Nickelback Singer Chad Kroeger Charged with Drunk Driving

Chad Kroeger, the lead singer and guitarist for Canadian rock band Nickelback, has been formally charged with drunk driving. The Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge stems from an investigation initiated after Kroeger was stopped for drag racing in Surrey, British Columbia on June 22, 2006.

According to spokesperson Corporal Roger Morrow of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Kroeger was stopped last June at about 2 a.m because of “excessive speed and erratic driving.” Officers in two police cars stopped Kroeger without incident and a drunk driving investigation was initiated.

Stan Lowe, who is spokesman for Crown counsel in British Columbia, indicated that Chad Kroeger (31) is free on a "promise to appear before a judge in Surrey Provincial Court on August 25. Kroeger, whose real name is Chad Robert Turton, is charged with impaired driving and driving with a blood alcohol level over .08."

The pending court appearance may impact Nickelback’s current North American tour. The rock band is scheduled to be in Texas during late August, with performances in Wichita Falls on August 24 and Houston the following night.

Nickelback became one of the most popular rock groups in North America after its 2001 ‘Silver Side Up’ album debuted at No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 in the US. The band started in Alberta, Canada, but has been based in British Columbia since 1996.

Vancouver lawyer Jonathan Simkin, who is partner with Kroeger in the music label 604 Records and the entertainment lawyer for the band, said "Chad's a great friend and a great business partner. It's an unfortunate incident." He added that Surrey lawyer Marvin Stern will represent Kroeger on the drunk driving charge.
Tags: Chad Kroeger |  Nickelback