Nickelback has tasted the hater-ade from the bandB次元官网网址檚 zealous detractors B次元官网网址� and is raising a toast to them.

In the new documentary Hate to Love: Nickelback, the Hanna, Alta., hitmakers take a step back from their massively successful career to wrestle with their complicated legacy.

On one hand, theyB次元官网网址檝e delivered numerous hit singles and top-selling albums over their three-decade career, and on the other, theyB次元官网网址檙e often called one of the most-hated rock acts of all time.

B次元官网网址淚t seems to be a real part of our history,B次元官网网址� acknowledged guitarist Ryan Peake on Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival where the film had its world premiere.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to talk about it because itB次元官网网址檚 weird if you donB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

Sitting alongside bassist Mike Kroeger B次元官网网址� brother of frontman Chad Kroeger B次元官网网址� the bandmates seem more comfortable than ever assessing how it feels to be the butt of an online joke or the target of a music critic. They are on a brief pause from their ongoing North American tour with the prospect of international dates on the horizon.

For years, Nickelback seemed to wince at the jabs. Lately theyB次元官网网址檝e welcomed those so-called haters B次元官网网址� if not with open arms, at least a pat on the back.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 part of the story, whether anybody likes it or not,B次元官网网址� agrees Kroeger.

B次元官网网址淎nd you know, it turns out negativity sells. So, weB次元官网网址檙e going to ride that sucker all the way.B次元官网网址�

Hate to Love: Nickelback is directed by British documentarian Leigh Brooks, who was originally hired to capture behind-the-scenes moments and promotional interviews for the bandB次元官网网址檚 2017 album B次元官网网址淔eed the Machine.B次元官网网址�

When Peake saw early footage of the Vancouver shoot, he said he started thinking about the missing pieces of NickelbackB次元官网网址檚 story.

B次元官网网址淲e hadnB次元官网网址檛 done any kind of history of the band, (even) for ourselves B次元官网网址� for our families, but I wasnB次元官网网址檛 thinking larger,B次元官网网址� he said.

And yet like many things Nickelback, what started as a small idea took on sizable ambitions.

After he convinced his bandmates that making a documentary was a good idea, the cameras began rolling on their lives, first for a couple of days and then for a few months.

B次元官网网址淣obody wants a camera in their face all of the time, but in the same breath, I was like, B次元官网网址楯ust shoot everything,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Peake said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a weird feeling,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not the Kardashians.B次元官网网址�

Six years later, they had a movie that fleshed out NickelbackB次元官网网址檚 story in their own words.

Using interviews with friends and family, the documentary veers through the bandB次元官网网址檚 history, making brief stops at memorable pop culture moments, such as ChadB次元官网网址檚 marriage to pop-punk singer Avril Lavigne and the inescapable success of How You Remind Me and Rockstar.

More time is dedicated to surprising new revelations, including the day Chad and Mike learned they had different fathers. They also invite their former drummer Ryan Vikedal to discuss his ouster from the band.

Some candid footage gives a clearer sense of how hostility towards Nickelback has personally affected Chad Kroeger. While he doesnB次元官网网址檛 entertain the subject much himself, ChadB次元官网网址檚 mother is among the people who offer insight into how he deals with it.

By the close of its 90-minute runtime, the production feels like a soft reset on how Nickelback wants to be seen: less as opponents to their position in music history and more as dudes with a sense of humour and a small-town spirit. Peake insists the intention wasnB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址渁bout controlling any kind of narrative.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址楧o you want to hear our side? You want to hear how itB次元官网网址檚 been for us?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he posed.

It also suggests Nickelback is at a turning point in their careers where what lies ahead is anybodyB次元官网网址檚 guess.

Late in the film, itB次元官网网址檚 revealed that Mike Kroeger suffered a stroke during the recording of Feed the Machine, a detail the band never publicly disclosed. The 51-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 recovery slowed their lives down and couldB次元官网网址檝e ended the band.

Kroeger acknowledged that anything could be around the corner, even the possibility that after this current tour Nickelback may be finished.

B次元官网网址淚 personally feel like IB次元官网网址檓 into bonus time, well into bonus time,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no question that weB次元官网网址檝e had a good run and a good ride. We will just see what weB次元官网网址檙e capable of next.B次元官网网址�

Hate to Love: Nickelback will also screen at TIFF on Saturday and Sept. 15.

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