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Early life
[edit]Neil Sanderson was born and raised in Peterborough, Canada. [1] He began piano lessons at an early age and transitioned to drums by the age of 12, influenced by drummers such as John Bonham, Danny Carey, and Stewart Copeland. [1] While attending Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute, he met future bandmate Adam Gontier. Along with bassist Brad Walst, they formed a band called Groundswell in 1992, releasing one album, Wave of Popular Feeling (1995), before disbanding in 1997. [2]
Sanderson experienced significant personal losses during his youth. When he was six years old, his brother died in a car accident, followed later that same year by the death of his father.[3] In 2000, shortly before Three Days Grace secured a record deal, his mother passed away. Sanderson credits her with fostering his musical interests by providing him with drums, driving him to recitals, and allowing the band to rehearse at home.
Career
[edit]After Groundswell disbanded, Sanderson, Gontier, and Walst regrouped under the name Three Days Grace. The band’s self-titled debut album Three Days Grace was released in 2003, featuring two No. 1 singles in North America: "I Hate Everything About You" and "Just Like You." Their second album, One-X (2006), included the chart-topping singles "Animal I Have Become", "Pain", and "Never Too Late", earning triple-platinum certifications in both Canada and the United States. [4] Subsequent releases—Life Starts Now (2009), Transit of Venus (2012), Human (2015), Outsider (2018), and Explosions (2022)—continued the band’s commercial success.
By 2018, Three Days Grace had amassed 14 No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart, surpassing a record previously held by Van Halen.[5] The band has since increased its total to 17 chart-toppers.[6] As of 2025, Three Days Grace maintains over 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify. They also performed a sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden while touring with the band Disturbed.
In late 2024, Three Days Grace announced the return of Adam Gontier as co-lead vocalist alongside Matt Walst, releasing the single “Mayday” and planning extensive tours for 2025.[7]
Production and Entrepreneurship
[edit]Outside his work with Three Days Grace, Sanderson has produced albums for artists including Lindsey Stirling, Saliva, and Theory of a Deadman.[8] In 2020, he co-founded Judge & Jury Records with multi-platinum producer Howard Benson.[9] The label has released music by acts such as Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a Deadman, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Saliva.[10]
Philanthropy
[edit]Sanderson has been involved with several charitable initiatives throughout his career. In 2007, he joined The Herbie Fund, which supports surgical and medical treatments for children from around the world at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. [11] He later organized the Herbie Rocks charity auction to raise additional funds.
He also volunteers as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the same organization he benefited from in his youth. In 2017, Sanderson traveled to Kenya with World Vision Canada, alongside Three Days Grace vocalist Matt Walst and their spouses. The trip inspired the band’s MTN of Hope initiative, aimed at preventing violence against children and improving access to clean water in the Mwatate and Taveta communities. A portion of the proceeds from Three Days Grace’s 2018 Canadian tour supported this cause.[12]
Personal Life
[edit]When not touring or recording, Sanderson divides his time between his home near Toronto, a retreat in the woods, and a residence in Costa Rica. He is married to Janin Sanderson, and they have three children: Violet, Jet, and Raven.
- ^ a b "Neil Sanderson | Yamaha Artist − Biography". Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Former And Current Members Of Three Days Grace Honored By Ontario High School: Photo + Video". Blabbermouth.net. June 30, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Neil Sanderson explains the meaning behind Fallen Angel by Three Days Grace". Heaven for blog. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History – Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Three Days Grace Set Billboard Record With 14th No. 1 Mainstream Rock Single". Loudwire. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Three Days Grace ties Shinedown Again for Most Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Three Days Grace issue statement confirming reunion with Adam Gontier". Loudwire. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Neil Sanderson - Producer Credits". Tidal. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "How Judge and Jury Records Inspires Multigenerational Hits". Forbes. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Judge & Jury - Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Karen Bliss (October 16, 2009). "Three Days Grace Gathers Goods For Herbie Rocks". Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Three Days Grace Chronicle Kenya Visit for World Humanitarian Day". Loudwire. Retrieved April 22, 2025.