don Henley's album I Can't Stand Still which was the record that Dirty laundry is on – so it's all made some kind of poetic sense, I guess.”
Covers aside, the band expect to be writing on the road this time around and who knows which city will inspire them the most.
“I think we will be writing in hotel rooms at sound checks a lot and I'm sure backstage in the dressing room too. I think we'll probably write something in Belfast you know? Sitting backstage at the arena jamming something through.
"I really hope so anyway. I like the idea of that”
