311

From 311wiki

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

311 (Chad Sexton, Aaron "P-Nut" Wills, Nicholas Hexum, S.A. Martinez, and Timothy Mahoney).

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 a concert dubbed 311 Day, which is held in New Orleans every other year since 2000. 311 Day occurs on March 11 (Third month of the year, eleventh day).

The band released another album on August 16, 2005 called Don't Tread On Me and consists of 11 new songs.

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.

[edit] Rumors

[edit] 311 Name

In 1995 a rumor arrose by what Nick call "some dork in Kansas" say that 311 meant KKK, with the eleventh letter of the alphabet being K, 3K, KKK. This rumor has dogged 311 for years and it still does to this day. There's no KKK involvement and never has been.

Knowing the fascination value of remaining sphinxlike in the face of growing interest, band members have at times joked about the meaning of the name:

Since most interviewers always ask us "What does 311 mean?", we have come up with lots of different answers over the years. Some include: Nick - "five friends making music"; Tim - "a number dictated to me by a higher intelligence"; P-Nut - "knowing a little numerology and studying a little magic, which I do; in some factions, three is man and 11 is magic. So 311 is like male magic." And according to Nick Hexum (lead vocalist and songwriter):

We used to tell people that three minutes and 11 seconds was the perfect length for a song. We used to say that it meant three plus one plus one, which was true. And Taco Bell explanations or not, the truth behind the name is every bit as risque as anything likely to be dreamed up by their fans. No white-sheeted Klansmen though.

'Twas group member Aaron "P-Nut" Wills who supposedly chose the name, claiming that 311 is the police code for indecent exposure. According to Nick Hexum: "Our original guitarist was arrested for skinny dipping, and they put 311 on the ticket":

311 is an Omaha police code for indecent exposure. One rainy day, P-Nut and some friends went skinny dipping in a public pool. They were apprehended by police. One of P-Nut's friends (Jim Watson) was arrested, cuffed (naked) and taken home to his parents. He was issued a citation for a code 311 (indecent exposure). We thought this was funny, so we took it as our band name. After the humor of the name wore off, we still kept it because we liked that it was just abstract and that it did not define us in anyway. The name did not describe our sound or our politics, it just let the music speak for itself. The KKK rumor has forced the group to become more forthcoming about the meaning behind the name. Candor aside, they still have problems in that there are those who are determined to believe that there is a connection to the Klan:

As a result, some high schools, including Westside High School, banned students from wearing 311 t-shirts. 311 issued the following statement: "It has come to our attention that there is a very unsettling rumor circulating regarding the name of our band '311.' We have been told that certain white supremacist groups use the numbers 311 to represent KKK. This is a most unfortunate coincidence and one that is extremely disturbing to us. We would like to state for the record that this is completely at odds with our personal beliefs. We believe the only people worth hating are organized haters like the KKK. Anyone familiar with our lyrics knows how we feel. Our lyrics make a strong stand against racism and a strong stand for positivity and unity. The name of our band originally comes from an Omaha police citation for indecent exposure. We thought it was funny at the time. Now our name simply means - five friends from Omaha making music. Music that stands for peace and unity."

Mind you, the KKK rumor wasn't all bad news for the band.

The KKK controversy had a paradoxical impact on 311's notoriety. Major publications such as Rolling Stone and Spin magazine and USA Today suddenly became interested in following the band's career. Ditto for MTV. "In less than a week, it was everywhere," band member Doug Martinez said. "It gave the media a spot to work from but it says something else about the sensational aspect of the low-brow journalism of certain media." The final nail in the rumor's coffin came when the band recorded the song "Silver," with the following lyrics:

"Of the racist institutions, simple minds belong; not happy being human, no wish to get along. Little people need exclusions; sucker groups to throng. It makes them feel special; it makes them feel strong."

[edit] Scott Stapp

On thanksgiving of 2005 Scott Stapp incited a fight between himself and 311. The following statemnt was issued by 311 on their website.

"We did not intend to discuss this incident publicly, but since rumors are beginning to spread we'd like to set the record straight. On November 24th (Thanksgiving), 311 had the day off in Baltimore, Maryland. Chad Sexton, S.A. Martinez & P-Nut were relaxing in a hotel lounge with their wives and friends watching a basketball game on television. Scott Stapp entered the bar. He appeared intoxicated. He drank a shot at the bar and then threw his shot glass, smashing it on the bar. He was acting belligerent and got into an argument with patrons sitting at the bar. He then sat down next to SA and his wife. He made a disrespectful and crude remark to SA's wife. Chad and SA asked him to step away. He then sucker-punched Chad. Scott was looking for a fight - and that's what he got. A fight ensued. Soon the police arrived and everyone was restrained and questioned; and Scott was ultimately asked to leave the hotel."

SA suffered a boxer's fracture in the fight, forcing him to where a cast on his right hand for the remainder of the fall tour. But S.A.'s hand wasn't the only thing hurt, after a security guard claimed 311 had started the fight, it was worried 311 may lose some of their peaceful and respectful image. But 311's loyal fans stuck with them through the whole way, and they never lost any of their musical momentum. Even at 311's shows there were references of hating Stapp by fans, including chants of "Scott Stapp is a tool," fans making Hate Stapp t-shirts, and praising S.A. for standing up for his friend and wife. Scott Stapp on the other hand, being the one who was drunk, gained a lot of negative puplicity after the incident. No charges were ever filed against 311 by Scott Stapp or vice versa.

[edit] Discography

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[edit] Radio Singles

[edit] Filmography

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