When Nickelback Get Rollin’ On last year’s Nashville tour, Canadian rock stars gave it their all, and Nashville rolled out the red carpet for them in return. The main party at Bridgestone Arena was full of special guests, many of whom grew up listening to the massive – and often divisive – band.
During the show, stars like Daughtry, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Ross and Ernest performed a mix of their own songs, Nickelback classics and covers with the group. The result appears on Nickelback’s Live from Nashville Album, out now. In honor of LP Live, Nickelback’s most special guests reflect on their love for the band, become friends with them, and perform during this legendary show.
Brantley Gilbert
“I’ve been a big Nickelback fan for a long time. I used to cover ‘Far Away’ when I used to go up to the bar circuit. We hung out with them in Get the Rollin’ Tour Last year the performance of “Copperhead Road” became a staple during our run together. We all really enjoy incorporating covers into our sets, and this made a lot of sense for us to do together – it was a huge success, and we were on a crossover tour.”
Hardy
“I’ve been a Nickelback fan since I was probably ten years old. All I know is that when they came to town to play Bridgestone I got a text message that they wanted me to join them on stage for Sold Out. I’m not sure how true that is, but that’s what happened. Once I did the sound check, the Nickelback guys told me that they were fans and that they loved “Sold Out” and thought it would be fun to play it live. They didn’t really give me a choice. They just said “that’s what we do” and I said “yes sir”.
The extension of their records that I grew up with – Silver Side Up through Black Horse – It was very influential for me and the way I write songs. Every song sounded like it could be played on the field. I took that mentality into songwriting and I really think it has benefited my career immensely.
Hardy
Alana McArdle*
Ernest
“I’ve always been a Nickelback fan. It’s so cool to have gotten to know Chad over the last couple of years, so when he asked me to sing ‘Flower Shops’, I couldn’t say no.”
Josh Ross
“Being part of the Nickelback tour was a huge accomplishment for me. On top of that, I got a call five days before the tour started from Chad himself and he asked me if I wanted to sing ‘Copperhead Road’ with them during their set. Being able to join them on stage for 52 shows was amazing and a complete moment since Steve Earle was one of my biggest influences growing up. Nickelback was always playing at my house when I was a kid, and I can honestly say that they are the greatest group of guys. From the band to the crew, everyone was amazing and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.
Josh Ross
Alana McArdle*
Billy Zimmerman
“I literally came out of the womb listening to Nickelback. He said enough. Chad invited me on his private jet once, and since that trip we became friends, and he always felt like a big brother. So, when they decided to play Bridgestone, Chad called me and asked me to jump – it was a no-brainer. I was like “Hell yeah!” He said we’re Rockstar and you never argue with Nickelback, so I was like, “Well, Rockstar is.””
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