3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold has died at the age of 47
Brad Arnold, the singer and founder of the American rock band 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47 after being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer, RadarOnline.com reports.
An Arnold representative said died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, February 7, surrounded by his wife and family.
Arnold had led the Mississippi-based rock band since its formation in 1996 and was its longest-serving and only original member. He wrote the group’s breakthrough hit, kryptonite, while still in high school, a song that became one of the defining rock songs of the early 2000s and has been played more than 1.2 billion times on Spotify.
The singer publicly announced his cancer diagnosis in a post shared on the band’s Instagram account in May last year. In the video, Arnold explained the circumstances surrounding his illness and diagnosis.
He said: “I was sick a few weeks ago and went to hospital and was checked out. I was actually diagnosed with clear cell renal carcinoma that has spread to my lung… and that’s stage four, and that’s not really good.”
Clear cell renal carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer. Stage 4 cancer, also known as metastatic cancer, indicates that the disease has spread from the original location to other parts of the body.
Following the diagnosis, Arnold announced that 3 Doors Down would be forced to cancel their upcoming tour.
Arnold concluded his message by saying, “I would like you to lift me up in your prayers every chance you get, and I think it’s time to start listening to It’s not my time a bit, right? Thanks a lot guys. God loves you. We love you. See you soon.”
3 Doors Down was originally formed by Arnold, lead guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell. Rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson joined the group in 1998, while Arnold switched from drums to solely lead vocals around 2000.
The band later underwent several lineup changes, including the departure of drummer Daniel Adair in 2005, founding guitarist Roberts in 2012 and bassist Harrell in 2013.
The band’s debut album, The better lifereleased in 2000, it was certified seven times platinum. They subsequently released five additional studio albums. Arnold had spoken openly in recent years about his recovery from alcoholism, after quitting drinking in 2016.
In 2003, the band founded The Better Life Foundation, which has supported numerous U.S. charities and provided relief to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.
Arnold’s death follows the loss of founding guitarist Matt Roberts, who died of an overdose in 2016 at the age of 38.
