The Connection: How Papa Roach have utilized TikTok and social media to reach a new generation

It’s interesting to note how bands of the nu-metal era have utilized – or failed to do so – the power of social media to connect with their fanbase. Some simply aren’t adept at it, while others – especially Papa Roach – have managed to stay relevant where many have failed. With 2 Platinum and another Gold record under their collective belts, it’s not like the California band has anything to prove at this point. In fact, they probably could have called it a day a decade ago and still considered themselves successful. However, the fire is still there, as signaled by their more recent material – especially 2015’s F.E.A.R. – which saw the band collaborating with the likes of Royce Da 5’9″ and In This Moment vocalist Maria Brink.

Not that collaborating with other artists is necessarily a new thing even for bands of that era, but it does prove that Papa Roach, at the very least, aren’t content to keep making the same album twice. In fact, the band revamped their iconic single, “Last Resort”, with TikTok star Jeris Johnson recently. While the results, admittedly, were mixed from the band’s fanbase and critics, collaborations like this show that Papa Roach are open to new ideas where their peers are often not.

We started from the bottom. We have always put on younger artists. It’s important to help develop the next generation move this music forward.

— Papa Roach (@paparoach) February 13, 2021

It also shows that Papa Roach champions new artists, too. They’ve constantly gone above and beyond to introduce newer artists to their fanbase, whether it’s a simple “hey fans, what are you listening to?” status, or even inviting them on tour as well. As vocalist Jacoby Shaddix recently said, ​“It’s hard to learn new tricks. But as I’ve been mixing with young cats like Jeris or grandson, I’ve been learning that there’s a different way to make your music and reach the people. As much as I’m here to teach, I’m here to learn, too!”. And that’s a great mentality for any artist to have, not just a band that’s sold millions of records and even been Grammy nominated.

There’s a surprising amount of comparisons between the nu-metal boom of 1994-2003 and the current trends of finding a new act on TikTok or other social media, as well. At the turn of the new millennium, bands like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park sold millions of records because of their abilities to harness filesharing platforms like Napster (Limp Bizkit) and creating a fanbase before ever releasing a full-length (Linkin Park). Given how powerful of a tool the Internet is now, it’s not a surprise Papa Roach would see late-career success. After all, with bands like Trapt shooting themselves in the foot with ill-advised tweet after tweet, Papa Roach have instead used their social media to even embrace some of the hilarious memes made about them.

? who did this? Best meme wins tickets to our headlining tour! pic.twitter.com/tH551GYewS

— Papa Roach (@paparoach) March 2, 2018