3 Doors Down

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.

Now, on the cusp of 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.

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: 13 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.

In fact, their most recent album, 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.

‘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.”