Brad Avery

A lot of people are wondering what has happened to Third Day guitarist Brad Avery. Isn't he with the band anymore? Where did he go? Why did he leave? Is Third Day going to replace him with another guitarist? I thought I'd put a page here to help point people in the right direction.

On February 28, 2008, the official news came from the band's blog on ThirdDay.com.

Third Day and Brad Avery have made the very difficult decision to part ways.

We appreciate Brad’s many contributions to the band's career to date, including his work on our forthcoming album, but the time has come for us to follow our separate paths.

He has been an important part of Third Day for the last 13 years as we've traveled the world together and performed over 1,000 concerts. We will miss him as a band member but he will always remain our brother and our friend. Brad is a wonderful person, gifted songwriter and talented musician. We trust that God has amazing plans for his future.

I posted a few responses to this news. You can find the main posts here and here. Another post, after I actually saw Third Day play as a quartet is here.

ChristianityToday.com did an interview with Third Day by Andy Argyrakis. This is the excerpt in which Andy asks about Brad leaving.

Did going from a five-piece band to a four-piece affect the sound of the CD?

David Carr: Actually, the record was recorded with Brad, so you'll still hear the five of us there. But Howard was not so much into having fifteen different guitar parts anyway. Instead we'd take one part and then double it, or maybe even triple or quadruple it, which makes it stand out without having a jumbled mess of parts trying to figure out how to play them live. I was initially a challenge for us to figure out how to perform as a four-piece, but so far it's translating really well and still pretty true to the record.

Why did Brad leave the band?

Tai Anderson: It's not a big drama or [anything gossipy] like TMZ. Brad gave us our signature sound, like the second electric guitar on "Consuming Fire." He also brought professionalism to the band that we really needed. But the only thing constant in life is change and change is hard. It was really hard to a lot of our fans and even our kids—when I told my kids that Brad was leaving the band, we sat on the floor and cried.

Did he tell you he was leaving, did you ask him to go, or was it more of a mutual decision?

Tai Anderson: It's a simple question, but kind of hard to answer. We all came together and it wasn't a fighting thing. We were talking and praying through this together and the result was it was just time to part ways. I know that sounds vague, but there have been different feelings by all of us before and after [Avery left]. It wasn't that Brad quit or that we kicked him out—it was a collective decision.

David Carr: Collectively, we recognized that there were some differences. And again, I'm not trying to be vague, but you can open up a can of worms and then it turns into more.

We understand, and certainly don't want to pry. But people talk, especially when the circumstances are so vague.

Tai Anderson: That's been our challenge with it. There wasn't any scandal or a big fight. But neither Brad nor the band wants to create lies either. We don't want to say he's pursuing a solo career when he's not, or to say he's spending more time with family and imply he's having trouble at home. And we want to be careful because we don't want to cast the record with any of this. I think it's about going forward and all being unified around this album, and it became clear it's time to part ways and go on different paths.

David Carr: We know this isn't an easy time for him and it hasn't been an easy time for us either. There comes a point I think in a lot of bands and relationships when you really hit a crossroads. You don't even realize it's coming up as soon as it is. I think it hit us between the eyes in a way, even though I think we were feeling over the years that our paths would someday diverge. I think we all denied it and put it off because we didn't want it to happen. So it's not that we're trying to be vague, but we're [not being specific] out of respect to Brad and to us. The biggest thing we asked on our message boards shortly after it happened was just to trust us that Brad and the band doesn't make such decisions haphazardly or flippantly. We prayerfully considered the matter together.

None of this gives us much information. But how much information do we, the fans, really need? We know Brad is no longer with Third Day, and that they are not planning to replace him. We don't know what Brad will be doing in the future, but he and his family are in our prayers, as are the men of Third Day as they continue to rock our world!

We appreciate Brad’s many contributions to the band's career to date, including his work on our forthcoming album, but the time has come for us to follow our separate paths.

He has been an important part of Third Day for the last 13 years as we've traveled the world together and performed over 1,000 concerts. We will miss him as a band member but he will always remain our brother and our friend. Brad is a wonderful person, gifted songwriter and talented musician. We trust that God has amazing plans for his future.

Comments

[rossid]

That gives me enough information.

[Emily/Emsy/EmmoGomer]

Thanks for posting this Corrine. It's good to hear what the guys have to say....'in their own words'.

[Rose]

Cool page Corrine - nip in the bud, k? =D

Huggles!

[tdpsycho]

I just now saw this. I feel better having this explained in a more full way. Very cool.

[wendy fredette]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mac, David and Brad in Everett a few years ago before a concert. It was a thrill to speak to each one for a minute or so but Brad was especially pleasant and gave me a bit more time to ask him questions. Talented, gorgeous AND super nice...I miss him already....I pray for Brad's happiness

[Sabrina]

I just stumbled upon this; thank you so much for posting this information. It makes me feel a bit more relieved. Will continue praying for Brad and all of the guys of Third Day.

[angie]

That's cool. The guys and band have been evolving for years. Each must follow their individual and collective paths. All of them are class acts for respecting each other's privacy on this matter.

[Warren]

Although I was surprised to hear that Brad and the band parted ways, I still pray and hope that God will continue to bless all of them whether they are together as a band or not. Hey, maybe some day they'll be together again. You know that God does some wonderfuly mysterious things when we trust in Him.

[ckcgye]

To me Brad's exit was agonizing. He was the reason my son got involved in listening to Third Day instead of secular bands with really negative messages. The guys in the band said it was hard on them, but they are still touring while it appears Brad's future is uncertain. It think it's ironic that Brad's departure was around the same time as the band's change in manager and producer (per the Billboard article that appeared the first part of June).

[Jake]

Yeah, I wondered about the change in management too, but that's just speculation. Growing up playing guitar, Brad was always my biggest guitar hero (especially since he was in my favorite band), so I took his departure very hard as a fan. The guys have impressed me with their solid performances as a quartet since his absence, but we'd be kidding ourselves if we pretended it was ever going to be as good as it was with Brad in the lineup. I'd love to find out if Brad ever pursues any other musical projects, so I hope this page will keep us updated. Thanks for posting!

[Danny]

I think they have already lost that rockin' edge that Brad brought to the band. I'm not sure I'll really go out of my way to buy new material or see them now. I just don't know?

It's not like I think Brad was the best in the band, but he brought a synergy to the band - their sum was greater than their individual parts. I just saw 3rd day on TV and the spark was missing.

[John Troy]

I cannot wait until brad comes out with his own projects. And I especially can't wait to hear the sound of them either. Brad avery is an alsome guitarist and singer and a gifted song writer. BRAD YOU ARE ALSOME!!!!

[TK]

I saw the band live for the first time this year and I definitely think they are missing that 2nd guitar. To me, although they still sound great, it is definitely much thinner without Avery's guitar. I hope the band will replace his guitar live. Maybe just put someone in the back like REM does to fill out the sound. I think it would help the live show. That being said they are still "alsome" with 4 and I will continue to support them because they write great songs and have a great ministry.

[Craig]

weak. No info. What happened and when is Brad rejoining or coming out with his own album? Simple questions. He's not just going to retire, we know that. Just a question of when.

[Corrine aka Mama Gomer]

We don't know anything. Maybe Brad is going to retire from music. Maybe he's had enough of the road and wants to be a "regular guy." Or maybe he is the next big thing. We have no way of knowing. Right now, Brad is a private person. Any further info will have to come from him, in his timing.

[rossid]

The two shows seen by me in Iowa were suprisingly well played.

Mark is doing a superb job and my human ear does not miss a second guitar.

[Ray Bryant]

Third Day's Revelation and other music has enlighten my spirit and brought me closer to God. Life is a struggle and in these trying times, it is extremely difficult to stay focused on Jesus and His love. We have the choice to choose and too many others have chosen not to while I keep fighting the demons and thank Third Day and their wonderful gift of music from God to keep me saying, "give me revelation..."

[Al Kremer]

I liked the interview. Yes, it was vague. And I understand why it had to be that way.

I trust that God knows what's next for Brad and for Third Day. As long as the guys keep their hearts open to letting God lead them, they will continue to make great music and draw people closer to our Lord...

[bismarck]

What to say, I love this group from the offering cd, I just hear something different in their last album, That's ok to have our own way to widen the Lord's Way...

[Clay Zirkle]

Hey - I can tell you this - he's not "gone" - if you want to see and hear him live - come to Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta Sunday, August 16th - he'll be playing with the worship band in our East auditorium. He's a great guy to work with (I'm a monitors engineer) and we're VERY glad to have him work with us - praising God with his awesome gift!!

[Joe]

I think Brad and Mark make a great team.It just doesn't sound right one without the other.

[jimmy]

as a long-time third day fan who first enjoyed "a church service" thru third day's live music 12 years ago...I love third day... and, I love brad avery. it sounds as though they just wanted to go different directions. as a fan, I look forward to hearing more from both third day & brad avery///together or separate.
jimmy in FL

[moses]

I have been wondering about the album revelation and wondering about the part that says additional guitars.Brad avery is not an extra or additional he is a main part of third day.

[Bryce]

Saw Third Day tonight in Louisville, KY. It was the first time I've seen them since the Christmas Tour they did with Jars of Clay. They were awesome! However, you could tell a difference without Brad and they seemed to shorten or avoid the songs (from older albums) that had a heavy Brad trademark/influence. Mark fills in well, but it's not Brad. I pray that Brad is doing well and hope he will return to 3D one day!

[Eliahu]

All I'm happy about this news is that there was not fight or any of that stuff the gossip people like.
I completely understand what they are saying... sometimes people just need to move, change, etc. it isn't always bad, especially when we are talking about such a SPIRIT LED band. We know they will listen to God so all we have to do is pray for Brad and the Band and God will take over