How Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger Felt About Releasing a Major Album on 9/11
On September 11, 2001, Nickelback released the album Silver Side Up, which includes the classic rock hit “How You Remind Me.” During an interview, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger discussed how it felt to release an album on that tragic day. In addition, he said “How You Remind Me” seemed to have a positive effect on some of the band’s fans.
Chad Kroeger revealed how Nickelback members reacted to 9/11
During an interview with Billboard, Kroeger discussed the effect that 9/11 had on Nickelback. “We woke up that day and we were glued to the TV just like everybody else was across the entire globe,” he recalled. “We were on the tour bus, driving through Pennsylvania an hour and a half south of where one of the planes crashed.” Kroeger appeared to refer to United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania.
The members of Nickelback eventually realized the connection between the attacks and Silver Side Up. “Then someone on the tour bus said, ‘Holy s***, our record came out today,'” he remembered. “It became a complete afterthought. It wasn’t at the forefront of anyone’s mind. Everyone just thought the world was ending.”
Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger said 1 song from the album helped many fans
Afterward, Kroeger said “How You Remind Me” had a therapeutic effect on some fans. “It was a very, very strange feeling that day,” he said. “But, for some reason, and I’ve heard this a lot, people seem to latch onto [‘How You Remind Me’] as some sort of an anthem — even though it had to do with relationships — probably because the song has an anthemic quality to it.
“I’ve heard, countless times, that it’s helped someone get through a hard time around then,” he added. “That always feels good, when you can help someone like that.” Kroeger said even though he wrote “How You Remind Me,” the song belongs to the world now.
The way the world reacted to ‘Silver Side Up’ and ‘How You Remind Me’
Although it was released on a day when many lives were lost, Silver Side Up found an audience. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 92 weeks. It was popular in the United Kingdom as well. According to The Official Charts Company, Silver Side Up reached No. 1 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for 84 weeks.
“How You Remind Me” became popular too. The track stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 49 weeks, spending four of those weeks at No. 1. The Official Charts Company reports the song peaked at No. 4 in the U.K. and stayed on the chart for 42 weeks. Since then, several artists have covered “How You Remind Me,” including Avril Lavigne and Sum 41.
While Silver Side Up is forever connected to 9/11, the album’s music had a positive effect on some listeners coping with trauma.
