The Canadian group Three Days Grace has announced news that will delight longtime fans: Adam Gontier, their original singer, is officially returning to the band. Absent since 2013, Gontier will now share the microphone with Matt Walst, who has provided lead vocals since his departure. This duo marks a new stage for the group, promising a unique and unprecedented collaboration.
A long-awaited return
This week, Three Days Grace hinted at a possible return of Adam Gontier by publishing a voice message in which the singer announced to Matt Walst his upcoming arrival at the studio. A few hours later, the group made the news official: Gontier is indeed back.
“I think it all happened naturally, much more easily than we expected. It’s like we never left each other. We’ve been friends for so long, so it’s natural to be in the studio together”said Adam Gontier about his return.
For his part, Matt Walst expressed his enthusiasm for this new collaboration: “It was so fun and inspiring working on this album. We’re combining over 20 years of Three Days Grace to do something no other band has ever done. I can’t wait for fans to hear it.”
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A bond never truly broken
In April 2023, during a concert in Huntsville, Alabama, Three Days Grace had already offered fans a glimpse of this reunion, by inviting Gontier to take the stage to perform two tracks from the 2006 album One-X: Never Too Late and Riot. This event marked Gontier’s first appearance with his former comrades since his departure. The group then shared a photo of the moment on social networks, accompanied by the comment: “We did a little something”.
If this return still seemed uncertain at the time, Gontier had already mentioned the possibility of a reunion during an interview in July 2022. “It’s likely to happen one day.”he confided, explaining that there was no longer any tension between him and the members of the group.
A journey marked by ups and downs
Adam Gontier, who founded Three Days Grace with Brad Walst, Neil Sanderson and Phil Crowe in the late ’90s, marked the band’s early years with iconic albums like One-X and Life Starts Now. However, in 2013, he left the band for health reasons, making way for Matt Walst, Brad’s brother, who became the new singer.
During his absence, Gontier focused on his other musical project, Saint Asonia, a group he co-founded with Mike Mushok of Staind. Despite this parallel career, the idea of a return with Three Days Grace was never completely ruled out, with Gontier remaining on good terms with his former colleagues.
