Former 3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts dead at 38

Guitarist Matt Roberts of 3 Doors Down. Photo / Getty Images

Matt Roberts, the former lead guitarist of American rock band 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 38.

The musician passed away on Saturday morning of a suspected prescription drug overdose in a hotel in West Bend, Wisconsin, TMZ reports.

He been in the midwestern state for a charity event and was scheduled to perform over the weekend. According to multiple reports, Roberts rehearsed until about 1.00am local time and then went back to his hotel room, which was adjoined to his father's room.

Darrell Roberts was woken up at around 9am by detectives who informed him that his son had passed away overnight.

While the cause of death is still being determined, the entertainment website reported Roberts' father as saying prescription drugs were involved, but he believed any possible overdose was accidental.

"I know he had [a] prescription drug addiction. He suffered greatly from anxiety," Darrell Roberts told CNN.

Roberts was a founding member of 3 Doors Down, along with vocalist and drummer Brad Arnold and bassist Todd Hartwell. The band formed in 1996.

They released their first studio album, The Better Life, in 2000, and it went six times platinum. Kryptonite, the band's first single off the album, launched them into international stardom.

After touring with 3 Doors Down since its inception, Roberts left in 2012 due to ongoing health issues regarding blood circulation.

"3 Doors Down will always have a special place in my heart and it saddens me to take this time off," he wrote on the band's website in 2012. "But my health has to be my first priority."

3 Doors Down frontman, Brad Arnold, posted a tribute to Roberts on the band's Facebook page, writing:

"Words cannot express our sadness as we hear of the loss of our brother, Matt. He was a truly talented artist and great friend. His memory will live on through the songs we all created. He will be greatly missed."

Words cannot express our sadness as we hear of the loss of our brother, Matt. He was a truly talented artist and great...

Posted by 3 Doors Down on Sunday, 21 August 2016