Chad Kroeger calls Nickelback haters 'hilarious'

Chad Kroeger is laughing in the face of Nickelback haters, one week after a British man, Craig Mandell, launched a crowdfunding campaign to have the Canadian rock band banned from performing in London.

• Man launches crowdfunding campaign to keep Nickelback out of his city

In a recent interview on The Pulse Of Radio in the U.K. (via Metal Hammer), the band's frontman said he welcomed the strife. 

"I love it," said Kroeger. "More controversy that surrounds either myself, my personal life, the band, whatever — I think it's hilarious."

Nickelback has been a lightning rod for parodies, mean-spirited jokes and music reviews since the Alberta band made its debut in 1995.

For example:

Instead of taking the barrage personally, however, Kroeger credited the band's detractors for keeping the band alive.

"All these critics, they're just tireless. They keep ragging on the band. If they had stopped writing all this stuff about us, there would be no controversy left in the band and we probably would have died out years ago. They don't know that they're still responsible for us being around today."

As for Mandell's campaign, it aims to raise $1,000 to ensure that the band doesn't schedule any gigs in London "nor even phone here."

All proceeds will go to charity or "therapy for those who've been affected by the band," the website reads.

As of this writing, 59 backers have donated $289 with a Nov. 3 deadline looming.

That's the same date Nickelback will release its eighth album, No Fixed Address.