My Darkest Days

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 www.mydarkestdays.com
Members
Matt Walst
Brendan McMillan
Sal Costa
Doug Oliver
Reid Henry
Past members
Paulo Neta
Chris McMillan

My 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 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] The first single from their second studio album, "Casual Sex", will be released to iTunes on January 17, 2012 and sent to rock radio on January 30, 2012.

My Darkest Days’ first major–label single, “Porn Star Dancing,” went gold in Canada last month.[9]

Members

Current lineup

Former members

Gallery

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
CAN
[10]
US
[11]
US
Alt

[12]
US Rock
[13]
My Darkest Days 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

  1. ^ a b Bergen, Werner. "My Darkest Days at Red Dog for two shows", The Peterborough Examiner, June 24, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Porn Star Dancing", Island Def Jam, June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Okarmus, Matt. "Sick Puppies bring unique sound to Capital City", Montgomery Advertiser, July 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Bergen, Werner. In August 2010 they toured with Trapt, Skillet, and Papa Roach."My Darkest Days at Red Dog for two shows", The Peterborough Examiner, June 24, 2010.
  5. ^ Youseph, Ramon. "My Darkest Days—Pornstar Dancing Single Review", Rock Music, suite101.com, June 23, 2010, accessed July 9, 2010.
  6. ^ Zakk Wylde featured in My Darkest Days video", Blabbermouth.net, June 21, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ http://rocketshiplive.com/2011/03/29/my-darkest-days-bus-crash/
  8. ^ http://facebook.com/2011/9/12/my-darkest-days-official-facebook-page/
  9. ^ "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. 
  10. ^ "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. 
  11. ^ "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. 
  12. ^ "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. 
  13. ^ "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. 
  14. ^ "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. 
  15. ^ "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. 
  16. ^ "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. 
  17. ^ "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. 
  18. ^ "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. 
  19. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Seether&title=Finding%20Beauty&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50
  20. ^ http://www.cria.ca/goldplat.php

External links