Dual Amplifiers

Without knowing it, Three Days Grace has done what no band has ever done before: made a historic comeback without ever actually leaving. What makes the rebirth so special is that the Canadian rockers set their own precedent: having two lead vocalists.

The certified multi-platinum band first became a mainstream success in 2003 with its breakout hit “I Hate Everything About You,” led by frontman Adam Gontier. Over the years and while achieving hit after hit, Gontier developed an addiction to prescription painkillers and was admitted to rehab at the encouragement of his bandmates, family, and friends. He returned to the band afterward but left abruptly once again.

The group searched for a replacement lead vocalist and chose Matt Walst, who joined the band in 2013. The former My Darkest Days vocalist quickly became the frontman, and the hits kept coming. Three Days Grace has received multiple nominations for “Best Rock Album” at the Juno Awards, and “Rock Song of the Year” and “Rock Artist of the Year” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

The first song Three Days Grace released following Gontier’s departure and Walst’s arrival was “Painkiller,” which Walst said was originally intended for My Darkest Days. Inspired by Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park, Korn, and Limp Bizkit growing up, Walst said his original hit remains one of his favorites.

Friends from childhood, both Walst and Gontier said their longstanding friendship has paved the way for a seamless transition to share the stage. “When Adam left, my brother Brad (the band’s bass guitarist) and I had dinner together,” Walst said. “I had grown up with the songs when they were practicing. I first tried out to be in the band when I was 16 or 17 because they needed a guitar player, but I didn’t get the gig.

“I went on to make my own music, and around COVID, my brother and I started talking about the possibility of Adam coming back. He was in a good spot and was on board right away. It was the best thing ever to bring him back and has been a lot of fun. We don’t fight because we got that over with when we were young, and I was a brat,” Walst explained, laughing.

Gontier agreed that he was ready to make a comeback. “I grew up quite a bit during that time,” he said. “What was in the past stayed in the past. We are all really good friends first who grew up together in the same town, so getting back together felt like the right thing to do for the fans.”

Soon after, the duo started spending time in the studio together, and last year the band officially announced the return of Gontier, sharing the lead vocal role with Walst. Together with the other original band members Barry Stock and Neil Sanderson, Three Days Grace still hails as one of the most listened to rock bands in the world.

Picking up right where they left off, the reunited band launched its popular single “Mayday” last year, celebrating the return of original vocalist Gontier alongside Walst on vocals. The single quickly became the 18th Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 hit.

“Growing up with Matt, I remember him as a little kid watching us jam,” Gontier said. “We are always writing from the same place that’s real, raw, and emotional. It’s always about things we are going through and how we are feeling about something, and I think that resonates with people.”

Walst also believes the secret to the band’s staying power has been writing relatable songs. “We write about real things that people can apply to their lives and feel something,” he said.

Both lead singers have their own unique voice and performance style that complement each other. Gontier said the new album offers a new twist on classic Three Days Grace with its double vocalists. “It’s an evolution of the band as well,” he said. “It’s straightforward Three Days Grace with some surprises and is some of the best work we have done. We work to be the best that we can be.”

Gontier and Walst can pinpoint some of their favorite tattoos, and they’re not done adding to their collections. “I definitely have plans for new ink when we are back on the road,” Gontier said. “Over the last 25 years, my tattoos have been like souvenirs of places I have been. I also have a banner on my forearm which is a reminder that says ‘serenity, courage and wisdom.’ It’s a sober prayer. My first tattoo was a solid black band that I got on my right forearm when I was 18. I always have plans to get more and have thought about my legs, maybe my calf, but I have to think about it a little more.”

Walst said the first tattoo he got was of Yin and Yang, and it still has a lot of meaning to him. “It’s the symbol of life in general,” he said. “There is a little good in the bad and a little bad in the good. The other tattoo I have is what we used for the ‘Painkiller’ album, which is a medical symbol. Neil and I got matching tattoos. I have two sons now and want to get their names tattooed somewhere as well.”

Three Days Grace is preparing to release their new album later this year and will be hitting the road this summer to co-headline a tour with Breaking Benjamin, along with Return To Dust.