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RECALLING A DEBUT

Brad Arnold shares the stress of ‘Kryptonite’

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski released a remastered, 20th anniversary Brad Arnold admits he became a bit emotional when 3 Doors Down returned to the stage at the Greeley Stampede in Colorado after a edition of “The Better Life,” along with the 10-song “Escatawpa Sessions” as a box set on high-quality three-LP vinyl. Recorded in 1996 in the band’s hometown, the “Escatawpa Sessions” features seven demo versions from “The pandemic-induced break. Better Life,” as well as three previously

“I had to hold back a little bit,” Arnold unreleased tracks. says during a Zoom call. “I think we had The box set features a custom had to hold back a little bit, especially lithograph, a six-page booklet with our drummer. His drums come to my previously unreleased photos and microphone a lot and I was like, ‘Come extensive liner notes and interviews with on, man.’” the band and executives from its label

Arnold and 3 Doors Down is on tour and talent agency. celebrating the 20th anniversary of its A two CD and an expanded digital debut album, “The Better Life,” which album of “The Better Life” are also includes the omnipresent “Kryptonite.” available, and each feature four new The act will perform “The Better Life” bonus tracks including, “The Better in its entirety, from front to back on Life (XX mix),” a new mix by Grammy Saturday, August 28, when it plays Award-winning Chris Lord-Alge, Harrah’s Ak-Chin with Theory of a “Kryptonite (2000 acoustic),” “Be Like Deadman. That (2000 acoustic)” and “Wasted Me

Earlier this year, 3 Doors Down (with Harp Version).”

“The Better Life” songs have evolved over time, says Arnold, who recognizes the nuances that have arisen. When Arnold looks back at the recording process, he doesn’t, honestly, see much.

“It’s so blurry,” he says with a laugh. “Back in those days, we used to like to have fun and I think that might have helped me not remember so good, either. But, I remember more of the last five years.”

He does recall the stress that came along with fame, especially after the release of “Kryptonite.”

“Before that record, I’d never left my hometown very much,” says Arnold, who was born 42 years ago in Escatawpa, Mississippi.

“I’m from south Mississippi. It meant a lot for me to go to Memphis to make that record. When we started touring a lot, I don’t know how many countries we went to that first couple of years.”

Arnold estimates 3 Doors Down played 300 shows a year, and radio station apperances in conjunction with those gigs.

“It was a lot for a 21 year old,” he says. “I was incredibly thankful for a really good family. I’m the youngest of seven kids and my family is great.

“I thank God for my mommy and daddy and all my brothers and sisters because to my brothers and sisters, still, to this day, I’m just their little brother.”

3 Doors Down w/Theory of a Deadman

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 28 WHERE: Harrah’s Ak-Chin, 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa COST: Tickets start at $49.50 INFO: caesars.com/harrahs-akchin/shows

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021

25 MEANT TO BE

Nothing comes between Theory and its music

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski hear. We’ll also play a lot of older stuff, Theory of a Deadman singer Tyler Connolly curses the Rocky Mountains. Canadian bands of Theory of a Deadman’s like stuff from ‘Scars and Souvenirs.’” “Say Nothing” is a departure for Theory of a Deadman, as it addresses societal issues. The single “History of Violence” addresses domestic violence, while “Strangers” shares the polarizing caliber rarely perform on the West effect of politics on society. Connolly Coast, as border states’ shows mean says he didn’t worry a bit about what fans larger audiences and profits. would think about the new music.

“We rarely ever play New Mexico “I always try to tell people, ‘Look, and Arizona,” Connolly says. “We don’t when you started in a band you had no really hit it enough. We just turn around fans,’” Connolly says. “‘So where did and go back.” the inspiration come from? Were you

Theory of a Deadman — the musical nervous about it then?’ You don’t know minds behind hits like “Angel,” “Bad any better. You just make songs and Girlfriend” and “All or Nothing” — will hope people like them. perform with 3 Doors Down at Harrah’s “We try to approach every record like Ak-Chin on Saturday, August 28. He that and try not to have this pressure already has his stage banter down. about what would the fans like. If you do

“I’m going to say, ‘Oh my God. We’re that, you’ll just repeat yourself over and so excited to see you,’” he says during a over and it’ll become redundant.” recent Zoom interview. “We’ll probably Instead, Theory of a Deadman lets the be just as excited as everyone in the pen go and “whatever comes out, comes audience.” out.” Connolly says he and bandmates

Playing shows again have posed a guitarist Dave Brenner, bassist Dean challenge for Connolly, as it relates to Back and drummer Joey Dandeneau the lack of CD booklets and album liner enjoyed trying new things. notes. “With this next record, I don’t think

“It was fun to put in our thanks — we’ll continue going in some crazy thanks to the family, the people you direction,” Connolly says. “I think you’re know, all the endorsers. We would see all going to hear some older sounds and of that stuff and we’d love it. guitar-driven rock. So, once again, I’m

“Now it’s just a faceless thing. I loved excited to get out and do that.” reading all the lyrics. Now that I don’t Theory of a Deadman kept busy remember some of my lyrics, I Google during the pandemic-induced break. them—for real. Then I’ll see some fan Connolly and Brenner spent the has written the lyrics and they’re wrong. pandemic working on “other business I say, ‘That’s not what I said.’ That’s how opportunities” that will be revealed in I get my lyrics now.” the fall.

The pandemic closed the door on “We were bored, and the band is doing concerts and, subsequently, Theory of other ventures, which everybody will a Deadman’s living. In January 2020, find out about soon enough,” Connolly the band released its seventh studio says. “That’s what happens when you album, “Say Nothing.” This one-off gig have a lot of time on your hands. You in Maricopa and Theory of a Deadman’s just sit around going, ‘What could I upcoming headlining tour allow the do?’” band to breathe new life into the record. Connolly and Brenner also passed

“We’re actually going to try to maybe time with Band Meeting, their podcast play a couple songs from our new that is available on all streaming record,” Connolly says about what fans platforms. Guests have included Mark can expect. “We came out and then Tremonti of Alter Bridge as well as nothing happened because it came out athletes, musicians and songwriters. on January 31. The whole world shut “It’s been a lot of fun,” Connolly says. down in March. We never were able to “We put something on every couple tour at all. weeks. We’ve had rock or country artists,

“I was chatting with the band hockey players like Matt Duchene from yesterday and said, ‘Let’s get together so the Nashville Predators and ‘Noodles,’ I can start practicing some of this crap,’” Jamie McLennan. He’s retired now, but he says with a laugh. he was a goalie for a bunch of teams like

“Dean (Back) our bass player said, the Florida Panthers.” ‘What about playing something off our Founded in 1999 in North Delta, new record?’ Honestly, for us, we try to British Columbia, Canada, Theory of a play the hits, the stuff people want to Deadman has evolved since it was the first band signed to Chad Kroeger’s 604 Records in 2001.

“I always think, personally, every band has to evolve — unless you’re an AC/ DC,” he says. “Actually, I would love to be an AC/DC. I used to love the older U2 stuff like ‘The Unforgettable Fire.’ It was this thrashy rock band. Then they got into ‘Achtung Baby’ and some of that pop stuff, and ‘Zooropa.’ It got weird, but I accepted it because that’s the evolution that bands do.”

Connolly says Theory of a Deadman’s evolution equates to stronger relationships within the band.

“When we make records, everyone just has their parts,” he says. “

“I almost feel like we’re a four piece puzzle in which everyone just puts in their perspective, what they hear on the song.”

Besides internal affairs, Theory of a Deadman and Connolly have watched the music industry change as well. It’s become more of a singles-driven business.

“I feel the music industry is such a machine,” he says. “They just try to squeeze out so many hits. I was thinking that the other day. Time has changed now where we’ve gone back to a singles market.

“I miss the days when I was listening to ‘Synchronicity’ from the Police yesterday. They have a couple tracks on that record that are just like the weirdest songs. I thought, ‘This isn’t even a song. It’s just a crazy acid trip.’ You can’t do stuff like that anymore. Some A&R (artist and repertoire) guy would say, ‘This isn’t a single. What are you doing?’ My answer? ‘We’re being a band. This is what we do.’”

3 Doors Down w/Theory of a Deadman

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 28 WHERE: Harrah’s Ak-Chin, 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa COST: Tickets start at $49.50 INFO: caesars.com/harrahs-akchin/shows