Sep. 11, 2007 - Issue #621: Sex in The City 07

You need Grace to be a rock star

For Toronto’s Three Days Grace, sweeping to the top of Canada’s rock scene was anything but graceful. After the release of its self-titled first album in 2003, the band found itself in a position the members had always hoped for, but never really expected—intensely popular. This popularity led to a platinum record, videos all over MuchMusic and MTV, tons of radio play and nearly endless touring.

“The first record we toured for well over two years, and it was our first real tour experience,” says bassist Brad Walst. “The road’s a tough place. There are people all around you all the time, but in the end you’re pretty much alone.”
Each band member dealt with the challenges that touring brought in different ways, but for singer Adam Gontier those challenges were nearly too much to bear. By the end of the tour, Gontier had to check himself into Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to deal with an Oxycontin addiction he had developed. According to Walst, however, it was the lack of communication between the members of the band that was the worst part of the pressure they were facing.

“Some of us got carried away and by the end of it a lot of our communication had broken down—it was a hard time for that,” he says, before recounting how he was able to bring himself back to earth after so much success. “I took about two or three months off and visited with family and friends and tried to get back to reality.” But just because their job has its challenges the members of Three Days Grace aren’t a bunch of whiners—just the opposite really. For Walst and the rest of the band, they live through the challenges of being in a band for the huge rewards it also provides.

“I think it’s the best job in the world,” says Walst. “The reason we do it is for the half hour we get to play for people. It’s the other things that happen to you that get you down.” V

Sat, Sep 15 (2 pm)
Three Days Grace
With Italian Edition, illScarlett, State of Shock, Marianas Trench, Danko Jones, Hedley, Social Code, Tupelo Honey
Shaw Conference Centre, sold out

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