311 (band)

Categories: American musical groups | Reggae musical groups

311 (pronounced "three eleven") formed in late 1988 in Omaha, Nebraska as a rapcore/punk rock/reggae group. The members of 311 are Nick Hexum (lead vocals, guitar), Douglas Vincent "SA" Martinez (vocals, turntable, programming), Aaron Wills (a.k.a. P-Nut) (bass), Tim Mahoney (lead guitar), and Chad Sexton (drums). All five of the members grew up in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1970s.

In 1990 and 1991, 311 released three records on their own independent record label, What Have You Records. These records, titled Dammit!, Hydroponic, and Unity, and alongside their energetic live shows, launched their career in the mid west after which they moved out to California in an attempt to be signed onto a major label.

Their first CD, Music was released in 1993 and eventually went gold. The following year, they released their second album, Grassroots, Their biggest selling CD was their self-titled release in 1995 (also known as The Blue Album) which went triple-platinum, and also found mainstream success with the singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up". From 1997 to 2003, 311 stayed under the mainstream radar, releasing the albums Transistor, a live album, Soundsystem, From Chaos, and Evolver. Their continued success during this era was fueled mainly by their loyal fanbase and from slight radio success with the singles "Beautiful Disaster", "Come Original", "Amber", and "Creatures (For A While)". Some of their fans believe that 311's unique style of music that deviates from the mainstream had prevented them from becoming chart-toppers.

In 2004, 311 covered "Love Song", a song originally recorded by The Cure, which achieved massive radio success and became a number one hit. It was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture 50 First Dates starring Adam Sandler, and then a few months later on their own Greatest Hits compilation. Also that year, 311 played a 68-song setlist during their concert on 311 Day, which the band has held in New Orleans every other year since 2000. 311 Day occurs on March 11 (i.e. the third month of the year, eleventh day). The next 311 Day is to occur in 2006, but following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, it is currently unknown whether it will still be able to take place in New Orleans.

On August 16th, 2005, 311 released their eighth studio album, titled "Don't Tread on Me."

Aside from their currently released albums, the band has created three well documented videos (Enlarged to Show Detail, Enlarged to Show Detail 2, and 311 Day: Live in New Orleans) of their touring, friendship, positive messages, and of course, music.

Rumors

In 1997, a rumor started that the band's name, 311, stood for Ku Klux Klan because K is the 11th letter of the alphabet. The band has denied that the name has any link with the KKK; saying that the name was taken from the number of an Omaha police citation for indecent exposure. Examining the multitude of positive and unifying lyrics that serve as a foundation for their songs, and ideology, finds the KKK relation to be wholly untrue. Refer to the lyrics of the song "Silver" for specific anti-racism lyrics.

In response to the rumors, Nick Hexum began to write a song for the album Transistor titled F*** the KKK. He revised the song though, and it ended up as the sixth track on the album, Electricity which starts with the lyrics, 'This song started as a rant against haters, but that would be giving in to the instigators.'

Discography

Albums

* Did not chart on Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart (because they were never main-streamed)

Singles

Filmography

External links

• 311's Official Web Site
• 311's Official Street Team
• Everythingrock: 311
• MusicMoz entry for 311
• All Music Guide entry for 311
• 311 Lyrics
• 311wiki
• 311 Myspace Group

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