3 Doors Down - Kryptonite Can Stop Superman But Not This Band

Escatawpa, Mississippi is as unlikely a town as they come to be the birthplace of a rock band. In the strange world of rock music, that's exactly what happened. Formed in the mid-90s by friends Brad Arnold, Matt Roberts, Todd Harrell and Chris Henderson, the band started meagerly in a local garage and began practicing their favorite cover songs. Eager to make a go of it, the boys began haunting the local nightclubs, searching for a place to play. One day while cruising around town they passed an old run down building with a faded sign that read "Doors Down." Since there were only three members in the band at the time, guitarist Chris Henderson had yet to join the band, they quickly adopted the name of "3 Doors Down."

The newly christened 3 Doors Down soon established themselves as one of the leading live attractions on the local circuit. Soon they had enough original tunes to record a demo CD in 1997 and quickly sold all the copies to local fans. Their growing popularity caught the attention of several major labels and soon they were traveling to New York to play a showcase at the famous CBGB's Nightclub. This performance led to a deal with the Universal Records subsidiary, Republic. Texas artist Pat Green is also signed with Republic, which proves they recognize talent when they see it. Drummer Richard Liles was added to the line-up during recording sessions for the band's major label debut to allow Arnold to concentrate on vocals and leave his drummer duties behind.

Their first CD, The Better Life, drew immediate comparisons to Matchbox 20. Arnold and Rob Thomas sound very similar, so it's easy to see how this could happen. The album kicked off with three blistering tracks that set the mood for the rest of the disc, "Kryptonite", "Loser" and "Duck And Run." The CD became one of the surprise hits of the summer of 2000, reaching double platinum and breaking into the Billboard Top 10. "Kryptonite" also repeated its local success on a national level, climbing into the Top 5 on the Hot 100.

Brad Arnold is the bands primary vocalist and songwriter, with a talent that evidently came alive during his years in East Central High School in Hurley, Ms. He claims to have written the lyrics to "Kryptonite" in algebra class, that and about twenty other songs. When Brad told his father that it was his voice on the CD, his father responded "Go tell your mamma. She might believe you." The old man hadn't heard his son sing one word before the band's first CD was released. Not only were his parents surprised that their son could sing, but so were his classmates. No one had ever imagined that this raw garage band would ever amount to anything, much less enjoy the instant success they have.

Through his brothers and sister, Arnold had developed a taste for commercial rock before graduating to the heavier stuff. "I kinda like everything," he reveals in the bands bio sheet. "Everything influences me, everything I hear." He remembers their first gig, playing at a friend's party. "We only knew four songs, one by Bush, one by Metallica and a couple of originals, but we played them over and over again." Before long the set list grew and the band started playing shows in nearby cities as well as in their hometown. The rest, they say, is history. After having one of the best selling CD's of 2000/2001, it was time to see if they could recapture the magic.

After a short vacation from the years of touring practically non-stop, the now five piece band returned to the studio to work on their 2nd CD, which would become Away From The Sun. Released just a few weeks ago, the CD is already at the top of the Billboard charts and on it's way to being certified Gold. The first single and video, "When I'm Gone," is a powerful tune that builds slowly before climaxing with a thunderous classic rock guitar sound. The title track shares much of the same fierce guitar playing combined with heartfelt lyrics.
This is a band with a message, thanks to Arnold's talents as a songwriter. The entire album is full of powerful messages, all from the pen of a man barely old enough to shave. On "Ticket to Heaven," he explains the complexities of life. "When everything is said and done, I won't have one thing justify. All they gave me was a ticket to heaven, but that ticket to heaven said to lie in the bed you make." My favorite track, "Running Out Of Days," he describes the hectic lives we all lead. "There's too much work and I'm spent, there's too much pressure and I'm bent, too many things to get done and I feel like I'm running out of days."

As a fan of classic rock from the 1970's, 3 Doors Down gets my vote for keeping that sound alive and well in the new millennium. One of the major complaints I hear about the new breed of rock bands today is their lack of originality. Granted, it's nearly impossible to have a new idea in a field with a fifty year history. Yes, this band will remind you of Matchbox Twenty, but they have a much harder edge. They rock much harder than Rob Thomas and his boys ever dreamed of. Check out "Dangerous Game" or "Sarah Yellin," if you have any doubts about their ability to crank up the volume.

The CD has a bonus untitled track and comes with a DVD that includes live versions of "Kryptonite," "Live," "Loser," "Duck & Run" and "Be Like That." It also features a short documentary about the making of the new CD. It's a lot of bang for your buck, but it's just another day on planet Earth for 3 Doors Down. They will hit the road soon and Texas is definitely on the schedule.