How Nekrogoblikon’s Guitarist Wound Up in Avril Lavigne’s Backing Band on TV

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's… Nekrogoblikon guitarist Joe Nelson playing in Avril Lavigne's backing band, which also includes Travis Barker, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America and The Kelly Clarkson Show on TV?

No, that is not satire — this actually happened and, yes, it's the same Nekrogoblikon you may recall having been name-dropped by Post Malone during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast back in 2020.

There's quite a lot going on for everyone involved here.

Lavigne has mounted a big pop-punk comeback and just dropped her new album, Love Sux, which featured a guest appearance by Blink-182's Mark Hoppus on the track "All I Wanted." The Blink connection runs a bit deeper with Barker seated behind the kit in her live band and the drummer also served as a co-producer on the record alongside John Feldmann and MOD SUN.

In celebration of the record's release, Lavigne hit the stage on three talk show programs on TV and performed the song "Love It When You Hate Me," featuring emo rapper blackbear. Watch the Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance below.

For Nekrogolikon, they've got an upcoming tour opening for GWAR, with special guests Crowbar and The Native Howl also in tow and by the time they hit the road, their new album, The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, will have already been released. Get a taste of what's in store by watching the music video for the latest single, "Golden Future," further down the page.

So, how did Nelson wind up in Lavigne's backing band anyway?

"An old friend of mine that was involved in the music scene in the Washington, D.C. area with me went on to become a manager for bigger pop artists," Nelson told Loudwire. "Every now and then, I get a call from him about a potential gig. I always enjoy working him and his artists."

"This opportunity just included three TV performances — Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the Kelly Clarkson Show — in support of her new album. I haven’t been asked to do anything else with her but they have my number and I would gladly work with them again," he said of his status in the backing band.

And if you're wondering what his favorite Avril Lavigne song is, that would be the one he played on all three shows — "Love It When You Hate Me." Nelson said, "The hook is so catchy and the riffs remind me of old Blink-182 songs that I grew up with."

The Fundamental Slimes and Humours will be released on April 1 and pre-orders can be placed here. Head to this location to see the band's upcoming tour dates with GWAR.

Avril Lavigne ft. blackbear & Travis Barker, "Love It When You Hate Me" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Nekrogoblikon, "Golden Future" Lyrics (via Genius)

One, two, three, four
Wow
Take me down to the mud hole
I need to be in a place with some soul
Hey
I thought we're s'posed to have a good time
I'll show you yours if you show me mine

For every problem ever unsolved:
How come we're still on the run from it all?

With everything we touch
That much more turns to dust
The promise of a golden future
How many times did they break your heart
With nothing in return
Now we work the land
And wait for you to burn

Walk me down to vagrant street
I need to make a deposit
Ooh, am I your favorite slave
Or am I just an apology?

You watch the skull as it cracks the bone
Smothered by the rules you made
Winking while we suffocate
Not so long ago
It almost felt like we had a home

With everything we touch
That much more turns to dust
The promise of a golden future
How many times did they break your heart
With nothing in return
Now we work the land
And wait for you to burn

You and I vs them
Waiting for a vision
Nothing's working well
We haven't tried getting rid of 'em
Checked for poison
Now we laugh

Not so long ago
It almost felt like we had a home
But only yesterday
Found out that hate never goes away

With everything we touch
That much more turns to dust
The promise of a golden future
How many times did they break your heart
With nothing in return
Now we work the land

With everything we touch
That much more turns to dust
The promise of a golden future
How many times did they break your heart
With nothing in return
Now we work the land
And wait for you to burn
Burn

Nekrogoblikon, "Golden Future" Music Video

Nekrogoblikon, The Fundamental Slimes and Humours Artwork + Track Listing

01. "Right Now"
02. "Golden Future"
03. "Yin"
04. "Supernovas (Exploding in Space)"
05. "Bones"
06. "Going to Die"
07. "A Lesson in Hate"
08. "This Is It"
09. "Fancy Wind"
10. "Carousels"
11. "No Such Thing as a Key"