3 Doors Down
(or 3DD
) is an American rock band formed in 1994 in Escatawpa, , by Brad Arnold (vocals and drums), Matt Roberts (guitar), and Todd Harrell (bass). [1] The band signed to Universal Records after the success of their song "Kryptonite". The band has since sold well over 16 million records worldwide since their debut album, The Better Life
, which was released in 2000.
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3 DOORS DOWN TICKETS
EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven Tickets 7/24 | Jul 24, 2024 Wed, 7:00 PM | | Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven Tickets 7/26 | Jul 26, 2024 Fri, 7:00 PM | | Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven Tickets 7/27 | Jul 27, 2024 Sat, 7:00 PM | | Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven Tickets 7/31 | Jul 31, 2024 Wed, 7:00 PM | | Creed, 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven Tickets 8/2 | Aug 02, 2024 Fri, 7:00 PM | |
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History
Early years (1996-2000)
3 Doors Down was formed by drummer vocalist Brad Arnold, guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell. The three were friends who had grown up together in
Escatawpa, and who all shared a common interest in rock music. The band began playing locally around the city, playing a mix of both cover songs and original songs that would eventually be recorded on their first release. Brad Arnold eventually ended up not only drumming, but also acting as the group's singer, mainly because, as he puts it, "nobody else would do it, but I did and enjoyed it." Arnold is also their lyricist, and wrote some of their early hits when he was 15, often working on songs during
math class.
[2]
The band eventually began to tour outside of their city, and it was during a trip to
Foley, Alabama that they came up with their official name. When the three men were walking through the town, they saw a building where some letters had fallen off of its sign, and it read "Doors Down." Since at the time they consisted of three people, they added the "3" to create "3 Doors Down."
A couple years after performing together, Todd Harrell asked guitarist Chris Henderson to join the band in order to make the sound more full. They recorded a demo CD of their original songs at Lincoln Recording Studio in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Radio station 97.9 WCPR started playing the EP version of "Kryptonite", and it became the #1 requested song on the station for over 15 weeks and led to
Universal Records signing the band.
The Better Life
(2000-2001)
3 Doors Down's first album,
The Better Life
was released on February 2 , 2000, and went on to become the 11th best-selling album of that year, selling over 3 million copies. It has since been certified 6x platinum, thanks in large part to the international hit singles, "
Kryptonite", "
Loser", and "
Duck and Run". A fourth single, "Be Like That", also did well and was actually re-recorded for the 2001 film
American Pie 2
, with alternate lyrics for the first 3 lines. This version is known as "The American Pie 2 Edit".
For recording the album, Brad Arnold recorded both the vocal and drum parts. However, when touring to support
The Better Life
, the band hired a drummer so that Arnold could perform at the front of the stage.
Away from the Sun
(2002)
Session drummer
Josh Freese was hired to record drums for
Away from the Sun
. Also,
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.
Another 700 Miles
(2003)
In 2003, 3 Doors Down released a live E.P. 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. Besides featuring some of 3 Doors Down's hit singles from their previous two albums, the E.P. also contains a version of the popular
Lynyrd Skynyrd song "
That Smell".
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 Escawtawpa, the members of the band saw the effects of Katrina's devastation.
[3]
Seventeen Days
(2005-2007)
The band's third studio album, 2005's
Seventeen Days
, has since been certified platinum. "
Let Me Go" and "
Behind Those Eyes" charted with the most success. "Live for Today", "
Landing in London" (on which
Bob Seger provided back-up vocals and guitar), 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 headlined many shows of their own.
Also 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 accept the position as drummer and contributing member of
Nickelback.
[4]
3 Doors Down
(2008-present)
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dead link]
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.
[7]
Charity work
The Better Life Foundation
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 nationwide, as well as providing aid and assistance to the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi during
Hurricane Katrina.
When the Mississippi town of
Waveland took an especially hard hit from 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, 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 in at the
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Biloxi, MS to raise money for the charity. 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.
This year's show will feature 3 Doors Down,
MuzikMafia, and
Switchfoot.
Past performers include,
Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Shinedown,
Alter Bridge,
Staind,
Hinder,
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, numerous signed guitars and sports memorabilia, just to name a few.
Information about the charity can be found at http://www.thebetterlifefoundation.org
Members
Current members
- Brad Arnold - lead vocals
- Matt Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Henderson - rhythm guitar
- Todd Harrell - bass guitar
- Greg Upchurch - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Former members
- Daniel Adair - drums, percussion
- Richard Liles — drums, percussion
Discography
Studio Albums
Year
| Album Details
| Peak Chart Positions
| Certifications [8] [9]
|
US
| AUS
| CAN
| NZ
| GER
| FIN
|
2000
| The Better Life
- 1st studio album
- Released: February 8, 2000
| 7
| 16
| 6
| 19
| 45
| 23
|
- US: 6× Platinum
- CAN: 2× Platinum
|
2002
| Away From the Sun
- 2nd studio album
- Released: November 12, 2002
| 8
| 8
| —
| 11
| 28
| —
|
- US: 4× Platinum
- CAN: Platinum
|
2005
| Seventeen Days
- 3rd studio album
- Released: February 8, 2005
| 1
| —
| 6
| —
| 6
| 17
|
|
2008
| 3 Doors Down
- 4th studio album
- Released: May 20, 2008
| 1
| —
| 3
| 22
| 6
| 28
|
|
EPs
Year
| Album Details
| Peak Chart Positions
| Certifications
|
US
| AUS
| CAN
| NZ
| UK
| GER
|
2003
| Another 700 Miles
- 1st Live EP
- Released: November 11, 2003
| 20
| 26
| 21
| —
| —
| 17
| Gold
|
2005
| Acoustic EP
- 1st studio EP
- Released: June 5, 2005
| 38
| 49
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
Digital albums
- iTunes Originals – 3 Doors Down
(2006)
DVDs
- 3 Doors Down: One Red Light
(November 2004)
- 3 Doors Down: Live in Houston, Texas — Away from the Sun
(2005, Monster Music)
- 3 Doors Down "Behind Those Eyes"
—a documentary by Alex Gibney which films the transition of the band from the Away from the Sun
tour's last two dates, through the recording of Seventeen Days
, and through the hurricane-plagued Seventeen Days
tour ending with drummer Greg Upchurch's call to get home to witness the birth of his son Jackson. (Still unreleased)
- The band produced their own live performance DVD of the unexpected end to their Seventeen Days
tour. (Still unreleased)
Singles
Year
| Title
| Peak Chart Positions
| Certifications
| Album
|
US Hot 100 [10]
| Mod. Rock
| Main. Rock
| US Pop 100
| US Hot Adult Top 40
| AUS
| CAN
| NZ
| SWI
| UK Rock Chart
| GER
|
2000
| "Kryptonite"
| 3
| 1
| 1
| —
| 3
| 8
| 5
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 85
| Platinum
| The Better Life
|
2001
| "Loser"
| 55
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 5
| 8
| 2
| 78
|
|
"Duck and Run"
| 110
| 11
| 1
| —
| —
| 17
| 20
| —
| 28
| 24
| —
|
|
"Be Like That"
| 24
| 22
| 10
| —
| —
| 9
| 13
| 8
| 10
| 10
| —
|
|
2003
| "When I'm Gone"
| 4
| 2
| 1
| —
| 1
| 1
| 5
| 1
| 1
| 3
| —
| Gold
| Away From the Sun
|
"The Road I'm On"
| —
| 24
| 8
| —
| —
| 9
| 15
| —
| —
| 13
| —
|
|
2004
| "Here Without You"
| 5
| 22
| 18
| —
| 1
| 2
| 10
| 1
| 61
| 1
| 23
| Platinum
|
"Away From the Sun"
| 62
| 33
| 20
| —
| 5
| 8
| 4
| 16
| 22
| 10
| —
| Gold
|
2005
| "Let Me Go"
| 14
| 14
| 6
| 8
| 3
| 4
| 3
| 10
| 8
| 1
| 55
| Gold
| Seventeen Days
|
"Behind Those Eyes"
| —
| 25
| 12
| —
| —
| 14
| 19
| —
| 35
| 33
| —
|
|
"Live For Today"
| —
| 31
| 18
| —
| —
| 52
| —
| —
| 73
| —
| —
|
|
"Here By Me"
| —
| —
| —
| 81
| 26
| 60
| —
| —
| —
| 74
| —
|
|
2006
| "Landing In London" (ft. Bob Seger)
| —
| —
| 32
| —
| 31
| —
| 55
| —
| —
| —
| 79
|
|
2008
| "It's Not My Time"
| 17
| 5
| 1
| 18
| 1
| 2
| 18
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 37
| Platinum
| 3 Doors Down
|
"Train"
| —
| 29
| 10
| —
| —
| 2
| 18
| 23
| —
| 34
| —
|
|
"Let Me Be Myself"
| 122
| —
| —
| 52
| 12
| 8
| 10
| 9
| 19
| 12
| 95
|
|
"Citizen/Soldier"
| —
| —
| 19
| —
| —
| 1
| 4
| 12
| 12
| 8
| —
|
|
References
- 3 Doors Down > Biography
- Interview with Brad Arnold
- Waddell, Ray. "3 Doors Down Plots Benefit, New Album" ''Billboard'', October 16, 2006. Accessed October 12, 2007.
- 3 Doors Down Grab Muddy Drummer
- 3 Doors Down Cruises To No.1 On Album Chart
- 3 Doors Down Official Website
- Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"
- http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH
- http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php
- Artist Chart History - 3 Doors Down