Who is the most hated band in the world? It sounds like quite a general topic, one that could set off a sprawling debate lasting for weeks. But judging by the petition signed by 55,000 haters to stop Nickelback from playing a Detroit Lions halftime show last year, the Canadian quartet is probably one of them.
Nickelback might not have done themselves any favors when, according to The Hollywood Reporter, they decided to strike back against a series of vicious anti-Nickelback tweets.A couple of these anti-Nickelback tweets were symptomatic of just what kind of utter venom the band engenders:
“Was driving down the street, and a @Nickelback song came on. I had an aneurism and violently shit myself at the same time. And my dog died.”
Nickelback fired back:
“I bet it was the best day you’ve had in awhile. #yourwelcome.”
Yet another one read, “Nickelback came on the radio… Worse than rebecca black #earsbleeding.”
The Nickel’s response: “then it’s working?!?!? Sweet!”
Is there a point to them fighting back? It’s understandable to get fed up with being attacked incessantly– but with what seems like fans in the millions versus enemies by the bunch, why not just ignore them?
It’s perhaps not too difficult to understand why there’s hate for Nickelback — as well there should be — but as bad as the AOR-flavored industry crap these guys churn out is, does it really sound that different from the top 40 rock that’s been popular for the past 15 + years? What about Fall Out Boy? What about 30 Seconds to Mars? What about Staind? Does anyone remember these guys?
Yet the fact that Henry Rollins rails against them (however briefly) on his spoken word tours, and that the sheer ‘phenomenon’ of disliking Nickelback earns them entire columns of debate in the Village Voice may point to something: Yeah, it sucks to be hated so much — but is fighting back going to help your cause, or just add fuel to the fire? Why not take a look at your hordes of fans, which sort of make that paltry 55,000 or so pale (and sort of bitter) in comparison?
Jeff Nau – who has written 1264 posts on The Jace Hall Show.
Jeff Nau is a main contributor to the Jace Hall Show covering pop culture and music trends in the nerd community. He has contributed to San Diego City Beat, 944, and Ill Literature, amongst others, and spends his spare time working as an artist and photographer.

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