Post by kds on Aug 12, 2020 16:28:40 GMT
I happened to see on Facebook yesterday that Nickelback is apparently planning to release new music in the near future. As usual, the comments section on anything involving the massively successful grunge lite band is highly entertaining. The hatred that the band receives is actually so over the top, that there's backlash to the backlash.
While I personally think the hatred of Nickelback is warranted, it seems like their biggest sin in the eyes of many was that they became massively popular.
This is a phenomenon that seems to be quite common whenever a band / artist reaches a certain level of popularity.
One of the biggest examples is Metallica. With the release of their 5th album - 1991's "Black" Album - they became the biggest band on the planet, and are probably the post popular heavy metal band that ever existed. That fact alone has caused them to be a very divisive band in metal circles. While I think you can debate or question some of their artistic choices over the years, some of the shit that Metallica has dealt with is just plain silly. Most notably, when they trimmed their long hair in the mid 1990s. There's also the inferiority complex that exists among metal fans. They want metal bands to be more popular, but when / if they become popular, they become hated.
The same thing happened when Avenged Sevenfold had their mainstream breakthrough album City of Evil in 2005. Many of the fans who'd been with them since they were more of an underground band felt "betrayed" by the band's success.
Moving away from heavy metal, there's the case of Phil Collins in the 80s into the 90s. Between Genesis, his solo career, his Concord exploits allowing him to play multiple sets at Live Aid (including being unfairly blamed for a dodgy Led Zeppelin reunion), and his acting, Phil Collins became one of the most hated men in music. He's taken a 180, though. As he retreated from the spotlight, he suddenly became cool again in the early 00s, which shows me that the hatred he got had far more to due with overexposure than music.
There's even a sect of Beatles haters who seem to hate The Beatles for the sheer fact that they're so widely considering history's greatest gift to rock music.
The list goes on for bands who seem to be hated because they are (or were) very popular. I think that applies to a lot of the 70s, early 80s AOR bands as well as the glam metal bands from the 80s.
So, what's the reason for this? I think in some cases, fans feel like the success of one band somehow diminishes the accomplishments of another. I'd noticed this when some Beach Boys fans have chips on their shoulders about The Beatles. Perhaps, metal fans are pissed that Metallica got the acclaim that Iron Maiden, Pantera, Megadeth, Slayer, King Diamond, Judas Priest, etc were never able to achieve. Maybe some rock fans hate Nickelback because they play stadiums while far more talented bands toil in clubs and can only achieve cult status at best. There is some logic to that. Same goes for the haters of AOR and glam metal.
Personally, I feel like bands should be liked or disliked based solely on their music. That's why I can't stand Nickelback. And, for the record, that's also why I find Taylor Swift insufferable. That, and the fact that she went from a country pop star to full on pop tart, and seems to be maturing in reverse. But, that's another story.
While I personally think the hatred of Nickelback is warranted, it seems like their biggest sin in the eyes of many was that they became massively popular.
This is a phenomenon that seems to be quite common whenever a band / artist reaches a certain level of popularity.
One of the biggest examples is Metallica. With the release of their 5th album - 1991's "Black" Album - they became the biggest band on the planet, and are probably the post popular heavy metal band that ever existed. That fact alone has caused them to be a very divisive band in metal circles. While I think you can debate or question some of their artistic choices over the years, some of the shit that Metallica has dealt with is just plain silly. Most notably, when they trimmed their long hair in the mid 1990s. There's also the inferiority complex that exists among metal fans. They want metal bands to be more popular, but when / if they become popular, they become hated.
The same thing happened when Avenged Sevenfold had their mainstream breakthrough album City of Evil in 2005. Many of the fans who'd been with them since they were more of an underground band felt "betrayed" by the band's success.
Moving away from heavy metal, there's the case of Phil Collins in the 80s into the 90s. Between Genesis, his solo career, his Concord exploits allowing him to play multiple sets at Live Aid (including being unfairly blamed for a dodgy Led Zeppelin reunion), and his acting, Phil Collins became one of the most hated men in music. He's taken a 180, though. As he retreated from the spotlight, he suddenly became cool again in the early 00s, which shows me that the hatred he got had far more to due with overexposure than music.
There's even a sect of Beatles haters who seem to hate The Beatles for the sheer fact that they're so widely considering history's greatest gift to rock music.
The list goes on for bands who seem to be hated because they are (or were) very popular. I think that applies to a lot of the 70s, early 80s AOR bands as well as the glam metal bands from the 80s.
So, what's the reason for this? I think in some cases, fans feel like the success of one band somehow diminishes the accomplishments of another. I'd noticed this when some Beach Boys fans have chips on their shoulders about The Beatles. Perhaps, metal fans are pissed that Metallica got the acclaim that Iron Maiden, Pantera, Megadeth, Slayer, King Diamond, Judas Priest, etc were never able to achieve. Maybe some rock fans hate Nickelback because they play stadiums while far more talented bands toil in clubs and can only achieve cult status at best. There is some logic to that. Same goes for the haters of AOR and glam metal.
Personally, I feel like bands should be liked or disliked based solely on their music. That's why I can't stand Nickelback. And, for the record, that's also why I find Taylor Swift insufferable. That, and the fact that she went from a country pop star to full on pop tart, and seems to be maturing in reverse. But, that's another story.