Three Days Grace guitarist Barry Stock recently shared details about surviving a heart attack during a live performance in 2013. He recounted the harrowing experience in an interview with Ultimate Guitar.
Stock described how he initially mistook the symptoms for severe heartburn while performing at a festival show near Detroit.
“We were playing a show, it was 2013, and we were playing like a festival-type show just on the north side of Detroit,” Stock said. “Halfway through the show, Neil does a drum solo. So, the song before it was ‘Good Life.’ And while we were playing ‘Good Life,’ I felt what I thought was really brutal heartburn, which I don’t usually get.”
The guitarist continued playing despite worsening symptoms. He sought relief with antacids during a drum solo break.
“The song finishes, I go off, because Neil did about a seven-minute solo at the time,” he explained. “And I’m sitting over there, and I’m calling my assistant. I’m like, dude, you got to get over here with the Tums, man. I’m dying over here, not realizing I really was dying. And he gave me like eight Tums and it was still not going away.”
Stock remained in denial about the severity of his condition. He continued performing until his bandmates intervened.
“After the solo, I go back out and I’m totally in denial. I’m not even thinking heart, right? I thought, I’m too young for this shit, right?” he said. “So, my brain wasn’t even there and I just kept playing and I was really not doing good, man. I kept looking at the setlist and going, okay, six more songs, all right, five more songs.”
His bandmates eventually convinced him to seek medical attention. This led to his life-saving treatment at a nearby specialized hospital.
“Eventually, the guys talked me into going in. They said, You really have got to go to the hospital, man, it sounds like you’re having a freaking heart attack,” Stock recalled. “So I did, and luckily for me, the Beaumont, which is a heart specialist hospital, was two minutes from where we were. The chances of that are crazy. If I were anywhere else in America, I might not be here.”
The proximity to the specialized cardiac facility proved crucial to Stock’s survival and recovery.
Stock’s experience highlights the dedication musicians often show to their craft, even in life-threatening situations. The incident occurred during a particularly active period for Three Days Grace. The band continued touring extensively following their commercial success.
Wikipedia reported that Stock was born in Belgium and raised in Norwood, Ontario. He joined Three Days Grace in 2003 shortly after the band’s debut album was released. His addition to the lineup as lead guitarist helped solidify the band’s sound during their rise to mainstream success.
The band had already established themselves as a major force in rock music by 2013. Famous Birthdays noted their hits such as “Animal I Have Become” and “I Hate Everything About You” becoming staples of rock radio. Stock’s guitar work became integral to the band’s signature sound during this period of commercial peak.
Heart attacks among musicians, while not widely common, present unique challenges given the physical demands of live performances and touring stresses. Guitar World emphasized that early recognition and immediate medical care, like in Stock’s case, are critical for survival and ongoing career longevity.
Despite the traumatic experience, Stock has continued performing with Three Days Grace. This demonstrates remarkable resilience. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing cardiac symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention, regardless of age or perceived health status.
