While rockers KISS famously crowned Detroit as "Rock City," it appears many of its residents want nothing to do with Canada's biggest rock export: Nickelback.
This week, a petition began circulating to block the band from performing at the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving showdown on Nov. 24 against the Green Bay Packers.
Detroit has birthed artists as diverse as Kid Rock, Eminem, Bob Seger and Diana Ross over the years, leading petition organizers to ponder why the Lions would choose "such an awful band" to rock the halftime show.
"Detroit is home to so many great musicians," the open letter states, "and they chose Nickelback?!?!?!"
By Thursday evening, about 13,000 people had signed the electronic petition to get rid of the popular, but polarizing, Vancouver-based act.
While Billboard recently named Nickelback the "artist of the decade" on the strength of their multi-platinum success, the band seems to have as many detractors as fans.
Famously, the quartet was forced off the festival stage in Portugal several years ago when audience members started throwing rocks mid-set.
And a recent vote from the users of a British dating site put Nickelback in a tie for first place as the biggest musical turn-off.
(Tied for top spot on the Tastebuds poll was a fellow Canadian export: Justin Bieber.)
But despite constant abuse, the band continues to pack arenas and sell records. In fact, the band's 2009 show in Detroit was at Joe Louis Arena, which can handle close to 20,000 spectators.
Nickelback's new album "Here and Now" will be released on Nov. 21.
