Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Feb 8: Brad Arnold, lead singer and founding member of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, passed away on Saturday, months after revealing that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47.

The band confirmed Arnold’s death in a statement shared on social media, saying he “passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer.”

Paying tribute, the band described Arnold as a founding member, vocalist and original drummer who helped redefine mainstream rock music with emotionally resonant songwriting that connected deeply with audiences. “Above all, he was a devoted husband to Jennifer, and his kindness, humour and generosity touched everyone fortunate enough to know him,” the statement said, adding that his warmth, humility, faith and love for family would be fondly remembered.

Formed in Mississippi in 1995, 3 Doors Down rose to global fame with the hit song Kryptonite, which earned the band a Grammy nomination in 1999. Arnold had written the song while still in school. Their debut album The Better Life went on to sell over six million copies, followed by another Grammy nomination in 2003 for When I’m Gone.

The band released six studio albums, the latest being Us And The Night in 2016, and produced several chart-topping singles including Loser, Duck and Run and Be Like That, featured in the film American Pie 2. In 2017, 3 Doors Down also performed at the first inauguration concert of US President Donald Trump.

Arnold had announced his cancer diagnosis in May last year, revealing that clear cell renal carcinoma had spread to his lungs, forcing the band to cancel a planned summer tour.

“His music reverberated far beyond the stage, creating moments of connection, joy and shared experiences that will live on,” the band said, mourning the loss of a musician whose legacy continues through his songs.