Brad Arnold, the lead singer, founding member and original drummer of rock band 3 Doors Down, has died. He was 47.
Arnold died on Saturday in his sleep after a battle with cancer, according to a statement posted on 3 Doors Down’s official social media platforms. He was surrounded by his wife, Jennifer, and family.
“Brad helped redefine mainstream rock music, blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting and lyrical themes that resonated with everyday listeners,” reads the post. “Brad’s songwriting became a cultural touchstone for a generation, producing some of the most enduring hits of the 2000s, including the band’s breakout hit, ‘Kryptonite,’ which he wrote in his math class when he was just 15 years old. 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.”
The statement noted that Arnold was a “devoted” husband and said his family asked that their privacy be respected during this time.
In May, Arnold revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. “I have no fear. I really, sincerely am not scared of it at all, but it is going to force us to cancel our tour this summer and we’re sorry for that,” he said in an Instagram video.
Born in Escatawpa, Mississippi, on Sept. 27, 1978, Arnold founded 3 Doors Down in 1996 with his bandmates Todd Harrell and Matt Roberts while they were in high school. The band’s debut album, The Better Life, was released in 2000 and became the 11th-best-selling album of that year. Their songs “Kryptonite,” “Loser” and “Be Like That” all reached the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of its career, 3 Doors Down released six studio albums, most recently Us and the Night in 2016.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Jennifer.