Neil Sanderson was born on December 17, 1978 in Peterborough, Canada. Sanderson took up the piano before he started school. He had an avid interest in music and worked with different instruments while he was in elementary school. He became enamored of drums during this time.

He entered Norwood District High School in 1992. Before that, he attended Adam Scott C.V.I High School in Peterborough, where he met Adam Gontier when both of them were in grade 9. With bassist Brad Walst, they practiced writing and playing instruments. They created the band “Groundswell” with Phil Crowe and Joe Grant.

The band’s first album, the self-titled Three Days Grace, was released in 2003. Three singles from the album, “I Hate Everything About You”, “Just Like You”, and “Home” became hits, each reaching No. 1 on the US Rock charts. This album has been certified “Platinum”.

The band released a second album, One-X in 2006. That album reached fifth place on the US Billboard 200. Three singles from that album “Animal I Have Become”, “Pain”, and “Never Too Late” also reached first place on the US Rock charts. This album has also been certified “Platinum”.

In 2006 Three Days Grace won an American Billboard “Song of the Year” award.

In 2006, Three Days Grace served as the opening act for the Rolling Stones in Saskatchewan. Three Days Grace has toured in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Europe, and Japan.

Speaking of the band’s comeback from problems in 2007 (when a band member spent time in rehab) Sanderson said, “Now it’s all about maintaining that communication, and it makes [touring] so much easier and a so much more enjoyable experience.”

In 2009 the band released the album Life Starts Now. It was initially listed at number three on the US Billboard 200.