Brad Walst

Last updated
Brad Walst
Brad Walst.jpg
Walst in 2010
Born
Brad Walst

(1977-02-17) February 17, 1977 (age 47)
Norwood, Ontario, Canada
OccupationMusician
Years active1992–present
Relatives Matt Walst (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals
Member of Three Days Grace

Brad Walst (born February 17, 1977) [4] is a Canadian musician. He is best known as the bassist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. [3] Since 2022, Three Days Grace has sold over 10 million albums and singles combined worldwide and the band's songs streams surpass two billion. [5]

Contents

Early life

Brad Walst was born in Norwood, Ontario, Canada [6] on February 17, 1977. In 1992, he attended Norwood District High School, where he met and befriended Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson and former Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier. [3] Gontier suggested Walst to play bass for the band. [7] He was in a cover band with Sanderson and Gontier called "The Jupiter Effect" and covered songs from bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. [8] Walst had plans on becoming an accountant before turning to music. [9]

Career

Walst performing in 2023. Three Days Grace - Rock im Park 2023 23.jpg
Walst performing in 2023.

Walst played in a band called "Groundswell" in 1992 with Gontier, Sanderson, Phil Crowe and Joe Grant. [7] The band broke up in 1995 and him, Sanderson and Gontier regrouped as "Three Days Grace" in 1997. [3] Walst thought of the name whilst he was in college in a business class. [9] [10] The band was soon signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss. [3] Their debut single, "I Hate Everything About You", was released in 2003 and peaked at number one on the Canadian rock chart. [11] They also released their debut self-titled studio album that year. [12] Their second studio album, One-X , was released in 2006 and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. [13] Their third studio album, Life Starts Now , was released in 2009, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200. It is the band's highest-charting album in the US to date. [14] The band released their fourth studio album, Transit of Venus in 2012, which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. [15]

Following the Gontier's exit from the band, his brother Matt joined the group in 2013. [16] Since then, they have released three more albums, Human (2015), [17] Outsider (2018) [18] and Explosions (2022). [19] Their first three albums went multi-platinum in Canada and the United States. [20] [21] Walst, along with Three Days Grace, was a recipient in the 2012 SOCAN Music Awards in the category Pop/Rock Music Award for their song "Lost in You". [22] Walst was inducted into the Norwood District High School Hall Of Honor in 2022 along with Adam Gontier and brother Matt Walst. [7]

Musical influences and technique

Walst cites influences from grunge music, as well as the 90s Seattle rock scene, which has also been an influence to Three Days Grace. He has also cited inspiration from Alice in Chains, Nirvana, The Tragically Hip and Our Lady Peace. [23] [9] On writing bass lines, Walst likes taking the "less is more" approach and considers his style of playing very melodic. [24]

Equipment

Walst uses an Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay as his main bass guitar, [25] as well as using a Lakland bass in the past, during the recording of the band's second album, One-X . [26] He bought his first Ernie Ball bass in 2002, before the group signed with Jive Records. He took out a loan to fund it and has remained a part of his set up ever since. [25] He also uses two Peavey Headliners, an Ampeg SVT-810E Bass Cabinet and a Mesa Boogie amp. He has several boss pedals, an electro-harmonix effects pedal and various bass drivers. [27]

Personal life

Walst has a wife named Rhonda and they have three kids. [26] [10] He currently resides in Norwood, Ontario. [28] His son James Walst was diagnosed with having a cancerous neuroblastoma tumor. [29] He joined the James Fund's walk-run fundraiser with a goal to reach $3,000 in donations. [29] He has a younger brother named Matt who is currently the lead singer for Three Days Grace and former vocalist for My Darkest Days. [16]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Days Grace</span> Canadian rock band

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992 originally as Groundswell. Groundswell played in various local Norwood backyard parties and area establishments before disbanding in 1995 and regrouping in 1997 under its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Gontier</span> Canadian singer and guitarist (born 1978)

Adam Wade Gontier 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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal I Have Become</span> 2006 single by Three Days Grace

"Animal I Have Become" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on April 10, 2006, as the first single from their second studio album, One-X. The song was released digitally on April 18, 2006. The song spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and two weeks at No. 1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song alongside "Riot" are used in the video game, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. It is the band's first single with their fourth member Barry Stock. Critical reception to the song was generally favorable, with emphasis on the song's catchiness combined with its thick guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Sanderson</span> Musical artist

Neil Christopher Sanderson is a Canadian musician. He is the drummer, backing vocalist, keyboardist, and co-founder of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. He cites his influences as John Bonham, Danny Carey, and Stewart Copeland. He is also the co-founder of the American record label Judge and Jury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pain (Three Days Grace song)</span> 2006 single by Three Days Grace

"Pain" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on September 19, 2006, as the second single from their second studio album, One-X.

<i>Life Starts Now</i> 2009 studio album by Three Days Grace

Life Starts Now is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. The album was released on September 22, 2009. It was produced by Howard Benson. It was the second time in a row that the band has worked with him, after the commercially successful One-X. Life Starts Now expresses a lighter lyrical mood compared to the previous album. It is the first Three Days Grace album to be released by Sony Music Entertainment and the last to be released by Jive Records, as Sony disbanded the label in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break (Three Days Grace song)</span> 2009 single by Three Days Grace

"Break" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released as the lead single on September 1, 2009 from their third studio album, Life Starts Now. The song peaked at number 26 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in February 2018.

"The Good Life" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released as the second single from their third studio album, Life Starts Now and was serviced to radio airplay on February 9, 2010. It charted at number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100 before becoming a single. The song hit number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and Rock Songs chart and number four on the Alternative Songs chart matching "Break". It was the second most played song on the Active Rock format in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost in You (Three Days Grace song)</span> 2011 single by Three Days Grace

"Lost in You" is the fourth and final single released from Three Days Grace's third album, Life Starts Now. The song was released for radio airplay on February 1, 2011. Much like "Never Too Late", it was a crossover song to top 40 radio. The song is also the band's first entry into adult contemporary stations; the first stations being on CFIT-FM Calgary, CKSY-FM Chatham-Kent, CJRL-FM Kenora and WNIC Detroit.

<i>Transit of Venus</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Three Days Grace

Transit of Venus is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on October 2, 2012 through RCA Records. The album is the band's first to be released under the record label, following the folding of their former label, Jive Records, in 2011. The album was produced by Don Gilmore and recorded at Revolution Studios in Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalk Outline (song)</span> 2012 single by Three Days Grace

"Chalk Outline" is the lead single from Canadian rock band Three Days Grace's fourth album, Transit of Venus. The band released many "snippets" of the song before August 14 to tease fans. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Active Rock chart for a total of 10 weeks and won the "Rock Song of the Year" award given by Loudwire. Billboard ranked the song at number 8 on their "Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs" list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The High Road (Three Days Grace song)</span> 2013 single by Three Days Grace

"The High Road" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace, released as the second single from their fourth studio album Transit of Venus on January 22, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misery Loves My Company</span> 2013 single by Three Days Grace

"Misery Loves My Company" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace, from their fourth studio album Transit of Venus released on May 14, 2013. The track became the band's tenth song to reach number-one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in its November 2, 2013, issue. It is the band's eleventh No. 1 single in total. It is the last single to feature Adam Gontier on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painkiller (Three Days Grace song)</span> 2014 single by Three Days Grace

"Painkiller" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. The song was released on April 1, 2014, as the lead single from their fifth studio album Human. It is the first single released with new singer Matt Walst, following the departure of Adam Gontier. The song reached number-one on the US Mainstream Rock chart, which made it their eleventh number-one single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am Machine</span> 2014 single by Three Days Grace

"I Am Machine" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. The song was released as a single on September 30, 2014. It is the second single from the band's fifth studio album Human. The song became the group's thirteenth number-one on the Active Rock charts, as well as their twelfth on the US Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>Human</i> (Three Days Grace album) 2015 studio album by Three Days Grace

Human is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. The album was released on March 31, 2015 through RCA Records. This is the group's first album without original lead singer Adam Gontier, and the first with My Darkest Days lead singer and Brad Walst's younger brother Matt Walst.

<i>Outsider</i> (Three Days Grace album) 2018 studio album by Three Days Grace

Outsider is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on March 9, 2018 through RCA Records. The album was produced by two of the band's prior producers, Gavin Brown and Howard Benson but also by members of the band themselves. It is the second album to feature Matt Walst as lead vocalist.

"The Mountain" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on January 25, 2018 as the lead single from their sixth studio album Outsider. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in March 2018 and became Three Days Grace's 13th number one on the chart while tying the record with Van Halen. The song is featured in the NBA 2K19 soundtrack.

<i>Explosions</i> (Three Days Grace album) 2022 studio album by Three Days Grace

Explosions is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on May 6, 2022, through RCA Records. The album was produced by Howard Benson and by members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Walst</span> Musical artist

Matthew Jean Paul Walst is a Canadian singer, songwriter and musician. He is the current lead singer of the band Three Days Grace, which also includes his older brother Brad as bassist. Before joining Three Days Grace, he was the lead singer of My Darkest Days.

References

  1. ↑ Patterson, Rob (May 4, 2008). "Three Days Grace Lets It All Hang Out". BMI . Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ Casey Dolan (June 17, 2006). "Surfacing". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sutton, Michael. "Three Days Grace - Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ @threedaysgrace (February 17, 2022). "Not only did we release a new song, but it's also Brad's Birthday today!! Everyone wish Brad a HBD!!! 🤘🥳👇" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ Nick Krewen (May 4, 2022). "Scenes from aftermath of Kentucky tornado featured in new Three Days Grace video". Toronto Star . Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Rocker Brad Walst helps the cause at James Fund Golf Classic". The Peterborough Examiner . June 4, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "Three Days Grace Bassist Says Reunion With Ex-Vocalist Adam Gontier For High School Honor Was 'Powerful'". Blabbermouth.net . July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  8. ↑ Alev, Iklim (May 7, 2022). "Brad Walst Says Three Days Grace Was a Cover Band at the Beginning". Metalhead Zone. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Wayne Bledsoe (June 15, 2007). "Three Days Grace is a far cry from Christian rock". The Oklahoman . Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Hopkins, Jenny (March 21, 2011). "An interview with Three Days Grace bassist Brad Walst". Idaho State Journal . Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ↑ Yuri Wuensch. "Three Days Grace cheats death". Jam! . Canoe.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ Doray, Dave (December 2, 2003). "Three Days Grace". IGN . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ Harris, Chris (June 21, 2006). "Busta Rhymes Opens with a Bang, Scoring His First Number-one 1 LP". MTV . Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  14. ↑ Keith Caufield (September 30, 2009). "Pearl Jam Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200 In 13 Years". Billboard . Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Shinedown, Three Days Grace Unite for Arena Tour". Billboard . November 12, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Childers, Chad (January 9, 2013). "Matt Walst Discusses His New Role As Singer of Three Days Grace". Loudwire . Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ Childers, Chad (February 25, 2015). "Three Days Grace Reveal 'Human' Track Listing + More". Loudwire . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ Chad Childers (March 7, 2018). "Three Days Grace's Matt Walst 'More Comfortable' With 'Outsider'". Loudwire . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ Childers, Chad (November 29, 2021). "Three Days Grace Seek Escape With Heavy New Song 'So Called Life', Announce New Album". Loudwire . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Gold/Platinum - Three Days Grace". Music Canada . Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  21. ↑ "RIAA Gold & Platinum - Three Days Grace". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  22. ↑ Karen Bliss (November 20, 2012). "Bruce Cockburn, Trooper, Deadmau5 Honored at 2012 SOCAN Awards Gala". Billboard . Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  23. ↑ Margot Noel (January 17, 2016). "Interview: Brad Walst (Three Days Grace)". Medium . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  24. ↑ Dany Jones (September 30, 2022). "Brad Walst, Three Days Grace – "Matt's Come a Long Way, so I'm Excited for the Future"". Metal Talk. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  25. 1 2 Stuart Williams (June 30, 2022). "Take a tour of Three Days Grace's guitar, bass and drum setups". Music Radar. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Music: One-X". threedaysgrace.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Three Days Grace - Gear". threedaysgrace.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Norwood's Three Days Grace nominated for three Juno Awards". KawarthaNOW. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  29. 1 2 Childers, Chad (October 20, 2012). "Three Days Grace's Brad Walst Joins Neuroblastoma Research Fundraiser". Loudwire . Retrieved April 9, 2022.
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