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525 Power Tracks - Featured Artist |
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3
Doors Down |
Brad Arnold -
lead vocals
Matt Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Henderson - rhythm guitar
Todd Harrell - bass guitar
Greg Upchurch - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Don’t tell rock band 3 Doors Down you can’t go home again.
Formed in Escatawpa, Mississippi, the resilient fivesome
has blazed a trail as the quintessential rock band,
attaining massive mainstream success but somehow never
losing that small town identity that has branded them
rock’s truest underdogs. They’ve reigned as a genuine
force of nature, boasting rock n’ roll’s most earnest
work ethic – ‘The thoroughly modern American band’ -
crows Billboard, one part swagger/one part tireless road
warriors, brandishing an arsenal of battle-tested radio
gems like their breakthrough anthem, “Kryptonite.”
Unleashed at the beginning of the decade, the song
seemed to capture the band’s heroic climb and steadfast
refusal to be pigeonholed as just another rock band. |
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After releasing their first self-titled album (their fourth
studio album and what some have appraised as ‘their most
definitive,’) the group weighs in on what it took to refresh
their innate sense of ‘place’ and deliver what just might be
their masterwork - a blistering, both-barrels approach etched in
the grain of brand new hits like the wistful wakeup call of
“It’s Not My Time,” the contemplative “Pages,” and the
stem-winding lure of “Train,” among others.
“What it took, was for us to take some real time off, go home,
and then gather again as the band we know how to be,” says lead
singer/songwriter Brad Arnold. “It was so appropriate to
self-title the album, because after taking what amounted to
almost a year-long break, we were hungry for each other’s
company. A song like ‘It’s Not My Time,’ kind of sets the stage
for what we’ve been through. I’ve known Matt and Todd and Chris
since grade school. With a foundation like that, we were secure
enough to take the time necessary, to make us want it.” Adds
newest member, drummer Greg Upchurch, who joined the band after
the recording of the 2005 release, Seventeen Days (this
self-titled album is the first 3DD album on which he appears)
“This truly is our defining moment as musicians. The writing,
the recording, the level of collaboration was truly an
all-around band effort. This CD is living proof of how good this
band can be.”
And that’s saying something. Because when you tally the notches
accrued during 3 Doors Down’s decade-plus ascension (the
original group formed in ’95) you realize they’ve earned a
wall-full of accolades that are also firmly cemented into rock’s
record books: 15 million albums sold, 3 multi-platinum albums
(their first album, 2000’s The Better Life sold an astounding 6
million copies, with their 2002 follow-up, Away From The Sun
selling 4 million) six #1 hits, multiple Billboard and other
awards, and a relentless road itinerary that saw them hit 32
countries in a six year roll-up with ‘nary a break in between.
You don’t rack up that kind of ‘hall-of-fame’ mileage without
putting a fair share of dents in the armor.
“Prior to making our new album, the average stretch we would
have off would be a couple weeks here, four-five weeks there,”
says bass player Todd Harrell. “We needed to get home and get
our roots back under us.” The band also miraculously found time
to add kindle to their homegrown The Better Life Foundation,
which has raised more than 2 million dollars for local
children’s charities since its inception in 2003. The group held
their fifth annual Foundation concert at the Hard Rock Casino &
Hotel in Biloxi, Ms (and has annually donated a portion of
concert ticket sales to the charity organization). The band also
became a key local force in providing aid for victims of
Hurricane Katrina. Rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson’s own house
was partially damaged by the hurricane. Everyone they knew,
friends and family, were affected by the tragedy. “Everything
seemed to be churning around that time,” continues Todd. “We
knew it was important to get back to a normal life. It was time
to overcome. Time to try and relax. Do some fishing. Get with
family. We were doing 200 plus shows a year, stopping only to
get the next record out.”
In fact, the acclaimed Seventeen Days, (their first album to
debut #1 on Billboard’s Top Albums chart) was mistakenly
believed to have been named for the quick burst of songwriting
sessions for the CD, when in actuality, it marked the paltry
amount of days-off between coming off the road from the Away
From The Sun tour, and going into the studio for preproduction
on Seventeen Days.
“We’re not a band that just goes through the motions,” says
Chris. “We go at everything hard. What I’m most proud of about
the new album is we left ourselves a way out. Everybody hit the
proverbial brick wall. Everybody fell down and everybody got
back up, then we all went back in the room and, what was great,
was we found all these different paths to go down.”
‘Different’ being the operative word here. Because what 3 Doors
Down did after reconnecting with family, and ‘soul searching’,
was opt for a new process to the creative part of their
relationship. One that emphasized the undeniable strength of the
group. The fact that the sum is greater than any individual
part. “It is all about getting in that room and hashing it out,”
recalls lead guitarist Matt Roberts. “If you look at a song like
‘Train,’ it was one of the first songs we wrote for this album.
It’s kind of a building block that exemplifies the spirit of
collaboration. Brad came with words and a melody and we hammered
it out.” “I remember I had that one in my head at home,” laughs
Brad. “I was singing it so much a friend threatened to kill me
if I didn’t get it down.” Matt also remembers it as one of the
‘most fun songs to put together. “The best moments of this band
have always been about keeping it a fun ride. You need that
sense of accomplishment, but you also need to keep the process
comfortable.”. Adds Chris: “I think it’s also fair to say we are
one of the only ‘southern’ bands who has the balls to put a song
like ‘Train’ out there these days.”
The band rented an old farmhouse South of Franklin, Tennessee,
where they would not only write songs, but live together, for a
while. Says Brad: “The farmhouse was great because it became a
wholehearted experience where we just focused on the writing. It
was such a close-knit atmosphere, reconnecting us after we had
been doing our own thing for a while. It set a cool mood for the
entire record, writing out in the country around this fireplace
in the basement. Just locking ourselves away and doing it.”
Matt adds that the unique setting soon sparked 26 or 27 song
ideas. “But winter turned colder than expected in Tennessee. So
we decided to head to a warmer climate.” The band found a ten
bedroom mansion in a remote section of Orlando, Florida. They
brought in Seventeen Days producer, Johnny K. and turned the
house into a recording studio.
The originality of the two locations rejuvenated the band’s
approach. They worked hard to capture that sense of camaraderie
on the final product. Once they nailed it, they packed up and
headed back to Nashville. Talking legendary mixer, Andy Wallace,
into abandoning his NY studio, again, (he also mixed Seventeen
Days in Nashville), and they began the final process of putting
the pieces together.
This album features inspired musicianship as well as some
intriguing personal refrains, like on one ‘band favorite,’ “Let
Me Be Myself.” “That one touches on the wrongheaded notion of
how we often try destructive methods to try and kill our pain,”
says Brad. “But I also want the songs to be open to
interpretation. More universal. That one is really talking about
anything you can get lost in.” And the ballad “Pages”: “I think
it has a lot of meaning for the whole band. What we’ve gone
through,” says Matt. “Brad is pointing out what’s going on with
his personal situation and ours. It was a very meaningful song
for us.”
The group also nails their share of (in-yer’-face)-rockers like
“Runaway.” “It’s the kind of song you put on only to get
somewhere else,” says Todd. “Put it on in your car and drive as
fast as you can.” He and several of the guys also touch on the
last song of the album, “She Don’t Want The World,” one of the
most unique 3 Doors Down offerings yet. “That song has really
become one of my favorites. It doesn’t have a big chorus or
anything, just Brad telling a story.” Adds Brad: “We even use
loops on that one. We were so willing to try different things. I
think one of the reasons this is such an important album for us
is because every one of us was in a different place prior to any
other record we’ve ever made. And I would say a ‘better’ place.
But it’s the kind of record that never would have happened if we
didn’t get off that merry go round for awhile.”
For Greg (former Puddle Of Mudd drummer, born in Louisiana,
raised in Oklahoma), a song like the gutsy “It’s The Only One
You’ve Got,” also exemplifies the band’s ‘sixth-sense’ for
cooperation. A true democracy – right down the line. “Just the
way that it went down. Chris was trying to learn another song
and stumbled upon the riff for this song. Brad was like ‘hold
on, I’ve got something for that.’ Then someone else would join
in. The whole thing happened quickly, and it turned out to be
such an inspiring song. This has been the most collaborative
experience I’ve ever been involved in. And the most satisfying.”
“We just can’t wait to put this sugar out and get back out on
the road,” agrees Brad. “It’s definitely the one where we got
our ‘grit back.”
Catch 3 Doors
Down on Tour
Aug 8 2009 11:00A
New York State Fair Infield Syracuse, New York
Aug 9 2009 3:00P Meadowbrook U.S.
Cellular Pavilion Gilford, New Hampshire
Aug 12 2009 7:00P Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
Rama, Ontario
Aug 14 2009 6:30P Regency Stadium Waldorf, Maryland
Aug 15 2009 6:30P The Summer Stage at Tag’s Big
Flats, New York
Oct 3 2009 2:00P Bayfest Mobile, Alabama
April 15-19, 2010, VH1 Best Cruise Ever!
with 3 Doors Down Lifehouse, Shinedown, Finger Eleven and more
than a dozen other bands. Set sail from Tampa to Grand Cayman
onboard the Carnival Inspiration
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