3 Doors Down
3 Doors Down is an American rock band from Escatawpa, Mississippi, formed in 1996. The band originally consisted of Brad Arnold (lead vocals, drums), Matt Roberts (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Todd Harrell (bass guitar), with Chris Henderson (rhythm guitar) joining in 1998. The band rose to international fame with their debut single, “Kryptonite” in January 2000, which placed in the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band signed with Republic Records and released their debut album, The Better Life, the same year. The album was the 11th-best-selling album of that year and was certified 7× platinum in the United States. The group was later joined by drummer Richard Liles, who played during the tour for their first album.
The band’s second album, Away from the Sun (2002), continued the band’s success; it debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart, went multi-platinum in the U.S. like its predecessor, and spawned the hits “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You”. The band toured extensively for two years, performing at nearly 1,000 worldwide shows following its release. 3 Doors Down released their third and fourth albums, Seventeen Days and their eponymous album in 2005 and 2008 respectively, both of which debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and receiving platinum certification by the RIAA. Their fifth album, Time of My Life (2011), peaked at number No. 3 and their sixth most recent album, Us and the Night (2016), peaked at number 14.
The band has been primarily described as post-grunge and alternative rock, while occasionally crossing into hard rock and southern rock. Their lyrical content contains overarching themes of angst, rebellion, revenge, yearning, and abandonment. 3 Doors Down has sold 30 million copies worldwide.
Original guitarist Matt Roberts departed in 2012, owing to health issues, before passing away in 2016. He was replaced by Chet Roberts, who was formerly Chris Henderson’s guitar tech. Harrell was fired from the band in 2013 after being charged with vehicular homicide, and was replaced by bassist Justin Biltonen.
3 Doors Down initially consisted of Brad Arnold as the lead vocalist and drummer, Matt Roberts as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist, and Todd Harrell as the bass guitarist. The band began to tour outside Escatawpa, Mississippi, eventually coming up with their official name during a trip to Foley, Alabama. When the three were walking through the town, they saw a building where some letters had fallen off its sign, reading “Doors Down”. Since the band consisted of three people at the time, they added the “3” to create “3 Doors Down”. The cover of their 2011 album Time of My Life hints at the original number of band members (3) and current band members (5); the clock on the album cover reads 3:05.
A couple of years after performing together, Todd Harrell asked rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson to join the band in 1998. 3 Doors Down recorded a demo CD of their original songs at Lincoln Recording in Pascagoula, Mississippi. When the band gave the CD to local radio station WCPR-FM, they started playing the EP version of “Kryptonite” and it became the No. 1 requested song on the station for over 15 weeks. The station’s program director sent the song to manager Phin Daly who in turn showed it to Bill McGathy, his employer at In De Goot Entertainment. The band was booked in New York to perform a showcase at the CBGB music club. Daly told HitQuarters: “Once they got on stage and started playing it was apparent the magic was in the music. So we moved to sign them.”
3 Doors Down’s first studio album, The Better Life, was released on February 8, 2000, and went on to become the 11th best-selling album of the year, selling over three million copies. It has since been certified 6× platinum, thanks in large part to the international hit singles, “Kryptonite”, “Loser”, and “Duck and Run”. A fourth single, “Be Like That” was re-recorded for the 2001 film American Pie 2, with alternate lyrics for the first three lines; this version is known as the “American Pie 2 Edit”. Whilst recording the album, Brad Arnold recorded both the vocal and drum tracks. The band hired drummer Richard Liles for the tour in support of The Better Life so that Arnold could perform at the front of the stage. Liles left in late 2002.
The band’s second studio album, Away from the Sun, was released on November 12, 2002, and went platinum within two months of release. The album also produced singles, including “When I’m Gone”, “Here Without You”, and “The Road I’m On”. The album has sold four million copies worldwide, including well over three million in the U.S. Session drummer Josh Freese was hired to record drums for the album. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson produced and performed on three tracks for the record, “Dangerous Game”, “Dead Love”, and “Wasted Me”, but only “Dangerous Game” would appear on the finished product. The band hired Canadian Daniel Adair to play drums for the Away From the Sun tour. He would go on to record the drums for the band’s next studio release, and was with the band aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) to film the music video “When I’m Gone”.
In 2003, 3 Doors Down released a live EP entitled Another 700 Miles consisting of recordings from a live performance by the band in Chicago, Illinois. Another 700 Miles has since been certified Gold in the United States. In addition to featuring some of 3 Doors Down’s hit singles from their previous two albums, the EP also contains a version of the popular 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd song “That Smell”. The group toured with Nickelback in 2004.
In 2003, the band began hosting the annual “3 Doors Down and Friends” benefit concert, through the band’s own charity The Better Life Foundation. In 2006, this event was held at the Mobile Convention Center, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Katrina survivors. As residents of Escatawpa, the members of the band saw the effects of Katrina’s devastation.
By 2005, the band had sold 12 million albums. The band’s third studio album, 2005’s Seventeen Days, has been certified platinum. Of the singles from it, “Let Me Go” and “Behind Those Eyes” charted with the most success. “Live for Today”, “Landing in London” (on which Bob Seger sang the second verse and provided back-up vocals), and “Here by Me” were also released as singles. During the Seventeen Days tour, the band appeared alongside southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as headlining many shows of their own.
Later in 2005, the band released a live DVD entitled Away from the Sun: Live from Houston, Texas. The DVD was produced and directed by Academy Award-nominated Alex Gibney and Doug Biro. It features songs from both The Better Life and Away from the Sun, and even some early sketches of “It’s Not Me” and “Father’s Son”, which were both eventually released on Seventeen Days.
Greg Upchurch, formerly of Puddle of Mudd, replaced Daniel Adair in 2005, when Adair left to become drummer and contributing member of Nickelback.
3 Doors Down released their self-titled fourth album on May 20, 2008. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 154,000 copies in its first week. It is the band’s second consecutive No. 1 album on the chart after Seventeen Days, as well their fourth album to reach the Top Ten. The album contains the hit singles “It’s Not My Time”, “Train”, “Let Me Be Myself” and “Citizen/Soldier”, a song written as a tribute to the National Guard. In 2009, 3 Doors Down, along with The Soul Children of Chicago, released the song “In the Presence of the Lord” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.
In 2009, the band recorded a Christmas song called “Where My Christmas Lives”, which was the first Christmas song Brad Arnold had ever written. It was digitally released along with seven acoustic songs on December 8. Six of these acoustic tracks were from the previous self-titled album, and one was an acoustic version of “Where my Christmas Lives”.
3 Doors Down released their fifth studio album, Time of My Life, on July 19, 2011. The band had earlier released “When You’re Young” as the first single from the album on January 10, 2011. The single reached a position of 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A second single from the album, “Every Time You Go” was released to digital outlets on May 23, 2011. The band embarked on a tour in July 2011 across the US, Europe, and the United Kingdom in support of the album. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with 59,800 copies sold in its first week. Beginning in May 2012, the band embarked on a six-week-long ‘Gang of Outlaws Tour’ with headliners ZZ Top and opener Gretchen Wilson.
On May 23, 2012, Matt Roberts announced he was leaving the band to focus on his health. He told fans in a statement that “3 Doors Down will always have a special place in my heart and it saddens me to take this time off. But my health has to be my first priority”. Guitarist Chris Henderson announced on Twitter that his old guitar tech Chet Roberts would be taking over from Matt Roberts on lead guitar.
After the “Gang of Outlaws” tour finished, the band said in an interview that they were entering the studio to record three or four new songs to put on their very first Greatest Hits album, which was released on November 19, 2012. During the tail end of the Gang of Outlaws tour, they debuted a new song “One Light” which was included on the band’s The Greatest Hits. Guitarist Chris Henderson announced on Twitter they would be back in the studio a few weeks after the tour had ended. In late 2012, the band appeared at several smaller shows including one in Huntington, NY. The band performed at Download Festival 2013 at the Zippo Encore Stage on the Friday of the three-day festival. From the tailend of 2012 through to March 2013, 3 Doors Down went on a joint headlining tour with US rock band Daughtry to promote Daughtry’s 3rd studio album release. The cover of “In the Air Tonight” was captured and uploaded to Daughtry’s official YouTube channel. The band also played the Dubai Jazz Festival in February 2013.
On April 20, 2013, bassist Todd Harrell was charged with vehicular homicide for his actions the night before in Nashville, Tennessee. He was reportedly driving on I-40 at high speed while under the influence of prescription medication when he caused an accident that killed 47-year-old Paul Howard Shoulders, Jr. The judge in the case harshly criticized the musician’s doctor in the courtroom, accusing the physician of prescribing Harrell far too many pain pills. Harrell was also charged with bringing controlled substances into a correctional detention facility. Harrell’s court and trial dates have been repeatedly postponed by Harrell’s attorneys for various reasons, including a rehab stay. In December 2015, Harrell was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment followed by six years of probation.
3 Doors Down later announced that the four scheduled shows in the U.S. for April and May had been cancelled out of respect for Shoulders and his family. The European tour with Prime Circle and the summer tour dates with Daughtry, which had been announced the day after the incident in Nashville, remained intact. On May 24, a week before the start on the European tour, Justin Biltonen, formerly of The Campaign 1984, was announced as the band’s new bassist. The tour, starting in Moscow, Russia began on May 31, 2013. On July 20, 2013, they played live at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.
In July 2018, Brad Arnold stated that 3 Doors Down had been writing new material; “Who knows when we’ll follow that one up. But we have been writing new songs. Maybe we’ll release a single or a couple of new songs. We just might not release an album for a while. We still love creating new material — there’s just not a market for it. But fans still like going out and seeing us. In August 2019, Arnold stated that the band would soon begin working on a follow-up to Us and the Night.
3 Doors Down started The Better Life Foundation (TBLF) in 2003, with a goal in mind to give as many children as possible a better life. Since its inception TBLF has supported numerous charities across the US, including the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and the Habitat for Humanity, as well as providing aid and assistance to the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, Brad Arnold stated that approximately $900,000 had been raised.
When the Mississippi town of Waveland took an especially hard hit from Hurricane Katrina, the charity was able to purchase three police cars and a fire truck to help with rescue efforts. Also, in connection with Wal-Mart, they were able to supply the town with three semi-trucks full of rescue supplies. There was also extensive support from TBLF in providing funding for rebuilding efforts in the town.
3 Doors Down and The Better Life Foundation host a yearly show to raise money for the charity. Beginning in 2010, the show is performed at Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, in Tunica, Mississippi. Prior to 2010, the show was performed at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition to a concert from 3 Doors Down and friends, there is also an auction, which includes numerous items from musical friends, sports icons, and other various supporters of the band and the charity. There is an average of sixty items auctioned off yearly, and proceeds are given to TBLF. As of 2016, The Better Life Foundation annual benefit concert has been held at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Past performers at the show include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Shinedown, Alter Bridge, Staind, Hinder, Switchfoot, Tracy Lawrence, Sara Evans, and others. Past auction items include a Paul Stanley guitar played on the KISS Farewell Tour, a total of four Roger Bourget motorcycles, access to the Dale Jr. racing suite, NASCAR artwork by Brad Daley, numerous signed guitars, and sports memorabilia.
3 Doors Down first found their own voice in 1995. It’s only gotten louder over the past two decades. Everything kicked off with their 2000 debut, The Better Life. The album went six-times platinum and introduced the world to their now-classic “Kryptonite.” Their fan base continued to grow with 2002’s triple-platinum Away from the Sun—which yielded the smashes “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You.” Both 2005’s platinum-certified Seventeen Days and 3 Doors Down [2008] bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 followed by Time of My Life’s #3 debut in 2011. In between countless sold out shows, the guys notched three Grammy Award® nods, scored two American Music Awards, and received a total of five BMI Pop Awards, including an award for Brad for BMI “Songwriter of the Year.”
