Brad Arnold, the lead singer of 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47.
The founding member of the rock band was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife Jennifer, when he died.
The band said in a statement released on Saturday (February 7): « Brad helped redefine mainstream rock music, blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting and lyrical themes that resonated with everyday listeners.
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« 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.
« Those closest to him will remember not only his talent, but his warmth, humility, faith, and deep love for his family and friends. »
The statement, which was posted on 3 Doors Down’s social media, stated Arnold died ‘peacefully’ in his sleep after a ‘courageous battle with cancer’. »He was a devoted husband to Jennifer, and his kindness, humor, and generosity touched everyone fortunate enough to know him, » it continued.
« The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time and kindly asks that their privacy be respected.
« He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. »
The ‘Kryptonite’ hitmaker shared in May last year that he’d been diagnosed with kidney cancer in an emotional video posted to Instagram.
« I’d been sick a couple of weeks ago and went to the hospital and got checked out, » he said at the time.
« I actually got the diagnosis that I have a clear cell renal carcinoma that has metastasized into my lung… and that’s stage four, and that’s not real good. »
The devastating diagnosis led to 3 Doors Down cancelling their upcoming gigs, of which he said ‘we’re sorry for that’.
Arnold concluded the video: “I’d love for you to lift me up in your prayers every chance you get, » adding: « I think it’s time for me to go listen to ‘It’s Not My Time’ a little bit, right? »
Born in 1978, Arnold founded 3 Doors Down in 1996, alongside pals Todd Harrell on bass and lead guitarist Matt Roberts.
The band released their breakout hit ‘Kryptonite’, which a 15-year-old Arnold had written during a high school maths class, which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2000, as well as being nominated for the Grammy’s Best Rock Song’.
They went on to release six studio albums, including their most recent album in 2016, Us And The Night, before Robert’s death the same year from a prescription drug overdose.
Another one bites the dust… Queen’s Brian May has explained why the band won’t tour in the US again, despite saying they love America.
The announcement comes despite a long reign of highly successful tours, including Queen’s most recent in 2023. That particular tour saw the band joined by American Idol alumni, Adam Lambert, with the pair having performed together since 2012.
However, 78-year-old May insisted that the country has changed a lot since their first performance in April 1974.
« America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account, » May told the Daily Mail.
« It’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America, and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment. »The musician’s wife, Anita Dobson, previously said she had begged her husband to hang up his guitar strings because she ‘wanted him home’.
“It was time to take a break and spend time with family, take stock,” he told the outlet.
« But never say never about not coming back, the rebuild of Queen Two is coming back, and there are a couple of things you haven’t heard. »
Beyond their US-banned list, it is currently unclear when the band will next perform, with May saying they were taking it ‘day by day’.
It’s not the first time the musician has put his foot down over politics, with May recently insisting that he would never perform at Glastonbury due to political issues with the festival’s organizers. »I wouldn’t do Glastonbury next year because of the politics of the people who run it, unless that changes, I won’t do it, » he told the Daily Mail.
The musician, who is also a long-time animal rights activist and astrophysicist, claimed that organizers liked ‘killing badgers’, which he vehemently opposed.
« They like killing badgers, and they think it’s for sport, and that’s something I cannot support because we’ve been trying to save these badgers for years, and they are still being killed for years, so that’s the reason we’re missing out on it. »
A staunch animal lover, May is the founder of the Save Me Trust, which campaigns for the rights of foxes and badgers.
Rock fans around the world are mourning after the family of legendary KISS guitarist Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley confirmed his passing.
Frehley, who has died at the age of 74, was one of the original members of the band.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” his family said in a statement.
« In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.
« The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
While the specific cause of death is yet to be confirmed, the New Yorker’s representative, Lori Lousararian, attributed his passing to a ‘recent fall at his home’, per Rolling Stone.Frehley cemented himself into rock history by shredding on the guitar, but he wasn’t all about the riffs – he also wrote some of KISS’s most iconic tracks, including ‘Cold Gin’, ‘Parasite’, ‘Shock Me’ and ‘Talk to Me’, among others.
Frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have shared how their ‘devastation’.
« We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley, » they said in a joint statement.
« He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.
« Our thoughts are with [Frehley’s wife] Jeanette, [his daughter] Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world. »
Growing up in the Bronx, Ace Frehley was caught between chasing athletic dreams and diving headfirst into rock ‘n’ roll, but a few heavy hits on the football field changed everything. »This is bulls***, » he later admitted thinking. « My hands are too important. The guitar comes first. »
That moment became the start of something bigger. At just 16, Frehley saw The Who and Cream tear up the stage at the RKO Theater in Manhattan, and it completely flipped a switch.
« The Who really inspired me towards theatrical rock, » he said. « When I saw them, it totally blew me away. I’d never seen anything like it. It was a big turning point. »
From then on, it was all about the music, and he went on to spend years jumping between bands in the late 60s and early 70s, trying to make it stick.
That was until he spotted an ad that would change his life forever: « Lead guitarist wanted with Flash and Ability. Album Out Shortly. No time wasters please. »
The rest is history.
