Neil Sanderson: biography, personal life, musical career

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The famous rock band from Canada called Three Days Grace has won many awards during its existence, such as Yun Award, Best Rock Artist, Best Video Clips and others. The composition of the musical group includes:

• Barry Stock (Barry James Stock, 1974-24-04) - guitarist and backing vocalist.
• Brad Walst (1977-16-02) - bass player, backing vocalist.
• Neil Christopher Sanderson (1978-17-12) - guitarist, backing vocalist.
• Matt Walst (Mattew Jean Poul Walst, 1982-28-12) - vocalist, guitarist.
• Adam Gontier (Adam Wade Gontier, 1978-21-05) - former band member, songwriter, rhythm guitarist and vocalist.

One of the founding members of the band was Neil Sanderson, the drummer. In an interview, he said: “I don’t know another feeling like that when you go on stage, sit down at the installation, see several thousand people, count the rhythm and start playing. You can also feel the joy,and excitement and adrenaline.

Biography of Neil Sanderson

Even as a child, the boy was very interested in music. From the age of four, he played the piano under the guidance of a strict teacher, and when he entered elementary school, other instruments captured his attention. So, at the age of 10, he began to master the drums.

Neal's father died when he was young. During that period of time, due to unknown circumstances, his brother Daryl suffered the same fate. The mother of the young musician tried not to show her grief.

Studying in high school, the boy meets his future partners. They were Adam Gontier and Brad Walst. At that age, such legendary bands as Led Zeppelin, AC / DC, The Doors, Portishead, as well as outstanding drummers Danny Carey, Phil Rudd and John Bonham, had a serious influence on him. Such hobbies only strengthened his desire to pursue a musical career.

Creating the first group

Soon, five schoolchildren - Phill Crowey, Joey Grant, Adam Gontier, Brad Walst and Neil Sanderson - form the alternative rock band Groundswell. It happened in 1992 in Norwood, Ontario. In 1995 they recorded and released a single album called Wawe of Popular Feeling. Then in 1997, the rock band was renamed Three Days Grace.

At the same time as Neal was in this group, he played in the Oddball team from 1996, which disbanded in 1997. However, laterthe members got back together, but with a new drummer and the name Thousand Foot Krutch. It is worth noting that Neil's cousin, whose name is Trevor McNiven, became the vocalist of this group.

Neil Sanderson: personal life

The musician shows himself not only as a talented drummer, but also as a good father of the family. In 2003, on December 12, he married a girl named Janine. Since then, Neil began to have children - the flowers of life. So, daughter Violet was born in 2007, June 29. A few years later, a son, Jet, was born. This happened on March 8, 2010.

In addition to family life and working days, backing vocalist Neil Sanderson actively helps sick children. He has his own charitable foundation "Herbie". In addition, the musician has released a clothing line of his own production for the alternative public.

Musical success

After forming a band in Norwood, Neil Sanderson and his bandmates Adam Gontier and Brad Walst move to Toronto, where they meet their producer Gavin Brown. Here the guys become popular thanks to their famous song I hate everything about you and the first music album released in 2003. Soon they will sign a contract with Jive Records.

Then comes a short break in their music career due to Adam Gontier's drug addiction. However, even while in the clinic, he writes many sincere songs that have become hits. In 2006, the guys return again withnew member guitarist Barry Stock, and the One-X album. Numerous singles topped the US Rock Charts.

In 2012, Adam Gontier left the group. He is replaced by Matt Walst, who is the brother of Brad Walst.

Canadian band Three Days Grace still pleases fans with new albums.

Interesting facts

Before the rock band became famous, its members worked hard and did not live in the best conditions.

• Back in 1992, when Neil Sanderson and his friends got together in a band called Groundswell, the only venues they played were the ones they were allowed to play. So, they played at school discos and even at the premieres of new films. But they spent most of their time rehearsing in Gontier's bedroom. It is worth noting that his parents were not at all against the hobbies of boys.
• In one of the Canadian towns, namely in Peterborough, there was a cozy Sidewinders bar with several tables and a bar counter. Near the small stage there was such a notice: "Every Sunday evening - karaoke, on Wednesday and Friday the band Three Days Grase plays." Interestingly, this bar was opened by Adam Gontier himself so that his band would have a place to perform. Two days a week he played with his team in front of customers, the rest of the time he was at the bar, serving them.
• When the guys moved to Toronto and did not yet know the future producer, they lived and rehearsed in a small basement. They also had a van, which was a cross between a school bus andminivan, which broke down very often. Many times on the way to the performance they had to push him.
• The songs of Three Days Grase are also heard in the cinema. For example, in the film "Superstar" you can hear fragments from the songs Are you ready and Home. In the TV series Ghost Whisperer, in an episode called "The Curse of the Ninth", the song Pain plays at the concert. And in the 8th season, episode 16 of "Smallville", Adam Gontier, together with the Finnish band, performs I don't care.