Why did Matt Roberts leave 3 doors down? All we know about original band members amid Brad Arnold’s cancer diagnosis 

Brad Arnold, who co-founded 3 Doors Down with Matt Roberts and Todd Harrell, provided a health update on Wednesday, May 7. The Better Life singer announced on Instagram that he is battling stage 4 kidney cancer, which has metastasized to his lungs. He revealed:

“I've been sick a couple of weeks ago and then went to the hospital and got checked out. Actually, I got the diagnosis that I had clear cell renal carcinoma that had metastasized into my lung. And that's stage 4, and that's not real good. But you know what? We serve a mighty God, and he can overcome anything. So I have no fear.”

Bradley Kirk Arnold also confirmed the 3 Doors Down tour cancellation this summer. As mentioned, the frontman co-founded the rock band with Matt Roberts and Todd Harrell, fellow natives of Escatawpa, Mississippi. The trio remained a part of the rock act for almost two decades. In May 2012, Roberts announced his departure from the band.

Matt Roberts left 3 Doors Down, citing his health struggles, as he said in a statement:

“3 Doors Down will always have a special place in my heart and it saddens me to take this time off. But my health has to be my first priority.”

Remarking on the split, Brad Arnold was quoted as saying:

“Matt is our brother and he will always be a part of this band and he will always be welcomed back with open arms.”

Todd Harrell was suspended from the popular rock band after he was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide

In the following year, the other co-founding member of 3 Doors Down, Todd Harrell, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide and was suspended from the band. The bass guitarist was again arrested in February 2024 for a second DUI charge and was suspended indefinitely. 3 Doors Down issued a statement"

"Following yesterday's incident, the band has extended Todd's suspension indefinitely. We take this action to protect the image and integrity of the band and to encourage Todd to address and resolve his problems."

Todd Harrell was again arrested in 2018 after an alarm went off at his home, per WLOX. The first responders detained the bass guitarist on charges of domestic violence, possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. Later that year, he was penalized with 10 years in custody after Harrell pleaded guilty to one count of “possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,” according to WLOX.

After Todd’s departure, Brad is the only original active member of the Kryptonite band.

Matt Roberts, Brad Arnold’s former 3 Doors Down bandmate, passed away in 2016

The lead guitarist was in Wisconsin for a fundraising concert for the veterans four years after leaving the multi-platinum rock act, per CNN. After the rehearsals, Matt Roberts returned to the hotel with his father, who reportedly last saw him outside his door. Darrell Roberts told the network:

“We go up to our room, we got adjoining rooms and – he was always looking after me as his dad – so my key didn’t work and he went and came back in just a few minutes and got me a new key. He opened the door for me and he said ‘just make sure you open the adjoining room in case you need anything.’ He was always looking out for me.”

Speaking to CNN at that time, Darrell Roberts recounted how he found out about his son’s demise:

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“I was wakened at 8:50 this morning by some detectives beating on my door. It’s always scary as a parent, they were in suits and that’s when they told me. They asked me if Matt Roberts was your son, I said yes, and they said ‘we have bad news to tell you, Matt deceased last night.”

Darrell told the network about his son Matt Roberts’ prescription drug addiction and his struggles with anxiety. Later, TMZ reported that the singer-guitarist passed away after an “apparent drug overdose.”

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