Brad Arnold, lead vocals for 3 Doors Down
(Cover) You all recently had a week off between Ohio shows – what did you do in your down time?
(Brad) We went home and recorded some things, did some things for radio. We had a CD release party that was a lot of fun. We didn’t really have time off, we just really are ready to go back into the touring. We took a year off after 6 years of touring and then it took us a year to record this album, so we’re excited to get back out there.
(C) How would you compare your Toledo show to Rock on the Range last weekend?
(B) Rock on the range was huge; obviously a lot bigger than our Toledo show, but I love Ohio. Ohio really is my favorite state to play. I joked last night that I say that to everyone but Ohio fans always come out and support us, they have a good time, the concerts sell out. Rock on the Range was just humongous; the 2 shows were equally cool just in really different ways.
(C) When you do the big festivals do you watch the other bands and hang out or do you come in play and get out?
(B) Sometimes I watch, sometimes I don’t, and it just depends. If the crowd is huge and other groups are playing sometimes it psyches me out and I don’t really want to see until it’s my turn. I do love to watch and hang out; it’s kind of like family. This industry is actually kind of small, you see the same people, we’ve worked with a lot of them, so the festivals and radio station shows, and we done a few in the last couple weeks, are an opportunity to catch up and hang out with old friends.
(C) Your fans are very dedicated, would you say this is because of your grassroots
approach to touring and marketing?
(B) Maybe, I don’t know. We have the greatest fans in the world and I thank God for it. They are always just there for us, supporting us no matter what.
(C) Your new album dropped on Tuesday, you all holed up in a cabin to write
it – how do you think it affected the music.
(B) It wasn’t really a cabin, it was a house, but we wanted to get far
enough out that there are no kids, no distractions and you have ample opportunity
to just focus on the music. We kind of did that for the first album as well.
After a while in Nashville we felt we had enough to start recording so we went
to Orlando and recorded in this house. It took a lot of pressure off because
you wake up and you’re at the studio. You don’t have to worry about
- well that’s another couple of thousand dollars worth of studio time.
We wrote some more while we were there, so in a great way this process felt
more genuine, more enjoyable.
(C) Your music, your Myspace, and your promotional material is very focused
on supporting the troops, is there a personal connection there?
(B) I have family and friends that have served and Chris ( Henderson, Guitar) was in the military for several years. I think we should all feel a personal connection to those who serve because they obviously feel a connection to us to make those sacrifices. I just can’t thank them and their families enough. We’ll continue to recognize all the work the troops do to keep us safe.
(C) You’ve also done a lot of work with Katrina Relief, being from Mississippi were you or your family personally affected. (Brad (lead vocals), Matt (guitar), Todd (bass), and Chris (guitar) hail from Mississippi)
(B) Well, Chris’s house was covered in five to six feet of water, but
the whole area was devastated. We had the opportunity to help out and we were
very thankful we could. When the entire infrastructure of a place is just wiped
out like that it really takes a nation to rebuild it and we’ve seen the
entire country working there. It’s been great to see. So thanks to everyone
who has helped out in the effort.
(C) Anything you would like to add for your fans?
(B) Just thank you so much! God Bless you and thank you for always coming out
and supporting us.
Interview by Linsey Griffith
Photos by David Heasley