We had the pleasure of speaking to Mike Kroeger the bass player of Nickelback about the new album and their up coming Australian 2015 tour. Check out our interview below –

SCENEzine –
Firstly I’d like to thank you for taking the time to speak to us. How has 2015 been for you so far?

Mike Kroeger-
So far as we get rolling on 2015 at this point it’s been a year of planning. The last three weeks have just been about planning the tour. Where we are going to go and what we will do when we get there.

SCENEzine –
Your latest album ‘No Fixed Address’ has been getting a great response worldwide. Do you have a favourite track from the album?

Mike Kroeger –
I have a lot of trouble picking favourites but the one that gives me the biggest challenge to play is “million miles an hour”. I’m working really hard to get that one tightened up it’s probably one of the most difficult songs we have. That one gives me a challenge so it has a special place in my heart.

SCENEzine –
We really liked the video for “edge of a revolution” for its strong political themes. Do you any more plans for new music videos?

Mike Kroeger –
We are going to shoot a video for “she keeps me up” next week. That’s part of the planning we have been executing lately. Planning how to do that and still make it on the tour. So that’s on the horizon.

SCENEzine-
It’s not long until May when you’ll be touring Australia nationally. Are you looking forward to making your way back down under?

Mike Kroeger-
You know we really enjoy spending time in Australia. We need to be there for longer because while on tour we are always rushed. We have a great time in oz. You Aussies are a lot like us Canadians so we like that.

SCENEzine
In the past Nickelback have been known for their big lights, big sound rock shows. Anything special planned for this tour?

Mike Kroeger –
Well that’s another part of our planning. We are designing the show right now and we are doing something that we have never done before. I’m pretty sure no else has do before also. I can’t say too much but we are building kind of interesting structure on stage. We’ll see how that goes it going to be something that personally I’ve never heard of before. I guess it’s hard to be first at anything anymore though.

SCENEzine –
One of the biggest crowd favourite songs for Nickelback has to be “how you remind me”. What does that track mean to you and did you realise when writing it you had something special?

Mike Kroeger-
I do remember really clearly what that was like when we were writing that song together. It felt good and it came together quickly and kind of naturally. Which is a little bit unusual when your writing a new song. It was almost as though you know the Michelangelo story where the block was there he just had to carve it. Well it was like this song was already there we just had to find out how to learn it. It was really unusual. I never really felt the song had potential for success that’s not really our mindset. We just work and whatever happens then happens. When I played it for some friends I remember the first friend I played it for said that song has got millions written all over it. I was like really? He was like yeah this is going to be huge and he wasn’t a bullshitter if something wasn’t good he would say it. Then I was like ok from your lips to gods ears lets hope it all works out. Then thank goodness it went big. It was the most played song in the world in 2001. I guess that qualifies as a hit song.

SCENEzine-
Nickleback has been a touring band for many years. What do you do in your down time to keep sane?

Mike Kroeger –
What has kept me sane is having a great wife in the beginning then later on when we started to have kids. Having a relationship with my kids has really got me through some hard parts.

SCENEzine –
We here at SCENEzine are big NHL ice hockey fans. Where do Nickelback’s ice hockey loyalties lie?

Mike Kroeger –
We all used to live in Vancouver so the Canucks have a special place for us. I became a fan of the Detroit Red Wings though in the early nineties so that’s my team. But I am a huge fan of all Canadian hockey teams

SCENEzine –
Do you get a chance to listen to any new up and coming rock bands?

Mike Kroeger –
I don’t actually. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting old but I find out about new music from my son now. He’s searching out new music all of the time. He’s a real big music fan. He likes heavy rock and metal similar to me.
He brings me things I’ve never heard of before, plays them for me and sometimes it’s a hit and sometimes it’s a miss.

SCENEzine –
Lastly we want to thank you for your time and can’t wait to see you live down under. Any final message for your Australian fans?

Mike Kroeger –
We just can’t wait to get back and see Oz again and see you Aussies. Have a few Aussie, Aussie, Aussies and just have a good time. It’s become a special place for us and we feel really good there.

Here’s a reminder of dates for the Nickelback Australia 2015 tour

ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE
FRIDAY MAY 15


ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
MONDAY MAY 18


BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
WEDNESDAY MAY 20


ALLPHONES ARENA, SYDNEY
FRIDAY MAY 22


PERTH ARENA
TUESDAY MAY 26

For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.nickelback.com & www.livenation.com.au