Nickelback's name has secret meaning and fans have only just realised it

Daily Record

08-05-2025

Nickelback has been a mainstay of the music scene for almost three decades, but many people are still unaware of the meaning behind the Canadian rock band's name.
Nickelback has been producing chart-topping hits since they first entered the music industry - and the rock band continues to enjoy popularity. The Canadian group consists of lead singer and guitarist Chad Kroeger, bassist Mike Kroeger, and rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist Ryan Peake.
Over its initial 10 years, the band saw a rotation of drummers before Daniel Adair became a permanent fixture. Brothers Chad and Mike, who founded the band, initially named it Village Idiot. This was swiftly changed to Nickelback.
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Although the band, recognised for a discography that spans genres such as post-grunge, pop rock, alternative rock and more, was established in 1995, they didn't achieve mainstream success until 2002.
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Their big break came with the release of the single, How You Remind Me, which climbed to the top spot in both the United States and Canada, peaking at fourth in the UK, reports the Express.
Further success ensued, with albums achieving platinum status and mega hits like Photograph, Far Away and Rockstar securing their position in the cultural landscape of the early 2000s.
Despite their fame and wealth, many people don't know the origin of the band's name. The story behind Nickelback's name was discussed on the social media platform, Quora.
Fans and music enthusiasts alike were eager to share their thoughts and insights on the band. As it turns out, the name Nickelback has ties to the well-known coffee shop chain, Starbucks.
Responding to a query about the origin of the band's name on Quora, one user detailed: "Nickelback started life as a covers band called Village Idiot.
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"The band later changed its name to Nickelback, which originated from the nickel in change that band member Mike Kroeger gave customers at his job at Starbucks; he would frequently say, 'Here's your nickel back'."
Adding more depth to the coin reference, another user shared: "In the sixties, a phone call from a public phone cost a nickel.
"To save money, I would give my parents one ring on the telephone when I was returning from NYC, they would then pick me up at the bus stop. If you hung up after one ring, you got your nickel back."
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In a Reddit thread, a social media user admitted to recently discovering the band was initially named Village Idiot. Speculating why they might have opted for a different name, one person suggested: "I guess they changed it because the original name was a bit too 'on the nose'."
Another added: "They are one of my favorite bands. I'm glad they chose the current band name instead of the other."
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Regarding the initial name, Ryan Peake clarified: "Our small town was almost village-sized, so I thought it was appropriate."
Eventually, the band decided to change their name as Village Idiot could potentially attract negative attention, particularly as they aimed to appeal to broader audiences.
The origin of the name Nickelback actually stems from Mike Kroeger's time working at a Starbucks, where he would frequently hand customers a "nickel back" as change after they purchased their beverages.
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