3 Doors Down Frontman Brad Arnold Passes Away at 47, Cause of Death Revealed
Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the rock band 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47, months after revealing he was battling stage 4 kidney cancer. The band announced on Saturday that Arnold “passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer.”
3 Doors Down first formed in Mississippi in 1995. The band quickly rose to fame with their hit Kryptonite, which earned a Grammy nomination in 1999. According to the band, Arnold wrote the song at just 15 years old during math class. Their debut album, The Better Life, went on to sell over six million copies. In 2003, the group received another Grammy nod for the song When I’m Gone.
The band praised Arnold for his influence on rock music, saying he “helped redefine mainstream rock music, blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting and lyrical themes that resonated with everyday listeners.” Over the years, 3 Doors Down released six albums, with their latest, Us and the Night, coming out in 2016. Other notable singles include Loser, Duck and Run, and Be Like That, which was featured in the 2001 film American Pie 2.
In interviews, Arnold often spoke about the dedication it took to maintain a long music career. While promoting their fifth album, Time of My Life, he told the Associated Press in 2011, “If you do something as long as we’ve done it, you can’t help but get better at it, you know?” The band also performed at the first inauguration concert of Donald Trump in 2017.
Arnold’s cancer diagnosis was made public last May. He revealed that his clear cell renal carcinoma had spread to his lungs, forcing the band to cancel their summer tour. Reflecting on his legacy, the band said, “His music reverberated far beyond the stage, creating moments of connection, joy, faith, and shared experiences that will live on long after the stages he performed on.”
Brad Arnold’s voice and songwriting left a lasting impact on rock music. He inspired countless fans with his music and his performances will be remembered for years to come.
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