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Adam Gontier

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Adam Gontier
Gontier with Saint Asonia in 2015
Born
Adam Wade Gontier

(1978-05-25) May 25, 1978 (age 46)
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
Years active1992–present
Spouses
  • Naomi Faith Brewer
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2004; div. 2013)​
  • Jeanie Marie Larsen
    ​
    (m. 2015)​
Children2[1]
RelativesCale Gontier (cousin)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Member of
Formerly ofBig Dirty Band

Adam Wade Gontier (born May 25, 1978) is a Canadian rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for Saint Asonia, but is best known as the co-lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of the rock band Three Days Grace. He co-founded the band in 1992, recording four albums with them before parting ways in 2013 and eventually returning in 2024. In addition to his work with Three Days Grace and Saint Asonia, he has been involved in collaborations with other bands including Art of Dying, Apocalyptica, Breaking Benjamin, Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch.[6]

Early life

[edit]

Gontier was born in Peterborough, Ontario on May 25, 1978.[7] He was raised in Markham, Ontario.[8][9] Shortly after his parents divorced, he moved back to the Peterborough area, where he initially attended Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute.[8] In 1992, he moved to the Norwood area, and attended Norwood District High School, where he met and befriended Three Days Grace members Neil Sanderson and Brad Walst.[10] Gontier's mother is a professional singer/pianist, and was an influence to him as a musician.[11]

Gontier started playing guitar at the age of 12 and was taught by his cousin's brother Josh.[8] He began writing songs at the age of 14 and was influenced by bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. He also cites inspiration from the Seattle music scene.[12] Gontier has stated that he uses music "as an outlet and release for emotions and feelings."[13]

Career

[edit]

1992–2013, 2024–present: Three Days Grace

[edit]
Main article: Three Days Grace

Gontier, along with Sanderson, Walst, Phil Crowe, and Joe Grant,[14] started out as "Groundswell" in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992, while attending high school.[10] In 1997, Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst regrouped as "Three Days Grace".[10] The group was signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss.[10] Their Canadian rock number one debut single, "I Hate Everything About You",[12] and their debut self-titled studio album was released in 2003.[15] Their second studio album, One-X, was released in 2006, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200.[16] Their third studio album, Life Starts Now, was released in 2009 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, thus becoming the band's highest-charting album in the US to date.[17] In 2012, the band released their fourth studio album, Transit of Venus and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.[18]

Gontier performing live with Three Days Grace in 2006

On January 9, 2013, Gontier resigned from Three Days Grace.[19] He left as the band was about to embark on a co-headlining tour.[19] Matt Walst from My Darkest Days, the brother of bassist Brad Walst, became the new lead singer.[20] On April 19, 2023, Gontier reunited with Three Days Grace to perform "Never Too Late" and "Riot".[21] Gontier reunited with the band a second time for their Nashville, Tennessee concert on October 10, 2023.

On October 3, 2024, it was announced Gontier had officially rejoined Three Days Grace (with Walst also remaining as a singer) and was in the studio recording new music with the band.[22]

2012–2014: Solo career

[edit]

Gontier joined singer and songwriter Martin Sexton on the road during his 2012 "Fall Like Rain" tour, providing opening support as a solo artist.[23] He also joined Citizen Cope for a few shows as a solo act.[24] Gontier continued to do shows and concerts as a solo artist. Several songs have been released, but not as singles. In early March 2013, Gontier publicly announced and launched his Adam Gontier Solo Live Tour.[4]

2015–present: Saint Asonia

[edit]
Main article: Saint Asonia

In April 2014, Gontier and Staind guitarist Mike Mushok began writing songs together, without the intention of creating a band.[25] They soon garnered the interest of RCA Records.[25] The duo later enlisted former Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe, and former Dark New Day bassist Corey Lowery to complete their lineup.[26] On May 15, 2015, the group released their debut single "Better Place".[27] The band released their debut self-titled studio album on July 31, 2015.[25] In early 2019, the group signed with Spinefarm Records and released their second studio album, Flawed Design, later that year.[28] In 2022, the group released two EPs, Introvert and Extrovert,[29][30] before releasing both EPs physically as Introvert/Extrovert with bonus tracks on December 9, 2022.[30]

Notable works and collaborations

[edit]

Outside of Three Days Grace, Gontier has also written and collaborated with numerous writers, musicians and bands. Some of his collaborations include Daughtry, Ian Thornley, Max Martin, Shaun Morgan, Ben Burnley, Art of Dying, Before the Curtain, and fellow musician and long time friend Grainne Ryan.[6]

Gontier in 2015

In 2006, Gontier was a member of the rock supergroup Big Dirty Band along with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Jeff Burrows, Ian Thornley and Care Failure, covering "I Fought the Law", as part of the Trailer Park Boys movie soundtrack.[31] He has also contributed to a number of other albums. He contributed vocals and musical arrangement on "I Don't Care" on Apocalyptica's album, Worlds Collide in 2007.[32] In 2009, Adam Gontier worked with Daughtry on their second studio album Leave This Town. The song "Back Again" was featured on the physical copy of Daughtry's Leave This Town: The B-Sides EP.[33]

In 2011, Gontier created the record label, Sludge Factory Records, and has signed three acts, one of which is fellow Peterborough band, Before the Curtain.[34] Gontier was also featured on the track "Raining" by fellow Canadian band Art of Dying on their album Vices and Virtues.[35]

On January 24, 2020, Breaking Benjamin released their compilation album, Aurora, that included Gontier on the track "Dance with the Devil".[6] In 2021, Gontier released a song for PUBG Mobile titled, "Tidal Wave".[36] In January 2023, he was featured on Skillet's song "Finish Line", on the deluxe edition of Dominion.[37] Gontier formed a new project called Diviidedby together with former USS MC Jason "Human Kebab" Parsons in April 2023.[38] In late 2023, he was featured on the 2023 version of "Let the Sparks Fly" by Thousand Foot Krutch.[39]

Awards

[edit]

In 2004, Gontier was named on Chart Attack magazine's "20 Sexiest Canadian Musicians" list.[40] In 2006, Gontier and Three Days Grace won the Billboard Music Awards for Rock Single of the Year.[41] In 2008, Gontier won the BMI Pop Awards.[42] Michael Bell handed him the "Big Time Award", at the 2012 "Wire Awards". Gontier was inducted into the Norwood District High School Hall of Honor in July 2022 along with Brad and Matt Walst.[43]

Personal life

[edit]

Gontier married Naomi Faith Brewer in May 2004.[44] The couple divorced in 2013.[4] He married Jeanie Marie Larsen in March 2015.[8][45] His cousin, Cale Gontier, is the bass player for Art of Dying and Saint Asonia.[8][46] As of 2023, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee.[47]

In 2005, Gontier went into rehabilitation at the CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) in Toronto, where he wrote many of the songs for One-X, including "Never Too Late", which was co-written by Adam's ex-wife, Naomi Faith Brewer. Both Gontier and Brewer wrote the video for the song, and she also appears in the video. While in CAMH in Toronto, Gontier wrote "Pain", "Animal I Have Become", "Get Out Alive", "Over and Over", and "Gone Forever".[48][13] A docu-drama about his addiction, Behind the Pain, was released in 2007.[48][49] Gontier has been open about his struggles with mental health.[50] He stated that he relapsed in 2017 and went into a treatment center. Since then, Gontier has been sober and stated that he has "no plans on going back to a dark place anytime soon."[51]

Discography

[edit]

with Groundswell

  • Wave of Popular Feeling (1995)

with Three Days Grace

Main article: Three Days Grace discography

with Saint Asonia

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Tidal Wave"[52] 2021 Non-album single
[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certification Album
CAN
[53] 		CAN
Rock
[54] 		FIN
[55] 		US
[56] 		US
Main.
Rock
[57]
"I Don't Care"
(Apocalyptica featuring Adam Gontier) 		2008 59 4 13 78 1 Worlds Collide
"Wars"[59]
(Cevilain featuring Adam Gontier) 		2021 — — — — — Non-album single
"Let the Sparks Fly"[60]
(Thousand Foot Krutch featuring Adam Gontier) 		2023 — — — — — The End Is Where We Begin: Reignited
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Other appearances

[edit]
Title Year Artist(s) Album Notes Ref.
"Back Again" 2010 Daughtry Leave This Town: The B-Sides Songwriter [61]
"Raining" 2011 Art of Dying Vices and Virtues Composer, featured artist [62]
"Dance with the Devil" 2020 Breaking Benjamin Aurora Featured artist [63]
"Finish Line" 2023 Skillet Dominion Featured artist [64]
"Why Is Love So Hard" 2024 Peyton Parrish Featured artist, songwriter [65]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Saint Asonia Fans on Instagram: "Adam's son turns 3 month Asher Wade Gontier ADAM HAS GOT A SON Congrats✨❇ #AdamGontier #saintasonia #ashergontier"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. ^ Zenae Zukowski (April 13, 2015). "Three Days Grace – Human (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock.
  3. ^ "Interview – Adam Gontier Of Saint Asonia". Cryptic Rock. September 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Emily Goodman (November 10, 2014). "Adam Gontier keeps rocking after leaving Three Days Grace". AXS. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Three Days Grace News". Loudwire.
  6. ^ a b c "Adam Gontier Songs". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "Photos: Theory of a Deadman rocks Peterborough Memorial Centre". The Peterborough Examiner. April 29, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lucas, Nici (June 23, 2016). "A Chat with Adam Gontier of Saint Asonia and formerly Three Days Grace". adventuremusiclife.com.
  9. ^ "Saint Asonia | Facebook | Mailbag Monday with Adam Gontier!". Facebook. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d Sutton, Michael. "Three Days Grace > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  11. ^ Chris Epting (October 8, 2012). "Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier on Helping Fans With Addiction Issues, The Canadian Band That Changed His Life". Noisecreep. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Yuri Wuensch. "Three Days Grace cheats death". Jam!. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ a b Wagner, Vit (November 28, 2006). "Saving Grace". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on November 15, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  14. ^ "Former And Current Members Of Three Days Grace Honored By Ontario High School: Photo + Video". Blabbermouth.net. June 30, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Doray, Dave (December 2, 2003). "Three Days Grace". IGN. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  16. ^ Harris, Chris (June 21, 2006). "Busta Rhymes Opens with a Bang, Scoring His First Number-one 1 LP". MTV. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Keith Caufield (September 30, 2009). "Pearl Jam Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200 In 13 Years". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Shinedown, Three Days Grace Unite for Arena Tour". Billboard. November 12, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Spencer Kaufman (January 9, 2013). "Singer Adam Gontier Explains Departure From Three Days Grace". Loudwire. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  20. ^ Melina Robinson. "Review: Three Days Grace graces the Joint with new frontman Matt Walst". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  21. ^ "Three Days Grace Rejoined By Singer Adam Gontier For Two Songs At Huntsville Concert". Blabbermouth.net. April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Chad Childers (October 3, 2024). "Three Days Grace Reunite with Gontier (with a twist)?". Loudwire. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Mary Ouellette (January 22, 2012). "Three Days Grace Frontman Adam Gontier on Tour With Martin Sexton". Loudwire. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  24. ^ Andre Lamar (November 30, 2012). "Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier and Martin Sexton come to The Queen". Dover Post. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Graff, Gary (June 18, 2015). "Saint Asonia Announces Debut Album Release Date: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  26. ^ James Christopher Monger. "Saint Asonia Biography by James Christopher Monger". AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Childers, Chad (May 15, 2015). "Saint Asonia Reveal Official Lineup, Lead Single 'Better Place'". Loudwire. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  28. ^ Childers, Chad (October 24, 2012). "Saint Asonia's New Album 'Flawed Design' Available Now". Loudwire. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  29. ^ Childers, Chad (May 6, 2022). "Saint Asonia Uplift Through Challenging Times With Anthemic 'Above it All', Announce New EP". Loudwire. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Saint Asonia Feat. Staind Guitarist, Ex Three Days Grace: "Extrovert" EP Due In November". Blabbermouth.net. October 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Big Dirty Band Featuring Rush Members: 'I Fought The Law' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. September 23, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "Apocalyptica: 'I Don't Care' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. May 21, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  33. ^ Oken, Ashley (November 11, 2020). "Adam Gontier on Life After Three Days Grace". Highwire Magazine. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  34. ^ "Before The Curtain Joins Sludge Factory Records". threedaysgrace.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  35. ^ Chad Childers (January 17, 2013). "Art of Dying Dedicate 'Raining' Lyrics Video to Three Days Grace". Loudwire. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  36. ^ Stephen Gregson-Wood (August 20, 2021). "PUBG Mobile's new Poseidon X-Suit arrives with its own theme song, Tidal Wave by Adam Gontier". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  37. ^ Jessie Clarks (January 20, 2023). "Skillet Drops Instant-Grat 'Finish Line' Feat. Adam Gontier". The Christian Beat. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  38. ^ Anne Erickson (April 20, 2023). "Three Days Grace Reunite Onstage with Original Singer Adam Gontier for Two Songs: Watch". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  39. ^ "Rock News Roundup 176". Jesus Wired. December 11, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  40. ^ "Chart's October 2004 Issue: 20 Sexiest Canadian Musicians". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on December 2, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. ^ "The 2006 Billboard Music Award Winners". Billboard. December 4, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  42. ^ "Adam Gontier Interview - The 2008 BMI Pop Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  43. ^ Alicia Selin (July 8, 2022). "Three Days Grace Members Reunite With Ex-Singer at 'Powerful' High School Event". Loudwire. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  44. ^ Lance Fiasco (November 29, 2004). "Three Days Grace: The Troubles With Finding A Good Pit Party". idobi Radio. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  45. ^ "Former Three Days Grace Frontman Adam Gontier Gets Engaged". August 1, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  46. ^ "Art of Dying". AllMusic.
  47. ^ "Adam Gontier Reunited with Three Days Grace in Nashville". TheBuzz. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  48. ^ a b Bliss, Karen (March 30, 2007). "3DG doc aims to help addicts". JAM! Music. Archived from the original on June 23, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ "Adam Gontier on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. February 20, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  50. ^ Big Jake (May 16, 2022). "Adam Gontier Of Saint Asonia Opens Up About Mental Struggles; Substance Abuse". Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  51. ^ "Ex-Three Days Grace Singer Adam Gontier: I Have 'No Plans On Going Back To A Dark Place Anytime Soon'". Blabbermouth.net. May 16, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  52. ^ "Tidal Wave - Single by Adam Gontier". Apple Music. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  53. ^ "Adam Gontier Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  54. ^ "Adam Gontier Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  55. ^ "Discography Apocalyptica". finnish-charts.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  56. ^ "Adam Gontier Chart History (The Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  57. ^ "Adam Gontier Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  58. ^ "Gold & Platinum - Music Canada". Music Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  59. ^ "Wars (feat. Adam Gontier) - Single by Cevilain". Apple Music. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  60. ^ "Let the Sparks Fly - Single by Thousand Foot Krutch, Adam Gontier". Apple Music. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  61. ^ Leave This Town: The B-Sides (booklet). Daughtry. RCA. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  62. ^ "Vices and Virtues - Art of Dying Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  63. ^ "Aurora - Breaking Benjamin Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  64. ^ "Finish Line (feat. Adam Gontier)", Spotify, January 20, 2023, retrieved January 21, 2023
  65. ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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