My Darkest Days

My Darkest Days is a Canadian rock band based in Toronto, consisting of lead singer Matt Walst, Doug Oliver, Brendan McMillan, Sal Costa, and Reid Henry. They were discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, who signed them up for his production company, 604 Records.

In June 2010, the band went on tour with Sick Puppies, Janus, and It's Alive, and shot a video in Las Vegas to support their first single, "Porn Star Dancing," released on June 21, 2010. On August 4, 2010, the video was 67th on the iTunes list of the 100 most–downloaded videos worldwide, and the single was its fourth most downloaded rock song in Canada. Kroeger appears in the "Porn Star Dancing" video, as does American rapper Ludacris and Black Label Society lead vocalist and lead guitarist Zakk Wylde.

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. 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 well–known bands, including Three Days Grace, Default, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Papa Roach, and Hinder.

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 and mass publicity as this contest is huge all over 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. There is also a remix of the single featuring American rapper Ludacris. 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." “‎'Porn Star Dancing” became the 60th most downloaded video in iTunes history.

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.

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

Members

 * Current
 * Matt Walst – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2005–present)
 * Sal Costa – lead guitar, vocals (2009–present)
 * Brendan McMillan – bass guitar (2005–present)
 * Douglas Oliver – drums, percussion (2005–present)
 * Reid Henry – keyboards (live) (2009–present)


 * Former
 * Paulo Neta – lead guitar (2005–2009)
 * Chris MacMillan - lead guitar (2009)