Adam Wade Gontier (born May 25, 1978) is a Canadian singer and musician.
He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for Saint Asonia, but is best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace.
Gontier was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada on May 25, 1978.
He was raised in Markham, Ontario.
Shortly after his parents divorced, he moved back to the Peterborough area, where he initially attended Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
1992
In 1992, he moved to the Norwood area, and attended Norwood District High School, where he met and befriended Three Days Grace members Neil Sanderson and Brad Walst.
Gontier's mother is a professional singer/pianist, and was an influence to him as a musician.
Gontier started playing guitar at the age of 12 and was taught by his cousin's brother Josh.
He began writing songs at the age of 14 and was influenced by bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
He also cites inspiration from the Seattle music scene.
Gontier has stated that he uses music "as an outlet and release for emotions and feelings."
Gontier, along with Sanderson, Walst, Phil Crowe, and Joe Grant, started out as "Groundswell" in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992, while attending high school.
1997
In 1997, Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst regrouped as "Three Days Grace".
The group was signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss.
2003
Their Canadian rock number one debut single, "I Hate Everything About You", and their debut self-titled studio album was released in 2003.
2006
Their second studio album, One-X, was released in 2006, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200.
In 2006, Gontier was a member of the rock supergroup Big Dirty Band along with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Jeff Burrows, Ian Thornley and Care Failure, covering "I Fought the Law", as part of the Trailer Park Boys movie soundtrack.
He has also contributed to a number of other albums.
2009
Their third studio album, Life Starts Now, was released in 2009 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, thus becoming the band's highest-charting album in the US to date.
2012
In 2012, the band released their fourth studio album, Transit of Venus and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.
Gontier joined singer and songwriter Martin Sexton on the road during his 2012 "Fall Like Rain" tour, providing opening support as a solo artist.
He also joined Citizen Cope for a few shows as a solo act.
Gontier continued to do shows and concerts as a solo artist.
Several songs have been released, but not as singles.
2013
Gontier left Three Days Grace on January 9, 2013.
In addition to his work with Three Days Grace and Saint Asonia, he has been involved in collaborations with other bands including Art of Dying, Apocalyptica, Breaking Benjamin, Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch.
On January 9, 2013, Gontier resigned from Three Days Grace.
He left as the band was about to embark on a co-headlining tour.
Matt Walst from My Darkest Days, the brother of bassist Brad Walst, became the new lead singer.
On April 19, 2023, Gontier reunited with Three Days Grace to perform "Never Too Late" and "Riot".
In early March 2013, Gontier publicly announced and launched his Adam Gontier Solo Live Tour.
2014
In April 2014, Gontier and Staind guitarist Mike Mushok began writing songs together, without the intention of creating a band.
They soon garnered the interest of RCA Records.
The duo later enlisted former Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe, and former Dark New Day bassist Corey Lowery to complete their lineup.
2015
On May 15, 2015, the group released their debut single "Better Place".
The band released their debut self-titled studio album on July 31, 2015.
2019
In early 2019, the group signed with Spinefarm Records and released their second studio album, Flawed Design, later that year.
In 2022, the group released two EPs, Introvert and Extrovert, before releasing both EPs physically as Introvert/Extrovert with bonus tracks on December 9, 2022.
Outside of Three Days Grace, Gontier has also written and collaborated with numerous writers, musicians and bands.
Some of his collaborations include Daughtry, Ian Thornley, Max Martin, Shaun Morgan, Ben Burnley, Art of Dying, Before the Curtain, and fellow musicians and long time friends Kevin Brown, Grainne Ryan, and Kim Brown.
