Winter 2008-09
Chris Henderson, guitarist for 3 Doors Down, doesn't just perform for the troops - he served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee from 1989 until 2000. The sister of another band member currently serves in the Army.
Little wonder, then, that the Army National Guard commissioned a song by the rock icons in conjunction with a recruitment campaign. "Citizen Soldier" was released as a single in 2007 and conveys the band's strong views advocating the Guard's service at home and abroad. "The Guard does a lot more than fight wars," Chris says. "They help out in our community, your community." (Get a free download of "Citizen Soldier" at www.1800goguard.com.)
Growing ever stronger since its formation in 1995 by three friends in Escatawpa, Miss., 3 Doors Down bucks the flash-in-the-pan trend of many rock bands. Even in this tough era for the music industry, the band has sold more than 13 million albums worldwide during the decade. The group released its self-titled fourth album - which contains the monster hit, "It's Not My Time" - in May 2008, its second consecutive no. 1 album on the Billboard charts.
The popular band's relentless road itinerary has taken the fivesome to 32 countries in the past six years, just finishing a grueling summer tour across the U.S. It continues to raise funds for its homegrown Better Life Foundation, which has collected more than $2 million for local children's charities since 2003. The group even found time to record a U.S. Olympic Team tribute, "The Champion in Me." (For a free download, go to www.attblueroom.com.)
"We're not a band that just goes through the motions," Chris says. "We go at everything hard." (For more information, visit www.3doorsdown.com.)
Military Money caught up with Chris Henderson during the band's summer tour.
What are your latest projects?
Henderson: We're touring, touring, touring - mostly in the U.S., then a brief pre-season tour of Europe. Then, we're going on a full-on world tour.
What kind of creative ideas did you sort through, songwriting-wise, when Col. Michael Jones requested a song in honor of the National Guard?
Henderson: Col. Jones gave points for us to touch on, like being a citizen soldier and also the fact that the National Guard does a lot more than fight wars. They help out in our community, your community.
We originally had written a song in 2001 with a different set of lyrics. We wrote it after 9/11. We didn't record it, though. When we were approached by Col. Jones, we thought about whether we should write a whole new song or use the music that we wrote but with a new set of lyrics. The music had a Middle Eastern feel, and it was still appropriate for the song. We took the chords and made some note changes, made it aggressive and up-tempo. I think it's nice!
Do you perform for the troops?
Henderson: Absolutely, every chance we get. We've been to Bahrain, Sicily, Italy, Guam and numerous bases in the U.S. We haven't been to Iraq yet, but I'm sure we'll get there.
What are the logistics when you play military shows?
Henderson: We scale down a bit, especially when we're going to be on a C-9 transport. We do what we can do. We have seven or eight sets we can choose from. They [the military] can provide things when we're there, too.
Do you or any of the other band members have family who served in the military?
Henderson: I was in the Navy for 11 years. I served in the first Gulf War. I was an E-4. The people in the military audiences know that I feel their pain. Greg's [drummer Greg Upchurch] sister is in the Army right now.
How old were you when you first started playing?
Henderson: I was six years old. I play guitar, a little violin and piano.
Do you come from a musical family?
Henderson: I do. My brother is a career musician and my mother has a music degree from St. Mary's College.
What did you do with your first big paycheck?
Henderson: I put it in the bank, and I let it sit for a while since I was on tour. Eventually, I built a house.
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Tamar Alexia Fleishman is an attorney and writer in Baltimore. She served in the U.S. Air Force, her father served in the Indiana National Guard and her grandfather was a highly decorated Army surgeon who served as family physician to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. She may be reached at tfleishman@toad.net.