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Adam Gontier
Background information
Birth name	Adam Wade Gontier
Born	May 21, 1978 (1978-05-21) (age 31)
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative metal Post-grunge Hard rock
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter, Lyricist, Composer, Singer, Guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Jive
Associated acts	Three Days Grace, Big Dirty Band, Apocalyptica, Groundswell, Daughtry, Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf
Website	www.threedaysgrace.com
Notable instruments
PRS Guitars Gibson Guitars

Adam Wade Gontier, born May 21, 1978, in Norwood, Ontario, Canada, is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of Three Days Grace.^[1] Adam's voice ranges from high tenor to medium low bass. Adam and the rest of Three Days Grace are on tour right now with Breaking Benjamin and Flyleaf until May of 2010.

Biography

Gontier was influenced by his mother and father, as well as Sunny Day Real Estate, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana.^[1]

His interest in music started with his mother listening to all types of music while he was growing up. He began playing guitar at 6 years old. Adam stated on the Three Days Grace website, "My mother is a musician, so she's really the one who introduced me to the experience of performing live. She got me singing with jam bands in bars when I was 12 years old. The Seattle music scene really inspired me and my songwriting. Almost every family member was into music, one way or another."^[2]

Adam is currently on tour with his band, Three Days Grace who is promoting their new album Life Starts Now. While on tour, he has posted surveys for people to answer with various questions on his MySpace. The cover of the album One-X includes a quote by Adam that states:

I'm on the edge and falling off/and I'm sick of feeling numb/Help me believe it's not the real me/Maybe we can turn it around/Cause it's not too late/I'm standing here alone/feeling so stepped on/It wont be long until I'm burning on the inside/I just don't care anymore/That it drags me down/Things are clear/I will not die/We are one.

The quote contains lyrics from songs off the band's second album, One-X.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, Adam went into rehabilitation for an addiction to OxyContin at the Toronto rehab center CAMH (Center for Addiction and Mental Health), which is where many of the songs for One-X were written, including "Pain", "Animal I Have Become", "Over and Over" and "Gone Forever".^[3][4] He is still sober, and a docu-drama about his addiction, named "Behind The Pain", was released in 2007.^[3][5]

It was recently announced by singer Chris Daughtry at a concert that Adam had co-written a song with him. Also, Gontier is a contributing artist on the track "I Don't Care" on Finnish cello-metal band Apocalyptica's 2007 album Worlds Collide.^{[citation needed]} In early 2009, Gontier was said to have co-written a song with Chris Daughtry that would appear on Daughtry's new album Leave This Town. When the album was completed, it was revealed that Adam's song wouldn't be in it. Instead, it was released as a b-side of Daughtry's new single, "No Surprise", and in United Kingdom iTunes Stores. The song is called "Back Again".^{[citation needed]} Three Days Grace released their 3rd album entitled Life Starts Now on September 22, 2009. Since then, they have released two singles entitled "Break" and "The Good Life."

Albums

Adam has done lead vocals and rhythm guitar for his band's three studio albums: Three Days Grace, One-X, and Life Starts Now. He has also contributed to the album "Worlds Collide" by Apocalyptica.

Awards

Adam has won two BMI pop awards and has been nominated for best music video, best rock video and best international video by a Canadian. Adam and the rest of Three Days Grace have made the top five rock songs list for, Break, Riot, Animal I Have Become, I Hate Everything About You, and Never Too Late.

Personal life

Gontier has a large selection of tattoos. On his right forearm he has a solid black band and lyrics to his bands' song "Never Too Late" from the album One-X, and on his left arm he has a tattoo with special words made out to his grandmother. He also has 2 tattoos on his chest. He has the word "GRACE" tattooed on his knuckles on his left hand. In 2007 he had a tribal tattoo added to his right upper arm. He married Naomi Faith Brewer in May of 2004. His cousin, Cale Gontier, is the bassist for the Canadian bands Thornley and Art Of Dying. Gontier has no biological children of his own currently. He stated in a biography video in 2009 that he and his wife plan on having children "in the near future", possibly in late 2010 or 2011. He has one goddaughter named Roo. He uses Schecter Guitars, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Gibson Guitars, Guild Acoustic Guitars, and Brewer Guitar Co. Acoustic Guitars. Gontier has 2 younger siblings, Katelynn and Christian. ."^[6]

Gontier has mentioned that influences include Kyuss, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jeff Buckley, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Dinosaur Jr, and his mother.

Discography

For a list of all albums and singles released as Three Days Grace, see Three Days Grace discography.

Singles

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kelley, Trevor (January 2007). "Three Days Grace". Revolver (52): 46–48. ISSN 1527-408X. http://books.google.com/books?id=FPoDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
2. ^ Official Adam Gontier biography on threedaysgrace.com
3. ^ ^{a b} Bliss, Karen (2007-03-30). "3DG doc aims to help addicts". JAM! Music. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Lowdown/2007/03/30/3871210-ca.html. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
4. ^ Wagner, Vit (November 28, 2006). "Saving Grace". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/124134. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
5. ^ Adam Gontier on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos
6. ^ [1]

External links

• Adam's Official MySpace
• Three Days Grace Official Website
• Three Days Grace Official Website
• threedaysgrace