Nickelback

Ever wondered where they can up with the name Nickelback? Mike Kroeger was working at Starbucks. The coffee products would cost $1.95 CAD, so he said to the customer when giving change: "Here's your nickel back."

The band is the subject of constant mockery. Among detractors, liking Nickelback is a mark of complacence, poor taste, and low standards. In the '10s, this became a trendy putdown. Barack Obama read a "mean tweet" on Jimmy Kimmel Live that read, "Barack Obama is the Nickelback of presidents"; signs appeared at sporting events reading, "[opposing player or coach] likes Nickelback." Kroeger embraced this criticism, saying it made their fanbase stronger.

They recorded a couple of independent records between 1996 and 1998. They spent those years touring the country and building a strong fan base.