311 (band)
|
|
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), P-Nut (bass), Tim Mahoney (lead guitar), and Chad Sexton (drums). All five of the members grew up in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1970s.
Band3.jpg
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 is currently working on a new album that is scheduled to be released on July 26th, 2005. On May 8th, bassist P-nut confirmed that the album will be 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, postive messages, and of course: music.
| Contents |
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.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | US Peak | 1989 | Downstairs EP | Self-released | DNC* |
| 1990 | Dammit! | What Have You | DNC* |
| 1991 | Unity | What Have You | DNC* |
| 1992 | Hydroponic | What Have You | DNC* |
| 1993 | Music | Polygram | DNC* |
| 1994 | Grassroots | Polygram | #193 |
| 1995 | 311 (a.k.a. The Blue Album) | Capricorn | #12 |
| 1997 | Transistor | Capricorn | #4 |
| 1998 | Live | Capricorn | #77 |
| 1998 | Omaha Sessions | What Have You | DNC* |
| 1999 | Soundsystem | Capricorn | #9 |
| 2001 | From Chaos | Volcano | #10 |
| 2003 | Evolver | Volcano | #7 |
| 2004 | Greatest Hits '93-'03 | Volcano | #7 |
| 2005 | Don't Tread on Me | Volcano | n/a |
* Did Not Chart on Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart
Radio Singles
- 1993 "Do You Right" Rock: #27
- 1994 "Lucky"
- 1994 "Homebrew"
- 1995 "8:16 AM"
- 1996 "Don't Stay Home" Rock: #29
- 1996 "Down" Rock: #1
- 1996 "All Mixed Up" Rock: #4
- 1997 "Transistor" Rock: #14
- 1997 "Beautiful Disaster" Rock: #21
- 1998 "Prisoner" Rock: #21
- 1998 "What Was I Thinking?"
- 1999 "Come Original" Rock: #6
- 2000 "Flowing" Rock: #17
- 2001 "Large in the Margin"
- 2001 "You Wouldn't Believe" Rock: #7
- 2001 "I'll Be Here Awhile" Rock: #15
- 2002 "Amber" Rock: #13
- 2003 "Creatures (For a While)" Rock: #3
- 2004 "Beyond the Gray Sky" Rock: #39
- 2004 "Love Song" Rock: #1 US: #59
- 2004 "First Straw" Rock: #14
Filmography
| Year | Title | Format | 1996 | Enlarged to Show Detail | VHS/DVD | 2001 | Enlarged to Show Detail 2 | VHS/DVD | 2004 | 311 Day: Live in New Orleans | DVD |
External links
- 311's official web site (http://www.311.com/)
- MusicMoz entry for 311 (http://www.musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/3/311/)
- All Music Guide entry for 311 (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040404181922500443&sql=Bot6fmp939fco)
- "311" Lyrics (http://lyrics.activelyrics.com/0-9/311/index.html)