Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier on Helping Fans With Addiction Issues, the Canadian Band That Changed His Life

Posted on Oct 8th 2012 12:00PM by Chris Epting Comments

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Canadian rockers Three Days Grace are back with a much-anticipated new album called Transit of Venus. Imbued with a darker, tougher, more industrial sound that seems to reflect a Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails influence, the album is already garnering great reviews as its first single, "Chalk Outline."

Noisecreep had the pleasure of speaking to Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier about the new album, his favorite Canadian band, and how he helps fans cope with their addictions.

Adam, how do you think it stacks up against your previous work?

We put our heart and soul into this record and I do actually believe this is our best record, not just because it's out latest record, but because we've grown as a band and we've evolved as a band and added new elements. This record shows it and I literally think it's our best to date. As a band, we're always trying to move ahead and have our record be better than the last. I think we accomplished that this time out.

And the early reaction has been good.

We've gotten a lot of really great feedback so far from other bands, friends, family – the response has been amazing. You get online and check some of the reviews and it's really cool to see the reaction, and the reaction so far has been just what we were hoping for.

Do you like the fact that in today's world you can get all of that information instantaneously, as opposed to when you started out and had to wait for things?

It's good, I think. It allows you to look up numbers and things pretty quick to see how a record is doing, but I try to not do that too much. I try to stay away from reading too many reviews; we don't care so much about that. We want fans to enjoy the record; we want to bring in new fans. It's more about that.

Watch 'Chalk Outline' Video

Many people have obviously been waiting for this record – do you recall a record you waited for feverishly as a fan?

I mean, for me it was waiting for Pearl Jam second record, Vs., after Ten came out. They've always been one of my favorite bands, and then I couldn't wait to learn more about what they were all about, and it didn't disappoint.

How about a live show that affected you early on?

Absolutely. The band The Tragically Hip. They're super well known in Canada, not so much in the U.S. They're a great band and when we were growing up we listened to them all the time, They're icons in Canada. There was one show they did, they were touring with Midnight Oil, and I remember the lead singer, Gordon Downie, coming out and he was wearing just pajamas and they were so great that night and I was into the record and that show is something I'll never forget. It's just one of the greatest I've ever seen.

Your mom was a jazz piano player. Did her style of music influence you at all?

It did. It was cool. And the way I experienced that music was kind of crazy. I was young and she was out doing gigs, and she'd play different clubs and lounges and she was a single mother then raising me. She couldn't afford a babysitter so she would basically bring me to her shows and hide me under the piano while she did her show. That happened a few times, just one of the influences that helped me along the way, getting me into music. I remember sitting under the piano in Toronto, just listening and taking it all in.

Adam, you've also been very upfront with the dependency issues you've had and how you successfully battled them. Is that something you can help others with today, like fans of Three Days Grace?

All the time. When we go out on the road, we always make a point of meeting fans at our shows. I can't think of one meet and greet or one signing session where a fan has not told me that they were in the same position that I was and that our music is helping them get through a hard time in their lives. It is pretty rewarding to talk to someone in a tough situation and give them some advice to help out, even just a little bit. I really hope it's meaningful for them. I know it is for me.

Transit of Venus is out now and can be purchased at this link.

Tour dates:

Monday, October 08, 2012 Dallas, TX @ Trees

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird

Friday, October 12, 2012 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café

Sunday, October 14, 2012 Detroit, MI St. @ Andrew's Hall

Monday, October 15, 2012 Columbus, OH @ A&R Bar

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall

Friday, October 19, 2012 Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

Monday, October 22, 2012 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

Friday, October 26, 2012 Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre

Sunday, October 28, 2012 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In