My Darkest Days

My Darkest Days
Matt Walst live, 2009.
Background information
Also known as MDD
Origin Norwood, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active 2005–2013
Labels
Associated acts
Website www.mydarkestdays.com
Past members
  • Matt Walst
  • Reid Henry
  • Brendan McMillan
  • Doug Oliver
  • Chris McMillan
  • Paulo Neta
  • Sal Costa

My Darkest Days was a Canadian rock band based in Peterborough, Ontario consisting of lead singer Matt Walst, bassist Brendan McMillan, drummer Doug Oliver, and keyboardist Reid Henry.[1] They were discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, who signed them to his record label, 604 Records.[2] They are best known for their 2010 single "Porn Star Dancing".

In June 2010 the band went on tour with Sick Puppies, Janus, and It's Alive,[3] and shot the video for "Porn Star Dancing" in Las Vegas.[1][4] In August 2010, they toured with Trapt, Skillet, and Papa Roach. Chad Kroeger appears and sings in the "Porn Star Dancing" video, as does American rapper Ludacris (in the extended version only) and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde, playing lead guitar for the single.[1] Matt Walst is currently the lead vocalist of his brother Brad's band Three Days Grace.[5]

History

Early years

The band was founded by Matt Walst in 2005, who was born in Norwood, Ontario, and whose older brother, Brad Walst, is the bassist for Canadian rock band, Three Days Grace. Instead of playing in his brother's band, Matt decided to form one of his own with his friends Brendan McMillan on bass guitar, Doug Oliver on drums, and Chris McMillan on lead guitar. The talented Chris McMillan left the band and became an electrician being replaced by Paulo Neta. In 2009, a friend introduced Walst to Toronto–based singer–guitarist Sal Costa, who later became the band's guitarist, replacing Paulo Neta, who became the guitarist for Thornley and eventually Big Wreck. However, the departure of Sal was confirmed on the website in a post dated January 9, 2013. My Darkest Days has opened for many bands, including Three Days Grace, Default, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Papa Roach, Nickelback, and Hinder.[4]

My Darkest Days won a contest called Rock Search put on by 97.7 HTZ FM in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2008 with "Every Lie". This gave them time in a recording studio publicity in Niagara, Ontario. It gave the band money to tour for a year as well.

Debut album (2009–2011)

When Chad Kroeger heard My Darkest Days' music, he was so impressed he immediately signed them to his record label. Matt Walst gave Chad Kroeger their demo while touring together. The first song they wrote after being signed was "Porn Star Dancing," which became their first single. Kroeger decided he wanted to be featured on it, along with a friend of his, Zakk Wylde, lead vocalist and lead guitarist for Black Label Society and a former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. Kroeger and Wylde both appear in the video, which was filmed at the Hard Rock Las Vegas Vanity nightclub.[2] A remix of the single was also released which featured Atlanta rapper Ludacris.[6] On their official Facebook page, My Darkest Days announced their debut eponymous album was to be released on September 21, 2010. On the album, the song "Set It on Fire" features Australian singer/guitarist Orianthi on lead guitar, known from her work with Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, and Michael Jackson. Also on the album is a collaboration with country-pop singer Jessie James, on the Duran Duran cover "Come Undone".

The Saw 3D soundtrack released on October 26, 2010 features the song "The World Belongs to Me."

Matt Walst, November 2010

My Darkest Days was named the "Best New Band of 2010" by hardDriveXL after hitting the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks ranking, as well as No. 1 on FMQB's Active Rock list.

My Darkest Days' first major–label single, "Porn Star Dancing," went gold in Canada and in the United States.[7]

In March 2011, My Darkest Days was involved in a bus accident where their Bandwagon RV style bus flipped and fell into a ditch in rural Idaho. No major injuries were incurred, but drummer Doug Oliver suffered a sprained ankle and the band missed one tour date in Boise with Three Days Grace.[8] It was announced on their Facebook page that they will be entering the studio in October 2011 with Joey Moi of Mountain View Records to start writing new material for their next album.[9]

Sick and Twisted Affair (2012)

The lead single from their second studio album, "Casual Sex", was released to iTunes on January 17, 2012 and was sent to Canadian rock radios on January 13, 2012.[10] Their second album, Sick and Twisted Affair, was released on March 26, 2012. It features the singles, "Casual Sex" and "Sick And Twisted Affair". My Darkest Days went on tour with Nickelback, Bush, and Seether in April 2012. They were a part of Nickelback's Here and Now 2012 World Tour. "Save Yourself", taken from Sick and Twisted Affair, was featured on the soundtrack for the hockey video game, NHL 13.

Three Days Grace and side projects (2013–present)

Following frontman Adam Gontier's departure from Three Days Grace in 2013, Matt Walst was brought on as their replacement lead vocalist for their tour, and was later made the permanent lead singer of the band. They released their fifth album titled Human on March 31, 2015 with Walst's vocals being featured for the first time with the group. The band released its follow-up, Outsider, on March 9, 2018.

While Matt has been busy with Three Days Grace, bandmates started up side projects of their own. In 2013, Doug Oliver joined Cold Creek County, a country music band started by Brandon Scott out of Brighton, Ontario. Brendan McMillan and Reid Henry started a band called Never Say Die and are now touring in the USA. "Like a Nightmare" has been playing on Satellite radios Octane channel. On July 19, 2017, Never Say Die changed the name of the band to Deadset Society.

Members

Final lineup
  • Matt Walst – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2005–2013)
  • Sal Coz Costa – lead guitar, vocals (2009–2013)
  • Reid Henry – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboard (2010–2013)
  • Brendan McMillan – bass guitar, backing vocals (2005–2013)
  • Doug Oliver – drums, percussion (2005–2013)
Former members
  • Chris McMillan – lead guitar, vocals (2005–2007)
  • Paulo Neta – lead guitar, vocals (2008–2009)

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
CAN
[11]		 US
[12]		 US
Alt
[13]		 US Rock
[14]
My Darkest Days 11 38 9 12
Sick and Twisted Affair
  • Released: March 26, 2012
  • Label: 604 Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 29 29 9 11

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[15]		 US
[16]		 US
Alt
[17]		 US
Main
[18]		 US Rock
[19]
2010 "Porn Star Dancing"[20] (featuring Zakk Wylde and Chad Kroeger) 40 90 21 1 7 My Darkest Days
2011 "Move Your Body" — — — 23 —
"Every Lie" — — — 24 —
2012 "Casual Sex" — — — 22 46 Sick and Twisted Affair
"Sick and Twisted Affair" — — — 37 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bergen, Werner (June 24, 2010). "My Darkest Days at Red Dog for two shows". The Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Porn Star Dancing", Island Def Jam, June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Okarmus, Matt. "Sick Puppies bring unique sound to Capital City" Archived 2014-05-05 at the Wayback Machine., Montgomery Advertiser, July 8, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Youseph, Ramon. "My Darkest Days—Pornstar Dancing Single Review", Rock Music, suite101.com, June 23, 2010, accessed July 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "About - Three Days Grace". Three Days Grace. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  6. ↑ Zakk Wylde featured in My Darkest Days video" Archived 2011-12-04 at the Wayback Machine., Blabbermouth.net, June 21, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Web magazine bands music group photos news reviews events Live 'N Loud Magazine". Livenloudmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  8. ↑ Archived August 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "My Darkest Days band status from Sep 12, 2011". Facebook. September 12, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "My Darkest Days band status from Jan 13, 2012". Facebook. January 13, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  12. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  13. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  14. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  16. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  18. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  19. ↑ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  20. ↑ "My Darkest Days : Chart History : Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - October 18, 2012". RIAA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-11. 
https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2011-new-group-of-the-year-sponsored-by-factor-and-radio-starmaker-fund-my-darkest-days/

Awards and nominations

YearPresenterAwardResult
2011 Juno Awards of 2011 New Group of the Year Nominated

https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2011-new-group-of-the-year-sponsored-by-factor-and-radio-starmaker-fund-my-darkest-days/

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.