Nickelback has tasted the hater-ade from the band害羞草研究所檚 zealous detractors 害羞草研究所� 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, they害羞草研究所檝e delivered numerous hit singles and top-selling albums over their three-decade career, and on the other, they害羞草研究所檙e often called one of the most-hated rock acts of all time.

害羞草研究所淚t seems to be a real part of our history,害羞草研究所� acknowledged guitarist Ryan Peake on Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival where the film had its world premiere.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got to talk about it because it害羞草研究所檚 weird if you don害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�

Sitting alongside bassist Mike Kroeger 害羞草研究所� brother of frontman Chad Kroeger 害羞草研究所� 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 they害羞草研究所檝e welcomed those so-called haters 害羞草研究所� if not with open arms, at least a pat on the back.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 part of the story, whether anybody likes it or not,害羞草研究所� agrees Kroeger.

害羞草研究所淎nd you know, it turns out negativity sells. So, we害羞草研究所檙e going to ride that sucker all the way.害羞草研究所�

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 band害羞草研究所檚 2017 album 害羞草研究所淔eed the Machine.害羞草研究所�

When Peake saw early footage of the Vancouver shoot, he said he started thinking about the missing pieces of Nickelback害羞草研究所檚 story.

害羞草研究所淲e hadn害羞草研究所檛 done any kind of history of the band, (even) for ourselves 害羞草研究所� for our families, but I wasn害羞草研究所檛 thinking larger,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淣obody wants a camera in their face all of the time, but in the same breath, I was like, 害羞草研究所楯ust shoot everything,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Peake said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a weird feeling,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not the Kardashians.害羞草研究所�

Six years later, they had a movie that fleshed out Nickelback害羞草研究所檚 story in their own words.

Using interviews with friends and family, the documentary veers through the band害羞草研究所檚 history, making brief stops at memorable pop culture moments, such as Chad害羞草研究所檚 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 doesn害羞草研究所檛 entertain the subject much himself, Chad害羞草研究所檚 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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 害羞草研究所渁bout controlling any kind of narrative.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 like, 害羞草研究所楧o you want to hear our side? You want to hear how it害羞草研究所檚 been for us?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he posed.

It also suggests Nickelback is at a turning point in their careers where what lies ahead is anybody害羞草研究所檚 guess.

Late in the film, it害羞草研究所檚 revealed that Mike Kroeger suffered a stroke during the recording of Feed the Machine, a detail the band never publicly disclosed. The 51-year-old害羞草研究所檚 recovery slowed their lives down and could害羞草研究所檝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.

害羞草研究所淚 personally feel like I害羞草研究所檓 into bonus time, well into bonus time,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no question that we害羞草研究所檝e had a good run and a good ride. We will just see what we害羞草研究所檙e capable of next.害羞草研究所�

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

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