Adam Gontier

Early life and musical beginnings

Adam Wade Gontier was born on May 25, 1978, in Peterborough, Ontario, and was raised in Markham, Ontario before moving back to the Peterborough area following his parents' divorce. He initially attended Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute before moving to the Norwood area in 1992, where he enrolled at Norwood District High School and met future Three Days Grace bandmates Neil Sanderson and Brad Walst. Gontier's mother, a professional singer and pianist, was an early musical influence, encouraging his artistic development from a young age. He began playing guitar at age 12, taught by his cousin's brother, Josh, and started writing his own songs around the age of 14, using music as an emotional outlet and a means of release.

Adam Gontier's early musical influences include the bands Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Jeff Buckley, and Soundgarden. He has also cited the Canadian acts the Tragically Hip and Finger Eleven as important inspirations. Gontier started playing guitar at the age of 12 and began writing songs around the age of 14. He has stated that he uses music as an outlet and release for emotions and feelings.

Career with Three Days Grace

Adam Gontier's professional music career began in 1992 when he, along with Neil Sanderson, Brad Walst, Phil Crowe, and Joe Grant, formed the band Groundswell in Norwood, Ontario, releasing one independent album, Wave of Popular Feeling, in 1995. In 1997, Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst regrouped under the name Three Days Grace, a move that would define the next phase of their careers after being discovered and signed by Jive Records president Barry Weiss. Their self-titled album, Three Days Grace, was released in 2003 and was propelled to success by the massive Canadian rock number one single "I Hate Everything About You," which established the band as a major force in North American rock music. The band's commercial and critical peak continued with their 2006 album One-X, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and spawned several hit singles written during Gontier's time in rehabilitation.

Their 2009 album, Life Starts Now, debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, marking the band's highest US chart position to that date, and their fourth studio album, Transit of Venus, followed in 2012 and peaked at number five. On January 9, 2013, Gontier announced his resignation from Three Days Grace just as the band was preparing for a co-headlining tour, with Matt Walst stepping in as the new lead singer. After a decade away, Gontier began a phased return to the band with a surprise guest appearance on April 19, 2023, performing "Never Too Late" and "Riot" with them, followed by another reunion at a concert in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 10, 2023. On October 3, 2024, Three Days Grace officially confirmed Gontier's return to the band as a co-lead singer alongside Matt Walst, and the reunited lineup released their eighth studio album, Alienation, on August 22, 2025.

Solo career and Saint Asonia

Following his departure from Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier started a solo career, joining singer-songwriter Martin Sexton on his "Fall Like Rain" tour as an opening act in 2012 and later performing select shows with Citizen Cope. In early March 2013, he formally launched the Adam Gontier Solo Live Tour, performing a mix of original material and familiar songs for his fans in a more intimate performance style outside the structure of a full band. This period of solo work allowed him to explore different creative avenues and maintain a direct connection with his audience during a transitional phase in his career. In 2014, Gontier began writing music with Staind guitarist Mike Mushok, initially without plans to form a band, but their collaboration attracted the interest of RCA Records.

The duo recruited former Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe and former Dark New Day bassist Corey Lowery to complete the lineup for their new band, Saint Asonia. The band released their debut single, "Better Place," on May 15, 2015, followed by their self-titled debut album on July 31, 2015, which blended hard rock with melodic songwriting. After signing with Spinefarm Records, Saint Asonia released their second studio album, Flawed Design, in 2019, and their activity continued into the 2020s with a series of EPs. In 2022, they released Introvert and Extrovert digitally before combining them into a physical release, Introvert/Extrovert, with bonus tracks on December 9, 2022, providing a consistent creative outlet for Gontier throughout the decade.

Collaborations and other projects

Adam Gontier has been involved in collaborations with other bands and artists. In 2006, he was a member of the rock supergroup Big Dirty Band along with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, covering "I Fought the Law" for a movie soundtrack. He contributed vocals to Apocalyptica's song "I Don't Care" in 2007 and worked with Daughtry on their 2009 album. He was featured on Breaking Benjamin's 2020 track "Dance with the Devil" and on Skillet's 2023 song "Finish Line".

• In 2007, he contributed vocals and arrangement to the song "I Don't Care" on Apocalyptica's album Worlds Collide.
• He co-wrote the song "Back Again" for Daughtry's 2009 album Leave This Town.
• He was featured on the track "Raining" by Art of Dying on their 2011 album Vices and Virtues.
• In 2020, he appeared on Breaking Benjamin's compilation Aurora on the track "Dance with the Devil".
• He was featured on Skillet's song "Finish Line" for the 2023 deluxe edition of their album Dominion.
• In late 2023, he contributed to the 2023 version of "Let the Sparks Fly" by Thousand Foot Krutch.
• He was featured on Peyton Parrish's single "Why Is Love So Hard," released in May 2024.

In 2011, Adam Gontier created the record label Sludge Factory Records. He has signed three acts to the label, one of which is the Peterborough band Before the Curtain. In 2021, Gontier released a song for PUBG Mobile titled "Tidal Wave". In April 2023, he formed a new project called Diviidedby together with former USS MC Jason "Human Kebab" Parsons.

Awards and recognition

Adam Gontier's contributions to music have been recognized through various awards and honours over the course of his career. In 2004, he was named to Chart Attack magazine's "20 Sexiest Canadian Musicians" list, reflecting his growing public profile at the time. A significant career milestone came in 2006 when he and Three Days Grace won the Billboard Music Award for Rock Single of the Year, acknowledging the commercial impact of their work during that period. He received further industry acknowledgment in 2008 with a BMI Pop Award, and in 2012, he was presented with the "Big Time Award" by Michael Bell at the Wire Awards.

Adam Gontier was inducted into the Norwood District High School Hall of Honor in July 2022 along with Brad and Matt Walst. In 2004, he was named on Chart Attack magazine's "20 Sexiest Canadian Musicians" list. In 2006, Gontier and Three Days Grace won the Billboard Music Awards for Rock Single of the Year. In 2008, Gontier won the BMI Pop Awards.

Personal life and advocacy

Adam Gontier has been open about significant personal challenges, using his platform to discuss addiction and mental health in a public way. In 2005, he entered a rehabilitation program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, and during this period he wrote many of the songs that would appear on Three Days Grace's breakthrough album One-X, including "Pain," "Animal I Have Become," and "Never Too Late." A 2007 docu-drama titled Behind the Pain documented his struggles with addiction during this time, bringing his personal battles to a wider audience. Gontier experienced a relapse in 2017 and entered a treatment centre, but has since maintained his sobriety and stated he has "no plans on going back to a dark place anytime soon," framing his recovery as an ongoing journey.

Adam Gontier married Naomi Faith Brewer in May 2004. The couple divorced in 2013. He married Jeanie Marie Larsen in March 2015. His cousin, Cale Gontier, is the bass player for Art of Dying and Saint Asonia. As of 2023, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Gontier has been open about his struggles with mental health and has stated he has been sober.

Discography

Adam Gontier's discography includes albums with Three Days Grace and Saint Asonia. With Three Days Grace, he recorded the albums Three Days Grace, One-X, Life Starts Now, and Transit of Venus. He returned to the band and recorded the 2025 album Alienation. With Saint Asonia, he has recorded the albums Saint Asonia and Flawed Design, as well as the dual EP Introvert/Extrovert.

The album Alienation was released on August 22, 2025. It is the eighth studio album by Three Days Grace. This album marks Adam Gontier's first album since rejoining the band. Three Days Grace confirmed Gontier's official return in October 2024 and was in the studio recording new music.

Questions about Adam Gontier

Is Adam Gontier back in Three Days Grace?

Yes, Adam Gontier officially returned to Three Days Grace in 2024. After leaving the band in 2013, he made guest appearances with them in April and October of 2023. On October 3, 2024, the band confirmed his official return as a co-lead singer alongside Matt Walst. The reunited lineup recorded and released their eighth studio album, Alienation, on August 22, 2025.

What band did Adam Gontier start after leaving Three Days Grace?

After leaving Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier co-founded the rock band Saint Asonia. He began writing songs with Staind guitarist Mike Mushok in 2014. The band also includes drummer Rich Beddoe and bassist Corey Lowery. Saint Asonia released their debut self-titled studio album in 2015.

What is Adam Gontier's most famous song?

Adam Gontier is known as the co-lead singer for Three Days Grace. Their debut single was "I Hate Everything About You", released in 2003. He also co-wrote songs for the album One-X, including "Pain" and "Animal I Have Become". He performed these songs with Three Days Grace.

Where is Adam Gontier from in Canada?

Adam Gontier was born in Peterborough, Ontario, on May 25, 1978. He was raised in Markham, Ontario, before moving back to the Peterborough area. In 1992, he moved to Norwood, Ontario, where he attended Norwood District High School and met his future Three Days Grace bandmates Neil Sanderson and Brad Walst. His Canadian roots are a consistent point of reference in his career.

Has Adam Gontier won any awards?

Yes, Adam Gontier has received several awards. In 2006, he and Three Days Grace won the Billboard Music Award for Rock Single of the Year. He also won a BMI Pop Award in 2008. In 2012, he was given the "Big Time Award" at the Wire Awards. In 2022, he was inducted, along with Brad and Matt Walst, into the Norwood District High School Hall of Honor.

What other artists has Adam Gontier collaborated with?

Adam Gontier has an extensive list of collaborations. He has worked with Apocalyptica on "I Don't Care," Daughtry on "Back Again," Breaking Benjamin on "Dance with the Devil," and Skillet on "Finish Line. He was also part of the Canadian supergroup Big Dirty Band, featured on Art of Dying's "Raining," and collaborated with Thousand Foot Krutch and Peyton Parrish. He founded his own label, Sludge Factory Records, in 2011.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.