The members of Three Days Grace began bashing
punk chords when they were in their teens, carving a derivative yet energetic
sound that fueled their live performances. Three Days Grace was formed in
Norwood, Ontario, Canada, in 1997 by Adam Gontier (vocals, guitar),
Brad Walst (bass), and
Neil Sanderson (drums). The group was originally called Groundswell,
a five-piece that lasted from 1992 until transforming to a trio five years
later. Gontier and Walst were raised in Norwood, and many of their songs were
inspired by living in a place with a population of around 1,500. The
band members were still in high school when they had their first gig, and they performed
anywhere that would accept them -- including opening for a movie.
Three Days Grace eventually relocated to Toronto
and were introduced to producer Gavin Brown by their old manager. The band gave
Brown a private set, and he selected what he felt were the most promising
tracks. The group then produced a demo for EMI Music Publishing Canada. With
Brown at the helm, Three Days Grace recorded "(I Hate) Everything About
You." The tune got them a publishing deal with EMI, and they soon were
signed to Jive after being courted by the company's president. Brown and Three
Days Grace were sent to a studio in Boston, MA, to start the group's debut
album. The band completed its self-titled full-length in Woodstock, NY, at an
isolated location free from big-city distractions. Heavily influenced by Kyuss
and Sunny Day Real Estate, the dark, angst-ridden tales of small-town love and
hate on 3 Days Grace brought the group a Next Big Thing tag. 3
Days
Grace was released on July 22, 2003, by which time "(I Hate) Everything
About You" was already hit on alternative radio stations in Canada. ~
Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
