As the Canadian quartet prepared for the Nov. 21 release of its seventh album, "Here And Now" (Roadrunner Records), the band was named the No. 1 musical turn-off in a poll conducted by Tastebuds.fm, and found itself the target of an online petition seeking to have it removed from a halftime performance at the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving football game. Launched by a Michigan music fan, the online petition drew more than 40,000 signatures and international attention.
But the band remained unfazed, and played the Thanksgiving Day game anyway. Watch it below.
"We get that all the time. We've never really been a critics' darling or anything like that," says frontman Chad Kroeger, who formed Nickelback in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, with his brother Mike on bass and guitarist Ryan Peake. Drummer Daniel Adair joined in 2005. "The people speak. We sell a lot of records and fill a lot of arenas, and we don't hear many complaints."
The statistics certainly bear Kroeger out. Nickelback has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, according to the label, and the band's last four releases have debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 - and at No. 1 in its homeland. Add 17 top 10 mainstream and alternative rock hits, 11 of which have also made the top 10 at adult top 40, and you have a durability and consistency rarely seen anymore.
"Here And Now" finds the band getting "back to basics", Kroeger says, following 2008's triple-platinum "Dark Horse". "This isn't our 'The Wall' or anything like that," he adds. "This is just four guys jumping back in the studio to write and record 11 new songs and make sure each one of them gets as much attention as they need."
Working with Roadrunner, the group launched "Here And Now" with two singles - the rowdy, hard-rocking "Bottoms Up", which is already a top five hit at mainstream rock, and the more melodic, socially conscious "When We Stand Together", which is top 15 on the Adult Top 40 chart. They've sold a combined 245,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"We thought, 'Why not do it all at one time - a song to please the rock fans and a pop song for that side - and get the train rolling, make two videos and two campaigns and build it up," says manager Bryan Coleman of Union Entertainment Group. "It's maybe the only band out there that can really do that, successfully, on a major scale."
"Most people assumed this is something they'd done all along, throughout the band's career," Roadrunner president Jonas Nachsin says. "They're surprised it hadn't been done before, but it's the result of over a decade-long career of having so many hits at these formats."
Nickelback is gearing up for a busy period around "Here And Now"'s release. The band performed on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Nov. 22 and is set to make an appearance on the WWE's "Tribute To The Troops", which airs Dec. 13 on USA and Dec. 17 on NBC. The band will also appear during halftime at the 99th Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship in Vancouver, which will air on TSN and RDS in Canada.
Roadrunner senior VP of marketing and creative services Madelyn Scarpulla says that online, "Here And Now" will "have comprehensive visibility via multiple third-party partners and extensive online advertising." That includes a widget that'll let album buyers access exclusive online content, a custom Facebook app for "Bottoms Up" and a Gold Marketing Pack on Spotify. iTunes also began streaming the album on Nov. 15.
The two-prong radio release will carry over to online and traditional ad campaigns, including TV and radio spots, outdoor billboards and lifestyle and event marketing as seen in Thanksgiving parades in the United States and at movie theaters and malls on Black Friday.
Nickelback's tour, meanwhile, will wait until the spring. "We're trying to go a few singles deep, possibly three or four, before we go out," Kroeger says. "We want to make sure there's familiarity. We don't want to be that band that everybody comes to hear all their favorites, and when there's a new one they all run up to the concourse to get a beer."
Also looming on the horizon is Nickelback's future recording home. The group signed a 360 deal with Live Nation in 2008, and "Here and Now" is the final studio effort under its deal with Roadrunner. "Roadrunner has been an amazing partner for 12 years," Coleman says. "We have a great relationship and may continue that ... but we need to see how the landscape looks and test the free-agent market."
Nachsin says Roadrunner will release a Nickelback greatest hits album "at some point" and plans to make a hard push to keep the group in its stable. And part of that, he says, is making a solid push for "Here And Now".
"We're approaching this album campaign like we would any other," Nachsin says. "We're highly motivated to promote and market this new album to the best of our abilities ... and then we'll see what happens. The future is untold. We can only remain hopeful that it involves us in some capacity."
Video Below: Part 1 of Billboard Live Q&A With Nickelback
Here we go again...I don't mind their music but take a look at my other favourite bands and influences and you'll be hard pressed to find a problem with me as a Nickelback fan.
i think it would be funny to see how confused people get if dave grohl ever decided to collab with nickelback.
Also, majority of music listeners, the VAST majority i would say, don't decide for themselves what is good music or bad music. They let the radio decide, and they let society decide, and they let their little 'scene's decide. People hate nickelback because people hate nickelback. plain and simple.
I don't really get all the Nickleback hatred. I'm not a huge fan or anything, but there's much, much worse bands out there that don't get nearly as much hate. At least they seem to be taking it all in good humour
Nickleback is the band to hate on, but they're not thaaaat bad. They used to put out some good songs, there's worse. Not that big of a deal. People say all of their songs are the same...it's not like that's not true for the majority of bands anyway..
Nickelback are like Coldplay. You hate them, but you secretly have a few albums of theirs that you bought ages ago and you still pop on some of their songs on your iPod.
They are not the worst out there....there are worst band than this. I rather concentrate my hate on Justin Beiber than a guy that actually plays instruments the right way.
The problem I have with Nickelback is that their style is evolving to become more and more commercial, it started at all the right reasons and has continued evolving ever since.
I'll still bust out The State and Silver Side Up and not have to feel embarassed as a prog metal DT fanboy listening to old school Nickelback.
The more records they sell to the mindless pop community the more they will get hated on by musicians. Selling that many records gains you money, not respect. But maybe thats what they want, each to their won I guess.
Nickleback's music is boring, extremely derivitave, intellectually braindead, and overall awful
That said, I have to commend them for sticking to their guns in what seems like such extreme adversity. Now can we please never hear anything about them ever again?
The music scene needs it's boxing bag, they always give them shit, but seriously, at least they try and they actually have GOOD songs. I respect them, because they take everything and still go on instead of splitting and calling it a day. Also they didn't hurt anyone, they just have fun and make money, which is given to them by the fans who willfully buy their music and merch.
Nickleback's music is boring, extremely derivitave, intellectually braindead, and overall awful
That said, I have to commend them for sticking to their guns in what seems like such extreme adversity. Now can we please never hear anything about them ever again?
Geez, why do some people find hard to understand why they are hated? Simple, listen to their songs! Is all there.
Is like saying "why do people hate Hitler?" well, look at the stuff he did
And stop with the "at least they play their instrument" Duh! if you're a musician you're supposed to play your ****ing instrument! It doesn't matter if you are good at playing the guitar if you're songs suck!
And do i really have to say that the argument of "they sell a lot of records and fill a lot of arenas" is invalid. Do i need to name how many awful artist are popular?
They are not the worst out there....there are worst band than this. I rather concentrate my hate on Justin Beiber than a guy that actually plays instruments the right way.
Do you even know what you're talking about? How can you watch the interview above and even say "they're everything that's wrong with music"...? You're a ****ing moron.
Geez, why do some people find hard to understand why they are hated? Simple, listen to their songs! Is all there.
Is like saying "why do people hate Hitler?" well, look at the stuff he did
And stop with the "at least they play their instrument" Duh! if you're a musician you're supposed to play your ****ing instrument! It doesn't matter if you are good at playing the guitar if you're songs suck!
And do i really have to say that the argument of "they sell a lot of records and fill a lot of arenas" is invalid. Do i need to name how many awful artist are popular?
It's not they don't see why Nickelback suck, its that they don't see why so many other shittier acts aren't hated on as much.
Seriously, if you were the character in a Nickelback song, such as "Animals," I guarantee you would be having fun. Unless all of you are just funsuckers.
im not a huge nickelback fan but i have to give them credit. they are playing a halftime show to a NFL game which was broadcast on live tv. i dont see all these haters doing anything close to that.
I enjoy listening to Nickelback. I don't have any of their records, but any time I hear them I don't mind at all. I think they're good musicians and they chose a catchy style in order to get success. What's the harm ? Their Metallica covers rock the ****ing house and I really think they're just fine musicians.
Nickelback are like Coldplay. You hate them, but you secretly have a few albums of theirs that you bought ages ago and you still pop on some of their songs on your iPod.
Then you have an hour long shower.
No Nickelback is Nickelback, don't have any of their shit and don't plan too. Don't care what they do, just don't want the soundwaves they produce in my ears.
They are not the worst out there....there are worst band than this. I rather concentrate my hate on Justin Beiber than a guy that actually plays instruments the right way.
I bet Justin Bieber could learn every nickelback song on guitar in a week.
People hate the band because the suck. They also represent what is wrong with modern rock music. The same generic structure and vocal melody to every song.
happyjack9 wrote:
I bet Justin Bieber could learn every nickelback song on guitar in a week.
Well, Nirvana's songs aren't much more difficult, but nobody would call Nirvana crap.
Not a big fan here, but I'm still waiting for a comment explaining what is actually wrong with them (apart from the rubbish lyrics).
damn,a lot of you folks are sure anal about music.they are a successful band that has worked hard to get there,and ALOT of people like them,so chill out and let them be who they are...check out the performance they put on at half time at grey cup.a wicked awesome performance that most rock fans would love
50 million albums should say it all. 40 thousand....pffft! drop in the bucket. they are not my fave band either....but you people have to learn to open your eyes and ears,before you open your mouth...you are sounding pretty silly.
"Here And Now" finds the band getting "back to basics", Kroeger says, following 2008's triple-platinum "Dark Horse". "This isn't our 'The Wall' or anything like that," he adds. "This is just four guys jumping back in the studio to write and record 11 new songs and make sure each one of them gets as much attention as they need."
Does he not listen to his records? Getting "back to basics?" I thought everyone agreed every record sounds the same. And referencing "The Wall" really? They couldn't make "their 'The Wall'" even if they tried.
50 million albums should say it all. 40 thousand....pffft! drop in the bucket. they are not my fave band either....but you people have to learn to open your eyes and ears,before you open your mouth...you are sounding pretty silly.
Ahh yes, the old fool proof argument that high sales = high quality music. So I guess Michael Jackson's Thriller is the greatest album in human history. No need to debate it, it's got the sales to prove it. Also in the top 10 are some of the greatest artists of our time like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks...aww yes, the voices of their generations.
i think it would be funny to see how confused people get if dave grohl ever decided to collab with nickelback.
I think the Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters gambits might be flabbergasted by it, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the world views them as contemporaries.
I know I do.
I don't mean that in a bad way, necessarily. I just mean that they both play kind of generic radio hard-rock. They both have fairly diverse catalogs, yet nearly every song still sounds strikingly similar to another song of theirs.
They're both good bands, though, but neither one is revolutionary, in any way.
im not a huge nickelback fan but i have to give them credit. they are playing a halftime show to a NFL game which was broadcast on live tv. i dont see all these haters doing anything close to that.
Enrique Iglesias also "played" a halftime show on Thanksgiving. Does that mean we should give him credit as a respectable artist? How about Black Eyed Peas, Brittany Spears, N'Sync, or the two remaining geriatric members of The Who? Halftime shows are put together by old guys in board rooms trying to be "hip". The only reason a rock band got picked to play was because it was in Detroit so they looked at the top 40 charts and picked the biggest "rock" name.
(Disclaimer: I ****ing love The Who but that halftime show was a boring cash in)
Nickleback's music is boring, extremely derivitave, intellectually braindead, and overall awful
That said, I have to commend them for sticking to their guns in what seems like such extreme adversity. Now can we please never hear anything about them ever again?
They're boring? Then who is exciting?
Who is exciting? How about The Eagles of Death Metal, The Dead Weather, The Foo Fighters, The Hives, and many others. You don't need expensive pyrotechnics or lights to have a good show. If you don't believe me then you've never seen The Chariot. What makes a good show is the interactions you have with fans, not how cool you think you are. As for Nickleback's music...It's horrid. Completely bland musically and lyrically. They are the kinda band that is just in it for the cash. Like someone above said they are literally the crappy hair metal of the 00's.
I guess everyone got bored hating on Limp Bizkit and Creed, so they switched to hating on Nickelback. I'm a fan of Nickelback, and I enjoy most of their music. Yes, they're not really creative or original. But they can still write music worth a damn (and put on a great live show). I just wish they'd write more serious songs like on Silver Side Up. Songs about loving and drinking and screwing are good in moderation, but Nickelback needs to take it down a notch.
Nickleback's music is boring, extremely derivitave, intellectually braindead, and overall awful
That said, I have to commend them for sticking to their guns in what seems like such extreme adversity. Now can we please never hear anything about them ever again?
They're boring? Then who is exciting?
Tool, The Mars Volta, Primus, Radiohead, Ween, etc.
I like them, and frankly I don't care what a bunch of anonymous trolls on the internet think. They , like me, do this music thing for a living, not sat at a computer hanging out in the pit. ... just saying like
My list of crappy, generic rock bands that sound like Nickelback: Staind, Puddle of Mudd, 3 Doors Down, Seether, Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a Deadman, Hinder, Finger Eleven, Creed, 3 Days Grace, Shinedown, etc.
"There are worse bands out there" is not a valid argument in support of a band. You can't say that getting stabbed doesn't suck because getting shot would be worse.
Also, selling a ton of albums and filling arenas does not mean they make good music. Justin Bieber does that, and judging by the comments here, it seems we all agree that he's not good.
The point is, while some of their older stuff isn't bad, their last few albums have been literally formulaic in their approach to music. They have a standard 3 chord pop song with nothing impressive from a musical standpoint either 1) creatively - from a lyrical or instrumental perspective or 2) particularly skillful. The biggest bands in history used to get famous for making well written, original music. Nickleback has done NONE of those things.
Hey just because they are professionals and they sell well doesn't mean they don't suck. Case and point go to any Micky d's and order a burger. Alot of people buy them, its the staffs job to make it so by definition they are professionals and guess what they still suck.
Nickelback are the posterboys for the trend of corporate, soul-less and over-produced modern rock music. They're certainly not the only band that falls into this category, but they take the brunt of the hatred because they're the most popular band that fits that mold.
I don't really care for Nickelback, but yes there is way worse stuff out there. Black Eyed Peas anyone? That being said, I am definitely not looking to learn any of their songs for my cover band.
They had a hard fall? All that happened was some random site had a poll and they weren't wanted at a half time, wouldn't exactly say that's a hard time.
I don't understand all the hating on Nickelback. I would much rather hear them than 99% of the crap they play on modern radio.
I like lady gaga
Here, here! I much prefer a lot of modern pop to Nickelback. At least it's fun! Of course I'd prefer to be hearing someone like Radiohead on the radio, but I'd still rather most of today's radio than Nickelback. Just because Nickelback is a rock band, doesn't make them inherently better than modern pop.
after all the criticism they've endured, it's actually really cool to see them shrugging it all off. they're businessmen on top of musicians and are working their PR very coolly and confidently. even if i'm not a huge fan, they've got the numbers to prove their worth. all power to them
I don't understand all the Nickelback hate either. To me their just another radio pop rock band. Would I personally listen to them? No. That being said, I don't hate them because of that.
To be honest all the haters are jealous because they are nobodoes and want attention. .They have a lot more success then anybody who dares hare on them ..
number of sales is a direct reflection of popularity....what part of that dont you get?
Popularity has nothing to do with quality. Look at what's popular...
So then how do you measure quality? By opinion? I hate Jusitn Bieber, but I'll give him credit. He knows what millions of people want to hear.
Justin Bieber doesn't know what people want to hear, his managers and handlers tell us that we want to listen to over-produced music that pretends to be edgy. This pretty much sums up why people hate Nickleback: promoters have pretty much rammed them down everyone's throats as what rock is when in fact they are just a generic band that happened to get big in the post-Nirvana wave of alternative groups.
Justin Bieber doesn't know what people want to hear, his managers and handlers tell us that we want to listen to over-produced music that pretends to be edgy. This pretty much sums up why people hate Nickleback: promoters have pretty much rammed them down everyone's throats as what rock is when in fact they are just a generic band that happened to get big in the post-Nirvana wave of alternative groups.
I would like to believe that, but he's playing in the biggest venues just like every other "elite group" so he's doing something right.
Besides his fanbase consists of people that wouldn't be on this site.
number of sales is a direct reflection of popularity....what part of that dont you get?
Popularity has nothing to do with quality. Look at what's popular...
So then how do you measure quality? By opinion? I hate Jusitn Bieber, but I'll give him credit. He knows what millions of people want to hear.
I don't think there's any one band that EVERYONE can agree is good. Maybe the original Guns N' Roses. But that's about all I can think of.
No, Justin Beiber found something that tons of prepubescent schoolgirls wanted to hear, and I'm not a fan of the original Guns N' Roses. I do, however, think there isn't a band everyone will agree is good. I think there are some amazing bands, but I know some people (surely puppets of mainstream) hate it, almost surely because it's instrumental or something.
I give them credit, they play instruments, they have a few good tunes, and a least they dont let critics bother them, but they should have gotten someone from Detroit to play that show.
I dont like Nickelback, but I will admit they have a few good songs. But Chad is a douche. But when I got tickets for Christmas to their concert, it was a hell of a show, I wont deny.
The problem I have with Nickelback is that their style is evolving to become more and more commercial, it started at all the right reasons and has continued evolving ever since.
I'll still bust out The State and Silver Side Up and not have to feel embarassed as a prog metal DT fanboy listening to old school Nickelback.
The more records they sell to the mindless pop community the more they will get hated on by musicians. Selling that many records gains you money, not respect. But maybe thats what they want, each to their won I guess.
happyjack9 wrote:
I bet Justin Bieber could learn every nickelback song on guitar in a week.
Well, Nirvana's songs aren't much more difficult, but nobody would call Nirvana crap.
Not a big fan here, but I'm still waiting for a comment explaining what is actually wrong with them (apart from the rubbish lyrics).
Well, Nirvana basically brought an entirely new genre to mainstream attention, whereas Nickelback just copied the bland I IV V rock songs that have been around since Hootie & The Blowfish.
I hate Nickelback. I'm Canadian and I constantly have to hear all the yokels talk about how amazing such-and-such-Nickelback-song is on the radio.
That said, they do have a point. They still sell to thousands of mainstream fans so to say that they are hated by everyone is a lie. Furthermore, arguing their fan base on a forum on UG is probably a bit biased in terms of our opinions
I don't understand all the hating on Nickelback. I would much rather hear them than 99% of the crap they play on modern radio.
I like lady gaga
Haha, I don't see why everyone downvoted this. I got a good laugh.
Also, I honestly think all the Nickelback hate is just sorta dumb. I mean, fine, you don't like them, you don't like them, but you can't really go around hating on them and calling them shit. I would bring up the topic of their album sales, but that's already been done, so all I have to say is just keep your toxic opinions to yourself. I actually bet that some of you guys are closet Nickelback fans. I'll admit I have one Nickelback song on my computer. I haven't deleted it yet.
Geez, why do some people find hard to understand why they are hated? Simple, listen to their songs! Is all there.
Is like saying "why do people hate Hitler?" well, look at the stuff he did
Just want to clarify real quick...you're comparing Nickelback and their records to Hitler and the Holocaust. I just wanted to get that straight.
happyjack9 wrote:
I bet Justin Bieber could learn every nickelback song on guitar in a week.
Well, Nirvana's songs aren't much more difficult, but nobody would call Nirvana crap.
The majority of music listeners, the VAST majority i would say, don't decide for themselves what is good music or bad music. They let the radio decide, and they let society decide, and they let their little 'scene's decide. People hate nickelback because people hate nickelback. plain and simple.
I think Corey Taylor should have slammed Nickelback for being sloths (read the Corey Taylor article if you don't know what im talking about). I remeber hearing some early Nickelback years ago and thinking that yeah it's audible and to some degree catchy for pop rock. As the albums have progressed the songs have got more commercialized and revolved around the top 100 formula. The lyrics have always been shallow and unthoughtful, but the song clip posted above makes me want to club baby seals. Unfortunately that sells. Corey said in his radio show "Because these motherf-ckers would rather just 'cha-ching' than actually use their f-cking brains to give us anything good these f-cking days.' He added, "More and more people are only interested in money than f-cking doing anything that's good". If you check out some of the covers they have done (Metallica, ZZ Top, Elton John, ect YouTube it), they are talented musicians. Why wouldn't they want to make substantual music? MONEY! The teenie-boppers will keep buying and muso's will keep hating sellouts.
I love the fact that most of the haters, when asked to provide an example of better music, usually name some equally generic, horrible sounding tech-death band.
I don't get why people love to hate them so much. Their music makes me smile. Arena sized rock guitar riffs with catchy vocals and a badass drummer. It's good ol' fist pumping music if you ask me.
Why do people care so much if an artist who they feel is terrible is popular? Listen to what you like, and I'll listen to what I like. I like Saving Me, Follow You Home, This is How You Remind Me, When We Stand Together. So, I'll listen to those, ok?
It's just a band guys, cut them a break. Four guys living the dream of all of us, to be up on stage playing music for a living, and we're trying to hate on that? Give your head a shake UG, i may not be a fan, but you can't take the fact away that these guys produce.
Lets point it out. Chad writes riffs/hooks a vast majority of people like to listen too. He can shred his way around a guitar probably better than 99.9% of you and he puts on a kick ass live show. "All the records sound the same" BUT AC/DC is on your favorites list... Haters...Hypocrites?
Aww. Why did MY comment get deleted when it's saying the exact same thing as most others are!?
Is it because I touched on the fact the overwhelming wave of anti-intellectualism in the US could be to blame for such soul-less crap becoming popular? Did I hurt someone's feelings by pointing out the average Westerner (and, of course, when people say "The West", everyone knows they mean the US) has been dumbed-down by the mass media, to the point they COULD accept such horsecrap like Nickelback or Justin Bieber as listenable? C'mon. It shouldn't take a genius to realize that the same forces that have made people like the Kardashians or shows like Jersey Shore popular are also to blame for countless horrible bands and arists, who make dull/simple, uncreative music, becoming popular, too.
Lets point it out. Chad writes riffs/hooks a vast majority of people like to listen too. He can shred his way around a guitar probably better than 99.9% of you and he puts on a kick ass live show. "All the records sound the same" BUT AC/DC is on your favorites list... Haters...Hypocrites?
Do you usually pretend you're talking to someone in particular when you rant about nothing?
Geez, why do some people find hard to understand why they are hated? Simple, listen to their songs! Is all there.
Is like saying "why do people hate Hitler?" well, look at the stuff he did
Just want to clarify real quick...you're comparing Nickelback and their records to Hitler and the Holocaust. I just wanted to get that straight.
@Fede01_8Thats probably the most stupid and downright idiotic comment i have ever read on these articles ever.Seriously.
'Oh no I hate Nickelback... oh wait, I could just change the station and stop pissing and moaning about something so stupid because I think it will make me cool and other people will take notice of me...'
Lets point it out. Chad writes riffs/hooks a vast majority of people like to listen too. He can shred his way around a guitar probably better than 99.9% of you and he puts on a kick ass live show. "All the records sound the same" BUT AC/DC is on your favorites list... Haters...Hypocrites?
1. The majority of the population of everywhere is comprised of tasteless idiots who feed on mediocrity streamlined through pipes down their consumerist throats.
2. to*
3. You don't really know anything about "shredding" do you?
4. Who attends live shows? See my first point. It doesn't take much to impress the average mainstream simpleton. Get them drunk, turn up the volume, and you have yourself a party.
It seems to me like Nickelback is collecting the hatred that was given to bands like Panic at the Disco and Fall Out Boy...both of which to my knowledge no longer exist. That said, I prefer Nickelback to anything Fall Out Boy or Panic at the Disco EVER released. So glad that era of emo is done.
'Oh no I hate Nickelback... oh wait, I could just change the station and stop pissing and moaning about something so stupid because I think it will make me cool and other people will take notice of me...'
it makes me sick to the guts that they produce a few pop singles for the radio just to make a few bucks, but the rest of the songs on the album are badass rock.
At the begining of this interview he says "We get that all the time" and then later he says "we don't really hear many complaints". This doesn't make sense to me.
Lets point it out. Chad writes riffs/hooks a vast majority of people like to listen too. He can shred his way around a guitar probably better than 99.9% of you and he puts on a kick ass live show. "All the records sound the same" BUT AC/DC is on your favorites list... Haters...Hypocrites?
I'm not a nickelback fan really, but to be honest, if someone told me that I could write a bunch of mediocre songs and guarantee I'd sell 50 million records, I think I would take that, retire and then just make music that I like for the hell of it.
Iommianity Do I really need to call out everyone on here that is a hypocrite to please you? lol
SoA - WEAK. Everybody is an idiot, except for you. You're a musical genius, I'm sure. I know shredding very well. Dimebag and Spreitzer are a couple of my fav's... but thats probably not shredding tho... I don't know what it really is LMFAO. Have u ever seen/heard him shredding? Probably not, just keep listening to what the radio/MTV tells ya bud. I'm not even really a fan of theirs but I can open my mind a bit.... oh and *to Happy?
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They , like me, do this music thing for a living, not sat at a computer hanging out in the pit. ... just saying like 
man they are beating that musical turn-off to death....