Frontman Adam Gontier has announce that he is leaving Three Days Grace. The band has replaced Gontier with My Darkest Days singer Matt Walst for the upcoming tour with Shinedown.
A brief posting on the band’s website reveals that Gontier has left the group effective immediately citing a health issue for his exit. The band’s bassist, Brad Walst,
We were surprised and distressed by Adam’s sudden departure. We are however very excited for this upcoming tour and to have my brother Matt stepping in as lead singer.
Three Days Grace provided further explanation below:
We appreciate everyone’s concern about Three Days Grace. We found out on December 21st that Adam wished to resign from the band. In a letter to us Adam indicated that he was resigning from the band due to a non life threatening health issue and wanted the band to continue moving forward without him. We were as shocked as many of you were to hear the news. Three Days Grace has always been and will continue to be not only our job but our passion. Instead of cancelling the tour, we felt an obligation to you, the fans, to forge ahead and put on the best show we can. Brad recently reached out to his brother Matt Walst, lead singer for ‘My Darkest Days’ to fill in for the tour dates already announced. We’ve been hanging out and rehearsing with Matt and look forward to rocking the stage in a few weeks! As of right now, Matt’s role is temporary and as far as the future and beyond this tour, we are taking it one day at a time. – 3DG
Adam Gontier has released a letter explaining his departure below.
To all of my fans, my friends, my family, these are my words coming from my heart, separate from my role as “lead singer of Three Days Grace”.
I want you all to know how very thankful I am for your consistent love, your respect, and you’re undying support. It is important for me to address any concerns regarding my health being connected to drugs or addiction. The truth is, when I was struggling during that dark time in my life, I hit rock bottom, and I had the kindest of people reach out from all over the world, and reach their hands out to help pick me up. I am so blessed to be walking in the light now. I am reminded of your loyalty, always. The truth is, and I’m very proud to say this…, I am sober. That chapter in my life is over.
There have been many defining moments in my life. My time as part of Three Days Grace is most definitely one of the miraculous ones. I have had so many tender hearted people share with me their stories. How I’ve touched, or changed their lives. My truth is that all of the love I have received has forever changed my life. Each letter I’ve read, every picture I’ve been sent, all of the voices I’ve heard sing along with me, I will forever remember, and never forget…
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. I could not be more grateful for all the souls who have travelled along with me. A journey I look back on with integrity, and a future I look forward to with such hope. I have always admired brave hearts. Life is always changing. I will continue to follow my heart, and what I love to do. I’m not sure what the next horizon will look like, but I do have all the faith in the world that whatever it is, It’s meant to be, and I have faith that blessings will continue to shine over all of us. I once heard a “brave heart” say:
“When nothing is sure, everything is possible.”
It’s because of my life’s journey, because of all of you, that I believe.
Sincerely, with love,
Adam
My Darkest Days frontman Matt Walst,
WHAT A CRAZY WEEK
It has been a very emotional week for myself and the members of My Darkest Days. With the departure of Sal from the band I have to say that it has felt like I have been on a rollercoaster and I am not sure where the end is. When you are on the road with some one for the length of time that we were, you form a bond just like any other relationship and when one person walks away it is only natural to feel a wide range of things from sadness to anger. That being said please know that Sal chose to leave My Darkest Days and although we are disappointed we wish him the best of luck in his new life and his new endeavors.
With every down there is an up! I am very excited to have the opportunity to share the stage with my brother Brad and the rest of the members of Three Days Grace on their Transit of Venus Tour. As most of you are, I was just as shocked as you to find out about Adam’s departure from 3DG. When asked, I was unsure at first as Adam, Brad, Neil and Barry have all been such huge influences on my life musically and personally. After some thought and a few sleepless nights I accepted. It has always been a childhood dream to share the stage with my brother and I get that opportunity on this upcoming tour. Adam is an amazing Singer, Performer and Role-model and all I can do is try and fill some enormous shoes. I wish him well in his recovery and hope to see him grace the stage again soon.
With all that has gone on this week I want to assure everyone that My Darkest Days is stronger then ever! My bandmates are very excited for me and I have their full support. We have completed some songs that we are very excited about and my brothers, Brendo, Dougie and lil Reidy will continue to write with me while I am on tour. We are looking forward to putting out our third album and hope you are as excited about it as we are!
Last but most important of all I want to thank all of you who have supported My Darkest Days in the past and continue to support us in the future. For those that have been there from the beginning and have stuck by us we thank you with all our hearts. For those who have just joined us we thank you. For those about to rock, we salute you!
Matt Walst
