3 Doors Down hail from the small town of Escatawpa, MS, near Biloxi. Members Brad Arnold (vocals/drums), Matt Roberts (guitar) and Todd Harrell (bass) built a large local following and caught first regional, then national attention with their single "Kryptonite." As their fame grew, they added guitarist Chris Henderson and a session musician to play on drums so that Arnold could sing full-time. A gig at the influential CBGB club in New York landed them a major label contract with Republic Records and they released their successful debut The Better Life in 2000. Away From The Sun followed in 2002 and contained the hits "Here Without You" and "When I'm Gone." The latter built quite a following in Middle America, as it became an anthem for departing troops after a video was filmed on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in late 2002. They toured throughout 2003 and 2004 and released Seventeen Days in 2005, which debuted at #1 and went platinum in its first week.
3 Doors Down have mastered the angsty, dual acoustic and electric guitar-laden, Top 40 single. "Kryptonite" and "Smack," both off The Better Life, are quintessential 21st Century rock, with driving beats and echoed vocals. And "Here Without You" is the very definition of a power ballad, with heartbreaking lyrics and anthemic chorus. But the video for "When I'm Gone" (although we'd quibble that the subject matter doesn't really match the tempo and delivery of the song) is the one that'll really getcha, as it contains footage of departing troops bidding farewell to their loved ones.
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