Soundsystem

"Musical career" 311 has enjoyed commercial success stemming from its widespread fan base. Since their self-titled album in 1995, all but one of their albums (the exception being Live) have been in the top 15 of the Billboard 200. Nineteen of their singles have received significant radio airplay since "Do You Right" in 1993; five of those songs being top 3 hits on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"The local band (1989–1992)" Chad and Jim began playing all over Omaha in bars and pubs as the "Fish Hippos" while trying to convince Nick to come back from Germany and join the band to open a show for Fugazi. Nick agreed but wanted to change the band's name from the "Fish Hippos". 311 became their name after an incident in which Wills and Watson were caught skinny dipping by police. The two were charged for violating Omaha code 311 (indecent exposure). The group found this hilarious and the number stuck.
In 1990, Hexum started his own little record company, called What Have You Records, for the purpose of releasing 311 albums. Their first release, Dammit!, was released that year on consignment in record stores throughout Omaha. By 1991, Jim Watson had decided he didn't want to be in 311 anymore. After he left, the remaining members asked their friend Tim Mahoney to take over for Watson.
In 1991, 311 released their second independent release, Unity, and was released with far greater numbers. While Dammit! only printed 300 cassettes, Unity had 1000 CDs and 500 cassettes printed and was distributed through consignment and also sold at shows. The band began to headline shows in local clubs, such as The Ranch Bowl and Sokol Auditorium, and became a local success.
1992 was a big year for 311. SA Martinez, who had been making various appearances with 311 over the past years as a vocalist, had officially been asked to join the band. The newly formed 311 recorded a six-track demo, called Hydroponic, and moved to Los Angeles. Within their first few months, 311 was signed to Capricorn Records.
" The beginnings (1993-1994)" Their first major record, Music was released in 1993. The single "Do You Right" received airplay on modern rock stations and reached 27 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. However, the album failed to chart at the time.
The lack of album sales came at a cost, Capricorn pulled their tour support right after the release of the first album, the band responded by financing their own tour. The band was driving around in an old recreational vehicle borrowed from Chad's father. After tackling a steep incline one day, the RV caught fire. The only door out of the vehicle was surrounded by flames so the band jumped through the fire. All of their equipment and possessions were lost, no one was injured, the song "Omaha Stylee" depicts the situation.[citation needed]
The following year, they released their second studio album, Grassroots. Although none of the singles charted, the album reached 8 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and 193 on the Billboard 200, and tracks from Grassroots began popping up on college charts nation wide. It was during this time that 311's loyal fan base began to take form.[citation needed]
"Mainstream breakthrough (1995–2001)" In 1995, 311 released what was to be their biggest selling CD, the self-titled 311 (also known as The Blue Album). Produced by Ron St. Germain , the album was recorded live in contrast to their previous two albums in which all instruments were recorded separately. The first single "Don't Stay Home" was a modest success, reaching 29 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. But the follow-up single "Down," which was released 14 months after the album, received heavy airplay on mainstream radio and the accompanying music video was on MTV's rotation. The song hit 1 on the Modern Rock chart. The band made their Network Television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on August 23. The third single, "All Mixed Up", enjoyed almost identical success, reaching 4 on the Modern Rock chart. These singles propelled the album to platinum status in 1996. The album eventually went triple-platinum. They also appeared on David Letterman playing "Down".
In the following years, 311 continued touring and on August 5th 1997 they released Transistor which debuted at 4 on the Billboard 200, their highest position on that chart. While featuring popular tracks like "Beautiful Disaster", "Transistor ", and "Prisoner," the album also dealt with more weighty subject matter such as world affairs ("Borders"), spirituality ("Inner Light Spectrum"), and mysticism ("The Continuous Life"). Although not garnering as much fame as some of 311's previous output, the album quickly went platinum.
In 1999, 311 released their fifth major album, Soundsystem. "Come Original" was the album's first single and had success on radio and MTV. The song reached 6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. The video was heavily requested on MTV's TRL, and was 60 on TRL's Top 99 of '99. The second single, "Flowing," had American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas featured in the music video.
The success of these albums helped the band's first two major albums, Music and Grassroots, reach certified gold status.
Starting in 2000 the band began celebrating "their holiday" of 311 Day, held on March 11 (3/11). Every other year the band and thousands of their most loyal fans gather to New Orleans and celebrate with an extended concert put on by 311. The sets get longer every year, in 2000 they played 47 songs and in 2002 59 songs were played. In 2004 311 played 68 songs in 5 hours, and later that year a DVD was released of 311 Day 2004, containing 64 of the 68 songs. 311 Day in 2006 was held at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The band played 65 songs, the setlist was cut short from 69, because of a strict curfew of midnight. The band recorded the entire show in high definition. A 2 hour edit of the show aired on HDTV on December 10. 311 day was announced for 2008 to be held in the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In 1995, the band purchased a communal living space/recording studio in North Hollywood, California called The Hive. The band has recorded every album at The Hive since 2000, beginning with the sessions for From Chaos, 311's sixth major record release.
From Chaos was released in late 2001 and debuted at 10 on the Billboard 200. Its first single, "You Wouldn't Believe" featured basketball star Shaquille O'Neal in the video and had a solid run of success on MTV. The album is also known for its third single, "Amber", an ethereal love song with surf guitar and the group's signature reggae-flavored sound.
"Later years (2003–present)" Their seventh major release, Evolver, came in 2003 and marked a return to the straightforward guitar-heavy sound that the band had become known for. Overall opinions of the album were mixed. Evolver debuted at 7 on the Billboard 200, and the single "Creatures (For A While)" reached 3 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
In 2004, 311 covered the Cure's "Love Song" which became a 1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also reached 59 on the Hot 100, their first single to reach that chart. It was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture 50 First Dates and then a few months later on their own Greatest Hits '93-'03. The compilation debuted at 7 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. The album also featured two new songs. "How Do You Feel" and "First Straw". Of these new tracks, "First Straw", was released as a single and reached 14 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
On August 16, 2005, 311 released their eighth studio album, titled Don't Tread on Me. "Don't Tread On Me", the first single, reached 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and 1 at R&R. The next two singles, "Speak Easy" and "Frolic Room", did not receive the same success as the first, neither of which made it past 20 on the Modern Rock Charts.
Neither of their newest studio albums, excluding Greatest Hits, have received an RIAA certification yet.
On July 20, 2006, 311 kicked off their Summer Unity Tour, featuring opening bands Pepper and the legendary Wailers. It would go on to be one of the biggest 311 tours to date, with the band performing 37 shows across 27 states. Every show drew thousands of people, including their biggest show to date, drawing over 18,500 people in Atlanta, plus shows in New Jersey (17,210), Boston (15,276), Washington DC (13,812), Omaha (13,467), Kansas City (11,156), and Colorado (10,000).
Though Don't Tread on Me or Evolver haven't sold as well as their previous efforts, the band continued to prove that they are a live phenomenon. After completion of the tour, 311 announced they would be taking a break, their first official one in over eight years.
"Return & recent events (2007)" In January 2007, 311 stepped back into their Hive Studios with Nick's younger brother Zack Hexum. They recorded a cover of Toots & the Maytals song "Reggae Got Soul" for the soundtrack from the film Surf's Up, which was released on June 5, 2007 and was leaked onto the internet in late May.
In a recent interview on MTV.com, Hexum confirmed that the band is working on new material for the next album, expected in 2008. He says there will be a new producer[citation needed], feature the rock sound the band is known for, and not to expect a sequel to 2005's Don't Tread on Me, which he feels was rushed[citation needed]. On March 11, 311 Day, 2007, Nick also confirmed a new song title, "I Was Wrong," which he describes as combining dancehall reggae with funk[citation needed].
In April of 2007 311 confirmed this year's "Summer Unity Tour", which ran 50 shows from late June through late August, one of their longest to date [1]. Several opening acts featured throughout the tour. Reggae artist Matisyahu was part of most of the trek, with bands Shootyz Groove, The Rivalry, Particle, The English Beat, The Dirty Heads. After the tour, 311 confirmed they are working on an album for 2008 expected to be released after a short spring tour including 3-11 Day 2008. The band stated that the album would explore more jamming sessions that are captured in their live shows.
On November 6th 2007, 311 announced they would be returning to the city of New Orleans for 311 Day 2008.
"False claims of racism" In 1993 the band started to receive criticism due to perceived racism as "311" is used as a symbol, particularly in prison tattoos, for the Ku Klux Klan because K is the 11th letter of the alphabet (Three 11s = Three Ks = KKK)[1].
The name actually came from a skinny dipping incident when Jim Watson, the band's former guitarist, was charged with indecent exposure by the Omaha Police Department and was escorted home handcuffed and naked. The police code which appeared on the citation was "311". Nick Hexum has said:
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 any way. The name did not describe our sound or our politics, it just let the music speak for itself. Released in 1994 on Grassroots, the song "Silver" provides some strong words against racism:
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. Now I've got a clique but it's more like a family. Not an ethnic trip more like an ethic sea. I write the rhyme today, tell it to you later. Whether we're comin' in whack or what. It's a waste to be a hater. In response to the rumors, Nick Hexum began to write a song for the 1997 release Transistor titled "Fuck The KKK". After thinking about the title and how it wasn't true to the positive nature of 311, he revised it and ended up with "Electricity", the sixth track on the album.
First two lines from "Electricity":This song started as a rant against haters But that'd be giving in to the instigators Last verse:A call out for unity In every province and city. What do you think we've been saying Since we first started playing? (These last lines can be seen as a reference to the early 311 song "Unity".)
Some of 311's tours in 2000 and 2001 featured booths with The Museum of Tolerance in an effort to spread tolerance and disprove racist rumors.
In addition, singer Doug "SA" Martinez is of Latino descent. Also, 311 are heavily influenced by (and perform) music with African American and Jamaican roots, such as hip hop music, reggae, ska, and funk.
"Major label studio albums"
1993: Music
1994: Grassroots
1995: 311
1997: Transistor
1999: Soundsystem
2001: From Chaos
2003: Evolver
2005: Don't Tread on Me