Chad Kroeger: The Life, Music & Controversies You Didn't Know

Is it possible to achieve global rock superstardom while simultaneously becoming a punchline? For Chad Kroeger, the answer is a resounding, somewhat perplexing, yes. He's the frontman of Nickelback, a band that has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, yet simultaneously become synonymous with everything that's supposedly "wrong" with mainstream rock. The story of Chad Kroeger is one of undeniable success intertwined with relentless criticism, a narrative that continues to evolve.

Born Chad Robert Turton on November 15, 1974, in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, Kroeger's journey began far from the sold-out stadiums and platinum records that would later define his career. Music was a constant presence in his life, a dream nurtured in a small town setting. He picked up the guitar at 13 and by the early 1990s, he was playing in grunge bands, including one that featured future Nickelback members Mike Kroeger (his brother) and Ryan Peake. This early immersion in the grunge scene, though perhaps not immediately apparent in Nickelback's later sound, provided a foundation for his musical ambitions.