NICKELBACK's MIKE KROEGER On His Three-Decade Working Relationship With Half Brother CHAD: 'We're Just Incredibly Stubborn'

During an appearance on the October 29 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger, half brother of singer Chad Kroeger, was asked how he and Chad have managed to work together so well for over 30 years. Mike responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I kind of think it's the same thing that's kind of been, I believe, the reason why we've gone on to do well, is we're just incredibly stubborn. We just don't quit. Nothing comes easy to Kroegers, but we never quit. And we don't quit on each other either.

"Let's just put it this way: it's easy to quit a band that you're in with a bunch of strangers," he explained. "It's easy to threaten to quit a band you're in with your brother. [Laughs] But as far as actually giving it up, I don't think it was ever really an option. It was hard, and we did have our time, we did have our arguments, as people do. But you try to keep the goal in mind. Keep moving forward. And you're gonna argue with people that you're in business with or whatever you're doing, but you can't allow that conflict or whatever to get in the way of the bigger picture."

Asked if there are any plans for NICKELBACK to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, 1996's "Curb", Mike said: "I think we're a little hesitant to use those milestones as something to kind of lean on. I guess we're just looking forward and not looking back so much. I mean, it is awesome to be able to say [it's been] 30 years [since we released our first record]. It's not something that a lot of bands get to say. With sheer will, determination and stubbornness, I don't know if this ever stops. It's too much fun. We're gonna go on, and I don't know if it's gonna be like THE ROLLING STONES, 'cause I don't know if we're gonna live that long. Those guys are awesome. They just keep going. But we're gonna continue to do this."

Mike continued: "The thing that's kind of funny is, is when I meet people who, they're usually younger people who heard the 'All The Right Reasons' album [NICKELBACK's fifth LP] when they were young kids and stuff, a lot of people don't think we did anything since '05. And the truth of the matter is we've been releasing albums and going on tour the whole time. COVID was the first time we ever really took a break. And we didn't really want to. We had a tour booked, and we had to cancel it all for that.'

Mike added: "But, yeah, we started this about 30 years ago, and I don't know why we would stop. This is too much fun. And we've had the conversations. It's, like, yeah, okay, it may be inconvenient or whatever to leave home for six, eight months at a stretch, but what else are you gonna do? Are you gonna sit around and watch your stock portfolio or what? You gotta do something in this life. I believe one of the leading causes of death is retirement… I really do believe that creating things, learning new things, finding new challenges, I think it keeps you young. I think the instant you stop learning new stuff, challenging yourself, I think it's bad for you. I don't think you should ever do it. And when it comes to music, it's always evolving and changing, and we can always find some new things to learn and listen to and enjoy. And for us, creating it, I think, is keeping us younger. And I do a lot of other things that make me learn new things on the daily. I'm deeply into martial arts, and there's a concept in martial arts called the white-belt mentality, which is you go into every class as a beginner. No matter how long you've been doing it, no matter how much you know, you go into every class with an open mind and the assurance that you're gonna learn something you don't know. I think it's good for you, man. I think it keeps you young."

NICKELBACK recently announced the 2027 "Everything Under The Sun" tour, a massive global arena run celebrating the band's eleventh studio album, "Everything Under The Sun", due out October 30 via Virgin Music Group. The tour kicks off its North American leg on February 6 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, with stops at Chicago's United Center, Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, Vancouver's Rogers Arena, Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena and Houston's Toyota Center before wrapping on May 1 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The tour then heads to Europe from May through July, beginning May 22 at First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds. Stops include London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Munich and more before the run concludes on July 13 at Royal Arena in Copenhagen. The Australian leg begins October 2 at RAC Arena in Perth, with stops in Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, and Sydney before wrapping on October 16 at Roche Estate in Pokolbin.

The LP's first single "Rattle The Cage" (featuring John 5) became No. 1 at Active Rock radio in the U.S., marking another chart-topping moment for a band whose catalog has defined rock radio for more than two decades. The track introduced "Everything Under The Sun" with blistering guitars, pounding riffs and arena-sized energy, while subsequent releases "Leave Me Behind" and "Make Me Love You" have revealed a more vulnerable and emotionally expansive side of the record.

NICKELBACK are one of the most enduring and recognizable rock bands of the modern era. Formed in Hanna, Alberta, the band have sold nearly 65 million albums worldwide, amassed billions of streams and built a catalog of defining rock anthems, including "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Someday", "Far Away", "Rockstar", "Animals", "Gotta Be Somebody", "If Today Was Your Last Day" and "Burn It to the Ground". Canadian and RIAA diamond-certified, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame inductees and Grammy Award-nominated, NICKELBACK have spent more than three decades connecting with fans around the world through their music and renowned live performances. Their Netflix documentary "Hate To Love: Nickelback" became a global sensation, while their "Get Rollin'" world tour became the fastest-selling and highest-attended tour of their career.