Brad Arnold, Frontman of 3 Doors Down, Dies at 47
Brad Arnold, the founder and lead singer of 3 Doors Down, died on Saturday. He was 47. A statement from Universal Music Enterprises said Arnold died in his sleep after being diagnosed with cancer; in May he had announced that he had Stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized to his lungs.
A representative declined to comment beyond the statement. As a founding member — the band’s original drummer and lead vocalist — Arnold helped propel 3 Doors Down to mainstream success. He wrote "Kryptonite" in algebra class when he was 15: "I hated math and would just sit there and write every day," he said.
"I would write lyrics all the time in that class. I barely passed." The song, from the debut album The Better Life (2000), peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for best rock song. Arnold formed the band in 1996 with Todd Harrell and Matt Roberts; Chris Henderson joined in 1998.