{{Use Canadian English|date=October 2024}} {{Short description|Canadian bassist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Three Days Grace - Rock im Park 2023 23 (cropped).jpg | caption = Walst performing in 2023 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|02|17|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Norwood, Ontario, Canada | occupation = Musician | years_active = 1992–present | instrument = Bass guitar | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative metal * hard rock * post-grunge * {{nowrap|alternative rock}} * {{nowrap|nu metal}} }} | current_member_of = Three Days Grace | website = }}
'''Brad Walst''' (born February 17, 1977)<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1494387940444811277|user=threedaysgrace|title=Not only did we release a new song, but it's also Brad's Birthday today!! Everyone wish Brad a HBD!!! 🤘🥳👇|date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> is a Canadian musician. He is the bassist and a founding member of the rock band Three Days Grace, which also includes his younger brother Matt.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/three-days-grace-mn0000490860/biography|title=Three Days Grace - Biography|website=AllMusic|last=Sutton|first=Michael|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> As of 2022, Three Days Grace has sold over 10 million albums and singles combined worldwide and the band's songs streams surpass two billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2022/05/03/scenes-from-aftermath-of-kentucky-tornado-featured-in-three-days-grace-new-video.html|title=Scenes from aftermath of Kentucky tornado featured in new Three Days Grace video|author=Nick Krewen|website=Toronto Star|date=May 4, 2022|access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref>
== Early life == Brad Walst was born in Norwood, Ontario<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news/peterborough-region/2013/06/03/rocker-brad-walst-helps-the-cause-at-james-fund-golf-classic-benefit-for-annual-weekend-retreat-for-families-affected-by-the-childhood-cancer-neuroblastoma.html|title=Rocker Brad Walst helps the cause at James Fund Golf Classic|website=The Peterborough Examiner|date=June 4, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> on February 17, 1977. In 1992, he attended Norwood District High School, where he met and befriended Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson and Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier.<ref name="allmusic" /> Gontier suggested Walst to play bass for the band.<ref name=news>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/three-days-grace-bassist-says-reunion-with-ex-vocalist-adam-gontier-for-high-school-honor-was-powerful|title=Three Days Grace Bassist Says Reunion With Ex-Vocalist Adam Gontier For High School Honor Was 'Powerful'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 7, 2022|access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalheadzone.com/brad-walst-says-three-days-grace-was-a-cover-band-at-the-beginning/|title=Brad Walst Says Three Days Grace Was a Cover Band at the Beginning|date=May 7, 2022|last=Alev|first=Iklim|website=Metalhead Zone|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507204533/https://metalheadzone.com/brad-walst-says-three-days-grace-was-a-cover-band-at-the-beginning/|archivedate=May 7, 2022|access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref> Walst had plans on becoming an accountant before turning to music.<ref name=int>{{cite web|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/music/2007/06/15/three-days-grace-is-a-far-cry-from-christian-rock/61768391007/|title=Three Days Grace is a far cry from Christian rock|author=Wayne Bledsoe|website=The Oklahoman|date=June 15, 2007|access-date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>
== Career ==
Walst played in a band called "Groundswell" in 1992 with Gontier, Sanderson, Phil Crowe and Joe Grant.<ref name=news /> The band broke up in 1995 and him, Sanderson and Gontier regrouped as "Three Days Grace" in 1997.<ref name="allmusic" /> Walst thought of the name while he was in college in a business class.<ref name=int /><ref name=interview>{{cite web|url=https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/entertainment/an-interview-with-three-days-grace-bassist-brad-walst/article_4dcfb272-5185-11e0-8c23-001cc4c002e0.html|title=An interview with Three Days Grace bassist Brad Walst|date=March 21, 2011|last=Hopkins|first=Jenny|website=Idaho State Journal|access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref> The band was soon signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss.<ref name="allmusic" /> Their debut single, "I Hate Everything About You", was released in 2003 and peaked at number one on the Canadian rock chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/T/Three_Days_Grace/2006/07/25/1700999.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107030645/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/T/Three_Days_Grace/2006/07/25/1700999.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2016|title=Three Days Grace cheats death|website=Jam!|publisher=Canoe.com|author=Yuri Wuensch|access-date=July 7, 2023}}</ref> They also released their debut self-titled studio album that year.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Doray|title=Three Days Grace|website=IGN|date=December 2, 2003|access-date=February 28, 2024|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/02/three-days-grace}}</ref> Their second studio album, ''One-X'', was released in 2006 and debuted at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=Busta Rhymes Opens with a Bang, Scoring His First Number-one 1 LP|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1534732/20060621/rhymes_busta.jhtml|website=MTV|date=June 21, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222194608/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1534732/20060621/rhymes_busta.jhtml|archivedate=December 22, 2007|access-date=February 27, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pearl-jam-scores-first-no-1-on-billboard-200-in-13-years-267231/|title=Pearl Jam Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200 In 13 Years|author=Keith Caufield|magazine=Billboard|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=February 27, 2024}}</ref> The band released their fourth studio album, ''Transit of Venus'' in 2012, which peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/shinedown-three-days-grace-unite-for-arena-tour-474222/|title=Shinedown, Three Days Grace Unite for Arena Tour|magazine=Billboard|date=November 12, 2012|access-date=February 27, 2024}}</ref>
Following Gontier's exit from the band, his younger brother Matt Walst joined the group in 2013.<ref name="brother">{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/matt-walst-new-role-three-days-grace-singer-status-my-darkest-days/|title=Matt Walst Discusses His New Role As Singer of Three Days Grace|website=Loudwire|date=January 9, 2013|last=Childers|first=Chad|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> Since then, they have released three more albums, ''Human'' (2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/three-days-grace-human-track-listing-deluxe-edition-details-more/|title=Three Days Grace Reveal 'Human' Track Listing + More|last=Childers|first=Chad|website=Loudwire|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> ''Outsider'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/three-days-grace-matt-walst-more-comfortable-writing-outsider-disc/|title=Three Days Grace's Matt Walst 'More Comfortable' With 'Outsider'|author=Chad Childers|website=Loudwire|date=March 7, 2018|access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> and ''Explosions'' (2022).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/three-days-grace-so-called-life-video-explosions-album/|title=Three Days Grace Seek Escape With Heavy New Song 'So Called Life', Announce New Album|website=Loudwire|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=November 29, 2021|access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> After Gontier's return in 2024, the band managed to release a new album a few months later, ''Alienation'' (2025).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/three-days-grace-alienation-album-interview-1236048209/|title=Three Days Grace on Reuniting with Adam Gontier for New Album & Whether They'll Keep Making Music with Two Singers|magazine=Billboard|author=Gary Graff|date=August 20, 2025|access-date=August 20, 2025}}</ref> Their first three albums went multi-platinum in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=%20Three+Days+Grace|title=Gold/Platinum – Three Days Grace|publisher=Music Canada|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Three+Days+Grace&ti=&format=&type=#search_section|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum – Three Days Grace|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bruce-cockburn-trooper-deadmau5-honored-at-2012-socan-awards-1082970/|title=Bruce Cockburn, Trooper, Deadmau5 Honored at 2012 SOCAN Awards Gala|magazine=Billboard|author=Karen Bliss|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> Walst was inducted into the Norwood District High School Hall Of Honor in 2022 along with Adam Gontier and Matt Walst.<ref name=news />
== Musical influences and technique == thumb|Walst in 2010 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@margotnoel/interview-brad-walst-three-days-grace-a0d53754aeca|title=Interview: Brad Walst (Three Days Grace)|website=Medium|author=Margot Noel|date=January 17, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name=int /> On writing bass lines, Walst likes taking the "less is more" approach and considers his style of playing very melodic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metaltalk.net/brad-walst-three-days-grace-matts-come-a-long-way-so-im-excited-for-the-future.php|title=Brad Walst, Three Days Grace – "Matt's Come a Long Way, so I'm Excited for the Future"|website=Metal Talk|author=Dany Jones|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2024}}</ref>
== Equipment == Walst uses an Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay as his main bass guitar,<ref name="MusicRadar">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/three-days-grace-rig-tour-guitar-bass-drums|title=Take a tour of Three Days Grace's guitar, bass and drum setups|website=Music Radar|author=Stuart Williams|date=June 30, 2022|access-date=July 6, 2023}}</ref> as well as using a Lakland bass in the past, during the recording of the band's second album, ''One-X''.<ref name="One-X Credits">{{cite web|url=https://threedaysgrace.com/music/playlists/4056/one-x|title=Music: One-X|website=threedaysgrace.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403112426/https://threedaysgrace.com/music/playlists/4056/one-x|archivedate=April 3, 2015|access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="MusicRadar" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://threedaysgrace.com/gear/|title=Three Days Grace – Gear|website=threedaysgrace.com|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref>
== Personal life == Walst is married to wife Rhonda; they have three children.<ref name="One-X Credits" /><ref name=interview /> He currently resides in Norwood, Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kawarthanow.com/2019/01/29/norwoods-three-days-grace-nominated-for-three-juno-awards/|title=Norwood's Three Days Grace nominated for three Juno Awards|website=KawarthaNOW|date=January 29, 2019 |access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> His son James Walst was diagnosed with having a cancerous neuroblastoma tumour.<ref name="loudwire">{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/three-days-grace-brad-walst-neuroblastoma-research-fundraiser/|title=Three Days Grace's Brad Walst Joins Neuroblastoma Research Fundraiser|website=Loudwire|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=October 20, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> He joined the James Fund's walk-run fundraiser with a goal to reach $3,000 in donations.<ref name="loudwire" /> His younger brother Matt is the co-vocalist for Three Days Grace and former vocalist for My Darkest Days.<ref name="brother" />
== Discography == {{Main|Three Days Grace discography}}
* ''Three Days Grace'' (2003) * ''One-X'' (2006) * ''Life Starts Now'' (2009) * ''Transit of Venus'' (2012) * ''Human'' (2015) * ''Outsider'' (2018) * ''Explosions'' (2022) * ''Alienation'' (2025)
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Three Days Grace}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walst, Brad}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian rock bass guitarists Category:Canadian heavy metal bass guitarists Category:20th-century Canadian bass guitarists Category:21st-century Canadian bass guitarists Category:Three Days Grace members