Three Days Grace

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 originally as Groundswell. Groundswell played in various local Norwood backyard parties and area establishments before disbanding in 1995 and regrouping in 1997 under its current name.
Based in Toronto, the band's original line-up consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. In 2003, Barry Stock was recruited as the band's lead guitarist, making them a quartet. In 2013, Gontier left the band and was replaced by My Darkest Days' vocalist Matt Walst, the younger brother of Brad Walst.
Currently signed to RCA Records, they have released seven studio albums: Three Days Grace in 2003, One-X in 2006, Life Starts Now in 2009, Transit of Venus in 2012, Human in 2015, Outsider in 2018 and Explosions in 2022. The first three albums have been RIAA certified 2× platinum, 3× platinum, and platinum, respectively, in the United States. In Canada, they have been certified by Music Canada as platinum, triple platinum, and double platinum, respectively. In the United Kingdom, their second album One-X was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. The band has 17 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and 3 No. 1 hits on Alternative Songs.
History
Early years (1992–2002)
The band started out as a quintet named "Groundswell" in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992. Groundswell released one full-length album, Wave of Popular Feeling in 1995, containing singles "Eddie", "Poison Ivy" and "Stare". The band's line-up consisted of lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer Neil Sanderson, bassist Brad Walst, lead guitarist Phil Crowe, and rhythm guitarist Joe Grant. Most of the members were attending high school when the band formed. By the end of 1997, the band had broken up.
In 1997, Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst regrouped as "Three Days Grace". According to Gontier, the name refers to a sense of urgency, with the question being whether someone could change something in their life if they had only three days to make a change. Once in Toronto, the band became acquainted with local producer Gavin Brown. They gave him several years' worth of material which they had created, and he "...picked out what he called 'the golden nuggets'", according to Gontier. Brown and the band polished the songs and created a demo album, which they gave to EMI Music Publishing Canada. The record label wanted to hear more material, and with Brown producing, the band created the song, "I Hate Everything About You", which attracted the interest of several record labels. Three Days Grace were soon signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss. Additionally, the group signed with Zomba in 2002.
Three Days Grace (2003–2005)
They moved to Long View Farm, a studio in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, to record their debut album. The group completed half of the album at Long View, while the rest was done at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York. The self-titled album was finished in Woodstock, New York and released on July 22, 2003.
To support the eponymous album, the band released their first single, "I Hate Everything About You" (the song whose demo had gotten the band a record deal) on April 28, 2003. The song received heavy airplay and rapidly became widely recognizable, and was labelled as the band's "breakout hit". The song peaked at No. 1 on the Canadian rock chart becoming their first number-one hit in the country. Gavin Brown who produced the track, earned the group a Juno Award for Producer of the Year in 2004. In support of their major label debut, the group joined Trapt as an opening act on a US tour from July to September 2003. In late 2003, Barry Stock joined the group after the band was auditioning for a second guitar player. Stock was introduced to the group by his manager in Toronto after they needed some help with their gear. The group joined Nickelback on The Long Road Tour between October and November 2003. The band also joined Evanescence on a North American Tour in 2004, as well as Hoobastank on the Let it Out Tour that same year. The group embarked on a headlining tour in 2004 called the Three Days Grace World Tour. The album peaked at No. 9 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 69 on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA in December 2004 and double platinum in Canada by the CRIA. The album's second single "Just Like You" was released on March 29, 2004. The song became the first of many of the band's songs to top the US Billboard Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts. "Home" was released on October 4, 2004, as the third single from the album. The fourth and final single "Wake Up" was released exclusively in Canada on January 10, 2005.
Three Days Grace was met with mixed-to-favourable reviews. Dave Doray of IGN said of the album, "Almost every single song from the Three Days Grace track list is heavy and catchy, with chewy chunks of assurance and fury thrown in for added measure." AllMusic reviewer Heather Phares criticized the album for its simplicity, but praised the groups "tight songwriting" and "unexpectedly pretty choruses" that make them standout among their peers. However, Spin gave a negative review calling it, "generic Canadian gripe rock."
The band appeared as themselves in the 2004 film Raise Your Voice, performing the songs "Are You Ready" and "Home".
One-X (2006–2008)
Around this time, Gontier developed an addiction to the prescription drug OxyContin. After finishing the tour for their first album, the band knew they could not continue with the condition he was in, so in 2005, with the support of his family, friends, and band members, Gontier checked himself into the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. While in treatment, Gontier began writing lyrics for songs regarding how he felt and what he was going through in rehabilitation.
Gontier successfully completed treatment at CAMH. The band found a place suitable for further songwriting in Northern Ontario, in a cottage where they experimented on, tested, and practiced new songs. After three months at the cottage, they had about finished what would be their second album. Gontier contributed lyrics about his experiences in rehab; the first single from One-X, titled "Animal I Have Become", features lyrics Gontier had written while getting sober. In a 2006 interview, Gontier said that the album's material was more personal to him than the band's previous work because the inspiration had come out of his experiences with despondence, drug abuse, and rehab, which had constituted the past two years of his life.
One-X was released on June 13, 2006, and was produced by Howard Benson. This also marked Stock's first effort with the band. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 78,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release. Instead of participating in Narcotics Anonymous, Gontier launched the "Three Days to Change" tour doing free concerts at treatment centres, shelters, group homes and detention centres across North America. In November 2006, Gontier performed with the band at a special show at the CAMH in Toronto, where he had gone for his own rehab. Following the performance, Gontier fielded questions from the audience. CAMH footage, interviews and live performances were filmed as part of the "Behind the Pain" documentary.
"Animal I Have Become" was released as the lead single from One-X on April 10, 2006, and became one of Three Days Grace's most successful singles, becoming 2006's most played rock song in Canada. The song won Rock Single of the Year at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards. "Pain" was released as the album's second single on September 19, 2006, and topped the Canada Rock Chart becoming the group's second number-one on the chart. It also topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts. "Never Too Late was released as the third single on May 7, 2007. It was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards. "Riot" was released as the fourth and final single on November 6, 2007, and reached the top 20 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album helped Three Days Grace become the No. 1 rock artist by airplay in the U.S. and Canada in 2007, with Billboard ranking them as Rock Artist of the Year. In 2007, One-X was nominated for Album of the Year at the Juno Awards. The album was certified triple platinum in both Canada and the US. Three Days Grace toured the US and Canada throughout the second half of 2006 and all of 2007 in support of One-X with Staind. In early 2008, they toured across the U.S. alongside Seether and Breaking Benjamin.
Life Starts Now (2009–2011)
Writing for the third album began on the road in 2007. From March to August 2008, and from January to April 2009, the band recorded their third album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Los Angeles, again with producer Howard Benson who had worked with them on their previous releases. The album, entitled Life Starts Now, was released on September 22, 2009. Critics as well as band members have noted the album's departure from the angry tone of the band's previous releases into a lyrical style that is perceived as more optimistic. This album reflects the maturity of the band members as they overcome problems such as sickness and death within their families; in a published statement, they were quoted as saying: "We had to be inspired by it, but the outcome is this: It's a new beginning. It's life starting over." According to guitarist Barry Stock, the album's theme centres around "a new sense of freshness" and the idea that "you don't have to be stuck in whatever it is you're dealing with. Whether it's good or bad, it's your choice to make a change".
Life Starts Now debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest chart position to date, and sold 79,000 copies in its first week. The album was met with mostly positive reviews. The Toronto Star gave the album a negative review calling the album "shallow" and criticized it for sounding the same as their previous records. According to AllMusic, Life Starts Now "...continues the theme of One-X, Gontier's personal demons, but with a 'hint of sunlight'." He complimented the album, however, saying it served "a competent flurry of fist-bump anthems and world-weary, mid-tempo rockers". The album was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards, but lost to Billy Talent III.
The first single release from the album, "Break", was released on September 1, 2009. The song topped the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart for twelve weeks. It was nominated for Best Post Production Video and Best Rock Video of the Year at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards. "The Good Life" was released on February 9, 2010 as the second single from the album. The song reached number one for six weeks on the US Hot & Rock Alternative Songs chart. "World So Cold" was released as the third single on August 3, 2010. The song peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart for five weeks. "Lost in You" was released on February 1, 2010 as the fourth and final single from the album. The song won the Pop/Rock Music Award at the 2012 SOCAN Awards. In support of the record, the band embarked on the Life Starts Now Tour, with 20 Canadian shows lasting through November and December 2009 and U.S. shows in January–February 2010. They were joined by Breaking Benjamin and Flyleaf during the U.S. shows.
They went on tour with Nickelback and Buckcherry on the Dark Horse Fall 2010 Tour and they later toured with My Darkest Days starting in March 2011. The album was certified double platinum in Canada and platinum the US. In 2011, they were nominated for Group of the Year at the Juno Awards.
Transit of Venus and Gontier's departure (2012–2013)
On October 7, 2011, the RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista and J Records, and moving all the artists signed to the three labels to its RCA Records brand, which included Three Days Grace.
On June 5, 2012, the same day as Venus' visible transit across the sun, the band announced that their fourth studio album would be called Transit of Venus and released on October 2, 2012. They created an early promotional video on their website featuring clips of them in the studio as well as footage of the physical transit of Venus. Due to the rarity of this occurrence, they created the slogan, "Some things will never happen again in your lifetime", reflecting both this uncommon occurrence as well as the mood that the lyrics and music would most likely take on. The album was produced by Don Gilmore and recorded at Revolution Studios in Toronto." Sanderson stated they went for a tighter and more articulated sound on the record, experimenting with new instruments.
Transit of Venus peaked at No. 4 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified gold in Canada. The album also peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "Chalk Outline", was released on August 14. The song peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart for thirteen weeks. "The High Road" was released on January 22, 2013, as the second single from album. "Misery Loves My Company" was released as the third and final single on May 14, 2013. Both singles also topped the US Mainstream Rock chart. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2014.
On January 9, 2013, the band announced that Gontier had left the band. They described Gontier's departure as being abrupt and unexplained. The departure came just weeks before a co-headlining tour with Shinedown. Gontier explained that he was simply ready to start a new chapter in his life, stating, "After twenty years of being part of an ever evolving band, I have been inspired by life, to move on and to continue to evolve on my own terms." He later added that his decision for leaving the group was of creative differences. Following his departure from the band, Gontier launched his Solo Live Tour in 2013. After staying out of the spotlight in 2014, Gontier re-emerged in 2015 with rock supergroup Saint Asonia. Brad Walst's brother, Matt (of My Darkest Days), became the band's new lead singer and they commenced their 2013 tour with Shinedown and P.O.D. Dani Rosenoer, the band's touring keyboardist and backing vocalist since 2012, also joined the band for the tour.
Human (2014–2017)
The group began recording their fifth studio album in late 2013 in Noble Street Studios, Toronto. The band worked with producer Gavin Brown on this album. Sanderson described the album as more raw and aggressive than their previous records. A new track titled "Painkiller" was released on April 1, 2014 as the lead single from the album. The song reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Charts, which made it their eleventh number-one single. The album's second single, "I Am Machine" was released on September 30, 2014. The song was nominated for Rock Song of the Year at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards. On January 26, 2015, it was revealed that the new album would be titled Human. On March 23, 2015, "Human Race" was released as the third single. "Fallen Angel" was released on September 15, 2015 as the fourth and final single.
Human was released on March 31, 2015. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and sold 6,700 copies first week. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. The band embarked on the Human Tour in 2015 in Canada and the US to support the album. Halestorm supported most of the Canadian dates. The band toured Europe and Russia in early 2016.
On November 18, 2016, Three Days Grace released a cover of the Phantogram song "You Don't Get Me High Anymore". They were nominated for the 2016 Juno Award for Group of the Year. Human was certified gold in Canada.
Outsider (2017–2020)
Once the tour for their 2015 album Human concluded, the band decided to take time off to work on the next album "in as much isolation as possible," according to drummer Neil Sanderson. The band began recording their sixth studio album in July 2017. The album was produced by two of the band's prior producers, Gavin Brown and Howard Benson but also by members of the band themselves. Their sixth album titled, Outsider was announced on January 25, 2018 and released the lead single, "The Mountain" with an accompanying music video that same day. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in March 2018 and became their 13th number-one on the chart while tying the record with Van Halen.
The album was released on March 9, 2018. On June 12, "Infra-Red" was released as the band's second single from the album. "Infra-Red" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart and it is their 14th number-one single. With this latest achievement, the band broke Van Halen's two-decade record of topping the chart. On November 13, 2018, "Right Left Wrong" was released as the band's third single from the album. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart and it is their 15th number-one single. In support of the album's release, the group embarked on the Outsider Tour in 2018 across Europe and North America. The group also toured with Avenged Sevenfold and Prophets of Rage on the End of the World Tour. On March 14, 2019, the band won Rock Artist of the Year on 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Three Days Grace were nominated for three Juno Awards in 2019, Outsider for Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year and the band for Group of the Year. They won the Rock Songwriters of the Year award for "The Mountain" in the 30th anniversary of the SOCAN Awards.
On July 23, 2020, the band released a cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know".
Explosions (2021–present)
The group began writing their seventh studio album in February 2020. On March 1, 2021, the band confirmed that they were in the studio recording their album on Instagram. According to Brad Walst, the group had recorded nine or ten songs separately, in different studios, by themselves. Sanderson stated that the album was inspired by the real life circumstances the band had gone through over the last several years.
On November 29, 2021, the band released a new single called "So Called Life" as the first single from their seventh studio album, Explosions, which was released on May 6, 2022. The song reached the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart at number one, topping the chart for four consecutive weeks.
Three months later, on February 17, 2022, the band released a promotional single, titled "Neurotic", featuring Lukas Rossi. On April 11, 2022, the band released "Lifetime" as the album's second radio single. The song was dedicated to the people of Mayfield, Kentucky after an EF4 tornado hit the city in December 2021. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. This marks the band's 17th number-one song on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. On September 27, 2022, "I Am the Weapon", the third single from the album was released for radio airplay. The song peaked at number four on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
They were nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in 2022 for "So Called Life". They were also nominated at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards for Rock Artist of the Year and "So Called Life" for Rock Song of the Year. Explosions was nominated for Rock Album Of The Year at the 2023 Juno Awards.
The group went on the Explosions Tour in North America during the summer and fall of 2022. In April and May 2023, the band supported Shinedown on their The Revolutions Tour. During the April 19, 2023 show in Huntsville, Alabama, Adam Gontier reunited with the band for a brief collaborative performance. The group co-headlined a tour alongside Chevelle in the fall of 2023 with support from Loathe. Gontier reunited with the band a second time during their October 10, 2023 show in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has relocated after leaving Three Days Grace.
Musical styles and influences
Their music has been described as post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, and nu metal. The group has stated that their early influences were from the bands, The Tragically Hip and Our Lady Peace as well as from the Seattle rock scene, especially the group Sunny Day Real Estate.
Their self-titled album mostly features the sounds of alternative metal and nu metal, with heavy influences from Kyuss and Sunny Day Real Estate. The album drew comparison with the likes of Linkin Park, Chevelle, Depswa and Shinedown for their alternative metal and hard rock sound. On their second album, One-X, the band continued with their alternative metal sound and features songs more personal to Gontier. Music critics praised the album's lyrics for its "simple and direct approach" that adds a certain charm, despite its predictability. However, on their third album, Life Starts Now, the group departs from the angry tone of the band's previous releases into a lyrical style with more optimism while maintaining their hard rock sound. Critics compared the album's sound to bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Collective Soul, and Godsmack. Their fourth album, Transit of Venus, included a few electronic influences. These influences are evident on tracks such as "Chalk Outline" and "The High Road", adding a layer of thickness to the guitar-heavy work. On their fifth album, Human, the group shifted away from using electronic elements and went back to their post-grunge and alternative metal sound. However, their sixth album, Outsider, included electronic aspects influenced by Bring Me the Horizon's 2015 album, That's the Spirit. On their seventh album, Explosions, they continued with their gritty and hard rock sound. Critics compared the sound to their early records such as One-X for its raw angst while also stating the group heads for a mature and exploratory sound on the album.
Awards and nominations
Legacy
The band has a record 17 number-one songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Billboard ranked the group at number three on their "Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Artists" list. Loudwire named "Animal I Have Become" the 45th "Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs" in 2012 and also listed "Never Too Late" as one of the "66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century" in 2020. "I Hate Everything About You" was ranked at number 9 on the Billboard Decade-End Alternative Songs chart in 2009. Billboard named "Break", "Chalk Outline", "Pain", "Animal I Have Become" and "I Am Machine" as the "Greatest Mainstream Rock Songs" on their "Greatest of All Time" list with "Break" and "Chalk Outline" in the top 10. Adam Gontier, the band's founding lead vocalist, has been considered to have a, "passionate vocal style, naturally husky sound, and lyricism chock full of [the] angst and torment" making him a unique singer that many teenagers and others living through hardships found relatable.
Band members
Current members
Neil Sanderson – drums, backing vocals (1992–1995, 1997−present); keyboards (2009–present)
Brad Walst – bass, backing vocals (1992–1995, 1997−present)
Barry Stock − lead guitar (2003−present)
Matt Walst − lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2013−present)
Current touring musicians
Shaun Foist – drums (2023−present)
Former members
Adam Gontier – lead vocals (1992–1995, 1997-2013, multiple one-offs in 2023), rhythm guitar (1997−2013); lead guitar (1997–2003)
Phil Crowe – lead guitar (1992–1995)
Joe Grant – rhythm guitar (1992–1995)
Former touring musicians
Dani Rosenoer – keyboards, backing vocals (2012–2018)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Three Days Grace (2003)
One-X (2006)
Life Starts Now (2009)
Transit of Venus (2012)
Human (2015)
Outsider (2018)
Explosions (2022)
Filmography
Tours
Headlining
Three Days Grace World Tour (2004)
One-X Tour (2008)
Life Starts Now Tour (2010)
Human Tour (2015)
The Outsider Tour (2018)
Explosions Tour (2022)
Co-Headlining
North American Fall Tour (2007)
Welcome to the Family Tour (2011)
US Tour (2013)
End of the World Tour (2018)
As a support act
US Tour (2003)
The Long Road Tour (2003)
North American Tour (2004)
Let it Out Tour (2004)
All the Right Reasons Tour (2007)
The Dark Horse Tour (2010)
The Revolutions Live (2023)
Festivals
Jägermeister Music Tour (2006)
References
External links
1992 establishments in Canada
1995 disestablishments in Canada
1997 establishments in Canada
1992 establishments in Ontario
1995 disestablishments in Ontario
1997 establishments in Ontario
Canadian alternative metal musical groups
Canadian alternative rock groups
Canadian hard rock musical groups
Canadian post-grunge groups
Canadian nu metal musical groups
Jive Records artists
RCA Records artists
Musical groups established in 1992
Musical groups disestablished in 1995
Musical groups reestablished in 1997
Musical groups from Ontario
Canadian musical quintets
Canadian musical quartets
Sibling musical groups