It's official -- Canadian rock superstars Nickelback are coming to Sarnia Bayfest 2007.
Nickelback headlines the outdoor fest's opening night on Wednesday, July 18, organizers announced yesterday.
Nickelback has been named the world's best rock band at the World Music Awards. It has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and its latest All the Right Reasons has gone five-times platinum in Canada (sales of 500,000 plus) and the U.S. (five million plus).
Side of a Bullet, a recent single from All the Right Reasons, is a tribute to the late Darrell (Dimebag) Abbott, a former member of Pantera, who was shot to death onstage at an Ohio club in 2004. Abbott's family gave Nickelback permission to use his material, so the metal guitar star is heard on a solo.
The band placed ninth on a Forbes' list of top music money-makers of 2006, pulling in $74.1 million, just behind Bon Jovi and ahead of the Dave Matthews Band. Nickelback played Bayfest in 2002.
Rogers Bayfest 2007 had hoped to land Nickelback for Sunday, July 22, which was set to be its closing date. A scheduling conflict meant Nickelback would not be available on the Sunday, so Bayfest switched its dates and now runs July 18-21.
"We're confident," Bayfest organizer Michele Stokley says of Nickelback's ability to draw on a Wednesday night.
Back in February, Free Press coverage included speculation that Nickelback would play Bayfest.
Boston, another band that was planning a summer tour then, was also mentioned as a Bayfest possibility.
Later, Boston cancelled its tour after its lead singer died. The U.S. rockers had been negotiating with a London outdoor fest, Rock the Park IV, at the time of the tragedy.
Also headlining at this year's Bayfest are U.S. rock band Aerosmith (July 19), U.S. country singer Toby Keith (July 20) and British classic rockers Def Leppard (July 21). Tickets for those shows are already on sale. Doors open at 6 p.m. all four nights.
Tickets for the Nickelback show -- $40 plus applicable charges for general admission and more for VIP -- and a four-show pass go on sale Saturday.
The four-show pass costs $150, general admission; $300, unlicensed VIP; and $460, licensed VIP, plus applicable charges in all cases.
Call 519-337-4474 or 1-866-450-4474 or check www.sarniabayfest.com.
