3 Doors Down lead singer and co-founder Brad Arnold has become the second of the 2026 Drop 40 nominees to shuffle of their mortal coil. He formed the band in 1996 with fellow Mississippi compatriots Matt Roberts and Todd Harrell. They hit the big time three years later with Kryptonite, topping the USA rock charts for weeks on end and reaching Number 3 overall. They went on to record multiple platinum-selling albums including The Better Life, Away From the Sun, and Seventeen Days, and reached worldwide album sales of over 20 million.
Arnold was the last of the original line-up to still be with the band, Harrell “retired” in 2003 after he killed someone in his car while driving under the influence of too much prescription medication. Roberts died in 2016 from an overdose of prescription medication. Arnold by contrast needed more prescription medication if anything, being diagnosed in May 2025 with Stage IV kidney cancer that had already metastasized to his lungs. 58 teams took notice, and Arnold’s place on the Drop 40 was assured as a result.
So, to the scoreboard. His death at just 47 puts a new team on top for both boards. I Will Not Die, it’s the World that Will End takes the top spot overall with 39 points, and LW’s Latest Hit takes the lead for the Theme teams with 35.
![[Picture of Brad Arnold]](https://www.derbydeadpool.co.uk/images/celebs/a/arnolbr026.jpg)
Love me when I’m gone…
Brad Arnold, Drop 40 Joint #24
September 27 1978 – February 7 2026, Age 47
55 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀+40 = 13 Points
3 Teams 🃏 = 26 Points