After graduating from Ridley, where he won the Mason Gold Medal, Coutts graduated from Western University in 1993. He joined alternative rock band, Our Lady Peace on September 23, 1995, replacing the original bassist after the band's debut album,
Naveed was produced. To Our Lady Peace fans, Coutts is known as 'Duncan.' Our Lady Peace has won four Juno Awards and ten MuchMusic Video Awards. Along with the bass, he plays keyboard, cello and sings back-up.