- My Darkest Days
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My Darkest Days 
My Darkest Days (Matt Walst pic) live, 2009.Background information Also known as MDD Origin Norwood, Ontario, Canada Genres Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Post-grunge Years active 2005–present Labels 604 Records Associated acts Three Days Grace, Zakk Wylde, Chad Kroeger, Ludacris, Jessie James Website mydarkestdays.com Members Matt Walst
Brendan McMillan
Sal Costa
Doug Oliver
Reid HenryPast members Paulo Neta
Chris McMillanMy Darkest Days is a Canadian rock band based in Toronto, consisting of lead singer Matt Walst, lead guitarist Sal Costa, Bassist Brendan McMillan, Drummer Doug Oliver, and keyboardist Reid Henry.[1] They were discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, who signed them up for his production company, 604 Records.[2]
In June 2010, the band went on tour with Sick Puppies, Janus, and It's Alive,[3] and shot a video in Las Vegas to support their first single, "Porn Star Dancing," released on June 21, 2010.[4] Kroeger appears in the "Porn Star Dancing" video, as does American rapper Ludacris and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde.[1]
Contents
History
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 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. Chris McMillan was later 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. My Darkest Days has opened for many bands, including Three Days Grace, Default, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Papa Roach, and Hinder.[5]
My Darkest Days won a contest called Rock Search put on by 97.7fm in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2008 with "Every Lie". This gave them time in a recording studio publicity in Niagara, Ontario.
When Chad Kroeger heard My Darkest Days' music, he was so impressed he immediately signed them to his record label. 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] There is also a remix of the single featuring American 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 that 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 song "Come Undone".
The Saw 3D soundtrack released on October 26, 2010 features the single "The World Belongs to Me."
My Darkest Days was named the “Best New Band of 2010” by hardDriveXL after hitting the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks ranking, as well as #1 on FMQB’s Active Rock list.
In March of 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.[7].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.[8].
My Darkest Days’ first major–label single, “Porn Star Dancing,” went gold in Canada last month.[9]
Members
Current lineup
- Matt Walst – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2005–present)
- Sal Costa – lead guitar, vocals (2009–present)
- Brendan McMillan – bass guitar (2005–present)
- Doug Oliver – drums, percussion (2005–present)
- Reid Henry – Keyboard, vocals (2010–present)
Former members
- Paulo Neta – lead guitar, vocals (2005–2009)
- Chris McMillan – lead guitar, vocals (2009)
Gallery
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Matt Walst, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, November 2010.
Discography
Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions CAN
[10]US
[11]US
Alt
[12]US Rock
[13]My Darkest Days - Release date: September 21, 2010
- Label: 604 Records
- Formats: Compact Disc, music download
11 38 9 12 Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album CAN
[14]US
[15]US
Main
[16]US
Alt
[17]US Rock
[18]2010 "Porn Star Dancing" (featuring Zakk Wylde and Chad Kroeger)
40 90 1 21 7 My Darkest Days 2011 "Move Your Body" — — 23 — 33 "Every Lie" — — 24 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Awards and nominations
Year Presenter Award Result 2011 Juno Awards of 2011 New Group of the Year Nominated References
- ^ a b Bergen, Werner. "My Darkest Days at Red Dog for two shows", The Peterborough Examiner, June 24, 2010.
- ^ a b "Porn Star Dancing", Island Def Jam, June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ Okarmus, Matt. "Sick Puppies bring unique sound to Capital City", Montgomery Advertiser, July 8, 2010.
- ^ Bergen, Werner. In August of 2010 they toured with Trapt, Skillet, and Papa Roach."My Darkest Days at Red Dog for two shows", The Peterborough Examiner, June 24, 2010.
- For the release date of the single, see "Porn Star Dancing—Single", iTunes. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ Youseph, Ramon. "My Darkest Days—Pornstar Dancing Single Review", Rock Music, suite101.com, June 23, 2010, accessed July 9, 2010.
- ^ Zakk Wylde featured in My Darkest Days video", Blabbermouth.net, June 21, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ http://rocketshiplive.com/2011/03/29/my-darkest-days-bus-crash/
- ^ http://facebook.com/2011/9/12/my-darkest-days-official-facebook-page/
- ^ "Web magazine bands music group photos news reviews events Live 'N Loud Magazine". Livenloudmagazine.com. http://livenloudmagazine.com/magazine.php?id=1248. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=309&g=Albums. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=794&g=Albums. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.billboard.com/album/my-darkest-days/my-darkest-days/1451763#/album/my-darkest-days/my-darkest-days/1451763. - ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=793&g=Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=377&g=Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=377&g=Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "My Darkest Days Album & Song Chart History - Rock Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/my-darkest-days/chart-history/1506266?f=902&g=Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Seether&title=Finding%20Beauty&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50
- ^ http://www.cria.ca/goldplat.php
External links
Categories:- Canadian rock music groups
- Canadian hard rock musical groups
- Canadian post-grunge groups
- Musical groups from Peterborough, Ontario
- Musical groups established in 2005
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
